Early days of Chicago's "L"

Very cool!

Peter

Those were really cool. I love old photographs. Thanks.

Gotta love the old signage. Now I have to have a "Pressitorium"  on the layout.

those are great.  thanks

These old pictures are great!

Thank you, I am doing the same kind of research.  Hoping to produce an elevated line with city scene as a backdrop.  I think this can be a defining piece on anyone's layout.  They are so spectacular.  Good luck with your project. 

Having lived in the Chicago area for quite some time, it brings back memories.  Very interesting photographs.

Thank you, that is a very interesting site.

Great photos. I fond the second photo to be particularly interesting in that daily traffic didn't seem to be inconvenienced by construction activities. Thanks for posting. 

Jay - Great site with very nice old pictures.

Art

Sadly, a lot of the original structure is still there and rusting. Except the trains and the ticket conductors.

only place in the world to get a real Chicago style Italian roast beef sandwich w/peppers

you know the kind you have to lean forward to eat because they are so wet.

best place!! UNDER THE "L" ON CLARK STREET

**** wish i had not thought of that, been so long since i had one

now i am hungry

The first photo is of a steam engine running on Chicago's elevated train system.The only surviving steam engine is #9 at the St.Louis Transportation Museum.

The second photo is from a recent trip to the city to visit one of the many barcades that have opened the past few years.Taking the CTA el downtown to play pinball machines and drink micro-brewery beer on tap is a great way to spend a Sunday.

Dan 

Here is a photo of the #9 steam engine the CTA brought back from the St.Louis Transportation Museum in 1997 for the 100 year anniversary celebration of the CTA.

Dan

Thanks for posting, hope you keep posting more like this.

Rich in NH

Jay and Dan, thanks!  The "L" always added character and enjoyment to all of my trips to Chicago.  

Although I've been to the StL Transportation Museum many times, I never realized that there was a steam engine used on the "L".  I'll look for it next time, thanks. 

If you want to ride on track that is a piece of history,

Up in the Northern Suburb of Chicago: SKOKIE Illinois is the "Skokie Swift".

What is unique about it is that its route is a piece of the original NORTH SHORE LINE.

AT DEMPTSTER STREET the end of the line is an original restored Roman Brick train station converted into a Starbucks coffee place and its theme is the North Shore Line.

I have spoken to the owner and he is a BIG pro-Train fella. He has plans of adding some continuous running model trains in the future. I have taken my son there and riden the Skokie Swift many times then enjoyed a nice coffee at the Train Station!!!!