Kenwood branch (CTA)
Encyclopedia
The Kenwood branch is a defunct rapid transit
line which was part of the Chicago 'L'
system. The branch served the Kenwood
neighborhood of Chicago
and consisted of six elevated stations. It opened on September 20, 1907 and closed on December 1, 1957.
station, which was a transfer point for the South Side Elevated
and Stock Yards branch. It ran eastward along two tracks to a terminal at 42nd Place and Oakenwald Avenue in Kenwood. A storage yard was located at the eastern end of the branch. The branch was built on a concrete embankment, which it shared with the Chicago Junction Railway
. Initially, service on the branch consisted primarily of 42nd Place-Indiana shuttles and 42nd Place-Loop locals; 42nd Place-Loop express trains were occasionally run. Loop service was eventually through-routed on the Ravenswood Line, and some trains were through-routed on the Stock Yards branch in the later years of the line.
built in 1864, which paralleled 40th Street between the Union Stock Yards and the Illinois Central Railroad
. The freight line began passenger service in 1882, which continued along the line until 1904. In 1903, the Chicago City Council
passed a measure to elevate the 40th Street line as part of an effort to remove grade crossings from Chicago railroads. The Chicago Junction Railway
was formed to bear the costs of the elevation, and the task of running passenger trains on the line shifted to the South Side Elevated Railroad
. The elevated Kenwood branch ultimately opened on September 20, 1907.
The new line led to increased residential development in Kenwood, a mostly white-collar neighborhood when the line opened. Crosstown service through the Ravenswood line began in 1913; in 1931, this service was changed to a Kenwood-Wilson
routing. Shuttle service on the line was discontinued between 1943 and 1949.
In the 1930s, the Chicago Junction Railway stopped regularly maintaining the branch due to financial difficulties; since it did not operate trains on the line, it cared little about its upkeep. The Chicago Rapid Transit Company
, which by then had taken control of operations, replied to the Chicago Junction's actions by refusing to pay rent on the line. The Chicago Junction took the CRT to eviction court over the matter; the Illinois Commerce Commission
initially ruled that the Chicago Junction had rights to operate on the line, but federal bankruptcy court
ultimately granted the CRT a stay on eviction. The CRT agreed to assume maintenance of the line and deducted maintenance costs from its rent. The CTA took over the line from the CRT in 1947. Ridership on the line began to fall in the early 1950s, and the line continued to deteriorate from the ongoing lack of maintenance. The CTA contemplated refurbishing the Kenwood branch in 1956, but the costs of modernizing the branch were prohibitive, and it ultimately closed the line on December 1, 1957.
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 which was part 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. The branch served the Kenwood
Kenwood, Chicago
Kenwood, located on the South Side of the City of Chicago, Illinois, is one of the 77 well-defined Chicago community areas.Kenwood was part of Hyde Park Township, which was annexed by the City of Chicago in 1889....
neighborhood of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and consisted of six elevated stations. It opened on September 20, 1907 and closed on December 1, 1957.
Operations
The Kenwood branch was a 1.25 miles (2 km) elevated line which served six stations. The branch began at the IndianaIndiana (CTA)
Indiana is a station on the Chicago Transit Authority's 'L' system, located in Chicago, Illinois and serving the Green Line. It is situated at 4003 S Indiana Avenue, two blocks east of State Street. It opened on August 15, 1892. Before the two lines closed, Indiana was a transfer station from the...
station, which was a transfer point for the South Side Elevated
Green Line (Chicago Transit Authority)
The Green Line is part of the CTA rapid transit system known as the Chicago 'L'. It is the only completely elevated route in the 'L' system. It utilizes the system's oldest segments , extending with 29 stops between Forest Park and Oak Park , through Chicago's Loop, to the South Side and Englewood...
and Stock Yards branch. It ran eastward along two tracks to a terminal at 42nd Place and Oakenwald Avenue in Kenwood. A storage yard was located at the eastern end of the branch. The branch was built on a concrete embankment, which it shared with the Chicago Junction Railway
Chicago Junction Railway
The Chicago Junction Railway operated a switching and terminal railroad in Chicago, connecting the Union Stock Yards with most other railroads in the city. It also briefly operated an outer belt, which became the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad in 1907. The New York Central Railroad acquired control...
. Initially, service on the branch consisted primarily of 42nd Place-Indiana shuttles and 42nd Place-Loop locals; 42nd Place-Loop express trains were occasionally run. Loop service was eventually through-routed on the Ravenswood Line, and some trains were through-routed on the Stock Yards branch in the later years of the line.
History
The predecessor of the Kenwood branch was a freight line the Union Stock Yards and Transit CompanyUnion Stock Yards
The Union Stock Yard & Transit Co., or The Yards, was the meat packing district in Chicago for over a century starting in 1865. The district was operated by a group of railroad companies that acquired swampland, and turned it to a centralized processing area...
built in 1864, which paralleled 40th Street between the Union Stock Yards and the Illinois Central Railroad
Illinois Central Railroad
The Illinois Central Railroad , sometimes called the Main Line of Mid-America, is a railroad in the central United States, with its primary routes connecting Chicago, Illinois with New Orleans, Louisiana and Birmingham, Alabama. A line also connected Chicago with Sioux City, Iowa...
. The freight line began passenger service in 1882, which continued along the line until 1904. In 1903, the Chicago City Council
Chicago City Council
The Chicago City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Chicago in Illinois. It consists of 50 aldermen elected from 50 wards to serve four-year terms...
passed a measure to elevate the 40th Street line as part of an effort to remove grade crossings from Chicago railroads. The Chicago Junction Railway
Chicago Junction Railway
The Chicago Junction Railway operated a switching and terminal railroad in Chicago, connecting the Union Stock Yards with most other railroads in the city. It also briefly operated an outer belt, which became the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad in 1907. The New York Central Railroad acquired control...
was formed to bear the costs of the elevation, and the task of running passenger trains on the line shifted to the South Side Elevated Railroad
South Side Elevated Railroad
The South Side Elevated Railroad was the first elevated rapid transit line in Chicago, Illinois. The line ran from downtown Chicago to Jackson Park, with branches to Englewood, Normal Park, Kenwood, and the Union Stock Yards...
. The elevated Kenwood branch ultimately opened on September 20, 1907.
The new line led to increased residential development in Kenwood, a mostly white-collar neighborhood when the line opened. Crosstown service through the Ravenswood line began in 1913; in 1931, this service was changed to a Kenwood-Wilson
Wilson (CTA)
Wilson is a station on the Chicago Transit Authority's Red Line, part of the Chicago 'L' metro system. It is located in the Uptown neighborhood at 4620 North Broadway in Chicago, Illinois . It is the closest station to Harry S Truman College. The station has a large central island platform serving...
routing. Shuttle service on the line was discontinued between 1943 and 1949.
In the 1930s, the Chicago Junction Railway stopped regularly maintaining the branch due to financial difficulties; since it did not operate trains on the line, it cared little about its upkeep. The Chicago Rapid Transit Company
Chicago 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...
, which by then had taken control of operations, replied to the Chicago Junction's actions by refusing to pay rent on the line. The Chicago Junction took the CRT to eviction court over the matter; the Illinois Commerce Commission
Illinois Commerce Commission
The Illinois Commerce Commission is a quasi-judicial tribunal which regulates public utility services in the U.S. state of Illinois. The mission of the ICC is "to pursue an appropriate balance between the interest of consumers and existing and emerging service providers to ensure the provision of...
initially ruled that the Chicago Junction had rights to operate on the line, but federal bankruptcy court
United States bankruptcy court
United States bankruptcy courts are courts created under Article I of the United States Constitution. They function as units of the district courts and have subject-matter jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases. The federal district courts have original and exclusive jurisdiction over all cases arising...
ultimately granted the CRT a stay on eviction. The CRT agreed to assume maintenance of the line and deducted maintenance costs from its rent. The CTA took over the line from the CRT in 1947. Ridership on the line began to fall in the early 1950s, and the line continued to deteriorate from the ongoing lack of maintenance. The CTA contemplated refurbishing the Kenwood branch in 1956, but the costs of modernizing the branch were prohibitive, and it ultimately closed the line on December 1, 1957.
Later uses and abandonment
Upon closing the line, the CTA sealed the stations but left the branch itself intact. The Chicago Junction Railway continued to use the branch for freight service, and its freight track remained until the 1960s. The right-of-way along the Kenwood branch was assumed by the Penn Central Railroad, Conrail, and CSX at various points; Penn Central used part of the line to access a warehouse near King Drive until the 1980s. The embankment for the Kenwood branch remained mostly in place; only the steel structures at the termini, the street crossings, and the section between Cottage Grove and Drexel Boulevard have been removed since the branch's closure.Station listing
| Kenwood branch | |
|---|---|
| Station | Location |
| Indiana Indiana (CTA) Indiana is a station on the Chicago Transit Authority's 'L' system, located in Chicago, Illinois and serving the Green Line. It is situated at 4003 S Indiana Avenue, two blocks east of State Street. It opened on August 15, 1892. Before the two lines closed, Indiana was a transfer station from the... |
4003 S. Indiana Avenue |
| South Parkway | King Drive (South Parkway) and 40th Street |
| Vincennes | Vincennes Avenue and 40th Street |
| Cottage Grove/Drexel | 41st Street, between Cottage Grove Avenue and Drexel Boulevard |
| Ellis/Lake Park | 41st Street, between Ellis Avenue and Lake Park Avenue |
| 42nd Place | 42nd Place and Oakenwald Avenue |