East 63rd branch
| East 63rd (Jackson Park) branch | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | |||
| Status | Operational | ||
| Locale | Chicago, Illinois, USA | ||
| Termini | |||
| Stations | 2 | ||
| Service | |||
| Type | Rapid transit | ||
| System | Chicago 'L' | ||
| Services | Green Line | ||
| Operator(s) | Chicago Transit Authority (1947–present) Chicago Rapid Transit Company (1924–1947) South Side Elevated Railroad (1893–1924) | ||
| Rolling stock | 5000-series | ||
| History | |||
| Opened | 1893 | ||
| Technical | |||
| Line length | 1.5 mi (2.4 km) | ||
| Character | Elevated | ||
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | ||
| |||
The East 63rd branch (Jackson Park branch) is a 1.5 mi (2.4 km) long branch operated by the Green Line 'L' of the Chicago Transit Authority, serving the Woodlawn neighborhood of the city of Chicago, Illinois.
History
The first station on the Jackson Park branch, 61st Street, opened January 22, 1893. Service was extended to Madison Avenue (later renamed Dorchester) on April 23, 1893, and to Jackson Park on May 12, 1893, to serve the World's Columbian Exposition, which was held in Jackson Park. On October 31, 1893, the World's Columbian Exposition ended and the Jackson Park station was closed. Stony Island was then made the terminus and was renamed Jackson Park.
On March 4, 1982, structural defects in the Jackson Park branch's bridge over the Illinois Central Railroad forced its closure south of the 61st street stop. When the branch reopened on December 12, 1982, service was only restored as far as the University stop. On January 9, 1994, the Green Line closed for renovation. When the line reopened on May 12, 1996, the Cottage Grove stop was the new terminal, and the Jackson Park branch was renamed the East 63rd branch. On September 27, 1997, the portion of the branch east of Cottage Grove was demolished with less than 24 hours public notice.[1]
Station listing
| East 63rd (Jackson Park) branch [2] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Station | Location | Points of interest & notes |
| 61st | 61st Street and Prairie Avenue | Opened January 22, 1893, closed January 9, 1994. |
King Drive 
|
Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and 63rd Street | Woodlawn, Inbound boarding only ↑ |
| Cottage Grove
|
Cottage Grove Avenue and 63rd Street | University of Chicago, University of Chicago Medical Center, Jackson Park, Oak Woods Cemetery, Woodlawn |
| University | University Avenue and 63rd Street | Opened April 23, 1893, closed January 9, 1994. |
| Dorchester | Dorchester Avenue and 63rd Street | Opened April 23, 1893 as "Madison," closed January 13, 1973. |
| Jackson Park (Stony Island) | Stony Island Avenue and 63rd Street | Opened May 12, 1893, closed March 4, 1982. |
| Jackson Park | Hayes Drive and Cornell Drive | World's Columbian Exposition Fair Grounds, opened May 12, 1893. Transfer point to the Intramural Railway. Closed October 31, 1893 |
See also
References
- ^ Green Line:East 63rd (Jackson Park) branch Chicago "L".org. Accessed August 16, 2013
- ^ Chicago Elevated Chicago Elevated Railways 1913. Accessed August 16, 2013
