Links to "railfan timetable" information for present railroads, whether successor Amtrak service or freight only, along with information on abandoned routes. Also included are current or "classic" track diagrams.
Station was owned by Chicago Union Station Co., which was jointly owned by the four railroads using the station. Union Station trackage extended south to the beginning of trackage of three separate railroads. While trackage north and west extended to Tower A-2 (Western Avenue). Tower A-2 was the beginning of the Milwaukee Road, operating most trains using the north end of Union Station. Extending south of Tower A-2 was the Pennsylvania Railroad's Pittsburgh Cincinnati Chicago & St. Louis line. But eventually, all trains using that line used the Pennsylvania Railroad's Pittsburgh Fort Wayne & Chicago line south of Union Station.
Through mergers, Burlington Route is now part of BNSF, former Alton Route trackage is now owned by CN and Union Pacific, most remaining Pennsylvania Railroad trackage is now part of Norfolk Southern, and most remaining Milwaukee Road trackage is now part of Canadian Pacific.
Passenger service continues under Amtrak.
Chicago-Aurora - BNSF Chicago Subdivision
Aurora-Galesburg - BNSF Mendota Subdivision
Galesburg-Burlington - BNSF Ottumwa Subdivision
Galesburg-Quincy - BNSF Brookfield Subdivision
Burlington Route (C&I Line)
Trains used above Burlington route between Chicago and Aurora.
Passenger service discontinued in 1971 with the creation of Amtrak.
Aurora-Savanna - BNSF Aurora Subdivision
Savanna-La Crosse - BNSF Aurora Subdivision
La Crosse-St. Croix - BNSF St. Croix Subdivision
St. Croix-St. Paul - CP/BNSF Joint Line
Alton Route/Gulf Mobile & Ohio
Passenger service continues under Amtrak.
Chicago to Joliet - CN Joliet Subdivision
Joliet-Bloomington - UP Joliet Subdivision
Bloomington-Wann - UP Springfield Subdivision
Wann-St. Louis - UP/GW Joint Line
Between Joliet and Mazonia, an alternate route was available, using a paired track with Santa Fe between Joliet and Pequot on what now is the BNSF Chillicothe Subdivision, and between Pequot and Mazonia on what now is the UP Pequot Subdivision
Pennsylvania Railroad (Pittsburgh Fort Wayne & Chicago)
Passenger service continues under Amtrak, mainly to connect with former New York Central at Whiting.
Much of the former Pennsylvania Railroad line east of Chicago was downgraded and transferred to short line operator Chicago Fort Wayne & Eastern.
Chicago-Whiting - NS Chicago Line
Whiting-Tolleston - PRR Chicago Division (abandoned)
Tolleston-Fort Wayne - Chicago Fort Wayne & Eastern
Fort Wayne-Crestline - Chicago Fort Wayne & Eastern
Crestline-Pittsburgh - NS Fort Wayne Line
Pennsylvania Railroad (Pittsburgh Cincinnati Chicago & St. Louis)
Passenger service originally discontinued in 1971 with the creation of Amtrak. Service resumed shortly afterward, due to deteriorated track conditions on what had become Penn Central Railroad between Kankakee and Indianapolis. Service permanently discontinued in 1975 after track conditions on this line had deteriorated.
Consolidation of Pennsylvania Railroad eventually resulted in all train using Pittsburgh Fort Wayne & Chicago line between Union Station and Colehour Jct., and SC&S Branch between Colehour Jct. and Bernice, where connection was made with this main line. Between 1980 and 1993, Amtrak used this route to connect with the former Monon line at Munster.
Colehour Jct.-Bernice - PRR SC&S Branch (mostly abandoned)
Chicago-Logansport - PRR Logansport Division (abandoned)
Logansport-Anoka - Winamac Southern Railroad
Anoka-New Castle - Winamac Southern Railroad
New Castle-Cincinnati - NS New Castle District
Logansport-Frankfort - Winamac Southern Railroad
Frankfort-Indianapolis - CSX Frankfort Secondary Track
Indianapolis-Louisville - Louisville & Indiana Railroad
Milwaukee Road (C&P Line)
Passenger service discontinued in 1971 with the creation of Amtrak.
Chicago-Elgin - Elgin Subdivision
Elgin-Savanna - Davenport Subdivision
Milwaukee Road (C&M Line)
Passenger service continues under Amtrak.
Chicago-Rondout - CP/Metra C&M Subdivision
Rondout- Milwaukee - CP C&M Subdivision
Milwaukee-Portage - CP Watertown Subdivision
Portage- La Crosse - CP Tomah Subdivision
La Crosse-St. Croix - CP River Subdivision
St. Croix-St. Paul - CP/BNSF Joint Line
Milwaukee Road (J Line)
Passenger service discontinued in 1971 with the creation of Amtrak.
Chicago-Rondout - CP/Metra C&M Subdivision
Rondout-Fox Lake - CP/Metra Fox Lake Subdivision
Fox Lake-Janesville - WSOR Fox Lake Subdivision
Janesville-Madison - WSOR Madison Subdivision
