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RAPID TRANSIT FACILITIES
Prior to rapid transit unification, the four elevated railroad companies each had their own shops and power plant buildings. Eventually, electricity was purchased from Commonwealth Edison, the electric utility company serving Chicago. From 1907 to 1932, Commonwealth Edison was controlled by Samuel Insull, who also controlled the elevated railroads from 1911 to 1932.Electrification is at 600 volts DC third rail, with overhead catenary used instead on the outer half of the Yellow Line to Skokie.
South Side Elevated Railroad - Shops: 61st Street, on Jackson Park line. Power Plant: 39th Street.
Lake Street Elevated Railroad - Shops: Hamlin Avenue. Power: purchased from streetcar companies. The Lake Street Elevated Railroad, and the streetcar companies serving Chicago's north and west sides, were all controlled by Charles Tyson Yerkes at the time of electrification.
Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad - Shops: Racine Avenue. Power Plant: Loomis Avenue, immediately west of shops.
Northwestern Elevated Railroad - Shops: Wilson Avenue. Power Plant: 1350 W. Fullerton Avenue, 1/2 mile west of line. The CTA continued to use the Wilson Avenue Shop for various purposes until 1996, the shop buildings burned down on October 26, 1996.
CTA RAPID TRANSIT TERMINALS
The CTA's main rail shops are presently in Skokie at 3701 W. Oakton St., along the Yellow Line. The shops were built by the Chicago Rapid Transit Co. in 1927, consolidating functions previously performed at the shops of the four separate elevated railroad companies. The Shokie Shops are presently being rehabbed. The Yellow Line overhead electrification previously began west of the shops, enabling all equipment to access the shops via third rail power. Routine maintenance is performed at the terminals at the ends of each line.
LINDEN AVE.
Purple Line
Opened in 1912
Yard Capacity: 76 cars
HOWARD ST.
Red/Purple/Yellow Line
Opened in 1993
Yard Capacity: 282 cars
98TH ST. (DAN RYAN)
Red Line
Opened in 1969/rehabbed 1993
Yard Capacity: 234 cars
ROSEMONT
Blue Line
Opened in 1983
Yard Capacity: 144 cars
DES PLAINES AVE. (FOREST PARK)
Blue Line
Opened in 1958/rehabbed 1964
Yard Capacity: 122 cars
54TH AVE.
Pink Line
Opened in 1958/rehabbed 1975
Yard Capacity: 100 cars
HARLEM AVE.
Green Line
Opened in 1962
Yard Capacity: 132 cars
RACINE AVE. (63RD ST.)
Green Line
Opened in 1907/rehabbed early 1970's
Yard Capacity: 220 cars
61ST ST.
Green Line
Opened in 1892/rehabbed 1993
Not used as yard
KIMBALL AVE.
Brown Line
Opened in 1907/rehabbed 1993
Yard Capacity: 136 cars
MIDWAY
Orange Line
Opened in 1993
Some information is from the 1998 Fact Book of the Regional Transportation Authority.