RAILROAD OPERATING INFORMATION

UNION PACIFIC

Kenosha Subdivision (Illinois)

FORMERLY Chicago & North Western Railway
(Wisconsin Division/Subdivision 1)
CONSTRUCTED 1855 by Chicago & Milwaukee Railroad
DOUBLE TRACK constructed 1898-1899
ABS installed 1892 (Chicago-Waukegan)
ABS installed 1903 (Waukegan-Kenosha)
COLOR LIGHT/SEARCHLIGHT ABS installed 1935-1936 (Wilmette-Kenosha)
AUTOMATIC TRAIN STOP installed 1952
CTC installed 1990's (Clybourn-Winnetka)
CTC installed 2010's (Winnetka-Highland Park)
AUTOMATIC TRAIN STOP deactivated 2019 after installation of Positive Train Control
LAST INTERCITY PASSENGER TRAIN: Chicago-Milwaukee/1971
COMMUTER SERVICE: Metra Union Pacific North Line

By 1899, 3 tracks existed as far north as Rose Hill, later extended to Wilmette, removed in 1984. The center track, though with bidirectional signaling, was assigned a current of traffic according to the time of day, with signals apparently not set up to protect against opposing movements.

CLICK FOR RAILFAN TIPS AND PHOTOS

Radio Frequency - 160.890 (AAR Channel 52) (Chicago-CY)
Radio Frequency - 161.040 (AAR Channel 62) (CY-Kenosha)

Stations/Former Stations/Milepost Locations

(Current Metra stops are capitalized)

Direction is northward from Chicago to Kenosha

0.0 CHICAGO
0.2 Lake Street (tower)
0.3 Clinton Street
0.5 Northwest Jct.
0.9 Erie
2.2 North Ave. Yard.
2.7 CY (tower/junction)
2.8 CLYBOURN
3.3 Deering Bridge
6.5 RAVENSWOOD
7.9 Peterson
8.1 PETERSON/RIDGE
9.4 ROGERS PARK
10.6 RP (remote-CY)
11.0 MAIN STREET
12.0 EVANSTON
12.7 Canal
13.3 CENTRAL STREET
14.4 WILMETTE
15.2 KENILWORTH
15.8 INDIAN HILL
16.6 WINNETKA
17.0 WK (remote-CY)
17.7 HUBBARD WOODS
19.2 GLENCOE
20.5 BRAESIDE
20.9 RAVINIA PARK
21.5 RAVINIA
23.0 HIGHLAND PARK
24.5 HIGHWOOD
25.7 FT. SHERIDAN
28.3 LAKE FOREST
30.2 LAKE BLUFF (junction-UP/remote-dispatcher-Omaha)
32.2 GREAT LAKES
33.7 NORTH CHICAGO
35.9 WAUKEGAN
42.1 ZION
44.5 WINTHROP HARBOR
51.6 KENOSHA

4 tracks from Clinton Street to CY, signaled for both directions with a Controlled Block System.

2 tracks from CY to Highland Park, CTC in use, controlled from CY.

2 tracks from Highland Park to Kenosha, signaled for normal left hand operation.


TRACK DIAGRAM

A bridge reconstruction project is underway between Clybourn and Evanston, resulting in changes. A third track to the west was removed in 1984. And the first phase of the bridge reconstruction project has involved construction of a new track and bridges at the location of the removed track.

(Click for diagram of Chicago Terminal*.)

(*The former Chicago & North Western terminal at 500 W. Madison St. has been known by many different names through its history. Including "North Western Station", "Madison Street Station", "Chicago Passenger Station", "Metra Passenger Terminal", and currently "Ogilvie Transportation Center". This lack of a consistent name has resulted in many confused passengers over the years.)

Classic Track Diagrams

Line between Chicago and Milwaukee, prior to removal of third track between Chicago and Evanston in 1984, downgrading of line north of Kenosha, and installation of CTC north of Chicago beginning in the 1990's.


LOST STATIONS (CHICAGO)

LOST STATIONS (OUTLYING)

Known discontinued passenger railroad stations. Includes zoomable Google maps.

INTERLOCKING TOWERS

Past and present towers and interlockings.

INTERLOCKING TOWERS (CHICAGO TERMINAL/OLD)

INTERLOCKING TOWERS (CHICAGO TERMINAL/NEW)

CHICAGO TRACK ELEVATION

City ordinances and history of track elevation in Chicago.