East 63rd branch (CTA)

East 63rd (Jackson Park) branch
Overview
Type Rapid transit
System Chicago 'L'
Status Operational
Locale Chicago, Illinois, USA
Termini King Drive
Cottage Grove
Stations 2
Services      Green Line
Operation
Opened 1893
Operator(s) Chicago Transit Authority (1947–present)
Chicago Rapid Transit Company (1924–1947)
South Side Elevated Railroad (1893–1924)
Character Elevated
Rolling stock 5000-series
Technical
Line length 1.5 mi (2.4 km)
Track gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Electrification Third rail, 600 V DC
Route map

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

  1. ↑ Green Line:East 63rd (Jackson Park) branch Chicago "L".org. Accessed August 16, 2013
  2. ↑ Chicago Elevated Chicago Elevated Railways 1913. Accessed August 16, 2013
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