Northwestern Elevated Railroad

The Northwestern Elevated Railroad was a privately constructed rapid-transit railway company serving Chicago and nearby northern suburbs. It was the last of the major privately built elevated railroads established in Chicago and ultimately formed an important part of the city’s early rapid-transit network. Its principal route ran north from the downtown Loop to Wilson Avenue in the Uptown area, while a branch diverged near Clark Street and served Ravenswood and Albany Park. Extensions later carried service farther north to Evanston and Wilmette. The company was incorporated on October 30, 1893, and received a 50-year franchise from the City of Chicago on January 8, 1894. The original franchise required a line from a downtown location south of the Chicago River to Wilson Avenue to be in service by the end of 1897. A 1895 revision changed the planned downtown connection so that the line could serve the newly developing Union Loop, the elevated railway structure that would become the central interchange of Chicago’s rapid-transit system. The completion deadline was subsequently extended to May 31, 1899. Construction began in February 1896 but was disrupted by financial difficulties. Work was suspended later that year and stopped altogether in 1897. After new financing was secured, construction resumed in July 1899. In an effort to satisfy the franchise requirements, the company operated an inaugural train north from the Loop on December 31, 1899. City officials judged the line unsafe on January 1, 1900, and declared that the franchise had expired. The company nevertheless attempted to operate again the following day. Police stopped the train and arrested its crew, after which company officials took control of the equipment and succeeded in moving it toward the Loop. A dramatic confrontation followed, including the opening of the Wells Street bridge and an attempt to block the tracks with railroad ties. The train was ultimately diverted onto the Lake Street Elevated Railroad. The dispute was resolved through a new agreement with the city, and the first 6.41-mile section officially opened on May 31, 1900. The railroad expanded rapidly during the following decade. A Ravenswood branch opened in May 1907, initially reaching Western Avenue, and an at-grade extension to Kimball opened in December of that year. In May 1908, service was extended approximately seven miles north from Wilson to Central Street in Evanston over electrified Milwaukee Road trackage. A short extension from Central Street to Linden Avenue in Wilmette was constructed during one night in April 1912, creating a northern suburban terminus. Infrastructure on the Evanston route was progressively upgraded, including new stations, embankment construction, and the replacement of earlier street-level or temporary arrangements. The company’s independent identity weakened as Chicago’s elevated railways were consolidated. In 1913, the four principal elevated railroad companies formed the Chicago Elevated Railways Collateral Trust, enabling coordinated cross-town services. In 1924, the companies were formally combined into the Chicago Rapid Transit Company. The Chicago Transit Authority assumed the assets of the Chicago Rapid Transit system in 1947. Although the Northwestern Elevated Railroad no longer exists as a separate company, significant portions of its former infrastructure and routes remain in use. The Ravenswood route is now associated with the CTA Brown Line, while the former Main Line supports services now identified with the Red and Purple Lines.

The Northwestern Elevated Railroad Company was incorporated in Chicago on October 30, 1893. On January 8, 1894, the city granted it a 50-year franchise to build an elevated railway from downtown Chicago to Wilson Avenue. The original franchise required operations to begin by December 31, 1897. In 1895, the franchise was amended so that the downtown route could connect with the Union Loop, which was then becoming the organizing center of Chicago’s elevated railway network. The completion deadline was later extended to May 31, 1899. Construction began in February 1896, but the project encountered financial problems. Work was suspended later that year and ceased entirely in 1897. New financing permitted construction to resume in July 1899. To demonstrate compliance with its franchise, the company ran an inaugural train north from the Loop on December 31, 1899. Chicago officials concluded that the railroad was unsafe and announced on January 1, 1900, that the franchise had expired. The company attempted another run on January 2. Police arrested the train crew, but company officials took over the controls and moved the train toward the Loop. Authorities opened the Wells Street bridge and placed railroad ties on the track to prevent the train from returning. The operators avoided the obstruction by switching onto the Lake Street Elevated Railroad. The confrontation eventually led to a revised agreement with the city, and formal public service on the first 6.41-mile section began on May 31, 1900. Expansion followed quickly. In May 1907, the company opened a branch toward Ravenswood from a junction just south of Clark Street. The branch initially reached Western Avenue, and an at-grade extension to Kimball opened in December 1907. In May 1908, the Northwestern extended service seven miles north from Wilson Avenue to Central Street in Evanston. This section used electrified Milwaukee Road tracks, initially connected to the elevated structure at Wilson by a wooden trestle incline. The company replaced or modified existing Milwaukee Road stations and added stations at Hayes Street and Howard Avenue. The southern Evanston section was placed on an embankment by 1910, while additional elevation work between Lawrence and Howard took place from 1914 to 1922. In April 1912, a short extension from Central Street to Linden Avenue in Wilmette was built over a single night. The company’s routes became increasingly integrated with those of Chicago’s other elevated railways. In 1913, the four companies formed the Chicago Elevated Railways Collateral Trust, allowing cross-town services to operate. Formal consolidation followed in 1924, when the companies became the Chicago Rapid Transit Company. The Chicago Transit Authority took over the Chicago Rapid Transit assets in 1947. The Northwestern Elevated Railroad therefore survives primarily through its physical and operational legacy: the former Ravenswood route is now operated as the CTA Brown Line, while the former Main Line is used by services associated with the Red and Purple Lines.

1. 1947CTA successor takes over assets

   The Chicago Transit Authority assumed the Chicago Rapid Transit system and inherited the Northwestern Elevated Railroad’s routes and infrastructure.

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2. 1924Corporate consolidation

   The company became part of the newly unified Chicago Rapid Transit Company.

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3. 1912Wilmette extension opens

   A short extension reached Linden Avenue in Wilmette after construction undertaken during one night in April.

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4. 1908Evanston service begins

   Service was extended from Wilson Avenue to Central Street in Evanston.

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5. 1907Ravenswood branch opens

   The branch opened toward Ravenswood in May and was extended to Kimball in December.

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6. 1900First section officially opens

   After a dispute with city officials over safety and franchise compliance, the first 6.41-mile section opened on May 31.

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7. 1896Construction begins

   Physical construction of the railway started in February.

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8. 1894Chicago grants a 50-year franchise

   The city granted the company a franchise to build and operate an elevated line toward Wilson Avenue.

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9. 1893Company incorporated

   The Northwestern Elevated Railroad Company was incorporated in Chicago on October 30.

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A privately financed urban and suburban rapid-transit operator built to connect Chicago’s downtown Loop with northern neighborhoods and suburbs.

• Main LineUrban elevated railway1900

  The principal Northwestern Elevated route connected Chicago’s downtown Loop with Wilson Avenue in Uptown. It formed the company’s core urban service and later became part of the infrastructure used by Chicago’s Red and Purple Line services.

• Ravenswood BranchUrban and neighborhood rail service1907

  Opened in 1907, the Ravenswood branch diverged from the Main Line near Clark Street and extended toward Ravenswood, Western Avenue, and later Kimball in Albany Park. Its route is now associated with the CTA Brown Line.

• Evanston and Wilmette extensionsSuburban electric railway service1908

  The northern extensions carried service from Wilson Avenue through Evanston to Central Street and then to Linden Avenue in Wilmette. They used and progressively upgraded electrified railway infrastructure shared with or derived from Milwaukee Road trackage.

• 1924Consolidate into the Chicago Rapid Transit CompanyM&A

  The city’s elevated railway companies had already been coordinating through a common trust structure.

  What changed. The four elevated companies were formally united as the Chicago Rapid Transit Company.

  Aftermath. The Northwestern Elevated Railroad ceased to operate as a separate corporate entity, while its routes continued within the consolidated system.

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• 1913Participate in elevated-railway coordinationStrategy

  Chicago’s elevated railways needed coordinated operations to provide cross-town service.

  What changed. The Northwestern Elevated Railroad joined the other three elevated companies in forming the Chicago Elevated Railways Collateral Trust.

  Aftermath. The arrangement established a framework for coordinated services before the companies were formally consolidated in 1924.

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• 1907Launch the Ravenswood branchProduct launch

  The company sought to extend its urban service beyond the Main Line into northern Chicago neighborhoods.

  What changed. It opened a branch toward Ravenswood in May and extended it to Kimball in December.

  Aftermath. The branch became a lasting part of Chicago’s north-side rapid-transit network and is now associated with the Brown Line.

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• 1895Connect the planned railway to the Union LoopStrategy

  Chicago’s emerging Union Loop offered a central downtown interchange for elevated railway services.

  What changed. The company obtained a franchise modification allowing its route to connect to the Union Loop rather than terminating at the originally specified downtown location.

  Aftermath. The change tied the Northwestern Elevated Railroad to the central structure that became the focus of Chicago’s rapid-transit network.

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• 1900Dispute over safety, franchise expiration, and unauthorized operationControversy

  After the company ran an inaugural train to meet a franchise deadline, Chicago officials declared the railroad unsafe and stated that its franchise had expired. The company made another attempted run, police arrested the crew, and company officials then operated the train themselves. The confrontation ended in a new agreement that allowed the railway to open formally.

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• 1947Chicago Transit Authority takes over Chicago Rapid Transit assets

  The newly established Chicago Transit Authority assumed the assets of the Chicago Rapid Transit Company, including routes historically developed by the Northwestern Elevated Railroad.

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• 1924Elevated companies consolidate as Chicago Rapid Transit Company

  The four major elevated railways were formally united under the Chicago Rapid Transit Company, ending the Northwestern Elevated Railroad’s separate corporate role.

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• 1913Chicago Elevated Railways form a coordinating trust

  Chicago’s four elevated railway companies formed the Chicago Elevated Railways Collateral Trust, enabling coordinated cross-town operations.

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• 1908Service reaches Evanston

  The railroad extended service north from Wilson Avenue to Central Street in Evanston using electrified Milwaukee Road trackage.

  Product launch
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• 1907Ravenswood branch opens

  The company opened a branch from the main route near Clark Street toward Ravenswood, later extending it to Kimball and Albany Park.

  Product launch
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• 1900City challenges the railroad’s opening operation

  Following an inaugural run intended to meet the franchise deadline, Chicago officials declared the railway unsafe and the franchise expired. The company made another unauthorized attempt to run a train, resulting in police intervention and a subsequent settlement with the city.

  RegulationOther
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• 1899Construction resumes after financial interruption

  After work had stopped during the late 1890s, new financing allowed construction of the Northwestern Elevated Railroad to restart in July 1899.

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• 1894Northwestern Elevated Railroad receives a Chicago franchise

  Chicago granted the company a 50-year franchise to construct and operate an elevated railway between downtown Chicago and Wilson Avenue.

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1. Northwestern Elevated Railroad
2. Historic American Engineering Record: Northwestern Elevated Railroad Interlocking Tower