Chicago train stations history book

A bit of digging can turn up a wealth of generally unknown history around chicago. Top 20 chicagoarea train towns tallied chicago magazine. The first l, the chicago and south side rapid transit railroad, began revenue service on june 6, 1892, when a steam locomotive pulling four wooden coaches, carrying more than a couple of dozen people, departed the 39th street station and arrived at the congress street terminal 14 minutes later, over tracks that are still in use by the green line. The chicago and alton railroad also used the station as a tenant. Ride along as the great train story presents 2,200 miles of scenery and stories from chicago to seattle along 1,400 feet of winding track. A history of union station architecture curbed chicago. The old galena depot was the first railroad station in chicago. Five of chicagos oldest l stations chicago detours. According to curbed chicago, eleven rail lines came into the city by 1860. It was built in the winter of 184849 and situated on the corner of west kinzie and canal streets.

Stations noted existed prior to the start of l service. The west side metropolitan elevated railroad of chicago, 1895. This book highlights chicagos six major railroad stations and the trains that served them. The 5foot by 9foot, adacompliant pod is designed for individual use, but can fit more than one person, as well as mothers traveling with babies and other children. While the building itself was a curious mix of architectural styles, it served as a precursor to the grandeur of future terminal stations in chicago. Known stations are marked, while some station locations in the chicago area are estimated. Massive train stations and depots dotted the entire region. A lactation suite for nursing mothers is available at chicago union station between the metropolitan lounge and baggage claim. All four stations are used by metra commuter service. During the heyday of rail transportation in the first half of the 20th century, chicago, illinois. Top 20 chicagoarea train towns tallied a new depaul study picks the best suburbs for transit commuters, choosing places with walkable downtowns, comfortable stations, and reliable service that. Chicago train stations have significant architecture and unique history within their.

The creation of the regional transportation authority, which united regional train lines and the metra commuter rail, brought the station into the. Terminal town answers this question with a fastmoving history of chicagos many. The book is divided into chapters showing the railroads that used chicago union station plus the other passenger stations. One often thinks of a union station as a large downtown station, such as chicago union station. History of passenger rail in chicago news newspapers books scholar jstor july 2014 during the heyday of rail transportation in the first half of the 20th century, chicago, illinois reigned as the undisputed railroad center of the united states and was served by six intercity train terminals.

Pere marquette railroad great central depot adams street and michigan avenue 18561893 central station e. Graham garfield of the chicago transit authority recalls the history of chicagos storied l trains on its 125th anniversary of. This book highlights chicagos six major railroad stations and the trains that served. Celebrating 125 years of chicagos l trains youtube. Amtrak train station chicago, il has an enclosed waiting area, with wifi, with parking, with accessible platform and wheelchair available. Beyond your daily commute, some uptown station history. Transit metropolis national museum of american history. History of passenger rail in chicago news newspapers books scholar jstor july 2014 learn how and when to remove this template message.

Together, the railroads owned shares in the chicago union station company cusco, which. A number of stations are identified as union stations. An early cultural highpoint in the citys history was the 1893 worlds. The book contains many photos both in black and white and many in color of the passenger trains that either departed or arrived in chicago from the 1940s until the amtrak era. The terminal railroad stations built in chicago during the mid to late. No other american city had such a fascinating group of railroad passenger stations as chicago. But a union station is any station, which is shared by multiple railroads. We examine the five of the oldest l stations, which all date from the era of the 1893. Book your trip amtrak blog gas newsletter amtrak history amtrak media center. The l dates back to 1892, when the first elevated train rumbled down public.