oh cool, a whole video dedicated to the line I work on, yeah the views are great, I recommend also going over the river around christmas time at night, lots of lights, very festive.
Francisco is my favorite station on the entire L without a doubt, it just feels really cozy and welcoming compared to most other stations built in Chicago around that time
@bryan2742 When you get off in Francisco Station on Francisco Street, I highly recommend you First Slice Manor. Yummy sandwiches, good and healthy food.
Amazing views! Truly a ride on the Brown Line is a love letter to the city. So cool that there's a piece of the Berlin Wall in a Brown Line station of all places! In NYC, you can find pieces of the Berlin Wall at the UN Sculpture Garden (a big segment), Kowsky Plaza in Battery Park City, and Ripley's Believe It or Not Times Square! In Orlando, Florida, there's one next to the Hard Rock Cafe at Universal Orlando resort. Having a segment of the Berlin Wall at a theme park resort sounds weird, but the message of having it at the Hard Rock has great symbolism. Rock-and-roll is about letting your spirit run free and doing what your heart believes than what society wants you to be! Love the flamingos, and the cubs are adorable! The Lincoln Park Zoo was founded in 1868, when commissioners of the park were given two pairs of swans from NYC's Central Park! Other animals from NYC were soon donated. In 1874, a bear cub from the Philadelphia Zoo was the first animal purchased by the zoo, and the bear became known for being an escape artist, frequently escaping and roaming the park at night! The first American bison born in captivity was born at that zoo ten years later, and they were so successful that in 1896, the US government purchased one bull and seven cows from the Zoo's bison herd to send to Yellowstone to help the species' survival in the wild.
Ah yes, a heavy rail train at-grade...that's a pretty weird light rail you got there 😉😂. That carpet-style mosaic at Francisco station is a nice touch to an already unique station! The Chicago Temple's Sky Chapel was created in 1952 as a gift from the Walgreen family in memory of Charles Walgreen, the founder of the eponymous pharmacy chain! As mentioned, it was the tallest building in Chicago from 1924 until 1930, when it was surpassed by the Chicago Board of Trade Building. The Board of Trade Building was surpassed by the Richard J. Daley Center in 1965, in turn surpassed by the John Hancock Center in 1969, and then of course the Sears/Willis Tower in 1973. Fullerton Ave is named after Alexander N. Fullerton, a lawyer, politician, lumber tycoon, and real estate owner who moved to Chicago from Vermont in 1833. He was one of the first three lawyers in the city, and helped Chicago take its first baby steps as Fullerton was one of 28 voters who met on August 10, 1833 to incorporate settlement of Chicago as a town. Chicago would incorporate as a city in March 1837. Diversey is named after German-born businessman and brewer, Michael Diversy, owner of the Lill & Diversy Brewery Company. It was the largest American brewery outside of New York until it was destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. Though his name is spelt differently for the street.
One minor addition: in the tallest buildings list, after the Board of Trade was the Prudential Building. Board of Trade observation deck was wonderful because you could be that high and outside, whereas Prudential was enclosed.
If I'm not mistaken (happened once before) they almost closed the Brown Line in the late 1970's because of low ridership. Also the platforms on the entire line could only acommodate 6 cars instead of the 8 cars of the rest of the system. CTA wisely spent some money to upgrade. Best line in Chicago!
I’ve spent most of my adult life near the Brown Line. Used to live right next to it by the Southport stop but then we moved about 10 blocks west to Roscoe Village. The next stop west, Paulina, is our stop now. It’s part of our life but we don’t take it for granted. It’s the most beautiful line on the CTA.
Another great video, Thom! You mentioned the third track at Western. Several of the "L" lines had a third track running down the center. This was originally built to facilitate express trains during rush hour, like they have on several lines in New York, especially on the B division, the old BMT. Complicated patterns of local and express service could be run on those lines, such as the Lake Street line, and the South Side main line, today's Green line. This was not a perfect solution, however, since when the expresses got to the Loop downtown, they had to run local (or deadhead) back to the outer end of the line. These express patterns were so complicated that I've never seen a map of them, although I have read that the Lake Street line had four different express trains including the fastest that ran non-stop between Austin or Cicero and the Loop. When the CTA took over, one of the simplifications they made was to abolish these express services (all but the Evanston Express, today's Purple Line Express). To replace them, a young civil engineer at the CTA, Graham Garfield, helped invent skip-stop service. In this pattern, alternate trains were labeled A and B trains. The less-busy stations were labeled A and B stations. The A trains of course stopped at the A stations, the B trains at the B stations. The busiest stations (like Western, for example) were called all stop stations, where both A and B trains stopped. With the express services discontinued, the center tracks were used to store trains that were out of service, or the tracks were unused or torn up. Before the subway opened, all the north side lines (Red, Purple, and Brown) used the circuitous elevated line between Fullerton and the Loop. The line was four tracks wide in those days, between Chicago Avenue and Howard. South of Chicago Avenue, it was a two-track bottleneck. Generally, Howard and Evanston trains ran express on the inside tracks, while Ravenswood trains ran local on the outside tracks, making a lot more stops than there are now. You can see some of the express stops today (Belmont, Fullerton, and Sedgwick for example) by their transfer-platform configuration. The trouble with this express and local pattern is caused by changing ridership patterns. While it is relatively easy to downgrade a station from express to local-only service (the express trains just don't stop there anymore), it is complicated and expensive to add new platforms to add express service to a station. So, how did the line get named and signed Brown? I've heard several theories. First, because it was a generally well-to-do area, brick homes and apartments in the area had reddish-brown bricks at least facing the street, instead of the less-expensive yellow bricks that might be used elsewhere. Second theory, stations were painted brown. But that was true on other lines, too. Third, the marker lights on the front of the train were red and green, as they still are. And if you mix red and green paint, you get brown. (Of course, if you mix red and green light, you get yellow light, so that theory may not work so well.)
Let me save you a trip. Skip-stop service on the J & Z was discontinued a few months ago. Skip-stop in Chicago is gone as it is in Philadelphia. Detect a pattern? Oh yes, someone wrote a college research paper about it, and discovered that skip-stop service doesn't save any time for most stations. The longer amount of time waiting for your train is more than the amount of time saved by the skip-stop service unless the headway is quite short. And even the Red Line doesn't have that kind of headways any more. Still, I'll miss skip-stop service, or as it was called in Chicago, all-express service. I'll miss the different colored route signs and marker lights, and especially whishing through so many stations. That was fun!
@@Thom-TRA You are right, according to the latest subway map I could find, dated February of this year. I guess I had read somewhere that they were going to discontinue it, then maybe the riders petitioned them to keep it, and it's still there. But I fear the MTA will be trying to discontinue it every chance they get.
TRA rocks Thom! Thanks for this very enjoyable and informative video. It's very nostalgic for me as I rode the Ravenswood "L" from the Adams & Wabash station in the Loop all the way out to Kimball and Lawrence Avenue to visit Oma und Opa. They used to live very close to the Diversey Station making the Ravenswood "L" (Brown Line) my favorite). My other Oma lived a bit to the east on Diversey Parkway making this neighborhood my second home. There was a German delicatessen and German bakery within this area ser5ved by the Ravenswood stop at Diversey, I loved riding the "L" with you today that brought back so many wonderful memories for me. Vielen Dank Thom!
Love the video I live about 5 mins away from western brown line. I live 30 seconds away from the Rockwell brown line. If I go into my alley, the tracks are right there. I love going out there and watching trains.
Love the neighborhoods off the Rockwell and Francisco stops. Great walking neighborhoods and the restaurant right of the Rockwell stop which bears the same name as the stop is very good.
Thanks for the history lesson; I had no idea a piece of the Berlin Wall was there. When I visited Chicago for the first time, I had a layover at Chicago Union Station so I got on at Quincy and rode the Brown Line to pass the time. It was winter time but I remember the scenic ride going over the Chicago River, and I especially love the view of the elevated junction where the various lines break off from the loop.
Thank you for your great content and for sharing your knowledge, impressions and enthusiasm. We really enjoy your videos. We learn a lot from them and we look forward to watching (and rewatching) them! K & L
Thanks for another great video. I have only been to Chicago once, a winter honeymoon, which included a basketball game at DePaul University. I haven’t been back since but definitely enjoyed my time. Thanks for taking us to the neighborhoods. And the wall, wow!
Brown line is awesome. My home was near the old North Shore Line at Dodge Avenue Station. My favorite station is Howard on the Red Line and always fascinated by the abandon Mayfair Cutoff very worth considering for a future episode or two. There are about seven abandoned old rail stations in Evanston and Skokie worth capturing. Ridge Avenue, Asbury Avenue, Dodge Avenue, Crawford, Kostner, Emerson, Greenwood Boulevard, Weber Yard, can be recognized only as small traces now, but tell a great history if you have the time.
I lived in Chicago for a year. 1995. They still had a conductor onboard. Nothing was automated. The conductor operated the doors and made all the announcements. There was a window at the end of the car that they used to inspect the platform before and after they operated the doors. The spookiest thing I experience on the L was standing on the Loop platform, waiting for an Orange Train to Midway Airport. A train from another line 'raced' from the station before, then braked hard as it entered the station I was in. You could feel the whole station platform lean in the direction of travel as the train stopped. Then it settled back to normal. One of those reminders of how old it is
Thank You for your channel that provides a desperately needed education for people who are often looked- transit commuters. You are doing a service for all lucky enough to know this channel.
Brings back fond memories. Commuted from Armitage to Quincy for several years, then moved further North when my job moved to the NW Suburbs. Used Kimball whenever I needed to go downtown.
Thank you so much for this. I grew up in that Kimball neighborhood and I'm visiting Chicago shortly from Puerto Rico so it helped clear some doubts about the station and platform.
I lived at Fullerton and Sheffield in the DePaul dorms above Dominicks (when it was around). Our apartment was right up against the tracks but it was never much of an issue. The sound proofing was quite good so with the windows closed you could barely hear anything. The other thing is that our building and many others simply don't have windows on that side which also helps. In any case, I really enjoyed living there and because our building had just a couple extra floors compared to others in the neighborhood, we had a clear view of the Chicago skyline from our apartment. Lot's of evenings just sitting and staring out the window.
I called the brown line the balloon ride because once you get out of the loop across the river, it’s like you’re in a balloon passing low over businesses and homes.
Bruh I agree with everything you said about the brown line, the comfort, solitude the quietness and the view is dope, like you said if I need to get there fast the deadline but if you have time the brown line, SALUTE
I took the brown line once to go to a party. I went to a few years ago and I really enjoyed the view coming from Logan Square on the blue line into the loop to Chicago station via the brown line. One of my favorite views, and I had a great night at that party I went to at IO Godfrey, however that’s a whole different life changing story.
The Voice of the CTA is Lee Crooks so make sure to appreciate his voice of the CTA and i love trains and i love The CTA System the Brown Line is one of my favorite lines of the system
I live right in between the Damen Brown Line and the Argyle Red Line stations, so it takes me about 20 minutes to walk to either. I really enjoy taking the Brown line and sitting in the back of the train on the seats facing back, for a view like no other! Those railroad crossings are always special to me and walking the neighborhood in Lincoln Square is awesome! Nice video!
This vlog was just awesome as the Brown line is my favorite, too. This video was one of my favorites of all you have done. We live pretty close to the Irving Park station. Thank you for featuring the Chicago Temple and the piece of the Berlin Wall. I learned so much from this video about the history of the Brown line!!! Awesome!!!
This is easily up there with my favorite of all your videos that I've watched so far. The history you tell is fascinating and amazing. That high-rise church is just beyond belief! I can really see why you enjoyed your time in Chicago, and I could see myself really loving living in a city like this.
I rode the Brown Line from Kimball Station after getting off of the 82 bus down kimball Avenue from Logan Square, I rode all of the Brown Line outside of the Loop and I loved the views that you got near the near north side and river north and Lincoln Park. I also loved the fact that the train at some points is just inches away from people’s home. I wonder if those homes are considered expensive they have the L in their backyard or if they are cheap because people might not like hearing trains go by in their backyard
I used to live in Albany Park and took the Brown line from Kimball or Kedzie all the time. Now I''m in Roger's Park, but may make a special trip to the Western station. You certainly appreciate Chicago more that most locals.
Now I know why you like ELs. I should have watched this one first before the Miami metromover vid. Good Job! nice balance of your narrative and photography-- great scenery. The Brown line does seem VERY fascinating. thanks for this.
Great video full of passion. Cool to see a part of the Berlin wall. In 1984 and 1986 i "went through" the wall at Checkpoint Charlie to visit East Berlin.
Thom, you just gave me something to do on my next trip to Chicago. Last year when I went to Chicago to see family that i haven't seen in a long time. I spent my Saturday going through Wrigley Field then taking a bus from there to the Addison Brown Line station. Then taking the Brown Line down to Belmont To take pictures and see the new Ravenswood flyover there. I do agree riding the Brown Line is very scenic seeing the skyline of chicago even coming down to the loop. I have heard of a piece of the Berlin Wall in Chicago. I never knew where it was. But now that your video had shown me, that's another place to go!
It *has* been awhile since I’ve been on the Brown line. I’ll have an overnight self made layover in Chicago coming home from a trip next month, maybe I’ll remember to visit that relic while I’m in town ❤
We do have a brown line here in Singapore, but it's not officially called the brown line - rather it's named after two places it serves. Very nice video!
The Brown Line is my favorite CTA line too, partly because I have relatively little reason to ride other lines when I visit Chicago. Happens I have a friend who lives in Albany Park, close to the Kimball terminal. Lots of good restaurants representing cuisines of the world. But I haven't had any reason so far to stop and explore any of the other stops on the line. Now, thanks to your video, I will plan to do so next time!
It’s so funny because Chicago is what started my love of subways, particularly the red line which is one of only two of the city’s underground lines. This despite the fact that Chicago is world famous for having its downtown trains run *not* as subways PS: Lee Crooks is the GOAT. Best transit announcer ever (Julie Berry from London Underground is a close second)
Lee Crooks is what I miss the most about not taking the L anymore. There are a lot of things I don’t miss, but dang, do I wish the DC metro would use his voice instead of robot-lady.
In addition to trains that would change between Ravenswood/Brown and Midway/Orange Lines in the Loop, there were also some services that originated and terminated on the Evanston/Purple Line, called ‘Ravenston’ trains. Like the others, they would also change identities in the Loop.
Awesome coincidence, when I was last in Chicago in October 2022 I got off at Francisco to film some of the grade crossing action 😊 I filmed the back end, though, at Sacramento. I had to reef my first video on the platform because my roommate got into a loud argument on the phone with his cell phone provider, but I was able to get some good catches on the street regardless. I love the Ravenswood/Brown Line the most as well, with the Pink a close second.
Another great video. I wish you would’ve discuss the brown line extension >> Kimble >> Elston >> Montrose. Transfer to blue line to O’Hare. Also, you still use a transit card? I encourage all riders to simple use your tap phone at the fare gate.
That extension won’t happen any time soon. Fantasy is not relevant to the video. And of course I use a transit card. Not only is it fun to collect, it allows me to film since I use my phone for filming. And I prefer having some things physical rather than digital.
I remember visiting that section at Western Brown with the Berlin Wall attached to it. I think it was for a German class field trip in high school, since I definitely remember my classmates all stopping at the Dunkin' Donuts right across the way afterwards. (I think I did, too.) XD
This was also my favorite CTA line when I lived in Chicago, but if you lived and worked off the Brown Line like I did, it was also the most frustrating. Long headway times and running only 4-car trains at off-times, your station being passed by the next train deciding to run express, the stretch of slow and winding track before and after the Loop (and before the flyover was built, having to stop at Belmont forever waiting to cross over the Red Line).
Western Ave. is the longest street in Chicago. In fact, you can get 3 bus routes and 5 EL stations ( 2 of them are on the blue line 1 on the O'hare branch, 1 on the Congress branch, 1 on the orange line on the southwest side of the city and 1 on the pink line which used to be part of the blue line.
I visited Chicago in December and stayed at an airbnb directly beside the brown/red/purple line between Belmont and Wellington and I loved it, though the trains did make it a lil hard to sleep.
Love the video! I used to live just off the Damen stop and commuted to Merchandise Mart for a few years until recent Major World Events happened. Practically a door-to-door ride. I miss that commute a lot, the view never got old. Chicago's Oktoberfest is held right off the Western stop too, which always is an amazing time!
Thom, your documentation on the history of the brown line is great. Since the Berlin Mauer came down in 1989 you didn’t get to experience the full impact. Multiply walls with guard towers and a death strip. It was lit-up 24/7 and the East German DDR’s propaganda was the wall was to keep people from the West out. I enjoy your history as you talk during your videos.
And the inner German was even more powerful. Some sections of the Wall should have been left intact so younger people like. you could have truly understood its power.
I used to live at a uni off the northern end of this track and took it all the way from Kimball to the Loop to get to work. It's sooooo pretty. Now I'm mostly stuck with the blue line, so I just take buses 😅
I just left from Chicago this afternoon and now I’m back home. I stayed at my uncle/grandma’s apartment every night in the Lakeview neighborhood and I would have to ride the brown line between Wellington and the loop whenever I’m headed to downtown. They both live the closest to that stop. My grandpa and great uncle lived together in an apartment over by the Western station in Lincoln Square.
Kedzie (which we skipped over walking between Francisco and Kimball) was my station when I used to live in Chicago. I loved getting to start every morning with the views the Brown Line offers. I would either transfer to the Red Line at Belmont to get off at Clark/Division, or if I had time and the weather was nice I would stay on the Brown Line until Chicago/Franklin and have a longer walk to work.
I am probably biased in saying this, as it is the rail line I've ridden the most. Regardless, I'd say the brown line is one of the best transit experiences in any city period. The views are spectacular in every section. (No subway sections, or freight sections which tend to obstruct the views in some parts, nor median sections where the station placements leave a lot to be desired.). Additionally, every seat is comfortable, and many allow you to look out the window (and put your head above the air vents). Lastly, the stations are all reasonably spaced (for the most part, would be nice to have a Division station or one between Armitage and Sedgewick. The Wellington station is also weird, but I understand it due to the hospital.) The purple line is similar, but it is a far shorter experience.
Ah this brings me back to my days at DePaul going between campuses in the Loop and Lincoln Park. If I wanted to get somewhere fast to the Loop Campus, I take the Red Line, but if I wanted to take the scenic route, I just take the Brown Line just like you said.
There was, also, what fans once called the "Ravenston" trains, which would start and end their day on what is now known as the Purple Line (Formerly Evanston Express) turning into Ravenswood (Brown Line) trips in between. Though covid changed some things, the rush hour trips on the Brown Line featured (and may still, albeit perhaps at slightly longer headways) the most frequent train service on CTA: every 3 minutes!
Years ago on what we then called the Ravenswood line, there was a janitor's closet in the Montrose station. I'm not sure of the educational requirements they had for janitors then, but the doorknob on the closet had a very smart looking curved-arrow decal with the operational instructions, "Turn." I'm sure someone was grateful for the guidance.
I really liked that video! Kind of a small trip report, everybody who lives in or visits Chicago can do. I never did, but it is on my bucket list now! Also, the L also kinda reminded me to the "Kleinprofil" (small profile) lines of the Berlin U-Bahn (U1, U2, U3 and U4). Especially the U2 (the oldest line), which is placed on viaducts for a good amount of the total lenght of the line. Also, the trains are kinda small as well. Having a piece of the Berlin Wall in a neighborhood with many ppl with german heritage on a line which shares some similarities with the Berlin U -Bahn is kinda wild for me... But I am also kinda shocked how run down many parts of the L are. There is rust everywhere. And the amount of wood everywhere used is kinda stunning for me as an european viewer. And I am happy you explained the whole Berlin situation for the american viewers. ;-)
When my friends from Europe came to the U.S., I specifically made riding the Brown Line apart of our itinerary just so they could get the alternate "Skyscraper Tour". Don't know why the Chicago River tour gets all the hype. Along with the skyline, you get such a living picture of the city out the window & the passengers on the train.
A somewhat obscure tidbit is that the streetcar Loop downtown predated the Loop Elevated, and was the source of the name, although the streetcars (some of which were originally cable-hauled as in San Francisco, as well as the ubiquitous horse-cars) are now long gone from downtown Chicago.
That the name loop came from streetcars is a myth not supported by any evidence. The first known examples of the use of the name Loop happen after the L was built.
I wish you showed off the neighborhood around Francisco a lot more it shows how unique of a rail line the CTA Brown is. Now I want to go up and snap a shot of the Berlin Wall.
Sold! Gonna have to research foodie places along the route but with all these neighbourhoods, that should be easy. There must surely be a site listing all the locations of pieces of Die Mauer, there were a couple of segments in my local shopping centre in SE London for a while. Thanks for the clip! \m/
One of the unique things about Chicago L is, that as tourists we can ride the trains and view the iconic Chicagoan skyscrapers right next to them at the same time. Not so many cities can offer that. And the Brown line is the best line to enjoy that advantage, since it is the only line that covers both the Loop and the near north area of downtown. If I have another chance to visit the city again, taking the Brown line again would be definitely in my bucket list.
We were in Chicago for a few days, wondered around like lost in the fog. It would been too cool to have you for a tour guide, to show us a thing or two
Mauersegmente made it everywhere in the world as a gift from the Berlin senate, also in Montreal, I found one segment: Centre de Commerce Mondial. The Newseum in DC even had a former GDR watchtower from checkpoint charlie.
@@Thom-TRA indeed. I grew up on a farm in Iowa were your neighbors were around a mile away and the closest town was 300 people. Now to work in a building that holds up to 25,000 people a day is mind boggling. The think I like the most about working that high is I can follow trains from downtown up to 45 miles away
Rode the Brown Line out to Fran to Rail Francisco for Railfaning during the 75 Anniversary celebration back in 2022. Definitely one of the better routes thanks to scenery.
We had friends with an old home in Lakeview. It predated the brown line which meant the train took a dogleg around the house. You could practically touch the trains as they riled past their son’s bedroom.
Very weird to have a third rail rapid transit line run at grade with grade crossings. Every other such line I know of avoids grade crossings. I live your zoo there! The pink flamingos are beautiful and the lion cubs are such adorable kittens! 🥰
The view from the platform at Damen is quite charming, and I highly recommend it. Western station has a cool artifact, but I personally think it's an otherwise hideous-looking station. I hear you about using the red line for speed. Getting from the Loop to the North Side on the red line is way faster, and transferring to the brown at Fullerton or Belmont is a good plan. The red line does get quite crowded, though, and probably has more...behavioral issues, let's say, than other lines. The brown line is quite chill to ride, if a bit slow close in. Oh, and the views from the new overpass after Belmont are quite good as the train goes so high.
Once upon a time the Western station had a brown-brick (like the brick at the front of the Damen station) ground level small concourse that had several shops in it: very old fashioned and I miss it. At least when the CTA enlarged all the Brown line stations to facilitate eight cars, they kept the original brick structure at Damen ("my" station for the last 42 years). For over twenty five years before that, I grew up within a few blocks of the Francisco station. In my stupid youth one of our tests of courage was to sneak into the ground level fencing and walk over the old river bridge (which was all wood back then). I have seen several accidents where some even bigger idiot drove around the barriers when a train was coming and get smashed, with at least one death back around 1972 or so. And , of course, every few years, some doofus comes out of one the bars along Kedzie Avenue and decides to be cool by relieving himself on the ground level third rail. Think serious Ouch! Thankful for this and all these videos, including the Metra ones. Pat, in Chicago
i remember going to Western one day and being so surprised that there was just a piece of the Berlin Wall just sitting there. I had to google it and i just sat there for like 10 minutes just wondering why the hell it was there. Anyways, great video as always!
I am originally from Chicago. I never really paid attention to the Brown Line until one day I decided to go to the National Cambodian Cultural Museum in Chicago. The closest station is Francisco. What surprised me the most was the train and station being at grade, and not elevated.
I don’t know exactly when this was done, but some of the 34XX cars with pantographs had them removed early, before 2000, and were assigned to the Ravenswood/Brown Line by then. They would occasionally show up on the Evanston line also.
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oh cool, a whole video dedicated to the line I work on, yeah the views are great, I recommend also going over the river around christmas time at night, lots of lights, very festive.
Christmas in Chicago is great!
@Thom-TRA yeah, I wish I had been able to get good footage of the lights from the cab, the views are way better than you get from the sides
this channel is like tourist recommendations for public transit enthusiasts. I love it!
That’s exactly my goal! Combining all the things I care about
Francisco is my favorite station on the entire L without a doubt, it just feels really cozy and welcoming compared to most other stations built in Chicago around that time
It feels like you’re in a different city
Do you have any recommendations for good lunch spots near that station?
@bryan2742 When you get off in Francisco Station on Francisco Street, I highly recommend you First Slice Manor. Yummy sandwiches, good and healthy food.
Definitely, I fell in love with the neighborhood, the first time I had to go to the area. Few months later, we moved to Ravenswood Manor.
Me to
Amazing views! Truly a ride on the Brown Line is a love letter to the city. So cool that there's a piece of the Berlin Wall in a Brown Line station of all places! In NYC, you can find pieces of the Berlin Wall at the UN Sculpture Garden (a big segment), Kowsky Plaza in Battery Park City, and Ripley's Believe It or Not Times Square! In Orlando, Florida, there's one next to the Hard Rock Cafe at Universal Orlando resort. Having a segment of the Berlin Wall at a theme park resort sounds weird, but the message of having it at the Hard Rock has great symbolism. Rock-and-roll is about letting your spirit run free and doing what your heart believes than what society wants you to be!
Love the flamingos, and the cubs are adorable! The Lincoln Park Zoo was founded in 1868, when commissioners of the park were given two pairs of swans from NYC's Central Park! Other animals from NYC were soon donated. In 1874, a bear cub from the Philadelphia Zoo was the first animal purchased by the zoo, and the bear became known for being an escape artist, frequently escaping and roaming the park at night! The first American bison born in captivity was born at that zoo ten years later, and they were so successful that in 1896, the US government purchased one bull and seven cows from the Zoo's bison herd to send to Yellowstone to help the species' survival in the wild.
Wow, Lincoln Park zoo saving the environment!
ikr@@Thom-TRA
Ah yes, a heavy rail train at-grade...that's a pretty weird light rail you got there 😉😂. That carpet-style mosaic at Francisco station is a nice touch to an already unique station! The Chicago Temple's Sky Chapel was created in 1952 as a gift from the Walgreen family in memory of Charles Walgreen, the founder of the eponymous pharmacy chain! As mentioned, it was the tallest building in Chicago from 1924 until 1930, when it was surpassed by the Chicago Board of Trade Building. The Board of Trade Building was surpassed by the Richard J. Daley Center in 1965, in turn surpassed by the John Hancock Center in 1969, and then of course the Sears/Willis Tower in 1973.
Fullerton Ave is named after Alexander N. Fullerton, a lawyer, politician, lumber tycoon, and real estate owner who moved to Chicago from Vermont in 1833. He was one of the first three lawyers in the city, and helped Chicago take its first baby steps as Fullerton was one of 28 voters who met on August 10, 1833 to incorporate settlement of Chicago as a town. Chicago would incorporate as a city in March 1837. Diversey is named after German-born businessman and brewer, Michael Diversy, owner of the Lill & Diversy Brewery Company. It was the largest American brewery outside of New York until it was destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. Though his name is spelt differently for the street.
You know, Fullerton was my station and the whole time, I never bothered to look up where the name came from!
One minor addition: in the tallest buildings list, after the Board of Trade was the Prudential Building. Board of Trade observation deck was wonderful because you could be that high and outside, whereas Prudential was enclosed.
If I'm not mistaken (happened once before) they almost closed the Brown Line in the late 1970's because of low ridership. Also the platforms on the entire line could only acommodate 6 cars instead of the 8 cars of the rest of the system. CTA wisely spent some money to upgrade. Best line in Chicago!
I’ve spent most of my adult life near the Brown Line. Used to live right next to it by the Southport stop but then we moved about 10 blocks west to Roscoe Village. The next stop west, Paulina, is our stop now. It’s part of our life but we don’t take it for granted. It’s the most beautiful line on the CTA.
It was the brown line that taught me how to correctly pronounce Paulina
Another great video, Thom!
You mentioned the third track at Western. Several of the "L" lines had a third track running down the center. This was originally built to facilitate express trains during rush hour, like they have on several lines in New York, especially on the B division, the old BMT. Complicated patterns of local and express service could be run on those lines, such as the Lake Street line, and the South Side main line, today's Green line. This was not a perfect solution, however, since when the expresses got to the Loop downtown, they had to run local (or deadhead) back to the outer end of the line. These express patterns were so complicated that I've never seen a map of them, although I have read that the Lake Street line had four different express trains including the fastest that ran non-stop between Austin or Cicero and the Loop.
When the CTA took over, one of the simplifications they made was to abolish these express services (all but the Evanston Express, today's Purple Line Express). To replace them, a young civil engineer at the CTA, Graham Garfield, helped invent skip-stop service. In this pattern, alternate trains were labeled A and B trains. The less-busy stations were labeled A and B stations. The A trains of course stopped at the A stations, the B trains at the B stations. The busiest stations (like Western, for example) were called all stop stations, where both A and B trains stopped. With the express services discontinued, the center tracks were used to store trains that were out of service, or the tracks were unused or torn up.
Before the subway opened, all the north side lines (Red, Purple, and Brown) used the circuitous elevated line between Fullerton and the Loop. The line was four tracks wide in those days, between Chicago Avenue and Howard. South of Chicago Avenue, it was a two-track bottleneck. Generally, Howard and Evanston trains ran express on the inside tracks, while Ravenswood trains ran local on the outside tracks, making a lot more stops than there are now. You can see some of the express stops today (Belmont, Fullerton, and Sedgwick for example) by their transfer-platform configuration.
The trouble with this express and local pattern is caused by changing ridership patterns. While it is relatively easy to downgrade a station from express to local-only service (the express trains just don't stop there anymore), it is complicated and expensive to add new platforms to add express service to a station.
So, how did the line get named and signed Brown? I've heard several theories. First, because it was a generally well-to-do area, brick homes and apartments in the area had reddish-brown bricks at least facing the street, instead of the less-expensive yellow bricks that might be used elsewhere. Second theory, stations were painted brown. But that was true on other lines, too. Third, the marker lights on the front of the train were red and green, as they still are. And if you mix red and green paint, you get brown. (Of course, if you mix red and green light, you get yellow light, so that theory may not work so well.)
I never realized the old companies ran express trains! I knew about the skip-stop: planning to ride the J & Z in New York someday
Let me save you a trip. Skip-stop service on the J & Z was discontinued a few months ago. Skip-stop in Chicago is gone as it is in Philadelphia. Detect a pattern? Oh yes, someone wrote a college research paper about it, and discovered that skip-stop service doesn't save any time for most stations. The longer amount of time waiting for your train is more than the amount of time saved by the skip-stop service unless the headway is quite short. And even the Red Line doesn't have that kind of headways any more.
Still, I'll miss skip-stop service, or as it was called in Chicago, all-express service. I'll miss the different colored route signs and marker lights, and especially whishing through so many stations. That was fun!
@@rikkichunn8856 J and Z are still doing skip-stop. That hasn’t been discontinued.
@@Thom-TRA You are right, according to the latest subway map I could find, dated February of this year. I guess I had read somewhere that they were going to discontinue it, then maybe the riders petitioned them to keep it, and it's still there. But I fear the MTA will be trying to discontinue it every chance they get.
Who knew 😅 You do come up with some of the most random and fascinating videos. And I love them 🤩
Awwww adding this to my fan mail pile
TRA rocks Thom! Thanks for this very enjoyable and informative video. It's very nostalgic for me as I rode the Ravenswood "L" from the Adams & Wabash station in the Loop all the way out to Kimball and Lawrence Avenue to visit Oma und Opa. They used to live very close to the Diversey Station making the Ravenswood "L" (Brown Line) my favorite). My other Oma lived a bit to the east on Diversey Parkway making this neighborhood my second home. There was a German delicatessen and German bakery within this area ser5ved by the Ravenswood stop at Diversey, I loved riding the "L" with you today that brought back so many wonderful memories for me. Vielen Dank Thom!
I had no idea this line was so personal to you! Thanks for sharing!
Love the video I live about 5 mins away from western brown line. I live 30 seconds away from the Rockwell brown line. If I go into my alley, the tracks are right there. I love going out there and watching trains.
We used to go to Rockwell a lot to visit the Eco & Flamingo store!
Love the neighborhoods off the Rockwell and Francisco stops. Great walking neighborhoods and the restaurant right of the Rockwell stop which bears the same name as the stop is very good.
Hi Neighbor
The one thing I’ll never forget hearing -
*ding dong*
Doors closing.
Bing bong bing bong bing
Thanks for the history lesson; I had no idea a piece of the Berlin Wall was there. When I visited Chicago for the first time, I had a layover at Chicago Union Station so I got on at Quincy and rode the Brown Line to pass the time. It was winter time but I remember the scenic ride going over the Chicago River, and I especially love the view of the elevated junction where the various lines break off from the loop.
Getting a seat in the back seat is always worth it to see all those complicated junctions!
Danke Thom! Tolles Video! Ein Stück Mauer in Chicago - seht interessant!
Thank you for your great content and for sharing your knowledge, impressions and enthusiasm. We really enjoy your videos. We learn a lot from them and we look forward to watching (and rewatching) them! K & L
Thank you so much for this generous gift. You are too kind. I hope you have a really great rest of your day :)
-Thom
Great ride on the NJ Transit River Line! Maybe someday, I'll ride it between Camden, NJ to Trenton, NJ. Thom, keep up the good work!❤
Thanks!
Thanks for another great video. I have only been to Chicago once, a winter honeymoon, which included a basketball game at DePaul University. I haven’t been back since but definitely enjoyed my time. Thanks for taking us to the neighborhoods. And the wall, wow!
I’d highly recommend going back someday! Maybe eat in the same places as your honeymoon :)
Brown line is awesome. My home was near the old North Shore Line at Dodge Avenue Station. My favorite station is Howard on the Red Line and always fascinated by the abandon Mayfair Cutoff very worth considering for a future episode or two. There are about seven abandoned old rail stations in Evanston and Skokie worth capturing. Ridge Avenue, Asbury Avenue, Dodge Avenue, Crawford, Kostner, Emerson, Greenwood Boulevard, Weber Yard, can be recognized only as small traces now, but tell a great history if you have the time.
I love exploring abandoned infrastructure like that so maybe next time!
Great ride. Some interesting neighborhoods too.
I lived in Chicago for a year. 1995. They still had a conductor onboard. Nothing was automated. The conductor operated the doors and made all the announcements. There was a window at the end of the car that they used to inspect the platform before and after they operated the doors.
The spookiest thing I experience on the L was standing on the Loop platform, waiting for an Orange Train to Midway Airport. A train from another line 'raced' from the station before, then braked hard as it entered the station I was in. You could feel the whole station platform lean in the direction of travel as the train stopped. Then it settled back to normal. One of those reminders of how old it is
I agree with you. The Brown Line is also my favorite. It definitely is the most scenic.
Thank You for your channel that provides a desperately needed education for people who are often looked- transit commuters. You are doing a service for all lucky enough to know this channel.
Spread the word!
14:52 I believe the middle track was used for express service
Brings back fond memories. Commuted from Armitage to Quincy for several years, then moved further North when my job moved to the NW Suburbs. Used Kimball whenever I needed to go downtown.
Lincoln Park is so nice
I don't often take public transport in Chicago anymore due to uni, but I've always been enamored by the views and recognizing places I've been/lived.
Im gonna put western staton on my bucket list for my Chicago trip (im going in a week)
#19:40 love watching the crossing gates lower
Thank you so much for this. I grew up in that Kimball neighborhood and I'm visiting Chicago shortly from Puerto Rico so it helped clear some doubts about the station and platform.
Thank you for this superb video ! The views of the City from the train are wonderful, and the whole route of the Brown line is fascinating.
I lived at Fullerton and Sheffield in the DePaul dorms above Dominicks (when it was around). Our apartment was right up against the tracks but it was never much of an issue. The sound proofing was quite good so with the windows closed you could barely hear anything. The other thing is that our building and many others simply don't have windows on that side which also helps. In any case, I really enjoyed living there and because our building had just a couple extra floors compared to others in the neighborhood, we had a clear view of the Chicago skyline from our apartment. Lot's of evenings just sitting and staring out the window.
We lived in the same neighborhood then! I lived closer to Clark street
I called the brown line the balloon ride because once you get out of the loop across the river, it’s like you’re in a balloon passing low over businesses and homes.
I like that
Hey, your in my neighborhood! I live 1 block away from the western brown line station. Love your channel!
Be honest, how often do you use the Dunkin there?
When I commuted from here for years I went almost every morning!
Thanks for the notice about that church downtown. I have seen it for years but never knew I could visit up there!
Only on Chicago monument day in October!
Bruh I agree with everything you said about the brown line, the comfort, solitude the quietness and the view is dope, like you said if I need to get there fast the deadline but if you have time the brown line, SALUTE
Another awesome video, Thom! I like how the London Underground use brown for the Bakerloo line as well
Bakerloo is also just a fun name to pronounce
I took the brown line once to go to a party. I went to a few years ago and I really enjoyed the view coming from Logan Square on the blue line into the loop to Chicago station via the brown line. One of my favorite views, and I had a great night at that party I went to at IO Godfrey, however that’s a whole different life changing story.
The Voice of the CTA is Lee Crooks so make sure to appreciate his voice of the CTA and i love trains and i love The CTA System the Brown Line is one of my favorite lines of the system
Thanks, another interesting well put together program.
I have been to Chicago many times but never stopped at Chicago Temple. Next time!
Loved the Berlin Wall piece. That is so cool!
I live right in between the Damen Brown Line and the Argyle Red Line stations, so it takes me about 20 minutes to walk to either. I really enjoy taking the Brown line and sitting in the back of the train on the seats facing back, for a view like no other! Those railroad crossings are always special to me and walking the neighborhood in Lincoln Square is awesome! Nice video!
Nice! I’m sure you’ll agree: brown for the experience, red if you need to get downtown fast
This vlog was just awesome as the Brown line is my favorite, too. This video was one of my favorites of all you have done. We live pretty close to the Irving Park station. Thank you for featuring the Chicago Temple and the piece of the Berlin Wall. I learned so much from this video about the history of the Brown line!!! Awesome!!!
You live in a nice area! I lived by Fullerton. We were pretty close!
This is easily up there with my favorite of all your videos that I've watched so far. The history you tell is fascinating and amazing. That high-rise church is just beyond belief! I can really see why you enjoyed your time in Chicago, and I could see myself really loving living in a city like this.
Every city has its ups and downs, but if you know where to look, Chicago can be quite great!
Love this! My wife is originally from Chicagoland and I love to learn about where she grew up. Thank you for the ride.
Definitely go for a ride next time you’re there!
I rode the Brown Line from Kimball Station after getting off of the 82 bus down kimball Avenue from Logan Square, I rode all of the Brown Line outside of the Loop and I loved the views that you got near the near north side and river north and Lincoln Park. I also loved the fact that the train at some points is just inches away from people’s home. I wonder if those homes are considered expensive they have the L in their backyard or if they are cheap because people might not like hearing trains go by in their backyard
I used to live in Albany Park and took the Brown line from Kimball or Kedzie all the time. Now I''m in Roger's Park, but may make a special trip to the Western station. You certainly appreciate Chicago more that most locals.
Now I know why you like ELs. I should have watched this one first before the Miami metromover vid. Good Job! nice balance of your narrative and photography-- great scenery. The Brown line does seem VERY fascinating. thanks for this.
Brown line is my favorite!
I've been to Chicago once and loved it. I need to go back! The Museum of Science and Industry was my favorite place to visit.
It’s a nice museum down by the water over there!
Great video full of passion. Cool to see a part of the Berlin wall. In 1984 and 1986 i "went through" the wall at Checkpoint Charlie to visit East Berlin.
Wow! I’ve only been through checkpoint Charlie post Cold War, obviously. Must have been kind of scary!
I was not scared, but you had total respect for the East German border control. One stupid move and you could have a big problem.
Thom, you just gave me something to do on my next trip to Chicago. Last year when I went to Chicago to see family that i haven't seen in a long time. I spent my Saturday going through Wrigley Field then taking a bus from there to the Addison Brown Line station. Then taking the Brown Line down to Belmont To take pictures and see the new Ravenswood flyover there. I do agree riding the Brown Line is very scenic seeing the skyline of chicago even coming down to the loop. I have heard of a piece of the Berlin Wall in Chicago. I never knew where it was. But now that your video had shown me, that's another place to go!
Happy travels!
It *has* been awhile since I’ve been on the Brown line. I’ll have an overnight self made layover in Chicago coming home from a trip next month, maybe I’ll remember to visit that relic while I’m in town ❤
We do have a brown line here in Singapore, but it's not officially called the brown line - rather it's named after two places it serves. Very nice video!
Thanks! It’s been so long since I’ve been to Singapore
The Brown Line is my favorite CTA line too, partly because I have relatively little reason to ride other lines when I visit Chicago. Happens I have a friend who lives in Albany Park, close to the Kimball terminal. Lots of good restaurants representing cuisines of the world. But I haven't had any reason so far to stop and explore any of the other stops on the line. Now, thanks to your video, I will plan to do so next time!
There’s so much to see and do!
My old neighborhood! Glad to hear you enjoy the restaurants while visiting our city :)
It’s so funny because Chicago is what started my love of subways, particularly the red line which is one of only two of the city’s underground lines. This despite the fact that Chicago is world famous for having its downtown trains run *not* as subways
PS: Lee Crooks is the GOAT. Best transit announcer ever (Julie Berry from London Underground is a close second)
Lee Crooks is what I miss the most about not taking the L anymore. There are a lot of things I don’t miss, but dang, do I wish the DC metro would use his voice instead of robot-lady.
In addition to trains that would change between Ravenswood/Brown and Midway/Orange Lines in the Loop, there were also some services that originated and terminated on the Evanston/Purple Line, called ‘Ravenston’ trains. Like the others, they would also change identities in the Loop.
Awesome coincidence, when I was last in Chicago in October 2022 I got off at Francisco to film some of the grade crossing action 😊 I filmed the back end, though, at Sacramento. I had to reef my first video on the platform because my roommate got into a loud argument on the phone with his cell phone provider, but I was able to get some good catches on the street regardless. I love the Ravenswood/Brown Line the most as well, with the Pink a close second.
Another great video.
I wish you would’ve discuss the brown line extension >> Kimble >> Elston >> Montrose. Transfer to blue line to O’Hare.
Also, you still use a transit card? I encourage all riders to simple use your tap phone at the fare gate.
www.cmap.illinois.gov/2050/mobility/regionally-significant-projects/unconstrained
That extension won’t happen any time soon. Fantasy is not relevant to the video.
And of course I use a transit card. Not only is it fun to collect, it allows me to film since I use my phone for filming. And I prefer having some things physical rather than digital.
I remember visiting that section at Western Brown with the Berlin Wall attached to it. I think it was for a German class field trip in high school, since I definitely remember my classmates all stopping at the Dunkin' Donuts right across the way afterwards. (I think I did, too.) XD
Fantastic job! Thank you!
Thank you so much!
This was also my favorite CTA line when I lived in Chicago, but if you lived and worked off the Brown Line like I did, it was also the most frustrating. Long headway times and running only 4-car trains at off-times, your station being passed by the next train deciding to run express, the stretch of slow and winding track before and after the Loop (and before the flyover was built, having to stop at Belmont forever waiting to cross over the Red Line).
Yeah the headways have gotten even worse, if you can believe it. But I’ve never seen short trains thankfully.
Western Ave. is the longest street in Chicago. In fact, you can get 3 bus routes and 5 EL stations ( 2 of them are on the blue line 1 on the O'hare branch, 1 on the Congress branch, 1 on the orange line on the southwest side of the city and 1 on the pink line which used to be part of the blue line.
Watching you from New York, the Brown Line may be historical, but it looks nice.💙
Welcome back. John in Chicago
Thanks John!
I visited Chicago in December and stayed at an airbnb directly beside the brown/red/purple line between Belmont and Wellington and I loved it, though the trains did make it a lil hard to sleep.
Great area to stay in!
Love the video! I used to live just off the Damen stop and commuted to Merchandise Mart for a few years until recent Major World Events happened. Practically a door-to-door ride. I miss that commute a lot, the view never got old. Chicago's Oktoberfest is held right off the Western stop too, which always is an amazing time!
Especially the Merchandise Mart stop, you can just walk right in!
Thom, your documentation on the history of the brown line is great. Since the Berlin Mauer came down in 1989 you didn’t get to experience the full impact. Multiply walls with guard towers and a death strip. It was lit-up 24/7 and the East German DDR’s propaganda was the wall was to keep people from the West out. I enjoy your history as you talk during your videos.
I definitely studied the wall to death in school though
And the inner German was even more powerful. Some sections of the Wall should have been left intact so younger people like. you could have truly understood its power.
That said the Berlin Wall should never have been built
@@charmersifybut I think the idea of keeping sections of it in Berlin as a reminder is a good one.
I used to live at a uni off the northern end of this track and took it all the way from Kimball to the Loop to get to work. It's sooooo pretty. Now I'm mostly stuck with the blue line, so I just take buses 😅
Great video, well produced, thank you.
Thank you very much!
I just left from Chicago this afternoon and now I’m back home. I stayed at my uncle/grandma’s apartment every night in the Lakeview neighborhood and I would have to ride the brown line between Wellington and the loop whenever I’m headed to downtown. They both live the closest to that stop. My grandpa and great uncle lived together in an apartment over by the Western station in Lincoln Square.
I hope your trip went well!
@@Thom-TRA Yeah thanks it was awesome but I’m glad to be back. I’ll probably go again in a few months.
Kedzie (which we skipped over walking between Francisco and Kimball) was my station when I used to live in Chicago. I loved getting to start every morning with the views the Brown Line offers. I would either transfer to the Red Line at Belmont to get off at Clark/Division, or if I had time and the weather was nice I would stay on the Brown Line until Chicago/Franklin and have a longer walk to work.
I am probably biased in saying this, as it is the rail line I've ridden the most. Regardless, I'd say the brown line is one of the best transit experiences in any city period. The views are spectacular in every section. (No subway sections, or freight sections which tend to obstruct the views in some parts, nor median sections where the station placements leave a lot to be desired.). Additionally, every seat is comfortable, and many allow you to look out the window (and put your head above the air vents). Lastly, the stations are all reasonably spaced (for the most part, would be nice to have a Division station or one between Armitage and Sedgewick. The Wellington station is also weird, but I understand it due to the hospital.)
The purple line is similar, but it is a far shorter experience.
It’s the best except for the slow speeds and terrible frequencies. If they can fix the frequencies that would be amazing.
Ah this brings me back to my days at DePaul going between campuses in the Loop and Lincoln Park. If I wanted to get somewhere fast to the Loop Campus, I take the Red Line, but if I wanted to take the scenic route, I just take the Brown Line just like you said.
It’s Chicago’s worst-kept secret!
Welcome back Thom!👍🏻 Brown Line.. “scenic” CTA ( unless you think the Skokie Swift is lol…)
Oh god those ground level tracks look scary with the 3rd rail just sitting there.
Lived off the Brown Line for 4 years. I miss it.
I miss it the most out of all the L lines
There was, also, what fans once called the "Ravenston" trains, which would start and end their day on what is now known as the Purple Line (Formerly Evanston Express) turning into Ravenswood (Brown Line) trips in between.
Though covid changed some things, the rush hour trips on the Brown Line featured (and may still, albeit perhaps at slightly longer headways) the most frequent train service on CTA: every 3 minutes!
The brown line definitely does not feature the most frequent service anymore. It’s one of the worst now.
Years ago on what we then called the Ravenswood line, there was a janitor's closet in the Montrose station. I'm not sure of the educational requirements they had for janitors then, but the doorknob on the closet had a very smart looking curved-arrow decal with the operational instructions, "Turn." I'm sure someone was grateful for the guidance.
Meanwhile people stare in confusion as a man standing in front of the closet is turning his body in circles hoping the door will open.
@@Thom-TRA VERY good 😂😂🤣🤣🤣
I really liked that video! Kind of a small trip report, everybody who lives in or visits Chicago can do. I never did, but it is on my bucket list now!
Also, the L also kinda reminded me to the "Kleinprofil" (small profile) lines of the Berlin U-Bahn (U1, U2, U3 and U4). Especially the U2 (the oldest line), which is placed on viaducts for a good amount of the total lenght of the line. Also, the trains are kinda small as well. Having a piece of the Berlin Wall in a neighborhood with many ppl with german heritage on a line which shares some similarities with the Berlin U -Bahn is kinda wild for me...
But I am also kinda shocked how run down many parts of the L are. There is rust everywhere. And the amount of wood everywhere used is kinda stunning for me as an european viewer.
And I am happy you explained the whole Berlin situation for the american viewers. ;-)
The L lines are basically heavy rail trains that run on infrastructure built for streetcars. That’s why they’re so small. Tschüss!
When my friends from Europe came to the U.S., I specifically made riding the Brown Line apart of our itinerary just so they could get the alternate "Skyscraper Tour". Don't know why the Chicago River tour gets all the hype. Along with the skyline, you get such a living picture of the city out the window & the passengers on the train.
The brown line should really market itself better as the way to really see the city
A somewhat obscure tidbit is that the streetcar Loop downtown predated the Loop Elevated, and was the source of the name, although the streetcars (some of which were originally cable-hauled as in San Francisco, as well as the ubiquitous horse-cars) are now long gone from downtown Chicago.
That the name loop came from streetcars is a myth not supported by any evidence. The first known examples of the use of the name Loop happen after the L was built.
I wish you showed off the neighborhood around Francisco a lot more it shows how unique of a rail line the CTA Brown is. Now I want to go up and snap a shot of the Berlin Wall.
I think I put in quite a few clips of the neighborhood to be honest
Sold! Gonna have to research foodie places along the route but with all these neighbourhoods, that should be easy. There must surely be a site listing all the locations of pieces of Die Mauer, there were a couple of segments in my local shopping centre in SE London for a while. Thanks for the clip! \m/
By Armitage and Fullerton, check out the Angry Octopus, Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder, and the Bourgeoisie Pig!
@@Thom-TRAoh wow, thank you so much for the hints \m/
One of the unique things about Chicago L is, that as tourists we can ride the trains and view the iconic Chicagoan skyscrapers right next to them at the same time. Not so many cities can offer that. And the Brown line is the best line to enjoy that advantage, since it is the only line that covers both the Loop and the near north area of downtown. If I have another chance to visit the city again, taking the Brown line again would be definitely in my bucket list.
Definitely do it!
Thom, I actually like the door chimes on the CTA "L", those electronic bell sounds!!!
I think everyone loves those
Wow I never knew that about the stained windows.
very interesting video ! Thanks for sharing !!
You’re welcome!
We were in Chicago for a few days, wondered around like lost in the fog. It would been too cool to have you for a tour guide, to show us a thing or two
I’ve got lots more Chicago videos coming!
Mauersegmente made it everywhere in the world as a gift from the Berlin senate, also in Montreal, I found one segment: Centre de Commerce Mondial. The Newseum in DC even had a former GDR watchtower from checkpoint charlie.
I’ve lived here for two years. Never knew this, and I live off the brown line. Work off Quincy in the Willis tower on the 102nd floor.
Wow, what a cool place to work!
@@Thom-TRA indeed. I grew up on a farm in Iowa were your neighbors were around a mile away and the closest town was 300 people. Now to work in a building that holds up to 25,000 people a day is mind boggling.
The think I like the most about working that high is I can follow trains from downtown up to 45 miles away
you always makme it interesting
Totally awesome 💯 😎
I like that you can see my old house at the very end.... I miss it so much 😭
That’s cool!
Rode the Brown Line out to Fran to Rail Francisco for Railfaning during the 75 Anniversary celebration back in 2022. Definitely one of the better routes thanks to scenery.
We had friends with an old home in Lakeview. It predated the brown line which meant the train took a dogleg around the house. You could practically touch the trains as they riled past their son’s bedroom.
A cta lullaby
“It goes by so often you won’t even notice it.” Elwood Blues
Very cool
Very weird to have a third rail rapid transit line run at grade with grade crossings. Every other such line I know of avoids grade crossings.
I live your zoo there! The pink flamingos are beautiful and the lion cubs are such adorable kittens! 🥰
The Ginza line in Tokyo has one level crossing, the Rotterdam metro has one crossing with third rail, and the Oslo Metro has many!
@@Thom-TRA Thanks, Thom! 👍
The Berlin S-Bahn also has some level crossing like on the S5.
The view from the platform at Damen is quite charming, and I highly recommend it. Western station has a cool artifact, but I personally think it's an otherwise hideous-looking station. I hear you about using the red line for speed. Getting from the Loop to the North Side on the red line is way faster, and transferring to the brown at Fullerton or Belmont is a good plan. The red line does get quite crowded, though, and probably has more...behavioral issues, let's say, than other lines. The brown line is quite chill to ride, if a bit slow close in. Oh, and the views from the new overpass after Belmont are quite good as the train goes so high.
Gotta love 1980s architecture…
Once upon a time the Western station had a brown-brick (like the brick at the front of the Damen station) ground level small concourse that had several shops in it: very old fashioned and I miss it. At least when the CTA enlarged all the Brown line stations to facilitate eight cars, they kept the original brick structure at Damen ("my" station for the last 42 years). For over twenty five years before that, I grew up within a few blocks of the Francisco station. In my stupid youth one of our tests of courage was to sneak into the ground level fencing and walk over the old river bridge (which was all wood back then). I have seen several accidents where some even bigger idiot drove around the barriers when a train was coming and get smashed, with at least one death back around 1972 or so. And , of course, every few years, some doofus comes out of one the bars along Kedzie Avenue and decides to be cool by relieving himself on the ground level third rail. Think serious Ouch! Thankful for this and all these videos, including the Metra ones.
Pat, in Chicago
i remember going to Western one day and being so surprised that there was just a piece of the Berlin Wall just sitting there. I had to google it and i just sat there for like 10 minutes just wondering why the hell it was there. Anyways, great video as always!
Thanks!
Purple line to the skokie swift and ending up at a Starbucks for a coffee!!!!
I am originally from Chicago. I never really paid attention to the Brown Line until one day I decided to go to the National Cambodian Cultural Museum in Chicago. The closest station is Francisco. What surprised me the most was the train and station being at grade, and not elevated.
I didn’t realize there was a national Cambodian cultural museum!
That L train you see at 3:16 is being led by a pair of cars that were equipped with pantographs for the Yellow Line.
I don’t know exactly when this was done, but some of the 34XX cars with pantographs had them removed early, before 2000, and were assigned to the Ravenswood/Brown Line by then. They would occasionally show up on the Evanston line also.
Francisco mentioned!!