TRANSIT SYSTEMS IN ILLINOIS

CHICAGO AREA

Chicago Transit & Railfan Web Site

The primary area covered by this Web site.


Chicago/North

Horse Car
1859-1886 - North Chicago City Railway Co.
1886-1899 - North Chicago Street Railroad Co.
1899-1908 - Chicago Union Traction Co.
1908-1914 - Chicago Railways Co.
1864-1883 - operated steam dummy
1893-1896 - horse cars replaced with electric streetcars
1888-1906 - operated cable cars

1914-1947 - Chicago Railways Co./Chicago Surface Lines
1917 - buses introduced by separate company Chicago Motor Coach Co.
1935 - buses introduced by Chicago Railways Co.
1957 - streetcars discontinued

1958 - streetcars discontinued
1930-1973 - operated trolleybuses

Chicago/West

Horse Car
1861-1887 - Chicago West Division Railway Co.
1887-1899 - West Chicago Street Railroad Co.
1899-1908 - Chicago Union Traction Co.
1908-1914 - Chicago Railways Co.
1891-1896 - horse cars replaced with electric streetcars
1890-1906 - operated cable cars

1914-1947 - Chicago Railways Co./Chicago Surface Lines
1924 - buses introduced by separate company Chicago Motor Coach Co.
1930 - buses introduced by Chicago Railways Co.
1956 - streetcars discontinued
1930-1973 - operated trolleybuses

Chicago/South

Horse Car
1859-1914 - Chicago City Railway Co.
1893-1896 - horse cars replaced with electric streetcars
1882-1906 - operated cable cars

1914-1947 - Chicago City Railway Co./Chicago Surface Lines
1923 - buses introduced by separate company Chicago Motor Coach Co.
1930 - buses introduced by Chicago City Railway Co.
1958 - streetcars discontinued
1948-1969 - operated trolleybuses

Chicago/Far South

Horse Car
1885-1908 - South Chicago City Railway Co.
1893-1902 - horse cars replaced with electric streetcars

Electric Streetcar
1890-1908 - Calumet Electric Street Railway Co.

1908-1914 - Calumet & South Chicago Railway Co.
1914-1947 - Calumet & South Chicago Railway Co./Chicago Surface Lines
1935 - buses introduced
1955 - streetcars discontinued

Evanston

1893-1899 - Chicago & North Shore Street Railway Co.
1899-1910 - Chicago Consolidated Traction Co.
1910-1913 - County Traction Co.
1913-1937 - Evanston Railway Co.
1935 - streetcars replaced with buses

1937-1973 - Evanston Bus Co.

Evanston/Skokie (formerly Niles Center) Buses

1921-1929 - Niles Center Transit Co.
1924-1929 - Evanston Bus Co. (original company)
1929-1937 - Evanston & Niles Center Bus Co.
1937-1973 - Evanston Bus Co.

CURRENT TRANSIT SYSTEM (SINCE 1947)
Chicago Transit Authority


North Suburbs

1940-1974 - Glenview Bus Co.
1974-1995 - Village of Wilmette

Northwest Suburbs

1922-1927 - several bus companies
1927-1975 - United Motor Coach Co.
1975-1991 - North Suburban Mass Transit District

West Suburbs

Horse Car
1890-1899 - Cicero & Proviso Street Railway Co.
1890-1891 - horse cars replaced with electric streetcars

Electric Streetcar
1893-1899 - Ogden Street Railroad

1899-1910 - Chicago Consolidated Traction Co.
1910-1913 - County Traction Co.

1895-1913 - Suburban Railroad Co.

1913-1956 - Chicago & West Towns Railway Co.
1924 - buses introduced
1948 - streetcars discontinued

1956-1981 - West Towns Bus Co.
1981-1985 - Regional Transportation Authority/ATE

Southwest Suburbs

1921-1938 - South West Towns Bus Co.
1938-1983 - Suburban Transit System
1983-1985 - Regional Transportation Authority/ATE

South Suburbs

1893-1898 - several companies
1898-1904 - Chicago Electric Traction Co.
1904-1911 - Chicago & Southern Traction Co.
1911-1927 - Chicago & Interurban Traction Co.
1927 - streetcars discontinued

1922-1933 - South Suburban Motor Coach
1933-1983 - South Suburban Safeway Lines
1983-1985 - Regional Transportation Authority/ATE

Joliet

Horse Car
1885-1886 - Joliet City Railroad Co.
1886-1890 - Joliet City Railway Co.
1890-1896 - Joliet Street Railway Co.
1890-1891 - horse cars replaced with electric streetcars

1896-1901 - Joliet Railroad Co.
1901-1934 - Chicago & Joliet Electric Railway Co.
1934 - streetcars discontinued
1922 - buses introduced by affiliated company Chicago & Joliet Transportation Co.
1934 - streetcars discontinued

1934-1936 - Joliet City Lines
1936-1970 - Joliet City Lines (National City Lines)
1970-1990 - Joliet Mass Transit District

Aurora

Mule Car
1882-1892 - Aurora City Railway Co.
1890-1892 - mule cars replaced with electric streetcars operated by new company

1890-1901 - Aurora Street Railway Co.
1901-1906 - Elgin Aurora & Southern Traction Co.
1906-1924 - Aurora Elgin & Chicago Railroad Co.
1924-1936 - Aurora Elgin & Fox River Electric Co.
1925 - buses introduced by affiliated company Fox Valley Bus Lines
1934 - streetcars discontinued

1936-1940 - Aurora-Elgin City Lines (National City Lines)
1940-1966 - Aurora City Lines (National City Lines)
1966-1968 - Aurora City Lines (new owners)
1968-1971 - Tom-A-Hawk Transit
1971-1989 - Aurora Transit System (city owned)

Elgin

Horse Car
1876-1890 - Elgin City Railway Co.
1890-1897 - Elgin City Street Railway Co.
1890-1892 - horse cars replaced with electric streetcars

1897-1901 - Elgin City Carpentersville & Aurora Railway Co.
1901-1906 - Elgin Aurora and Southern Traction Co.
1906-1924 - Aurora Elgin & Chicago Railroad Co.
1924-1936 - Aurora Elgin and Fox River Electric Co.
1927 - buses introduced by affiliated company Fox Valley Bus Lines
1934 - streetcars discontinued

1936-1940 - Aurora-Elgin City Lines (National City Lines)
1940-1966 - Elgin City Lines (National City Lines)
1966-1968 - Elgin City Lines (new owners)
1968-1991 - Elgin Department of Transportation

Waukegan

1891-1894 - Waukegan & North Shore Rapid Transit Co.
1894-1897 - Bluff City Electric Street Railway Co.
1897-1902 - Chicago & Milwaukee Electric Railway Co.
1902-1916 - Chicago & Milwaukee Electric Railroad Co.
1916-1947 - Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee Railroad
1923 - buses introduced
1947 - streetcars discontinued

1947-1982 - Waukegan-North Chicago Transit Co.
1982-1985 - Regional Transportation Authority/ATE

CURRENT TRANSIT SYSTEM (SINCE 1985)
Pace

Historic suburban/interurban bus lines operated by several companies (mostly a 1952 sampling)


COMMUTER RAIL SERVICE
Metra


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