Illinois Central Station 1937

[CSumption]

In 1937, how many passenger tracks were there at Illinois Central Station? What are some of the announcements a person might be able to hear standing on the platform?

[Semper Vaporo]

Might help if you were to name the city.  I am sure Illinois Central had more than one (one at each end at least!)

[CSumption]

Sorry about that. Chicago.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Central Station in Chicago had an unusual layout, it appears to have been laid out like a through station in that the concourse straddles the tracks with passengers walking down stairways to get to each platform.

In 1937, Central Station served IC, Michigan Central and the Big Four.

[KCSfan]

Paul is correct you would have heard announcements of the arrival and departure of IC, MC and Big Four trains.

It's been 54 years since I was last there and my memory is vague on details of the track layout at Central Station but as I recall if you drew a line from west to east across the the IC ROW at 12th St. you'd have the following: 6 electrified commuter train tracks; 2 tracks to the South Water St. freight yard; 2 tracks to the through train coach yard; 8 (or was it 6?) station tracks.

Mark

[CSumption]

Thank you. This is enormously helpful. 

[rcdrye]

Take a look at the Bird's Eye View of Central Station in 1940.

 http://ctr.trains.com/~/media/Files/PDF/BEV/Railroad%20Capital%20BEV.pdf

[CSumption]

I love this! Thank you!

[rcdrye]

A 1960s diagram of Central Station shows tracks 1-10 from west to east.  Track 10 was a running track for locomotive escapes and such and did not have a platform.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Considering that the suburban platforms for IC and South Shore were a fair distance away, I would hardly consider them to be part of Central Station.

[Deggesty]

CSSHEGEWISCH

Considering that the suburban platforms for IC and South Shore were a fair distance away, I would hardly consider them to be part of Central Station.

Right. Considering that each suburban sevice station had its own platform, none of its tracks should be included withe those of the mainline stations.

[richhotrain]

rcdrye

Take a look at the Bird's Eye View of Central Station in 1940.

 http://ctr.trains.com/~/media/Files/PDF/BEV/Railroad%20Capital%20BEV.pdf

At the risk of drifting off topic, it is that second photo, the 1928 photo of the south branch of the Chicago River, Grand Central Station and LaSalle Street Station, that always captivates me.  Too bad that Dearborn Station is not shown in that photo.  Thanks for posting that link.

Rich