Illinois Central West Line

Last updated
Illinois Central West Line
Overview
StatusDefunct
Owner Illinois Central Railroad
Locale Chicago metropolitan area
Termini
Service
Type Commuter Rail
Train number(s)140, 141, 145, 146, 147, 148
History
OpenedMay 1, 1892
Closed1931
Technical
Line length24.12 miles (38.82 km)
Track gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Route map

Contents

BSicon KBHFa.svg
0.00
Randolph Street BSicon South Shore Line.svg
BSicon BHF.svg
0.64 mi
1.03 km
Van Buren Street BSicon South Shore Line.svg
BSicon exBLc2.svg
BSicon HST.svg
BSicon exKBL3.svg
1.26 mi
2.03 km
Roosevelt Road BSicon South Shore Line.svg
BSicon exKBHFa.svg
BSicon exKBL1.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon exBLc4.svg
Central Station
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BSicon CONTfq.svg
BSicon exSTRl.svg
BSicon STR+l.svg
BSicon exKRZ+xr.svg
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BSicon eHST.svg
Wabash Avenue and 16th Street
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BSicon mKRZh.svg
BSicon uhCONTfq.svg
Chicago Transit Authority Logo.svg
BSicon CONTgq.svg
BSicon exSTRc2.svg
BSicon KRZ.svg
BSicon exSTR3.svg
BSicon CONTfq.svg
Metra RI.svg
BSicon exCONTr+1.svg
BSicon eSTR+c4.svg
BSicon utCONTgq.svg
BSicon mKRZt.svg
BSicon utCONTfq.svg
Chicago Transit Authority Logo.svg
Red
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon uhCONT1+f.svg
Chicago Transit Authority Logo.svg
Orange to the Loop
BSicon CONT2.svg
BSicon STR+c3.svg
BSicon MFADEf.svg
BSicon uhSTR.svg
BSicon STRc1.svg
BSicon xKRZ2+4l+r.svg
BSicon POINTERg@rfq.svg
BSicon STRc3.svg
BSicon STR+c1.svg
BSicon CONT4.svg
BSicon MFADEg.svg
BSicon WASSER.svg
BSicon eHST.svg
BSicon MFADEg.svg
BSicon uhLSTR.svg
3.34 mi
5.38 km
Halsted Street
BSicon WABZg+l.svg
BSicon hKRZWae.svg
BSicon uhKRZW.svg
Bubbly Creek
BSicon WASSER.svg
BSicon xABZg2.svg
BSicon uhCONT2+g.svg
BSicon STRc3.svg
Chicago Transit Authority Logo.svg
Orange to Midway   Pictograms-nps-airport.svg
BSicon WASSER.svg
BSicon xSTR+c1.svg
BSicon CONT4.svg
BSicon WASSERl.svg
BSicon exDBK.svg
BSicon MFADEfq.svg
BSicon WASSERq.svg
Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal
BSicon exHST.svg
7.19 mi
11.57 km
Lawndale Avenue
BSicon exHST.svg
7.61 mi
12.25 km
Crawford Avenue DodgerBlue flag waving.svg
BSicon exHST.svg
8.58 mi
13.81 km
Hyman Avenue DodgerBlue flag waving.svg
BSicon exHST.svg
9.05 mi
14.56 km
Hawthorne
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BSicon exHST.svg
BSicon STRc3.svg
10.17 mi
16.37 km
Odgen Avenue DodgerBlue flag waving.svg
BSicon STRc1.svg
BSicon xKRZ2+4o.svg
BSicon STRc3.svg
BSicon exHST.svg
BSicon STRc1.svg
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11.19 mi
18.01 km
Berwyn DodgerBlue flag waving.svg
BSicon exHST.svg
11.95 mi
19.23 km
Parkway DodgerBlue flag waving.svg
BSicon exHST.svg
12.75 mi
20.52 km
North Riverside DodgerBlue flag waving.svg
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Des Plaines River
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13.17 mi
21.2 km
Tuxedo Park DodgerBlue flag waving.svg
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BSicon exHST.svg
13.22 mi
21.28 km
Speedway DodgerBlue flag waving.svg
BSicon HOSPITAL3.svg
BSicon exHST.svg
13.9 mi
22.4 km
Hines
BSicon exHST.svg
14.48 mi
23.3 km
Broadview
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Addison Creek
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BSicon uexCONTfq.svg
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CA&E to Bellwood or Mt. Carmel
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16.15 mi
25.99 km
Oakridge DodgerBlue flag waving.svg
BSicon exHST.svg
17.50 mi
28.16 km
Hillside
BSicon exHST.svg
19.35 mi
31.14 km
Elmhurst
BSicon uexvCONT4+2~l.svg
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BSicon exSTR.svg
BSicon uexvSTRc3.svg
BSicon exvSTRc1.svg
BSicon exSTR.svg
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BSicon uexvSTRc3.svg
BSicon exvSTRc1.svg
BSicon exSTR.svg
BSicon uexvCONT2+4~l.svg
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BSicon exHST.svg
20.24 mi
32.57 km
St. Charles Road DodgerBlue flag waving.svg
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BSicon MSTR.svg
BSicon MSTR2+4.svg
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BSicon WASSERq.svg
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Salt Creek
BSicon hSTRc1e.svg
BSicon exSTR.svg
BSicon lhSTRe@g(r).svg
BSicon CONT4.svg
Arrow Blue LowerRight 001.svg Metra UPW.svg to Elburn
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21.28 mi
34.25 km
Suburb Hill DodgerBlue flag waving.svg
BSicon exHST.svg
22.29 mi
35.87 km
South Addison
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24.12 mi
38.82 km
Addison
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Illinois Central intercity trains
to Freeport, Waterloo and Sioux City

The Illinois Central West Line was a commuter rail line operated by the Illinois Central Railroad between the Randolph Street Station in Chicago and Addison, Illinois. The service began in 1892 and ended in 1931.

History

The Illinois Central Railroad opened a westerly line from Chicago to Freeport, Illinois in 1891. A suburban passenger service over a portion of this line between Chicago and Addison was inaugurated on May 1, 1892. Stations were initially located at Wabash Avenue and 16th Street, Crawford Avenue, Hyman (Cicero) Avenue, Robinson (Laramie) Avenue, Ogden Avenue, Parkview Avenue, Brook View, Hill Side, and South Addison. Service consisted of three trains in each direction Monday to Saturday and two trains in each direction on Sundays. [1] A collision between an Addison suburban train and another locomotive occurred on February 25, 1893. [2]

On April 15, 1931, the Illinois Central Railroad asked the Illinois Commerce Commission to allow discontinuance of passenger trains over the line. [3] Discontinuance was granted and the commuter service ended.

Route

The West Line's eastern terminus was the Randolph Street Station on the east side of the Chicago Loop. From Randolph, trains traveled south over the suburban tracks of the Illinois Central's main line (still used by Metra Electric District trains). South of Roosevelt Road and Central Station, the West Line diverged from the main line between 14th and 16th Streets over a section of trackage that no longer exists that connected with what is now the Canadian National's Freeport Subdivision. From there, the trains headed west to the vicinity of the South branch of the Chicago River, where the line angled to the southwest and roughly paralleled the river. Near 35th Street, the line crossed the river and continued west. From Central Avenue, it angled northwest through suburban Cicero, Berwyn, North Riverside, Hines, Broadview, Hillside, Elmhurst, and Villa Park, before reaching Addison. At the crossing of North Avenue in Addison, the line left the Freeport Subdivision, heading north along a branch on the west side of Addison Road before terminating in the vicinity of Lake Street.

Stations

CountyLocationStationNotes
Cook Chicago Randolph Street Station Remains in service as part of Metra Electric

Connections:
BSicon BAHN.svg IC Electric
BSicon BAHN.svg South Shore Line

Van Buren Street Remains in service as part of Metra Electric

Connections:
BSicon BAHN.svg IC Electric
BSicon BAHN.svg South Shore Line

Roosevelt Road Remains in service as part of Metra Electric

Connections:
BSicon BAHN.svg IC Electric
BSicon BAHN.svg South Shore Line
BSicon BAHN.svgIntercity trains at Central Station

Wabash Avenue and 16th StreetClosed
Halsted Street Closed
Lawndale AvenueClosed
Crawford AvenueFlag stop, Closed
Cicero Hyman AvenueFlag stop, Closed
HawthorneClosed
Ogden AvenueFlag stop, Closed
Berwyn Berwyn Flag stop, Closed
North Riverside ParkwayFlag stop, Closed
North RiversideFlag stop, Closed
Tuxedo ParkFlag stop, Closed
Hines SpeedwayFlag stop, Closed

Points of interest:
Speedway Park

HinesClosed

Points of interest:
Hines Hospital

Broadview BroadviewClosed
Hillside OakridgeFlag stop, Closed

Points of interest:
Oakridge Cemetery

HillsideClosed
Du Page Elmhurst ElmhurstClosed
St. Charles RoadFlag stop, Closed
Villa Park Suburb HillFlag stop, Closed
Addison South AddisonClosed
AddisonClosed

References

  1. "Notes". The Inter Ocean. Chicago, Illinois. April 26, 1892. p. 10. Retrieved January 12, 2019 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  2. "Collided on a Crossing". The Inter Ocean. Chicago, Illinois. February 26, 1893. p. 1. Retrieved January 12, 2019 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  3. "Central Seeks to Cut Off Suburban Trains". Journal Gazette. Mattoon, Illinois. April 15, 1931. p. 3. Retrieved June 3, 2017 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg