Illinois Central West Line Explained

Illinois Central West Line
Type:Commuter Rail
Status:Defunct
Locale:Chicago metropolitan area
Start:Randolph Street Station
End:Addison
Open:May 1, 1892
Close:1931
Owner:Illinois Central Railroad
Linelength:24.12miles
Trainnumber:140, 141, 145, 146, 147, 148
Map State:collapsed

The Illinois Central West Line was a commuter 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]

Discontinuance

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
CookChicagoRandolph Street StationRemains in service as part of Metra Electric
Connections:
IC Electric
South Shore Line
Van Buren StreetRemains in service as part of Metra Electric
Connections:
IC Electric
South Shore Line
Roosevelt RoadRemains in service as part of Metra Electric
Connections:
IC Electric
South Shore Line
Intercity trains at Central Station
Wabash Avenue and 16th StreetClosed
Closed
Lawndale AvenueClosed
Crawford AvenueFlag stop, Closed
CiceroHyman AvenueFlag stop, Closed <-- Cicero Ave. -->
HawthorneClosed <-- Laramie Ave.
Connections:
IC intercity trains: Iowan-->
Ogden AvenueFlag stop, Closed
BerwynBerwynFlag stop, Closed <-- Oak Park Avenue
Connections:
IC intercity trains: Iowan-->
North RiversideParkwayFlag stop, Closed <-- 26th Street -->
North RiversideFlag stop, Closed <-- Keystone Ave. -->
Tuxedo ParkFlag stop, Closed <-- Cermak Rd. and 1st Ave., ≈200 feet from Speedway -->
HinesSpeedwayFlag stop, Closed <-- Cermak Rd. and 1st Ave., ≈200 feet from Tuxedo Park -->
Points of interest:
Speedway Park
HinesClosed <-- replaced Speedway in a slightly different location -->
Points of interest:
Hines Hospital
BroadviewBroadviewClosed <-- 17th Ave. -->
HillsideOakridgeFlag stop, Closed <-- Mannheim Rd. -->
Points of interest:
Oakridge Cemetery
HillsideClosed <-- Darmstadt Rd. between Hillside and Irving -->
Du PageElmhurstElmhurstClosed<--
Connections:
IC intercity trains: Iowan-->
St. Charles RoadFlag stop, Closed
Villa ParkSuburb HillFlag stop, Closed
AddisonSouth AddisonClosed
AddisonClosed

Notes and References

  1. News: Notes . January 12, 2019 . The Inter Ocean . April 26, 1892 . Chicago, Illinois . 10. Newspapers.com.
  2. News: Collided on a Crossing . January 12, 2019 . The Inter Ocean . February 26, 1893 . Chicago, Illinois . 1. Newspapers.com.
  3. News: Central Seeks to Cut Off Suburban Trains. June 3, 2017. Journal Gazette. April 15, 1931. Mattoon, Illinois. 3. Newspapers.com.