Canal station (CTA Metropolitan Main Line)
CANAL 500W 300S | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Former Chicago 'L' rapid transit station | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| General information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | 324–326 South Canal Street Chicago, Illinois[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Owned by | Chicago Transit Authority | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Line(s) | Metropolitan main line Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Platforms | 2 island platforms | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Tracks | 4 tracks | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Connections | Union Station | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Construction | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Structure type | Elevated | |||||||||||||||||||||
| History | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | May 6, 1895 (Metropolitan) August 1, 1927 (CA&E) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Closed | September 20, 1953 (CA&E) June 22, 1958 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Rebuilt | 1922 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Former services | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Canal was a rapid transit station located on the Metropolitan main line of the Chicago "L". It was in existence from 1895 to 1958, when the entire main line was replaced by the Congress Line located in the median of the nearby Eisenhower Expressway. Starting in 1927, the interurban Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad (CA&E) also served the station, continuing until 1953. Throughout the second half of its existence, Canal connected with Chicago's Union Station, which was one of the city's rail terminals.
History
The Metropolitan main line and Logan Square branch commenced operations on May 6, 1895, containing several stations including Canal. The main line was replaced by the Congress Line in 1958, and it and its station were demolished accordingly.[1]
Union Station was rebuilt in 1925, and the new station included a transfer point to the Canal Street "L" station. The CA&E, which had used the Metropolitan's tracks since 1905, began service to Canal on August 1, 1927, to take advantage of the new connection.[1] This continued until it suspended operations east of Desplaines on September 20, 1953.[1]
Station details
The original station house was destroyed by fire in 1922; the rebuilt design was to an off-white terra cotta design in the Beaux-Arts style by transit architect Arthur U. Gerber.[1]
Canal's station house had a stairway descending below to a walkway, which connected passengers to Union Station half a block away. This walkway was separated from Union Station's tracks and platforms by an iron fence, and directed patrons to Union Station's lobby. The circuitousness of this route led to its being dubbed the "frustration walk"[1] for commuters, although it was considered one of the few good areas for railfans to see trains at Union Station at the time.[1] There were two connections between the walkway and the "L" station; patrons going from the "L" would use the station house, whereas those coming from Union Station were led directly to the "L" platforms after going through a special fare collection area.[1]