The post-WWII economy was kind to NW Indiana, there were plenty of jobs and businesses flourished along Chicago Ave, which the South Shore ran down the middle of. It is slowing for a stop just past the photographer, where passengers will climb on and off in the middle of the street much as they do in Michigan City today. One month after this photo was taken, the street running ended here. A new alignment would take the rails out of the pavement and move them north to parallel the new Indiana Toll Road, which opened Sept '56. More scenes from that day have been uploaded at GodfatherRails.com>