Today we board a midday brown line train and take a tour of the completed stations (and one under construction) of today's Chicago-L.
As we enter the loop we cross tower/junction 18 and hear the Automated anouncement sound..."Washington and Wells is next. In the direction of travel doors open on the right at Washington and Wells. Transfer to Orange and Purple Line trains, at Washington and Wells."
After a quick berthing, and whiff of urine from the bum that just walked through your car on his way to the back, we hear that ever familiar sound of....<ding-dong> "Doors Closing"and we're off...."This is a Brown Line train to Kimball. Maps are posted in each railcar and station to help you plan your trip--contact station personnel for further assistance. Scheduled travel time to Kimball is about 35 minutes. Welcome aboard Brown Line run 101. Quincy is next. In the direction of travel, doors open on the right at Quincy. Transfer to Orange, and Purple Line trains at Quincy."
As we are here at Quincy take a quick peep around at 1897 loop design, this station was restored in the late eighties to a close to original design. Quick trivia: When the loop first opened the Union Elevated Railway company built all the stations to a 3 car clearance, stating they could not ever see a reason for more than 3 cars. Now all platforms on the loop can berth 8 car trains.
Smells like someone has Italian take out on the train, mmmm Italian take out.Wow, LaSalle and Van Buren already....
<ding-dong> "Doors Closing."CLICK TO LISTEN! (Windows Media Player Required)
http://chicago-l.org/multimedia/sounds/automated/Library_next.wav
Did you know State and Van Buren is the newest loop station, though it originally dates back to 1897. Confused? The original State/Van Buren was closed in 1973, and demolished. In 1997 the Library-State/Van Buren station was activated to serve the south-eatern corner of the loop and the new Harold Washington Library, and is actually located entirely west of State Street.CLICK TO LISTEN!
http://chicago-l.org/multimedia/sounds/automated/DoorsClosing.wavOuch, listen to those wheels scream as we go around junction 12, if you peer down the street you'll see Columbia College, and next door a small hot dog stand that serves the quickest chili dog on this corner of the loop. mmmm Chili Dog.Note the skylights added to the original canopies at Adams and Wabash in 1988 to allow more natural light to creep in, this is one of the more modern old designs on the loop.
Leaving here, we head to Madison and Wabash, one of the CTA's more neglected stations, it, and Randolph are slated for replacement once funding is available. Don't mind the new smell, I know it's awful, but he'll be getting off here. I can't imagine what he ate for lunch.
Ah, here we come to our last stop for this tour, as there are no more finished stations ahead. We'd better get off here, or we'll be stuck for a while. I don't mind though, the smell of Calgon was getting to me, remind me not to sit next to Socrates next time. Maybe a good looking brunette?
Thank you for your patronage, and please hurridly exit to catch your bus. Don't forget to join us next time when we continue to State and Lake, and find ourselves some Starbucks at LaSalle and Lake. I already have a Vanilla-Frappucino craving!-Chris
Chicago-LSounds courtesy of Chicago-L.org
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