I live in the far northwest burbs of Chicago. Saterday my wife and I took Metra to Arlinzgtzon Park Race Track. The train was full by the time we got to the track. A weekend pass is still only $5. At the station at the track I remembered that the CNW had run race track trains on the weekends and the trains would layover at the track. I did not see any trains in the siding and did not see anything about race trains in the timetable. When did these trains stop running. Did they stop because of OTB?
The train home was the same as our trip in. Jammed. Looked like many people had been to the Cubs game. You can't get a better deal than a weekend pass. That is what most were traveling on as I saw the pass in the ticket clip.
I believe that the race track specials ended when the passenger service was taken over by the RTA/Metra in roughly 1980. I don't remember any Metra race track express trains except for specials to the big Arlington Million race. It's a good question and I'll have to do some better checking when I have time.
CC
Until the 1970's there was a horse track in the south suburbs of Chicago called Washington Park. It burned down.
The IC had an electrified branch off its suburban line directly to the track and ran special trains from Chicago on race days. In days before that they also brought the horses in/out via that track.
does your username greyhounds signify that you have had some involvement in racing?
Patrick Boylan
Free yacht rides, 27' sailboat, zip code 19114 Delaware River, get great Delair bridge photos from the river. Send me a private message
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