CTA Yellow Line/Skokie Swift Ride, 02.10.10

Here, I am riding the Chicago Transit Authority's most unusual route, the Yellow Line (also known as the Skokie Swift), from Howard Street on the far north side of Chicago, through a bit of Evanston, and ending at Dempster Street in the suburb of Skokie.

The line was completed as part of the Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee interurban railway's high-speed Skokie Valley Route to Milwaukee in 1925, and the Chicago Rapid Transit Company (CTA's predecessor) began using it as far as Dempster from the start. Intermediate stations were at Ridge, Asbury, and Dodge in Evanston, and Crawford-East Prairie, Kostner, Oakton, Main, and Dempster in Niles Center (now Skokie). Along the line, CNS&M's only stop was Dempster, and when CTA abandoned service on the line (then called the Niles Center Branch) in 1948 due to low ridership, the North Shore Line kept using it until it folded in 1963.

Starting in 1964, Federal transit funds flowed to the CTA for a demonstration project on the abandoned line, which was rehabbed and re-branded as the Skokie Swift. It now ran as a non-stop shuttle between Howard and Dempster, featuring high speeds and high frequencies, in many ways a forecast of what was to be called light rail some 20 years on. It used the overhead catenary wires of the former North Shore Line, and even today, the nearly 90-year old catenary supports still stand. Designed for suburban commuters, the project catered to the car culture with a park n ride lot, taxi stand, and suburban bus transfer area.

In 2004, the overhead wire finally came down, and the entire line became operated by new third rail (it had always been third-rail-powered as far as Hamlin Ave). Sunday service was added to the line in 2008.

Here, I ride the Swift from its interchange point with the rest of the CTA system at Howard Street (where Purple and Red Line trains terminate), to the current end of the line at Dempster Street in Skokie. Also seen at the Skokie end is the short train turning back for an eastbound run, as well as the original Dempster station (now housing a Starbucks Coffee), and a transfer to Pace suburban bus route #250.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• CTA
• Chicago
• transit
• authority
• yellow line
• skokie swift
• train
• urban
• metro
• subway
• el
• elevated
• rapid transit
• North Shore Line
• Skokie
• Evanston
• Dempster
• Howard
• 2600-series
• 2600
• rail car
• rail

[Starfield1959]

Rebuild the CNS&M Railway  !! Bring back The Trains !!!!

[icebratrpg]

This video makes me want to ride the Yellow Line just because I can next time I'm in the area... and that's considering I'm going to be based a lot closer to O'Hare while I'm in Chicago, too.

[electroscribe]

I used to ride North Shore trains from Dempster to either the Loop or Wilson Ave. & by CTA bus to Sheridan @ Surf St to visit grandparents. This video brings it back home.

From Seattle

[skinnyshit8888]

I hope they extend it out to Old Orchard like they want to