Kenwood branch
| Company type | Rapid transit branch |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | September 20, 1907 |
| Defunct | December 1, 1957 |
| Fate | Discontinued |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
Area served | Kenwood district, Chicago |
| Parent | Chicago Rapid Transit Company (later Chicago Transit Authority) |
The Kenwood branch was a rapid transit segment of the Chicago 'L' network operating from 1907 until 1957, serving six elevated stations within Chicago's Kenwood district. Service commenced on September 20, 1907, and continued until the line was discontinued on December 1, 1957.
Operations
This elevated route linked the Indiana station—a hub connecting the South Side Main Line and Stock Yards branch—to its terminus at 42nd Place and Oakenwald Avenue in Kenwood. A train yard for storage was situated at the eastern extremity. The branch ran atop a concrete embankment that it shared with the Chicago Junction Railway. Initially, operations mainly consisted of shuttle trips between Indiana and 42nd Place, alongside local trains traveling to the Loop; express services to the Loop were infrequent. Subsequently, some trains operated through-routing via the Ravenswood Line or the Stock Yards branch.
History
Originating from a freight corridor constructed in 1864 by the Union Stock Yards and Transit Company along 40th Street, the Kenwood branch transitioned into passenger service beginning in 1882, which lasted until 1904. In 1903, the Chicago City Council approved plans to elevate this line to remove grade crossings. The elevation project was funded by the newly established Chicago Junction Railway, while passenger service responsibilities transferred to the South Side Elevated Railroad. The elevated Kenwood branch officially opened on September 20, 1907.
This line contributed to residential development in Kenwood, an area predominantly inhabited by white-collar residents at that time. Crosstown service utilizing the Ravenswood line started in 1913 and was later modified to run between Kenwood and Wilson by 1931. Shuttle operations were gradually discontinued between 1943 and 1949.
Financial difficulties during the 1930s caused the Chicago Junction Railway to cut back on maintenance for this line. The operating entity, Chicago Rapid Transit Company (CRT), reacted by withholding rent payments. Following legal battles and regulatory decisions, CRT took over maintenance duties and offset these expenses against rent. The CTA assumed control of operations in 1947. Due to falling ridership and aging infrastructure during the early 1950s, renovation costs became unsustainable, resulting in the branch's closure on December 1, 1957.
Later uses and abandonment
Following its shutdown, CTA closed off all stations but left the Kenwood branch structure intact. Freight service by Chicago Junction Railway persisted on this route into the 1960s. Ownership of the right-of-way subsequently transferred through Penn Central Railroad, Conrail, and CSX; Penn Central utilized a portion of the line for warehouse access near King Drive until the 1980s. Much of the embankment remains today, with removal limited to steel frameworks at terminal points, street crossings, and the stretch between Cottage Grove and Drexel Boulevard since closure.
Proposed rail trail
The Bronzeville Trail is a proposed rail trail planned along this abandoned embankment corridor, extending from 40th Street/Dearborn Street to 41st Street/Lake Park Avenue. A pedestrian bridge near Lake Park provides a connection to the Lakefront Trail. Established in 2020, the Bronzeville Trail Task Force champions this initiative with goals of improving South Side connectivity and fostering urban renewal.
Station listing
| Station | Location |
|---|---|
| Template:Cta | 4003 South Indiana Avenue |
| Template:Cta | Intersection of King Drive (South Parkway) and 40th Street |
| Template:Cta | Corner of Vincennes Avenue and 40th Street |
| Template:Cta | Located on 41st Street between Cottage Grove Avenue and Drexel Boulevard |
| Template:Cta | Situated on 41st Street between Ellis Avenue and Lake Park Avenue |
| Template:Cta | Junction of 42nd Place and Oakenwald Avenue |