Ok, so I've been seeing parts of this from the train as a little kid, and recently in my neighborhood tours, but I've never really taken the chance to follow it through till now. Does anybody know what line this was, and where it continued past the industrial corridor.

http://goonsta.virtue.nu/mysteryrow.jpg

I saw an old rail map from the 50's once and it didn't go too far past that photo if at all. It was just a leg for those few factories, like that old brewery just south of Belmont.

Always thought it was weird how all of those developments in the 80's followed it. Anyway, that's it, mang. It ends.

Yeah that's an old frieght railway that had a connection to the North Shore Interurban at Wilson Avenue, where you see that concrete viaduct on the east side of Truman College leads to a dead end just north of Montrose Avenue. The rail line still has tracks in service down the middle of Lakewood Avenue, to that factory between Diversey and Schubert Streets. It is currently owned and opperated by the Wisconsin Central (I belive) Railroad. The tracks continue south from there, and actually go right through a gated townhouse development, a health club parking lot, and then down the center of Kingsburry Street along the North Branch of the River (where I have actually seen a train moving along it). Not quite sure where it links up with a in service frieght railway, but this railroad used to go all the way into River North down Kinsbury Street, where you can still see the tracks in some areas (kingsbury and Erie Streets for example). The Erie on the Park Building actully sits on this right of way.

I think this would make a sweet ass light rail line, taking people from Wrigley Field, through the Clyborne corridor, and down to River North.

If you ever look at an old photo of Wrigley Field (viewed from Clark and Addison), you can see the railroad crossing in front of it.

I know of a better image out there that shows what I'm talking about, but you can kind of see it here:

http://www.sports-photos.com/catalog/images/WrigleyFieldb&wfront.jpg
Notice the crossing arm on the left side of the pic, and note the grain elevators on the site of what is now a surface parking lot.

I would LOVE to see that line exist today! Lord knows the Cly corridor needs the access!