Chicago had never seen anything like it. They'd built it on iron stilts, 22-feet-high, along the alley between State and Wabash. And today, the city's first 'L' line opened for business.
New York had pioneered the American elevated railroad in 1878. When service proved successful, other cities became interested. Early in 1890, the Chicago & South Side Rapid Transit began constructing a line.
The elevateds of New York ran over streets. Because of various legal hurdles, C&SSRT found it more convenient to build on private property along the alley. Hence its nickname--the Alley 'L'.
The company's franchise was for a 3.5-mile-long line between Congress and 39th streets. While construction was underway, Chicago was chosen as host city for the 1893 World's Fair. The company then announced it would extend its line all the way to the fairgrounds in Jackson Park.
But that would come later. So would electrical power. For now, C&SSRT's trains would be pulled by steam locomotives.
At 7 AM on this Tuesday morning, the first train set off from 39th Street. The four coaches carried 30 passengers. Fourteen minutes later they arrived at Congress Street. The fare was five cents.
Opening day traffic was heavy. Some passengers were commuters who were actually on their way to work. Many more were just taking a ride for the fun of it.
The Tribune hinted that there was a bit of voyeurism involved. "People living on either side of the track had seemingly forgotten the warning about the start [of service]," the paper said. "Passengers saw bits of domestic life usually hidden from the gaze of passing crowds." Residents along the right-of-way soon learned to keep their shades down.
The 'L's popularity surpassed all expectation. Six months after opening, over one million passengers a month were riding it. Another six months after that--with the line completed to Jackson Park and the World's Fair under way--the figure topped three million. By then other Chicago companies were building their own 'L' lines.
The South Side of 2011 is very different from the South Side of 1892. But a portion of the Green Line still follows the same route as the original Alley 'L'.
UNKNOWN CHICAGO SOURCE: Moffat, The 'L' (1995).
06 Jun, 2011
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Source: http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/unknown-chicago/2011/06/the-alley-l-6-6-1892.html
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