Chicago to Northbrook

Link: http://arotus.co/skh

• Quick Info:
• States: Illinois   
• Railroads: C&NW, CNS&M, UP   

Picture

Point of Interest

(Forwarded from the Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee Railroad)

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A wooden bridge remains in Northfield, IL. Photo by Greg J.

This line started out as the Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad, an interurban line that connected Chicago with Milwaukee, WI. Between Chicago and Northbrook, it ran parallel and adjacent to a Chicago and North Western Railroad mainline, 50 feet to the west. However, the CNW's mainline was ill-maintained and was increasingly seeing derailments and other accidents. So when the North Shore line fell to bankruptcy in the early 1960s, the CNW saw fit to relocate their mainline to that of the well-maintained North Shore line, since relocating was much cheaper than rehabilitating their own line, despite their mainline being considered a "bypass" to their second mainline, to which this line connected at Northbrook.

Freight traffic along the line declined over the years, until the line was downgraded to local use, serving a couple of local businesses, including a lumber yard and gravel company for a couple of years. The CNW finally ceased traffic along the line in 1995, and the Union Pacific (which merged CNW in 1995) filed for abandonment of the line in 2001, with the most of the track removed in 2004-05. Some track and a railroad trestle in Northfield remain, and all of the grade crossings are paved over. Consideration has been given to rebuilding this ROW in the future as an extension of the Chicago Transit Authority's "Yellow Line".

The line ran north from Lincolnwood (just north of Chicago), through Skokie, Glenview, Northfield, Glencoe, and ended in Northbrook with a connection with the other CNW mainline, which is now in heavy use by Union Pacific.

Thanks to Greg J for contributing information about this route.

This line was old north shore mainline and even had old north shore ties in spots with date nails in them used to bike to parts from home and watch way freight and some freights use these tracks.

pablo sack
deerfield, IL
11/3/2009

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Who currently owns the right of way of the abandoned railroad?

Jeremiah Lietke
Vancouver, WA
8/9/2010

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The last customer of this line was Crafty Beaver on Oakton Street. The single track ran north from there where it merged with the CNW New Line in Northbrook.

There is speculation that the CTA may extend the Skokie Swift somewhat along this right-of-way north to Old Orchard Mall. This would be interesting as the tracks of the now Skokie Swift initially did exactly that as the North Shore Line.

George
Skokie, IL
9/24/2010

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Oddly, much of the rail is still down but for grade crossings. In addition, there was strong NIMBY opposition to using that ROW to serve as another corridor to Howard Street as well as to the hotels and shopping in the Northbrook and Deerfield/Highland Park areas, as well as Old Orchard.

Greg J
Northern, IL
10/20/2010

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Would it be legal to walk on this trackage?

Carl
Lake Zurich, IL
4/16/2011

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Doubtful it would be legal, but there certainly would be no one to stop you. It's all wide open from start to finish. Park at New Trier High School or in Northfield and have at it. The original C&NW ROW can be found in many places about 50' west of the current ROW. It's still visible 50 years later, especially down toward Glenview Rd. in Glenview.

Greg J
Northern, IL
5/16/2011

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Just to add: There is now a townhouse development (Arbor Lakes I believe) on the site of a former 3M plant that was served by this line until the late 70's or so. It then closed, sat vacant since the ground was contaminated, and the property was then cleaned and donated to the village of Northfield by 3M. It then was sold off for development and part of it that was a parking lot for employees is now a firehouse. There was a siding into the plant and it's still visible on Winnetka Avenue at Happ Rd. There are businesses on Northfield Rd. that were also served by this line and they are still there. I'm actually surprised no one has found a use for it yet given the potential. Some old rail lines are obviously worthless but this one is not.

Greg J
Northern, IL
5/21/2011

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I lived near this line in the 1960's near Glenview Road. During this time, it was relatively busy single-track freight line with perhaps 4-5 long, noisy, trains going through at all hours of the day and night in both directions.

During this period, the south end of the line extended beyond Skokie and merged with the old Mayfair line in Chicago near Peterson Ave.

As a boy, during the 1960s and 1970's, the roadbed of the old line around Glenview road made a pretty good bike trail, although the rails had been removed and it was just compacted soil. Occasionally, you might stumble across an old signal wiring junction box. With the growth of trees on both sides of the roadbed, it was kind of a spooky, isolated spot that went on-and-on in a linear fashion.

The Lincoln Avenue crossing had an interesting "harp" wig-wag signal, as I recall.

Tom Demos
Glenveiw, IL
9/14/2011

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A short bike trail has been built on this line between Bryn Mawr and Devon Avenues, using a number of the original bridges and the original embankment.

Josh Reynolds
Downers Grove, IL
10/23/2011

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Actually, in the 1980s & I believe into the 1990s a single unit coal drag with rotary dump gondolas would use this line almost daily, usually around noon traveling northbound.

It was at least 80 cars long & all the cars were owned by Wisconsin Electric Power Co.

I never understood why the C&NW routed it this way.

Garry
Chicago, IL
12/16/2011

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I grew up in the Veterans Housing Project that fronted on Foster at Kilbourn. There was/were track(s) along the west of the housing area, the embankment was still there in August. Trying to think back to the early '50s; maybe there was only one track?! Anyone know if the section that crossed Foster would have been a siding going to the factory that did something with Mica? Interesting that nothing shows through Labagh and south of Foster on the map.

oh4chia
Oakland, CA
1/5/2012

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Do you think there are any North Shore Line date nails left in any ties or have they been all replaced by the North Western some years ago?? Ive hunted down the North Shore right of way for many years and recovered many date nails on fence posts along bike trails and farm land too. The hunt would be fun! Thanks.

Erik Bryant
Kenosha, WI
1/20/2012

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Boy does this bring back memories. I remember these tracks. In the mid 70's I use to ride my dirt bike along the right-a-away from Foster Ave. to Peterson Ave., through the Forest Preserve. I think it was only one track at Foster Ave. I know in the 70's when I would go down Devon Ave., I would catch the train crossing the street and have to sit there and wait til it passes. The best is when the kids would jump the signal and make it flash when there was no train. Usually during rush hour.

Erik, you may get lucky and find some of those date nails. I thought the tracks and ties were removed around Devon Ave. and south of there. I could be wrong, it has been a lot of years. I heard that this was suppose to be a bike trail. Any truth in that?

Ralph

Ralph
Winthrop Harbor, IL
1/22/2012

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Between the past two years, I recovered over 60 North Shore line date nails between Milwaukee and the State line! I always assummed others in the area found and pulled out the nails unless some were missed. When the snow melts, I need to check it out!Ive always wondered?!Thanks Ralph for your memories! Erik

Erik Bryant
Kenosha, WI
1/23/2012

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Erik,

If you are going to look for those date nails, check the aerial view first. It looks like a lot of track is missing. Just north of golf road around were that tracks go under highway 94, it looks like a section of track is still there. I do not know how old this view from the air is that I saw. You can see the whole track line end to end from the aerial view.

There are bike routes at both ends of this right of way. As you can see, I got interested in this. A lot of history on how we grew from living in the cities to expanding out into suburbs I learned.

Maybe you can ride your bike from the north to where the bike trail ends and find some track left behind? I forgot the name of the bike trail on the north end, but it was named on the goggle map. It would be nice if they finished the bike trail all the way to Foster Ave.. That would be a nice ride. There is a Forest Preserve there too where you can park.

Good luck finding those date nails.

Ralph

Ralph
Winthrop, IL
1/23/2012

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Ralph,

I know the area well as for my job, I have delivered plants to the Wilmette area. Im betting others many years ago checked for date nails but who knows. I will have to see for myself and if no date nails are there, the walk and hunt would be fun! I will do this once the snow melts.Thanks for your info!

Erik

Erik Bryant
Kenosha, WI
1/24/2012

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Why did cnw stop runing on those lines!

Bill Filiippi
vernon hills, IL
1/30/2012

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As of a couple weeks ago, the tracks are still down in Northfield where I took the photos of the bridge. The bridge is about 100' west of Happ Rd. and just slightly south of New Trier High School over a branch of the Chicago River. If you want to look for nails, I can't see why you couldn't park in the New Trier lot (no one will bother you) and walk to the tracks and have at it! I'm not 100% sure why they abandoned it, but I would guess it was due to loss of customers and maintenance expenses. Plus, they had a true double-track mainline not far away that this line ultimately joined with about 3-4 miles north of where the photos were shot.

Greg J.
Northern, IL
1/31/2012

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Thanks Greg! One of these days I will check it out. Who know how many ties were left in that are from the North Shore!? Of course others could have beat me to it. Also I will check the dates of the rail to see if its been replaced after the North Shore. Once I do this I will give feedback to let other know of my walk. Thanks!

Erik Bryant
Kenosha, WI
2/1/2012

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Here is a link to a Chicago Tribune story on 2/7/12 about that old line. Also, if you do some web searching, there are numerous other photos of the abandoned route from farther south.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-north-suburban-bike-trail-20120207,0,5746573.story

Greg J
Northern, IL
2/8/2012

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On febuary 9th, I finally walked the old North Shore line from Sunset Ridge road to Willow Road in Northfield. Since im not working right now it was a good time to do it! I did see track from 1946 dated on the side which is from the North Shore and found plenty of date nails too! The walk was a 5 mile round trip. I wanted to walk to the river bridge but I did see sign of no trespassing just south of Willow road.Im not worried about that anyway but all it takes is one jerk to wreck it for someone who wants to explore! Next trip I will walk from were the tracks begin near Golf road and walk north to the river bridge. I wonder if they plan to remove the rest of the track soon or not??!It was fun for sure to walk on the old Skokie Valley Route!Still shocked on how many ties were from the North Shore and seeing the track being from the North Shore as well! I will be heading back down there again soon! Thanks for all your help Ralph and Greg and others!

Erik Bryant
Kenosha, WI
2/12/2012

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Erik... glad you got down there and found what you were looking for. I don't ever advocate tresspassing, but I suspect that ComEd (utility company) may own a part of the adjacent ROW, hence the signs. I never have noticed one before but understand the UP might still own it so who knows? If you get to the bridge, you can see the remains of the original freight line bridge immediately to the west. There are still lots of places where the original ROW is still visible 50 years later, like behind that church just south of Sunset Ridge Rd. and down by Glenview Rd.. Take some photos maybe? Good hunting!

Greg J.
Northern, IL
2/13/2012

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Greg,

On my way back from my walk on the old Sokie Valley Route,I decided to walk north of Sunset Ridge Road and I turned around about a quarter mile south of Dundee Road. No entry signs never stopped me before. My plan next is to Park at the New Trier High school you said. How far is it south of Willow Road?? Also do the ex North Shore tracks to to Church Street or are they torn up in places before that?? My interest is only the ex North Shore line. I will take more pictures of the dates on the rail since some is from the North Shore! Is the bridge close to the high school?? Im looking forward to my next trip down there! You just dont know if they plan to pull up the tracks at any time!?!Thanks again for your info!

Erik Bryant
Kenosha, WI
2/14/2012

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Made a mistake in my last post. I asked if the old North Shore tracks go past Church Street or are they torn up before that road? Even if the rails are gone, are there RR ties still in place?? If you know this, I would appreciate this! thanks!

Erik Bryant
Kenosha, WI
2/14/2012

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Erik... New Trier is at 7 Happ Rd. about one mile south of Willow, but exit I-94 at Tower and go south on Frontage which turns into Happ until you get there. There is a Jewish temple next to the lot, then a state maintenance yard, and then the river/bridge. A bike trail leads to within 50' or so. The ex-NSL line is actually in use still today as part of the CTA. It's called the Skokie Swift and begins at Oakton St. in Skokie, which is where the line "ends". My mother is almost 90, and she recalls a branch line and turntable that used to run along Old Orchard Rd. to Harms Woods when she was a kid. Growing up in the area, I remember the ruins of an old bridge over the river at Harms and Old Orchard roads and concrete foundations where the NSL line crossed Old Orchard Rd. or something. Those must have been for RR signs or signals of some sort. They were still there as of a few years ago and if they still are you'll have no trouble seeing them.

Greg J.
Northern, IL
2/14/2012

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I meant to say the Skokie Swift begins at Dempster, not Oakton. And at that point, the old freight line reverts back to its original ROW.

Greg J.
Northern, IL
2/14/2012

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Greg,

Ive been down by the Skokie Swift before and took photos in the past. Im just interested in the old North Shore tracks that the C&NW used so I can find more goodies laying around. I believe the tracks are gone south of Church ST until you get to Dempster ST. were its used today. I will check it out soon. I think I will go on a Sunday which is better so I dont see any Com Ed workers around and less people too! Not being noticed is a good thing! Take care and thanks for your info!

Erik Bryant
Kenosha, WI
2/16/2012

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This past sunday I walked the remaing North Shore tracks from NorthField to Skokie just before Church street. It was a 6 mile walk round trip. Found more date nails but not as much as my first trip. I took photos of the track and alot seems to be from the North Shore! I knew the North Shore got there rail from Illinois Steel but I also found rail from lackawanna steel. I saw dates from 1937-1947! Its possible the C&NW replaced the North Shore track with other used track!? I was also amazed that south of Lake Ave, there was still old North Shore cantnery still in use by Comm.Ed.!! They stretched south to Old Orchard. I had alot of fun and Im glad I explored this historical section of railroad! I encourage others to do the same and get photos before its gone! Only time will tell! Thanks again for all of your help!

Erik Bryant
kenosha, WI
2/20/2012

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Erik... that's great that you did that and I'm glad you found the info helpful. It was easy for me to help since I'm from the area and knew both lines well. The CNW/UP never ran trains through there at any speed, but as was mentioned, they ran several per day for many years, and very long ones at that. Maybe the track, as you discovered, was the reason for lack of speed. Hope you upload photos.

Greg J.
Northern, IL
2/20/2012

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