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South side overhead (and over grown!) train right-of-ways
Posted by:
adgorn
(---.dsl.emhril.sbcglobal.net)
Date: January 24, 2010 12:10AM
I was exploring Bronzeville and related south side sites recently and came across an old above ground level train right of way (heading east and west) at Vincennes and about 39th. No bridge over the street anymore though. So I kept driving around and found more pieces of this visible from S Lake Park, Drexel and Cottage Grove. Here's my google album of a few captioned pictures, including a google maps view which shows the now brush-covered tracks.
http://picasaweb.google.com/adgorn/011310SouthSide?authkey=Gv1sRgCIOfpdiXt5fLLQ&feat=directlink
I checked Historic Aerials and see that the 1962 view seems to show an operating track with bridges, with the track heading east and merging into tracks parallel to the lakefront. The next 1970s view shows the bridges gone, so it must have closed down by then.
Any info as to what line this was?
http://picasaweb.google.com/adgorn/011310SouthSide?authkey=Gv1sRgCIOfpdiXt5fLLQ&feat=directlink
I checked Historic Aerials and see that the 1962 view seems to show an operating track with bridges, with the track heading east and merging into tracks parallel to the lakefront. The next 1970s view shows the bridges gone, so it must have closed down by then.
Any info as to what line this was?
Re: South side overhead (and over grown!) train right-of-ways
Posted by:
222psm
(---.br.br.cox.net)
Date: January 24, 2010 12:41AM
Thats the kenwood line, they ran freight and passenger service on it.
More info here:http://www.chicago-l.org/operations/lines/kenwood.html
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/24/2010 12:44AM by 222psm.
More info here:http://www.chicago-l.org/operations/lines/kenwood.html
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/24/2010 12:44AM by 222psm.
Re: South side overhead (and over grown!) train right-of-ways
Posted by:
Richard Stachowski
(---.dsl.chcgil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: January 24, 2010 12:42AM
[b]Those tracks have been gone for some time. They link 40th and Indiana to the lake front tracks. I'm surprised somebody noticed them.[/b]
Re: South side overhead (and over grown!) train right-of-ways
Posted by:
222psm
(---.br.br.cox.net)
Date: January 24, 2010 12:50AM
Passenger service was abandoned in 1957, freight stopped in the early 80's. That picture with the bricked up doorways was the entrance to the station above.
It seems the bridge over the Dan Ryan is still in place,that once connected the Kenwood line to the tracks to the West.
The bridges at Federal and Dearborn may still be there.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 01/24/2010 01:09AM by 222psm.
It seems the bridge over the Dan Ryan is still in place,that once connected the Kenwood line to the tracks to the West.
The bridges at Federal and Dearborn may still be there.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 01/24/2010 01:09AM by 222psm.
Re: South side overhead (and over grown!) train right-of-ways
Posted by:
222psm
(---.br.br.cox.net)
Date: January 24, 2010 02:42PM
I talked to my father he moved to Chicago in the mid 40's. He remembers riding this line, the stock yards line, and the Humboldt Park branch.
Re: South side overhead (and over grown!) train right-of-ways
Posted by:
Richard Stachowski
(---.dsl.chcgil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: January 24, 2010 10:56PM
Thhe elevated line took you to 40th and indiana then you transfered to the stock yard line. I traveled it for fun and it was some sight going around and above the union stock yards.
Re: South side overhead (and over grown!) train right-of-ways
Posted by:
adgorn
(---.dsl.emhril.sbcglobal.net)
Date: January 26, 2010 04:00PM
Thanks for all the followup. I think it would be cool to hike the old tracks to see what is up there, but wouldn't do that alone.
Re: South side overhead (and over grown!) train right-of-ways
Posted by:
222psm
(---.br.br.cox.net)
Date: January 26, 2010 05:08PM
adgorn Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks for all the followup. I think it would be
> cool to hike the old tracks to see what is up
> there, but wouldn't do that alone.
Yes that would be very cool, I'm alway fascinated with active and abandoned railroads, ever since I was a kid. We used to play on the tracks along Ravenswood Ave and along 37th Pl in Brighton Park (My cousins lived there). From what I understand a lot of people hike the Bloomingdale Line. We used to roam up there too.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks for all the followup. I think it would be
> cool to hike the old tracks to see what is up
> there, but wouldn't do that alone.
Yes that would be very cool, I'm alway fascinated with active and abandoned railroads, ever since I was a kid. We used to play on the tracks along Ravenswood Ave and along 37th Pl in Brighton Park (My cousins lived there). From what I understand a lot of people hike the Bloomingdale Line. We used to roam up there too.
Re: South side overhead (and over grown!) train right-of-ways
Posted by:
davey7
(---.dsl.chcgil.ameritech.net)
Date: February 03, 2010 08:10PM
It's my understanding that the Bloomingdale Line is going to be turned into a park along the lines of the High Line Park in NYC. It'd be fun to hike the Kenwood El, but climbing up and down at the missing bridges would be a pain.
Re: South side overhead (and over grown!) train right-of-ways
Posted by:
WayOutWardell
(---.dsl.chcgil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: February 05, 2010 08:02PM
There's a blues compilation record called The New Bluebloods which came out in '87. The cover has a photo of the Kenwood Line bridge over the Rock Island Line tracks adjacent to the Taylor Homes. I don't have a way to scan the cover, unfortunately.
Re: South side overhead (and over grown!) train right-of-ways
Posted by:
222psm
(---.br.br.cox.net)
Date: February 05, 2010 09:50PM
WayOutWardell Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There's a blues compilation record called The New
> Bluebloods which came out in '87. The cover has a
> photo of the Kenwood Line bridge over the Rock
> Island Line tracks adjacent to the Taylor Homes.
> I don't have a way to scan the cover,
> unfortunately.
Is this it?
looks like that bride is gone
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/05/2010 09:59PM by 222psm.
-------------------------------------------------------
> There's a blues compilation record called The New
> Bluebloods which came out in '87. The cover has a
> photo of the Kenwood Line bridge over the Rock
> Island Line tracks adjacent to the Taylor Homes.
> I don't have a way to scan the cover,
> unfortunately.
Is this it?
looks like that bride is gone
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/05/2010 09:59PM by 222psm.
