User:Lost on Belmont/Avenue station

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Avenue
A Chicago and Northwestern commuter train passes by the CTA and abandoned Northwestern stations at Oak Park Avenue in 1968. The weed-covered inbound platform and stairway are visible at far left.
General information
LocationOak Park Ave. and North Blvd.
Oak Park, Illinois 60301
Coordinates41°53′14″N 87°47′39″W / 41.8873°N 87.7942°W / 41.8873; -87.7942
Line(s)
Platforms2 side platforms
Tracks3
History
ClosedDecember 1, 1958
Services
Preceding station Chicago and North Western Railway Following station
Oak Park
toward Geneva
Galena Division Ridgeland
toward Chicago

Avenue was a commuter railroad station on the Chicago and North Western Railway's Galena Division, now the Union Pacific / West Line. The station was located at Oak Park Avenue and North Boulevard, in Oak Park, Illinois. Avenue closed on December 1, 1958, as part of an effort by the Chicago and North Western to close twenty two stations within the city of Chicago and the close-in suburbs.

History[edit]

By the 1950s, Chicago and North Western management began to reassess its commuter service and came to the conclusion that the road could be operated more economically and efficiently by closing stations in and near Chicago and focusing on suburban and long-haul traffic.[1] In June of 1958, the company went before the Illinois Commerce Commission requesting permission to abandon more than twenty stops, alter train schedules, revise its ticketing structure, and raise fares on monthly tickets.[2] On November 14, the ICC ruled in favor of granting the majority of the North Western’s requests,[3] including the closure of the Avenue station.[4] The fare increase and service alterations went into effect on December 1, 1958,[5] and Avenue was abandoned along with twenty one other stations either in or near Chicago on the Milwaukee, Galena, and Wisconsin Divisions.

After closure[edit]

Platforms remained, south tracks abandoned. CTA elevated Lake Street “L” onto CNW embankment. CTA moved ground level Oak Park station into this spot.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Wolfe, Sheila (June 15, 1958). "Riders Flay Plan to Shut Rail Depots". Chicago Tribune. p. 10, Part 3. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  2. ^ Wolfe, Sheila (June 15, 1958). "Riders Flay Plan to Shut Rail Depots". Chicago Tribune. p. 1, Part 3. Retrieved September 6, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ Unger, Rudolph (November 14, 1958). "Boost Affects 40,000 Daily". Chicago Tribune. p. 1. Retrieved September 6, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ Unger, Rudolph (November 14, 1958). "Boost Affects 40,000 Daily". Chicago Tribune. p. 8. Retrieved September 6, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ "Commuters in Chicago Must Pay More Now". De Kalb Daily Chronicle. DeKalb, Illinois. December 1, 1958. p. 1. Retrieved September 6, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon

Category:Former Chicago and North Western Railway stations Category:Railway stations in Illinois Category:Railway stations closed in 1958 Category:1958 disestablishments in Illinois