CTA Surface System History presented by the Illinois Railway Museum

IRM Logo                 NSL Logo

These photos are available thanks to the Strahorn Library and Museum Volunteer Joe Stupar's time spent scanning them.

The photos in this section are from a subdirectory titled "Skokie Valley". These photos may or may not be from there, but in order to keep track of where we can find the photos in the future if need be, we have kept that title for this section.

The photo captions are taken from information written on the slides/photos and/or from research and are enhanced by a spreadsheet that contain additional information, provided via Joe Stupar. The numbers preceding the captions are simply inventory numbers and can be ignored.

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.



NSL Skokie Valley Photos - Part 5a




1-View NW from Howard St showing future lead to NSL trackage, and equipment working. Also train from Evanston approaching - 01/23/1925 (NSL Photo)




2-View NW from Howard St showing NSL connection with Rapid Transit locomotive on it, trackage, substation, and industry West of Howard - 01/30/1925 (NSL Photo)




3-Closer view NW showing mostly completed NSL connection with signals in place, substation, bridge, and industry tracks - 04/14/1925 (NSL Photo)




4-View East across Clark St / Chicago Av at land cleared for extension West of Howard Yard, South of substation. Note Evanston Railway track in street - 09/11/1924 (NSL Photo)




5-This seems to be view of C&NW bridge from Chicago Av, but date seems off - 01/03/1924 (NSL Photo)



6-View East across vacated land West of Howard Yard, and brick pavers removed from Chicago Av. Evanston railway tracks remain. Also steam crane working in cut near substation - 09/25/1924 (NSL Photo)




7-View West showing brick pavers removed from Chicago Ave, Evanston Railways tracks, poles and wires for Evanston shoo-fly track, and pile driver trains up on C&NW - 09/25/1924 (NSL Photo)




8-View East showing steam shovels on Chicago Ave in front of substation, cut where Chicago Ave used to be, and Evanston Railways shoo-fly track - 10/02/1924 (NSL Photo)




9-View West showing men working in cut, Evanston Railway rails jutting out into cut where Chicago Ave was, Evanston Railway shoo-fly, and men working on wooden structure on C&NW - 10/09/1924 (NSL Photo)




10-View West showing steam shovels working on deep cut in Chicago Ave, Evanston Railways shoo-fly, pile driver working on C&NW - 10/16/1924 (NSL Photo)




11-View SE across Chicago Ave showing steam shovel at work, concrete forms against substation, and concrete form for bridge abutment - 10/30/1924 (NSL Photo)




12-View East at Chicago Ave showing steam shovels working between wooden forms for concrete West of substation with Evanston Railways shoo-fly in foreground - 11/06/1924 (NSL Photo)




13-Slightly distant shot at Chicago Ave showing steam shovels and wooden forms near substation, as well as Evanston Railways shoo-fly - 11/13/1924 (NSL Photo)




14-View SE showing installation of South girder span of bridge for Chicago Ave - 11/20/1924 (NSL Photo)




15-Close view showing North Abutment jutting west from substation for Chicago Ave and subway - 11/20/1924 (NSL Photo)




16-Close view NW showing steel girders for South span of Chicago Ave bridge. Also visible Evanston Railways shoo-fly and new trestle on C&NW - 11/20/1924 (NSL Photo)




17-View West from track level showing completed steel span for Chicago Ave, not yet excavated. Also shows pile driver on C&NW - 11/27/1924 (NSL Photo)




18-View East of completed steel span at Chicago Ave. It appears Evanston Railways has been moved onto new bridge, which is not yet complete - 11/27/1924 (NSL Photo)




19-View NE towards substation showing preparation to pour concrete for sides/deck of Chicago Ave bridge. Side dump gons for construction on temporary track below bridge. - 10/04/1924 (NSL Photo)




20-Slightly distant shot view NE showing wooden forms for concrete on Chicago Ave bridge, also construction equipment and gons West of bridge - 12/11/1924 (NSL Photo)




21-View looking down into cut West of Chicago Ave showing wood trestle on C&NW, wood trestle in cut with dump gons, and steam work equipment - 12/11/1924 (NSL Photo)




22-View North from South on Chicago Ave of construction showing Evanston railway tracks going over bridge, substation and industry to east, and work equipment to West - 12/11/1924 (NSL Photo)




23-View West of what appears to be forms for concrete base between Chicago Ave and C&NW wood trestle - 12/19/1924 (NSL Photo)




24-View SE toward Howard St of deep cut and steam shovel working. It appears part of industry building has been cut for ROW alignment - 01/09/1925 (NSL Photo)




25-This appears to be view SW from West side of Chicago Ave of concrete bridge form just East of C&NW wood trestle, shrouded in tent for concrete pour - 01/09/1925 (NSL Photo)




26-View NW West of Chicago Ave of work to construct subway, showing East portals of section under C&NW would wood trestle still visible - 01/17/1925 (NSL Photo)




27-View NW from East of Chicago Ave showing Chicago Ave bridge excavated, bridge wrapped in tent for concrete pour, and East portals of CNW visible. - 01/23/1925 (NSL Photo)




28-View SE of newly laid track on ROW from Chicago Ave heading East up to Howard St - 02/06/1925 (NSL Photo)




29-Similar view as previous photo (#28) of ROW heading East to Howard St, this time complete with 3rd rail as concrete walls installed on embankment - 03/10/1925 (NSL Photo)




30-View West from East of Chicago Ave showing complete bridge and C&NW tunnel appears complete as well. Large group of men working under Chicago Ave on SB track, equipped with 3rd rail. - 03/10/1925 (NSL Photo)




31-View West from East of Chicago Ave showing what appears to be completed project with both bridges and all track work done - 04/14/1925 (NSL Photo)




32-View West of C&NW Ry of muddy cut stretching West, with single track on North side of embankment - 07/24/1924 (NSL Photo)




33-Clearer shot of previous photo (#32), showing view W of muddy cut stretching West with single track on North side of embankment - 07/24/1924 (NSL Photo)




34-View East of muddy cut leading to C&NW embankment, with pile driver driving poles on West side of CNW, appears to be on newly constructed wood trestle - 09/11/1924 (NSL Photo)




35-This photo is not exactly clear, but shows a large timber trestle with dump gons on it looking west from C&NW Ry - 09/25/1924 (NSL Photo)




36-View East towards substation from West of C&NW showing wood trestle and cut being excavated - 11/13/1924 (NSL Photo)




37-Close view East of C&NW wood trestle and cut being excavated, with single construction track underneath - 11/20/1924 (NSL Photo)




38-Close view West of C&NW wood trestle with construction track, steam shovel working in cut, and pile driver up on C&NW - 11/27/1924 (NSL Photo)




39-View looking West, down into very deep cut between Chicago Ave and C&NW with men and steam shovel working. Possibly cut deep to run drainage lines? - 12/26/1924 (NSL Photo)




40-View looking West, down towards completed concrete East portal on C&NW bridge, showing temporary construction track and what appears to be open manhole in center. - 01/23/1925 (NSL Photo)




41-View East toward C&NW bridge, showing concrete portals being constructed under wooden trestle - 01/30/1925 (NSL Photo)




42-View West from track level towards C&NW bridge, showing concrete work with wooden supports. Also note danger electric current sign on SB track, suggesting 3rd rail may be live at this point. Steam locomotive on NB track, with no 3rd rail - 01/30/1925 (NSL Photo)




43-View SE showing C&NW bridge under construction, and excavation West of bridge - 02/06/1925 (NSL Photo)




44-View NE showing construction on West side of C&NW bridge - 02/13/1925 (NSL Photo)




Go Directly to NSL Skokie Valley Photos - Part 5b (44 photos)

Back to NSL Photos Home Page

Back to Main Photos Page

Back to Home Page