St. Charles Air Line, eastern part (Chicago, Illinois)

USA / Illinois / Chicago / Chicago, Illinois
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This is the eastern part of the St. Charles Air Line Railroad. Please see the western St. Charles Air Line polygon for details about that part.

The line begins under the convention center, where it flies over the 4-track Metra Electric line. It runs north up to 16th street, then east to the 16th street crossing. Lastly, it runs over the bascule bridge--a prominent iron structure that can be seen from downtown--the flies over Canal Street to join the UP/BNSF mainline.

Freight traffic will likely cease in 2009, as CN reroutes traffic over the former EJE. At this point, Amtrak will be the sole user of this track.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   41°51'29"N   87°37'23"W

Comments

  • March 2010, say freight train waiting to cross Metra Rock Island tracks while communting on Metra.
  • Despite the forecast (of closure in 2009) the line is still very much in use in late 2013.....
This article was last modified 15 years ago