This is more historical than current:
When looking over a 1915 railroad map of Illinois, it shows a B&O C.T. branch line between Franklin Park IL and ending just northeast of Dunning near what is today Portage Park.
But I when I look up the topo maps of the same era, I come up with no railroad.
As a cross reference, the same map show a MILW branch line that runs north to the Dunning neighborhood, and all of the topo maps of the era show that Dunning Branch.
If I overlay the route of the B&O C.T. line to today it appears to overlap with what is today Forest Preserve Drive and Sunnyside Ave.
According to the OpenRailwayMap the branch ends 2 blocks east of Central Ave.
For years I thought the B&O C.T. Altenheim Sub ended at Madison in Forest Park. So when I saw they had a branch line all the way up in Franklin Park, I was surprised.
Does anyone know why that line existed? It seemed to have evaded the topographers of the time.
I don't have a specific answer. Railroad lines have always existed to serve customers on those lines. What customers were on the line you question - I have no idea.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
The Mayfair Extension
"The line was built as a rate disput between railroads. Only service on the line were work trains to maintain the tracks. All service on the line ended in 1905, tracks removed 1910. Land that the track was on disposed by the B&OCT 1910 to 1940."
Thanks for the link, I did several searches and could not locate anything other than light references but nothing in detail. So thank you very much. What an obscure but interesting railroad story.
There is a story out there that a teacher who worked at the Dunning Asylum claimed she took the B&O CT to Grand Central, changed trains, then took a train out to the Mayfair Branch. Based on the rate dispute that seems unlikely. They asked her if it was the MILW and she said no.
Also of interest is the fact that the line had a stop as the same place as the modern Metra stop "Mayfair".
If you have more questions, you might e-mail David Leider, who wrote the history of the B&OCT mentioned in the post:
sooauthor@netzero.net
Overmod If you have more questions, you might e-mail David Leider, who wrote the history of the B&OCT mentioned in the post: sooauthor@netzero.net
Thank you, I just found his book and ordered it!
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