The "L" Past & Present

Chicagostyle · May 7th, 2009, 05:10 AM

This was the end of the Line of the south side Kenwood branch.

Viaggiatore · May 7th, 2009, 08:57 AM

That first picture isn't showing up for me...

ETA - There it is. Can't say the years have been too kind.

Jax419 · May 7th, 2009, 09:02 AM

edit: see it now

Northsider · May 7th, 2009, 03:13 PM

I can't see it either

skobabe8 · May 8th, 2009, 03:45 PM

Can't see it.

Northsider · May 8th, 2009, 03:50 PM

Image rehosted so people can see it

This was the end of the Line of the south side Kenwood branch.

The same Terminal today

Chicagostyle · May 9th, 2009, 12:26 AM

Thank you Northsider for reposting that.

simulcra · May 9th, 2009, 01:05 AM

white flight, redlined neighborhoods, systemic disinvestment, and a poorly conceived red line that only helped to cannibalize green line ridership.

Mr Downtown · May 9th, 2009, 08:06 PM

Also thinking of the Illinois Central solely as part of the suburban transportation system, when historically it had provided rapid transit service along the south lakefront.

Chicagostyle · May 16th, 2009, 10:27 PM

The old 4000 Series

Crossing Drexel ave.

Between Ellis and Berkley streets

simulcra · May 18th, 2009, 09:01 PM

are the tracks for that green line offshoot all torn down? or do some remain?

Northsider · May 18th, 2009, 09:03 PM

The pictures above are all that remain...just crumbling embankments.

Chicagostyle · May 18th, 2009, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northsider

The pictures above are all that remain...just crumbling embankments.

As far as I observed all the track bridges have been torn down between 42nd Pl. and Cottage grove. I will check to see the rest of the line to KIng Drive.

Night Hawk · May 31st, 2009, 08:45 PM

Were they shut down due to low ridership?

I didn't know but there used to train service to Dekalb up to the seventies. I would have gone to northern if it was still running today.

Mr Downtown · June 1st, 2009, 06:08 AM

Ridership was not strong, but was undoubtedly still paying the cost of the station agents. The biggest problem, as I understand it, was a longstanding dispute with the railroad that ran alongside the L. The Chicago Junction had built the embankment and was apparently responsible for all maintenance, but by the late 1940s had absolutely no interest in fixing anything that wasn't life threatening, and even that was done grudgingly. It was a constant struggle between Chicago Rapid Transit and the railroad, and by the end everything except a little tunnel through the station area was walled off with plywood to keep stuff from dripping or falling on patrons. Even if CTA had magically found money to rebuild the stations, the railroad was completely hostile to the idea. With the L and surface system now integrated, patrons could easily ride a bus to the North-South mainline, so the Stockyards and Kenwood branches were abandoned in 1957.

Chicagostyle · February 4th, 2011, 08:50 AM

[/IMG]

The Urban Politician · February 4th, 2011, 03:20 PM

^ Can't see any of your pics

Night Hawk · February 15th, 2011, 03:02 AM

copyright issues?

May 7th, 2009, 05:10 AM	#1
Chicagostyle Weather makes the Wind. Join Date: May 2005 Location: City of Big Shoulders Posts: 357 Likes (Received): 12	The "L" Past & Present *This was the end of the Line of the south side Kenwood branch.* __________________ In Chicago there is the mysterious something that makes for individuality, personality, charm; In Chicago a spirit broods upon the face of the waters. *H.L. Mencken, 1924.* Last edited by Chicagostyle; February 4th, 2011 at 08:46 AM.

May 7th, 2009, 08:57 AM	#2
Viaggiatore A Spirit, Brooding Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lincoln Park Posts: 14 Likes (Received): 0	That first picture isn't showing up for me... ETA - There it is. Can't say the years have been too kind. __________________ ...This story is proof of the theorem that then as today in Chicago, the mysterious equation of whiskey plus music equals what can only be called happiness. - Sarah Vowell Last edited by Viaggiatore; May 7th, 2009 at 09:19 AM.

May 9th, 2009, 12:26 AM	#7
Chicagostyle Weather makes the Wind. Join Date: May 2005 Location: City of Big Shoulders Posts: 357 Likes (Received): 12	*Thank you Northsider for reposting that.* __________________ In Chicago there is the mysterious something that makes for individuality, personality, charm; In Chicago a spirit broods upon the face of the waters. *H.L. Mencken, 1924.*

May 9th, 2009, 01:05 AM	#8
simulcra Cynical post-collegiate Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 937 Likes (Received): 0	white flight, redlined neighborhoods, systemic disinvestment, and a poorly conceived red line that only helped to cannibalize green line ridership. __________________ Mmm... forbidden donut...

May 16th, 2009, 10:27 PM	#10
Chicagostyle Weather makes the Wind. Join Date: May 2005 Location: City of Big Shoulders Posts: 357 Likes (Received): 12	*The old 4000 Series* *Crossing Drexel ave.* *Between Ellis and Berkley streets* __________________ In Chicago there is the mysterious something that makes for individuality, personality, charm; In Chicago a spirit broods upon the face of the waters. *H.L. Mencken, 1924.* Last edited by Chicagostyle; February 4th, 2011 at 08:48 AM.

May 7th, 2009, 09:02 AM	#3
Jax419 Força Barça Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 136 Likes (Received): 2	edit: see it now

May 7th, 2009, 03:13 PM	#4
Northsider Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 4,572 Likes (Received): 25	I can't see it either

May 8th, 2009, 03:45 PM	#5
skobabe8 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 296 Likes (Received): 0	Can't see it.

May 8th, 2009, 03:50 PM	#6
Northsider Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 4,572 Likes (Received): 25	Image rehosted so people can see it *This was the end of the Line of the south side Kenwood branch.* *The same Terminal today*

May 9th, 2009, 08:06 PM	#9
Mr Downtown Urbane observer Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,532 Likes (Received): 0	Also thinking of the Illinois Central solely as part of the suburban transportation system, when historically it had provided rapid transit service along the south lakefront.

May 18th, 2009, 09:01 PM	#11
simulcra Cynical post-collegiate Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 937 Likes (Received): 0	are the tracks for that green line offshoot all torn down? or do some remain? __________________ Mmm... forbidden donut...

May 18th, 2009, 09:03 PM	#12
Northsider Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 4,572 Likes (Received): 25	The pictures above are all that remain...just crumbling embankments.

May 31st, 2009, 08:45 PM	#14
Night Hawk BANNED Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 861 Likes (Received): 1	Were they shut down due to low ridership? I didn't know but there used to train service to Dekalb up to the seventies. I would have gone to northern if it was still running today.

June 1st, 2009, 06:08 AM	#15
Mr Downtown Urbane observer Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,532 Likes (Received): 0	Ridership was not strong, but was undoubtedly still paying the cost of the station agents. The biggest problem, as I understand it, was a longstanding dispute with the railroad that ran alongside the L. The Chicago Junction had built the embankment and was apparently responsible for all maintenance, but by the late 1940s had absolutely no interest in fixing anything that wasn't life threatening, and even that was done grudgingly. It was a constant struggle between Chicago Rapid Transit and the railroad, and by the end everything except a little tunnel through the station area was walled off with plywood to keep stuff from dripping or falling on patrons. Even if CTA had magically found money to rebuild the stations, the railroad was completely hostile to the idea. With the L and surface system now integrated, patrons could easily ride a bus to the North-South mainline, so the Stockyards and Kenwood branches were abandoned in 1957.

February 4th, 2011, 08:50 AM	#16
Chicagostyle Weather makes the Wind. Join Date: May 2005 Location: City of Big Shoulders Posts: 357 Likes (Received): 12	[/IMG] __________________ In Chicago there is the mysterious something that makes for individuality, personality, charm; In Chicago a spirit broods upon the face of the waters. *H.L. Mencken, 1924.*

February 4th, 2011, 03:20 PM	#17
The Urban Politician The City Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,968 Likes (Received): 0	^ Can't see any of your pics __________________ It is humanly impossible to walk through Chicago's core and not consider it one of the world's great cities unless you are inwardly angry at the place for somehow threatening or robbing your hometown of its vitality or integrity.

February 15th, 2011, 03:02 AM	#18
Night Hawk BANNED Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 861 Likes (Received): 1	copyright issues?

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