Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad (known as the Met or Polly "L") was the third elevated rapid transit
line to be built in Chicago, Illinois and was the first of Chicago’s elevated lines to be electrically powered. The line ran from downtown Chicago to Marshfield Avenue with branches to Logan Square
, Humboldt Park
, Garfield Park
, and Douglas Park (eventually extended to the suburb of Berwyn, Illinois
). Portions of the line survive as the Blue
and Pink
lines of the Chicago 'L'
system.
bound for the downtown terminal at Canal.
. The Chicago Transit Authority
took over the assets of the CRT in 1947. In 1952 the Douglas branch was shortened to its present terminal at 54/Cermak
and the Humboldt Park branch was closed. The construction of the Congress Street Super Highway (known today as the Eisenhower Expressway, I-290) required the demolition of the Garfield Park branch and the Main Line but also called for a replacement rapid transit line in the median of the expressway. In 1958 Garfield Service was replaced by the new Congress Line. Today the Douglas Park branch of the Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad and the remaining portion of the Northwest branch (now called the Paulina Connector) continues as the majority of the CTA's Pink Line
while the Logan Square branch continues on as part of the O'Hare branch of the Blue Line
.
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
line to be built in Chicago, Illinois and was the first of Chicago’s elevated lines to be electrically powered. The line ran from downtown Chicago to Marshfield Avenue with branches to Logan Square
Logan Square, Chicago
Logan Square is one of the 77 city-designated community areas located on the near northwest side of the City of Chicago. The name, used here to describe the community area defined by U.S. census tracts, also applies to one of a number of smaller, more loosely defined residential neighborhoods...
, Humboldt Park
Humboldt Park, Chicago
Humboldt Park is one of 77 officially designated community areas located on the northwest side of Chicago, Illinois. The Humboldt Park neighborhood is widely known for its large Puerto Rican presence...
, Garfield Park
Garfield Park, Chicago
Garfield Park, Chicago may refer to:*East Garfield Park, Chicago, a City of Chicago community area*West Garfield Park, Chicago, a City of Chicago community area...
, and Douglas Park (eventually extended to the suburb of Berwyn, Illinois
Berwyn, Illinois
Berwyn is a city in Cook County, Illinois, co-existent with Berwyn Township, which was formed in 1908 after breaking off from Cicero Township. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 54,016.-Demographics:...
). Portions of the line survive as the Blue
Blue Line (Chicago Transit Authority)
The Blue Line consists of a long trunk line in the Chicago Transit Authority's rapid transit system which extends through Chicago's Loop from O'Hare International Airport at the far northwest end of the city, through downtown via the Milwaukee-Dearborn subway, and across the West Side to its...
and Pink
Pink Line (Chicago Transit Authority)
The Pink Line is a rapid transit line in Chicago, run by the Chicago Transit Authority as part of the Chicago 'L' system. It began operation for a 180-day trial period on June 25, 2006, running between 54th/Cermak Station in Cicero, Illinois and the Loop in downtown Chicago...
lines of the Chicago 'L'
Chicago 'L'
The L is the rapid transit system serving the city of Chicago and some of its surrounding suburbs. It is operated by the Chicago Transit Authority...
system.
Operation
At 6 o'clock AM on May 7, 1895, the first train of the Metropolitan West Side Elevated left the Robey Street stationDamen (CTA Blue Line)
Damen is a station on the Chicago Transit Authority's 'L' system, serving the Blue Line. It serves the popular and growing Bucktown and Wicker Park neighborhoods...
bound for the downtown terminal at Canal.
Consolidation
In 1913 Chicago's four elevated railroad companies came together to form the Chicago Elevated Railways Collateral Trust establishing crosstown services for the first time, and in 1924 all four companies were formally united to form the Chicago Rapid Transit CompanyChicago Rapid Transit Company
The Chicago Rapid Transit Company was a privately owned firm providing rapid transit rail service in Chicago, Illinois and several adjacent communities between the years 1924 and 1947...
. The Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago Transit Authority, also known as CTA, is the operator of mass transit within the City of Chicago, Illinois and some of its surrounding suburbs....
took over the assets of the CRT in 1947. In 1952 the Douglas branch was shortened to its present terminal at 54/Cermak
54/Cermak (CTA)
54th/Cermak is a station on the Chicago Transit Authority's 'L' system, serving the Pink Line, and is the western terminus of this line. It is at Cermak Road between 54th and Laramie Avenues.-Bus connections:CTA* #21 Cermak...
and the Humboldt Park branch was closed. The construction of the Congress Street Super Highway (known today as the Eisenhower Expressway, I-290) required the demolition of the Garfield Park branch and the Main Line but also called for a replacement rapid transit line in the median of the expressway. In 1958 Garfield Service was replaced by the new Congress Line. Today the Douglas Park branch of the Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad and the remaining portion of the Northwest branch (now called the Paulina Connector) continues as the majority of the CTA's Pink Line
Pink Line (Chicago Transit Authority)
The Pink Line is a rapid transit line in Chicago, run by the Chicago Transit Authority as part of the Chicago 'L' system. It began operation for a 180-day trial period on June 25, 2006, running between 54th/Cermak Station in Cicero, Illinois and the Loop in downtown Chicago...
while the Logan Square branch continues on as part of the O'Hare branch of the Blue Line
Blue Line (Chicago Transit Authority)
The Blue Line consists of a long trunk line in the Chicago Transit Authority's rapid transit system which extends through Chicago's Loop from O'Hare International Airport at the far northwest end of the city, through downtown via the Milwaukee-Dearborn subway, and across the West Side to its...
.