These photos are available thanks to the Strahorn Library and Museum Volunteer Joe Stupar's time spent scanning them.
Due to concerns expressed by some about rampant piracy of photos on the internet, restrictions have been placed on posting photos from the Museum's collection here. The requirements set forth state that they must be low res and watermarked. We apologize to the vast majority of our patrons who only use this site as intended, for personal enjoyment and information gathering.
48-Exterior view of 20th Street Substation. (Info from back of photo) SE corner of 20th & Dearborn. Constructed in 1905, rated capacity 12,000kw, overload capacity 18,000kw for one hour. Conversion data: From 9,000 volts, 3 phase, 25 cycle AC to 600 volts DC. From the standpoint of the number of rotary converters, 20th Street Substation is the largest company owned station on the system. It is equaled in capacity only by Western Avenue Substation. (CSL Photo)
49-Interior view of 20th Street Substation. (Info from back of photo) This photo shows two of the station's seven rotary converters. These seven fall into two groups as follows: 2 - 1,000kw, 8 pole, 375 rpm, 25 cycle. Both of these machines were put into service in 1905. 5 - 2,000kw, 16 pole, 188 rpm, 25 cycle. One was put into service in 1906, one in 1907, two in 1908 and one in 1910. All converters manufactured by General Electric. (CSL Photo)
50-Exterior view of 44th Street Substation. (Info from back of photo) 3142 W. 44th St., half block east of Kedzie. Constructed in 1914, rated capacity 6,000kw, overload capacity 9,000kw for one hour. Conversion data: From 9,000 volts, 3 phase, 25 cycle AC to 600 volts DC. (CSL Photo)
51-Interior view of 44th Street Substation showing rotary converters. (Info from back of photo) Rotary #1 at right: Manufacturer - General Electric. Rating - 4,000kw, 18 poles, 167 rpm, 25 cycle. Put into service: 12/22/1914. &nsbp &nsbp Rotary #2 at left: Manufacturer - General Electric. Rating - 2,000kw, 18 poles, 188 rpm, 25 cycle. Put into service: at 42nd St. Substation, 02/25/1909 - at present location, 06/30/1921. (CSL Photo)
52-Interior view of 44th Street Substation showing control panel. (Info from back of photo) View includes main circuit breakers, switches, and ammeters for each rotary converter, DC watt meters, and the switches, circuit breakers, and ammeters for the individual sections fed by the station. (CSL Photo)
53-Exterior view of the Grand Avenue Substation. (Info from back of photo) NW corner of Grand and Crawford Avenues. Constructed in 1909, rated capacity 8,000kw, overload capacity 12,000kw for one hour. Conversion data: From 9,000 volts, 3 phase, 25 cycle AC to 600 volts DC. (CSL Photo)
54-Interior view of the Grand Avenue Substation. (Info from back of photo) This view shows the station's four rotary convertersand in the background, the main control panel. The converters are all similar and carry the following specifications: 2,000kw, 18 poles, 188 rpm, 25 cycle. Of the four converters now in service, two were put into service in 1909, one in 1910, and one in 1922. The latter one was first put into service at Van Buren Substation in 1909. All machines were manufactured by General Electric Co. (CSL Photo)
55-Exterior view of the Grimm Substation. (Info from back of photo) 5329 Ainslie St., half block east of Milwaukee Ave. Constructed in 1926, rated capacity 4,000kw, overload capacity 6,000kw for one hour. Conversion data: From 12,000 volts, 3 phase, 60 cycle AC to 600 volts DC. This is the most recently installed company owned substation on the system. It is a completely automatic substation and requires no manual manipulation to put machines into service or to take them out. However the substation can be put under manual control through the supervisory cable which terminates at Crawford Substation. Hence, the operator at Crawford can observe the station load and control the converters and section breakers in the station by remote control through this supervisory cable. (CSL Photo)
56-Transformers at Grimm Substation. (Info from back of photo) This bak of oil insulated self cooled transformers with inherent reactances reduce the line voltage to values that may be applied at the slip rings of the converters. This installation is peculiar to Grimm Substation, the more ocmmon practivce on the system being air blast transformers installed within the station together with appropriate reactances as separate units. (CSL Photo)
57-Entire Main Control Panel at Grimm Substation. (Info from back of photo) This view shows the automatic circuit breakers, switches and relays which control both the converters and the various sections which the station feeds. (CSL Photo)
58-Control Equipment at Grimm Substation. (Info from back of photo) On this section of the panel are mounted relays necessary to control the rotary converters. It is through the functioning of these relays that the machines are started, stopped, or cut out in case of trouble or excessive overloads. (CSL Photo)
59-Interior view of Grimm Substation showing Rotary Converters (Info from back of photo) There are two 2,000kw Westinghouse 60 cycle conversion units in this station. Both were put into service in 1926. (CSL Photo)
60-Section of Control Panel in Grimm Substation. (Info from back of photo) View of control equipment which gives a "close-up" of the automatic main line circuit breakers. (CSL Photo)
61-Exterior view of the Western Avenue Substation. (Info from back of photo) SE corner of Western and Washington Blvd. Constructed in 1913 and moved to a point 17 feet east of original location in 1931 to permit the widening of Western Ave., rated capacity 12,000kw, overload capacity 18,000kw for one hour. 3 converters (all similar) manufactured by General Electric Co. Type of converters: 4,000kw - 18 poles - 167 rpm - 25 cycle. Conversion data: From 9,000 volts, 3 phase, 25 cycle AC to 600 volts DC. (CSL Photo)
62-Behind Panel at Western Avenue Substation. (Info from backof photo) This view shows a typical arrangement of the connections behind the control panel. Running the full length of the picture may be seen the main bus. In the foreground, are the three buses from the rotary converters; in the background, the connections to the individual sections fed by the station. (CSL Photo)