HISTORIC MAIN PASSENGER ROUTES
Included are lists of stations, crossings and junctions, mileposts, number of tracks, signal systems, and track diagrams for signaled lines. Also included are brief histories of each line, including construction, double tracking, and installation of signal systems.
This section emphasizes "corridors", typically in the 100 to 500 mile range. Some of these corridors are being developed or have been developed by Amtrak. While other corridors have been discontinued, either lacking sufficient potential or because they historically were "competing" routes to the routes adopted by Amtrak.
Also included are abandoned lines and segments, with stations indicated in italics. And included are "classic track diagrams" for many routes, showing the way they were as higher capacity passenger main lines.
CHICAGO'S MAIN PASSENGER ROUTES
Organized by downtown station.
Former railroads: Illinois Central, NYC (Big Four, Michigan Central)
Former railroads: Santa Fe, C&O, C&EI, Erie, GTW, Monon, Wabash
Former railroads: Rock Island, New York Central, Nickel Plate
Former railroads: B&O, C&O (Pere Marquette), CGW, Soo Line
Former railroads: Burlington, Alton (GM&O), Pennsylvania, Milwaukee Road
Former railroads: Chicago & North Western
East of the Mississippi River.
Scanned images from various railroad employee timetables during the golden age of passenger trains, when certain speed limits were actually higher than at present.
Descriptions of the various methods of train dispatching and signal systems, including explanations of CTC and other methods of authorizing train movements.
Explanations of the track diagrams on this Web site, which are color coded according to methods of train operation.