You might notice that the Metra trains use "left hand running". This is different than almost every other U.S. railroad. There is a reason for it. The original Chicago & Northwestern railroad was originally single tracked with stations on the north side of the track. When double tracked, the second track had to be put on the south side of the existing track. Most commuters travel from the western suburbs eastbound in the morning, and westbound to go home in the afternoon. They tend to arrive at the stations and wait awhile for their train to Chicago to arrive (eastbound train). It is best to be able to wait in the station, especially in winter time. When going home from Chicago (westbound train), they immediately go to their car or get picked up or immediately walk home. So, the eastbound trains are left running and therefore the westbound trains must also be. For westbound trains in the past, there was usually just a little canopy or perhaps a small enclosed waiting area. Here at the Oak Park stop, there used to be a very large station on the north side of the tracks. And a small narrow waiting area structure on the south edge of the embankment (where the CTA L trains now run),
As noted, first suburb west, but STRAIGHT west from downtown if traveling on streets from Roosevelt Road on the south border up to North Avenue on the north border (such as mainly Madison Ave. or Lake Street). There are other suburbs south of Oak Park that are adjacent to Chicago and not as far west. The elevated trains you see, the "green line", are the "Lake Street L. Lake street is one block north of this location in Oak Park, but in Chicago, the train runs elevated above Lake Street. This video is generally looking south and the street along the south edge of the embankment is "South Blvd". For many years, the L ran at street level next to the embankment down South Blvd. This meant that for the many streets that passed under the embankment, crossing gates were needed. They were all manually operated and staffed 24-7 with men in little, tiny shacks, one at each set of gates. They rang a loud bell before lowering the gates. Some had a big "gong" type bell like used to start a boxing match - only bigger and louder. Some had a small version of a locomotive style swinging bell. They had little coal burning potbellied stoves for heat in the winter. At Laramie Street in Chicago there was a steep grade that took the L trains up to the elevated platform for the rest of the way to downtown Chicago. Eventually, the street running section was moved up on top of the embankment to eliminate the street running and grade crossings. The Chicago & Northwestern railroad (now Union Pacific) repositioned tracks to make room for the CTA L tracks. The Lake Street L crosses over from the elevated structure onto the embankment at Laramie. Running on the embankment, as you see in this video, started in late 1962 (some online sources erroneously say 1967.) The Lake Street L goes back a long time having first opened in 1893.
You might notice that the Metra trains use "left hand running". This is different than almost every other U.S. railroad. There is a reason for it. The original Chicago & Northwestern railroad was originally single tracked with stations on the north side of the track. When double tracked, the second track had to be put on the south side of the existing track. Most commuters travel from the western suburbs eastbound in the morning, and westbound to go home in the afternoon. They tend to arrive at the stations and wait awhile for their train to Chicago to arrive (eastbound train). It is best to be able to wait in the station, especially in winter time. When going home from Chicago (westbound train), they immediately go to their car or get picked up or immediately walk home. So, the eastbound trains are left running and therefore the westbound trains must also be. For westbound trains in the past, there was usually just a little canopy or perhaps a small enclosed waiting area. Here at the Oak Park stop, there used to be a very large station on the north side of the tracks. And a small narrow waiting area structure on the south edge of the embankment (where the CTA L trains now run),
Just there today
Sweet! Any idea when the flags will be running the Red Line or Pink Line?
No, sorry. I've only seen them on the Green Line, but I'll do a little research to see if I can find any details on that.
Awesome. Thanks!
Metra MP36 407 I looked on the web, but nothing came up besides a couple videos of it on the green line. Sorry I couldn’t find anything else!
Chicago area?
Oak Park is the first suburb west of chicago. Oak Park Station Complex also includes the CTA Green Line’s western terminus (Harlem/Lake).
Ohh ok thanks for the info
Echo5562 no problem
As noted, first suburb west, but STRAIGHT west from downtown if traveling on streets from Roosevelt Road on the south border up to North Avenue on the north border (such as mainly Madison Ave. or Lake Street). There are other suburbs south of Oak Park that are adjacent to Chicago and not as far west. The elevated trains you see, the "green line", are the "Lake Street L. Lake street is one block north of this location in Oak Park, but in Chicago, the train runs elevated above Lake Street. This video is generally looking south and the street along the south edge of the embankment is "South Blvd". For many years, the L ran at street level next to the embankment down South Blvd. This meant that for the many streets that passed under the embankment, crossing gates were needed. They were all manually operated and staffed 24-7 with men in little, tiny shacks, one at each set of gates. They rang a loud bell before lowering the gates. Some had a big "gong" type bell like used to start a boxing match - only bigger and louder. Some had a small version of a locomotive style swinging bell. They had little coal burning potbellied stoves for heat in the winter. At Laramie Street in Chicago there was a steep grade that took the L trains up to the elevated platform for the rest of the way to downtown Chicago. Eventually, the street running section was moved up on top of the embankment to eliminate the street running and grade crossings. The Chicago & Northwestern railroad (now Union Pacific) repositioned tracks to make room for the CTA L tracks. The Lake Street L crosses over from the elevated structure onto the embankment at Laramie. Running on the embankment, as you see in this video, started in late 1962 (some online sources erroneously say 1967.) The Lake Street L goes back a long time having first opened in 1893.