The literal trainwreck that was Chicago’s rail network before track elevation

Chicago’s Railway Boom and Deadly Grade Crossing Crisis

Chicago’s rail boom began in 1852 when the first eastern train rolled into town.

Within a year, four more railroads laid tracks, and by 1856, nearly 100 trains entered the city daily. By 1857, over 3,000 miles of track made Chicago the hub of the world’s largest railway network.

But progress came at a cost. Between 1889-1893, trains killed 1,700 people at street crossings.

In 1893, the city ordered all crossings eliminated, launching massive track elevation projects. Later, engineers even moved the Chicago River west, forcing the St. Charles Air Line Bridge to find a new home. Today, this historic bridge stands as a monument to Chicago’s revolutionary railway past.

Trains Rolled Into Chicago and Changed America Forever

The first railroad from the east pulled into Chicago in 1852, kicking off a transportation boom nobody expected. The city quickly drew rail companies, with four more railroads showing up within a year.

The growth kept going, and by 1856, the number of railroads doubled again.

Every day, 58 passenger trains and 38 freight trains came into the growing city, bringing people, goods, and business.

Chicago Grabbed the Crown as World’s Railroad Capital

By 1857, over 3,000 miles of railroad track linked to Chicago from everywhere.

The city sat in the perfect spot between Great Lakes shipping and the Mississippi Valley, making it the natural center for America’s growing rail network.

Railroad companies competed to build terminals in the booming town. Midwest farmers and businesses sent their goods to Chicago for shipping.

The city changed from a frontier town to the center of the world’s biggest railway network in under ten years.

Four Rival Companies Joined Forces on the St. Charles Air Line

The St. Charles Air Line became America’s first belt railroad through a simple handshake deal.

Four competing companies – Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, Illinois Central, Michigan Central, and Chicago and North Western railways – put aside their fights to create this key connection.

The line connected east-west traffic through the busy city center.

This teamwork happened without formal papers, just an agreement between railroad bosses who saw benefits in working together.

Deadly Crossings Turned Chicago Streets Into Danger Zones

Ground-level trains killed 1,700 Chicagoans between 1889-1893. The risk grew with each new rail line added to the city.

A study found that in 1899, one out of every 220 Chicago deaths came from train hits at crossings. Railroad companies tried using gates and hiring watchmen to stop accidents, but these steps didn’t work well.

People walking, wagon drivers, and later cars shared space with trains on busy streets, creating deadly risks at every crossing.

City Officials Finally Said “Enough” to Railroad Deaths

In February 1893, Chicago’s city council passed a tough new rule requiring removal of all street-level crossings within six years. The order forced railroad companies to fix the deadly problem they’d created.

Railroad bosses complained about the costs and building challenges, but public pressure for safer streets won.

The rule started one of Chicago’s biggest building projects, needing teamwork between many railroad companies and city leaders to complete.

Engineers Lifted Miles of Track Above City Streets

Railroads faced the challenge of raising their tracks while keeping trains running. Work crews built temp tracks next to existing lines to keep service going during the big project.

The St. Charles Air Line tracks went from ground level with many street crossings to raised banks with bridges. Workers brought in thousands of tons of dirt to create the raised rail beds.

The new high tracks let people and cars pass safely underneath through tunnels, finally separating trains from street traffic.

Railroads and River Traffic Fought for Space Along the Chicago River

Nine railroads squeezed their tracks into the narrow space between Clark Street and the Chicago River by the early 1900s.

The river’s sharp east turn created awkward plots of land, with some properties split in half by the water. Trains had to take tight turns around the bend, slowing traffic and causing backups.

Ships also struggled with the narrow, crowded channel. Chicago’s fast growth had created a mess that limited both train and boat traffic.

A Bold Plan Emerged to Move an Entire River

The city approved a game-changing rule in 1916 to straighten the South Branch of the Chicago River between Polk and Eighteenth Streets.

The $9 million project would move the river a quarter-mile west, creating more room for railroad work. Land owners, shipping companies, and railroad bosses spent years working out the complex deals.

The plan needed buying land, paying affected businesses, and working with federal officials who controlled the waterway.

The St. Charles Air Line Bridge Needed a New Home

The river straightening project meant the St. Charles Air Line Bridge had to move.

Engineers planned to relocate and shorten the bridge to cross the new river channel. The bridge carried key rail traffic that couldn’t stop during building.

Workers built foundations for the bridge at its new spot while the old one kept carrying trains.

The project showed off the skills of Chicago’s engineers, who knew how to handle big building projects after years of railroad and river work.

Workers Dug a New Channel While Keeping Trains and Boats Moving

Between 1927-1929, construction crews tackled the massive job of straightening the river while maintaining both rail and water traffic. Workers excavated the new channel while the original river continued flowing.

They built new bridge abutments and prepared the relocated crossing points before connecting everything to the existing transportation network.

The careful sequencing prevented disruptions to Chicago’s busy transportation systems during the complex construction process.

Visiting St. Charles Air Line Bridge, Chicago

You can see the St. Charles Air Line Bridge at 1500 S Lumber St near 16th Street.

The best views are from Roosevelt Road and Clark Street.

This active railroad bridge carries freight and passenger trains daily and has Chicago landmark status for its engineering.

Take a Chicago River boat tour to go underneath it, or walk the developing river path connecting to Ping Tom Memorial Park in the new Riverline Development area.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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