Garfield Park branch
| Company type | Rapid transit branch |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | June 19, 1895 |
| Defunct | June 22, 1958 |
| Fate | Replaced by Congress branch of the Blue Line |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
Area served | Chicago Near West Side, East and West Garfield Park, Austin, Oak Park, Forest Park |
| Parent | Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad (original), later Chicago Transit Authority |
The Garfield Park Branch operated as part of the Chicago "L" rapid transit network from 1895 until 1958. It served Chicago's Near West Side, the East and West Garfield Park neighborhoods, Austin, as well as the suburbs of Oak Park and Forest Park, encompassing a total of twenty-two stations. The branch commenced service on June 19, 1895, and ceased operations on June 22, 1958, when it was succeeded by the Congress branch of the Blue Line.
Operations
Branching off from the Metropolitan Main Line at Marshfield Junction near Marshfield station, the Garfield Park branch initially ended at 48th Avenue (Cicero Avenue). The line was extended to 52nd Avenue (Laramie Avenue) on August 25, 1902, and further reached Des Plaines Avenue in Forest Park by March 11, 1905. On October 1, 1926, the Westchester branch was introduced, linking Des Plaines Avenue to Roosevelt Road in Westchester.
History
Established in 1895 by the Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad, Chicago’s third elevated railway company, the system featured four branches serving the West Side and surrounding suburbs through a central downtown trunk line. It was distinguished as Chicago’s first elevated railroad powered by electricity. Although most trains traveled to the Loop, capacity limitations necessitated an alternative terminal at Fifth Avenue/Wells Street.
Starting in 1902, the line shared tracks with the Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad (CA&E); however, CA&E trains terminated at Wells Street and did not enter the Loop.
The Garfield Park branch grew in tandem with CA&E’s expansion: initially reaching 48th Avenue, then extending to Laramie Avenue and ultimately to Des Plaines Avenue. The addition of the Westchester branch in 1926 enabled local transfers between CA&E and the Chicago Rapid Transit Company services.
Replacement
Concurrent with construction of the Metropolitan elevated system, city planners were developing a major boulevard for Chicago’s West Side. In the 1920s and 1930s, Congress Street was selected as an optimal corridor for a future high-capacity East-West expressway. Transit proposals included a No.2 subway running beneath Milwaukee Avenue and Dearborn Street before turning west under Congress Parkway, linking to an elevated line situated within the expressway median to serve West Side suburbs. This Milwaukee–Dearborn subway opened in 1951, connecting to the Logan Square Branch and diverting traffic away from the Metropolitan Main Line, although Garfield and Douglas trains continued utilizing the Metropolitan route into the Loop.
The next phase involved constructing the Congress Expressway, which incorporated an "L" line within its median. Much of this expressway was built atop the former Garfield Park right-of-way, requiring demolition of significant portions of the original line. Temporary tracks were laid north of the original alignment to facilitate ongoing construction; temporary stations were established at Des Plaines Avenue and Ridgeland Avenue.
By 1955, despite remaining integral parts of the "L" network, most stations on Garfield Park and Metropolitan Main lines had been closed or dismantled; additionally, CTA service west of Des Plaines ended with abandonment of the Westchester branch in 1951. Following cessation of CTA service, some closed stations briefly received CA&E service; however, due to financial difficulties exacerbated by increased automobile use and temporary track rerouting that cut off downtown access on September 20, 1953—forcing passengers to transfer at Des Plaines—the CA&E saw ridership plummet. Many commuters favored direct routes offered by Chicago & North Western’s Union Pacific / West Line over inconvenient transfers, leading to a sharp decline in CA&E patronage and its sudden shutdown on July 3, 1957, leaving passengers stranded.
The Congress Branch officially opened on June 22, 1958, connecting with the Milwaukee–Dearborn subway and supplanting the final segments of both the former Garfield Park and Metropolitan Main Lines.
Legacy
While the Congress Line was inaugurated in 1958, the dedicated right-of-way was only fully completed between Austin and Halsted, with the entire infrastructure extending to Des Plaines finalized by spring 1960. The construction process initially caused operations to split into multiple segments, but it eventually reconnected sections of the Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad. The oldest branch, Logan Square, was redirected downtown through the Milwaukee–Dearborn subway and divided into the Congress and Douglas branches. The Milwaukee-Congress-Douglas route extended beyond Logan Square’s original endpoint, reaching Jefferson Park by February 1970. Work on the last extension to O'Hare station commenced in March 1980 and the segment opened in September 1984. In 1993, this line was designated as the Blue Line.
The Metropolitan Main Line and Garfield Park Line stand out as being entirely replaced by CTA while maintaining their original right-of-way. Numerous stations on the Congress Line closely correspond to former Garfield or Metropolitan locations; for instance, UIC-Halsted was constructed adjacent to an older station, with historical photographs frequently showing both old and new side by side. Due to swift demolition and removal of materials such as signage, little remains of the original Garfield Line. The sole surviving station from the Garfield branch is now Forest Park, which has undergone several reconstructions. The Franklin Street Substation, situated at the former Wells Street Terminal site, is the only remaining structure from the Metropolitan Main Line.
Station listing
| Station | Notes |
|---|---|
| Template:Cta | Closed on September 27, 1953; subsequently demolished |
| Template:Cta | Closed September 27, 1953; razed |
| Template:Cta | Closed September 27, 1953; demolished; replaced by Template:Cta |
| Template:Cta | Closed September 27, 1953; demolished; replaced by Template:Cta, later abandoned |
| Template:Cta | Closed June 10, 1952; demolished following a fire in the head house |
| Template:Cta | Replaced by Template:Cta; also served by the CA&E |
| Template:Cta | Demolished |
| Template:Cta | Closed September 20, 1953; demolished. Originally named Garfield |
| Template:Cta | Originally called Crawford; replaced by Template:Cta |
| Template:Cta | Originally named Medora |
| Template:Cta | Closed September 20, 1953; demolished. Formerly West Forty Fifth, later Kral. |
| Template:Cta | Originally West Forty Eighth; replaced by Template:Cta |
| Template:Cta | Originally known as 52nd Avenue Terminal; also served by Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad |
| Template:Cta | Served by Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad; replaced by Template:Cta, later abandoned |
| Template:Cta | Served by Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad; replaced by Template:Cta |
| Template:Cta | Closed September 20, 1953; demolished. Served by Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad; replaced by Template:Cta |
| Template:Cta | Temporary station during construction of Congress line |
| Template:Cta | Demolished |
|- !scope="row" | Oak Park Replaced by Template:Cta; also served by Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad |} |- !scope="row" | Template:Cta Closed September 20, 1953; demolished |} |- !scope="row" | Harlem Replaced by Template:Cta