Stub terminals of the Chicago "L"
| Industry | Public transit |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1892 |
| Defunct | 1963 |
Area served | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Products | Rapid transit terminal services |
In the early 1900s, Chicago's quartet of "L" railroads each maintained their own downtown terminals in addition to utilizing the shared elevated tracks known collectively as the Loop. These terminals included the Congress Terminal for the South Side Elevated Railroad, the Market Street Terminal for the Lake Street Elevated, the Wells Street Terminal for the Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad, and the North Water Terminal for the Northwestern Elevated Railroad. Notably, the Lake Street line featured a unique intermediate stop at Randolph Street situated between its stub terminal and main route.
All terminals except North Water Terminal existed prior to the Loop’s construction. The rail lines commenced operations between 1892 and 1895, with Northwestern opening later than the others. Planning for the Loop began in 1894, with construction spanning from 1895 to 1897; following its completion, these earlier terminals were closed. However, due to persistent congestion within the Loop, several terminals were reopened or reconstructed in the early 20th century to accommodate peak-hour passenger volumes. Northwestern erected its terminal above North Water Street despite starting service after the Loop was already operational. Beyond managing overflow, these terminals also facilitated interurban services: Congress Terminal connected with the North Shore Line, while Wells Street Terminal served as the eastern terminus for the Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad (CA&E).
The introduction of the State Street subway in 1943 and the Dearborn Street subway in 1951 helped alleviate Loop congestion, coinciding with a decline in interurban travel. The Market Street terminal and Randolph station ceased operations in 1948 and were soon dismantled. Service at Congress Terminal ended in 1949, followed by Wells Street Terminal in 1951; nevertheless, CA&E continued using Wells Street until 1953, and the North Shore Line utilized Congress Terminal for baggage handling until 1963. All stub terminals have since been demolished, leaving very few traces behind.
Background
Although proposals for rapid transit dated back to 1869, Chicago’s inaugural elevated line—the South Side Elevated Railroad—began service in June 1892. Subsequently, the Lake Street Elevated and Metropolitan West Side Elevated lines commenced operations in 1893 and 1895 respectively. The Northwestern Elevated Railroad experienced delays and did not open until 1900.
While securing rights-of-way outside downtown was relatively uncomplicated, opposition from retailers hindered elevated rail construction within Chicago’s central business district. As a result, early "L" companies established their terminals on downtown’s periphery. Developer Charles Tyson Yerkes proposed a unified loop of elevated tracks—the Loop—shared among all four companies, an idea they ultimately embraced.
Congress Terminal
The South Side Elevated initially operated between Congress and 39th Streets.
Market Street Terminal
The Lake Street line extended eastward along Lake Street to Market Street, then turned south to Madison Street where its terminal was situated. It also featured a station at Randolph Street along Market Street.
Franklin/Wells Street Terminal
The Metropolitan line originally terminated at Canal but extended across the Chicago River to Franklin Street after just one week.
North Water Terminal
Distinct from other companies, Northwestern began service in 1900 after the Loop was already established and constructed a stub terminal to handle excess traffic during busy periods.
Post-Loop Period
In response to the congestion issues within the Loop, several terminals underwent reconstruction or were brought back into service to accommodate the growing volume of passengers.