RAILROAD OPERATING INFORMATION/TRACK DIAGRAMS

Information from railroad employee timetables and other sources, detailing stations, crossings and junctions, mileposts, number of tracks, and signal systems.

MIDWEST RAILROADS

Information on nearly all of the railroads in the four states surrounding Chicago.

METRA ROUTES

Emphasizing Chicago area commuter routes.

AMTRAK ROUTES SERVING CHICAGO

Emphasizing present intercity passenger routes.

HISTORIC MAIN PASSENGER ROUTES

Emphasizing the passenger routes out of Chicago, including present and past intercity routes extending into states beyond. Also included are routes into St. Louis, east of the Mississippi River.

Included are lists of stations, crossings and junctions, mileposts, number of tracks, signal systems, and track diagrams for many signaled lines. Also included are brief histories of each line, including construction, double tracking, and installation of signal systems.

All track diagrams are as current as possible, except for the "Classic Track Diagrams", which show certain railroads as they previously existed, prior to elimination of multiple tracks, downgrading, or occasionally abandonment.

Also included for the four states surrounding Chicago, is historical information for former or lost passenger stations, including locations identified using Google Maps.

For most of these lines, historical information is included for interlocking towers. The lists of stations do not always include where abandoned railroads formerly crossed, and certain present railroads due to inconsistent employee timetable information. But the historic tower data generally provides more complete information on historic crossings.

Further explanations on the interlocking histories provided, is available through the below link. Providing more direct access to the interlocking tower histories.

MIDWEST INTERLOCKING TOWERS

Historical information on interlocking towers and interlockings, in the four states surrounding Chicago.

Operating Information Links
Known links to Web sites, where railroad track charts and old employee timetables can be downloaded, usually in PDF format.

Chicago Track Elevation
A chronological list of ordinances passed by the City of Chicago, requiring the main line railroads to elevate their trackage. Much of the trackage was elevated between the 1890's and the early 1900's, these elevation projects contributed to Chicago becoming a great railroad center.

FRA Safety Map
Impressive zoomable map, including details of road and street crossings.