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North Water Street L Terminal
Posted by:
mikegold
(---.dyn.optonline.net)
Date: February 15, 2008 07:47PM
There used to be a stub terminal on the north side L line running over what was then North Water Street, straight east from the Merchandise Mart station to Clark Street. After the terminal was taken out of service in 1949, the track and station were maintained for lay-ups and storage until 1963. But when the Merchandise Mart station needed to be extended in 1952, they built a rather unique movable platform across the tracks that could be pulled up whenever they needed to shuttle trains from the lay-up tracks into operation.
This movable platform exists as only a distant memory for me; as a child growing up in Albany Park, my mother forgot to change trains at the Merchandise Mart, the platform was raised and we were briefly trapped at the old terminal on Clark. I would kill (so to speak) for any leads to photographs of the terminal and, even more so, that movable platform. I've checked out chicago-l.org, the ultimate source for all things L-related, but they have nothing along these lines.
Can anybody help?
Mike Gold
This movable platform exists as only a distant memory for me; as a child growing up in Albany Park, my mother forgot to change trains at the Merchandise Mart, the platform was raised and we were briefly trapped at the old terminal on Clark. I would kill (so to speak) for any leads to photographs of the terminal and, even more so, that movable platform. I've checked out chicago-l.org, the ultimate source for all things L-related, but they have nothing along these lines.
Can anybody help?
Mike Gold
Re: North Water Street L Terminal
Posted by:
MIKETOUHY
(---.dsl.chcgil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: February 15, 2008 09:08PM
http://www.chicago-l.org/
this site should have the info on the topic.
this site should have the info on the topic.
Re: North Water Street L Terminal
Posted by:
mikegold
(---.dyn.optonline.net)
Date: February 15, 2008 09:24PM
Thanks, Mike, but nope -- as I mentioned, chicago-l.org is an invaluable resource but doesn't have what I'm looking for. Graham Garfield, who runs the joint, was quite kind in his search of his files.
Re: North Water Street L Terminal
Posted by:
Serhii
(---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: February 16, 2008 05:11AM
If Mr. Garfield can't find an image of it, the chances of my finding it seem rather unlikely. That said, I'll ask around and keep an eye out for it.
I would like to mention - if you're looking to find photos and info about the built environment and civic functions from 1910s on, a great place to dig is the Chicago documents section at UIC's Daley Library, 3rd floor. You'll probably find me there, perusing the Joint Capital Improvements.
I would like to mention - if you're looking to find photos and info about the built environment and civic functions from 1910s on, a great place to dig is the Chicago documents section at UIC's Daley Library, 3rd floor. You'll probably find me there, perusing the Joint Capital Improvements.
Re: North Water Street L Terminal
Posted by:
chuck
(---.176.244.66.biz.sta.networkgci.net)
Date: February 18, 2008 07:21PM
This is a link to the Chicago-L page for the North Water Street terminal.
http://www.chicago-l.org/stations/north_water.html
Is this not it?
http://www.chicago-l.org/stations/north_water.html
Is this not it?
Re: North Water Street L Terminal
Posted by:
chuck
(---.176.244.66.biz.sta.networkgci.net)
Date: February 18, 2008 07:23PM
This appears to be the switch to the terminal, however no platform.
Must have been a very odd site!!
Must have been a very odd site!!
Re: North Water Street L Terminal
Posted by:
mikegold
(---.dyn.optonline.net)
Date: February 18, 2008 07:24PM
It's the terminal, but not the moveable bridge from Merchandise Mart that blocked the stub tracks that went to the terminal. I tend to agree with Serhii, if Graham doesn't have a photo, it probably doesn't exist. But who knows? Maybe I'll get lucky! Thanks!
Re: North Water Street L Terminal
Posted by:
chuck
(---.176.244.66.biz.sta.networkgci.net)
Date: February 18, 2008 07:30PM
Hmmm...
My picture link didn't show up, let me try again:
Chuck
http://www.chucksphotospot.com
My picture link didn't show up, let me try again:
Chuck
http://www.chucksphotospot.com
Re: North Water Street L Terminal
Posted by:
Serhii
(---.dsl.chcgil.ameritech.net)
Date: February 26, 2008 03:42AM
While researching municipal parking garages, I came across a photo of the garage at 320 N. LaSalle with the North Water Terminal behind it. Only could have been taken in a short period of time - the garage was built in 1955 and the station demolished in 1962. No pics of the movable platform at Merch Mart though...
Re: North Water Street L Terminal
Posted by:
SuperCFL
(---.dsl.chcgil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: March 06, 2008 11:38PM
Pictures of the movable platform do exist--I've seen them. There's at least one in existence of the platform deployed and then one of it retracted. Try the Shore Line Interurban Historical Society--does anybody here have their email address?
There was one column footing for the old North Water Stub in place for years, visible from the northbound Mart platform down in what had become an alley. However, with the recent highrise construction where once had been a parking garage, it may have finally gone the way of the rest of the structure.
There was one column footing for the old North Water Stub in place for years, visible from the northbound Mart platform down in what had become an alley. However, with the recent highrise construction where once had been a parking garage, it may have finally gone the way of the rest of the structure.
Re: North Water Street L Terminal
Posted by:
mikegold
(---.dyn.optonline.net)
Date: March 07, 2008 12:28AM
Thanks, SuperCFL.
Loved your radio station...
Loved your radio station...
Re: North Water Street L Terminal
Posted by:
JonnyOYeah
(---.sac-1.depaul.edu)
Date: March 14, 2008 04:40PM
mikegold Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ...they built a rather
> unique movable platform across the tracks that
> could be pulled up whenever they needed to shuttle
> trains from the lay-up tracks into operation...
>
> ...I would kill (so to speak) for any leads to
> photographs of the terminal and, even more so,
> that movable platform...
There are a few pics of the train platform here (http://northshoreline.com/merchmart.html), but I still can't find the movable platform. Hope it helps anyway.
-------------------------------------------------------
> ...they built a rather
> unique movable platform across the tracks that
> could be pulled up whenever they needed to shuttle
> trains from the lay-up tracks into operation...
>
> ...I would kill (so to speak) for any leads to
> photographs of the terminal and, even more so,
> that movable platform...
There are a few pics of the train platform here (http://northshoreline.com/merchmart.html), but I still can't find the movable platform. Hope it helps anyway.
Re: North Water Street L Terminal
Posted by:
mikegold
(---.dyn.optonline.net)
Date: March 14, 2008 04:43PM
Thanks -- but I got a 404 on that.
Re: North Water Street L Terminal
Posted by:
JonnyOYeah
(---.sac-1.depaul.edu)
Date: March 14, 2008 04:54PM
Crap. go here (northshoreline.com) and go to stations. Look under "Merchandise Mart".
Re: North Water Street L Terminal
Posted by:
the_mogra
(---.hfc.comcastbusiness.net)
Date: April 17, 2015 01:40PM
i'm glad to read the north water branch wasn't torn down until '62-'63 because in the early '60s I remember seeing it and wondering about it. now I know I wasn't imagining things. of course the marina towers were erected then and my view was it was the construction of those towers that played a role in dismantling the north branch, though the tracks apparently ended @ clark if that is correct (short of marina by a block). when the CTA took over late '40s their austere policies dictated any number of rapid transit line/track/station discontinuances & demolitions, all of which demonstrated absolutely no practical foresight whatsoever, modern restoration being impossible
Re: North Water Street L Terminal
Posted by:
Richard Stachowski
(---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: January 04, 2016 08:31PM
[b]interesting.[/b]
Re: North Water Street L Terminal
Posted by:
Jeff_Weiner
(---.sub-70-194-98.myvzw.com)
Date: January 30, 2016 03:40AM
There are a couple of interesting pictures of the Market Street Terminal at www.trolleydodger.com.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/30/2016 03:41AM by Jeff_Weiner.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/30/2016 03:41AM by Jeff_Weiner.
Re: North Water Street L Terminal
Posted by:
Jeff_Weiner
(---.sub-70-194-98.myvzw.com)
Date: January 30, 2016 03:47AM
BTT again!
Re: North Water Street L Terminal
Posted by:
Jeff_Weiner
(---.sub-70-194-97.myvzw.com)
Date: February 11, 2016 03:35AM
Mtt.
