Westchester branch

Last updated
Westchester branch
Overview
StatusDefunct
Locale Forest Park, Illinois
Maywood, Illinois
Bellwood, Illinois
Westchester, Illinois
Termini
Stations9
Service
Type Rapid transit
System Chicago "L"
Operator(s) Chicago Transit Authority (1947–1951)
Chicago Rapid Transit Company (1926–1947)
History
OpenedOctober 1, 1926
ClosedDecember 9, 1951
Technical
Line length5.6 mi (9.0 km)
Track gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification Third rail, 600 V DC
Route map
Westchester branch Westchester branch highlighted in gray
BSicon uexCONTg.svg
BSicon GRZq.svg
BSicon WASSERq.svg
BSicon uexhKRZWae+GRZq.svg
BSicon GRZq.svg
BSicon WASSERq.svg
BSicon uexBUE-us.svg
1st Ave.
BSicon uexBUE-us.svg
5th Ave.
BSicon uexBHF.svg
5th Avenue
BSicon uexBUE-us.svg
9th Ave.
BSicon uexBUE-us.svg
BSicon uexBHF.svg
11th Avenue
11th Ave.
BSicon uexBHF.svg
17th Avenue
BSicon uexBUE-us.svg
17th Ave.
BSicon GRZq.svg
BSicon uxSTR+GRZq.svg
BSicon GRZq.svg
Maywood
Bellwood
BSicon uexBHF.svg
25th Avenue
BSicon uexBUE-us.svg
25th Ave.
BSicon DCONTgq.svg
BSicon uxmKRZh.svg
BSicon DCONTfq.svg
BSicon WASSERq.svg
BSicon uexWBRUCKE2.svg
BSicon WASSERq.svg
BSicon uexKRW+l.svg
BSicon uexKRWgr.svg
Bellwood Junction
BSicon uexBUE-us.svg
BSicon uexBUE-us.svg
Bellwood Ave.
BSicon HUBaq.svg
BSicon uexINT.svg
BSicon HUBeq.svg
BSicon uexINT.svg
Bellwood
BSicon uexCONT3+g.svg
BSicon uexSTR.svg
BSicon uexBHF.svg
Harrison
BSicon uexBUE-us.svg
Harrison St.
BSicon GRZq.svg
BSicon uxSTR+GRZq.svg
BSicon lCSTRa@f.svg
BSicon GRZq.svg
Bellwood
Westchester
BSicon DCONTgq.svg
BSicon MSTRq.svg
BSicon uxmKRZh.svg
BSicon uexCSTR.svg
BSicon DCONTfq.svg
BSicon uexKBHFe.svg
BSicon uexnKSTRa.svg
BSicon lCSTRe@f.svg
Roosevelt
BSicon uexlBHF.svg
BSicon uexnSTR.svg
Canterbury
BSicon lBUE-us.svg
BSicon uexnSTR.svg
Canterbury St.
BSicon uexlBHF.svg
BSicon uexnKSTRe.svg
Mannheim/​22nd

The Westchester branch was a rapid transit line which was part of the Chicago "L" system from 1926 to 1951. The branch served the suburbs of Forest Park, Maywood, Bellwood, and Westchester, and consisted of nine stations. [1] It opened on October 1, 1926, and closed on December 9, 1951. [2]

Contents

Operations

The Westchester branch was 5.6 mi (9.0 km) long, and originated from the Garfield Park Branch at the Des Plaines station in Forest Park, Illinois. Initially the line terminated at Roosevelt Road near Bellwood Avenue. [3] On December 1, 1930, service was extended to Mannheim/22nd. Service on the Westchester branch ended on December 9, 1951, [2] and was replaced by the Westchester bus route (originally CTA route 17, now Pace Route 317), which largely mirrored the route of the Westchester branch, though the bus route only extended as far south as Canterbury Street. [4] [5]

Station listing

Westchester Maywood branch stations [6] [1] [3]
StationLocation
Des Plaines 711 S. Des Plaines Avenue, Forest Park
5th Avenue 5th Avenue near Quincy Street, Maywood
11th Avenue 11th Avenue and South Maywood Drive, Maywood
17th Avenue 17th Avenue and South Maywood Drive, Maywood
25th Avenue 25th Avenue and Maywood Drive, Maywood
Bellwood Bellwood Avenue near Madison Street, Bellwood
Harrison Harrison Street near Bellwood Avenue, Bellwood
Roosevelt Roosevelt Road near Bellwood Avenue, Westchester
Canterbury Canterbury Street near Westchester Boulevard, Westchester
Mannheim/​22nd Mannheim Road and 22nd Street, Westchester

References

  1. 1 2 'L' Map of Chicago (Map). Chicago Rapid Transit Company. 1934. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Westchester branch". Chicago "L".org. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  3. 1 2 Map of Chicago Rapid Transit Company (Map). Chicago Rapid Transit Company. 1926. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  4. Chicago Transit Map (Map). Chicago Transit Authority. 1954. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  5. Chicago Transit Map (Map). Chicago Transit Authority. 1965. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  6. Chicago Map Showing Rapid Transit Lines (Map). Chicago Rapid Transit Company. 1933. Retrieved August 18, 2013.