LaSalle Street Station

Infobox Station
name=LaSalle Street

---

image_size=300
image_caption=The station as rebuilt ca. 1871 and demolished ca. 1903
address=414 S. LaSalle Street,
Chicago, IL 60605
line=rail color box|system=Metra|line=Rock Island
other=CTA "L" Lines:Rail color box|system=CTA|line=Brown Rail color box|system=CTA|line=PinkRail color box|system=CTA|line=OrangeRail color box|system=CTA|line=Purple|note=Rush Hours Only (1 Block North of station) Rail color box|system=CTA|line=Blue(1/2 Block East of station) CTA Buses
platform=
parking=
bicycle=
passengers=
pass_year=
pass_percent=
opened=
rebuilt=
ADA=true
code=
owned=
zone=
services=
map_locator=

LaSalle Street Station is a commuter rail terminal located at 414 S. LaSalle Street in downtown Chicago, Illinois, serving Metra's Rock Island District. It served as a major intercity rail terminal for the New York Central Railroad until 1968 and the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad until 1978. The present structure is the third station to have existed on the site. The previous structure was demolished in 1981 and was replaced by the current station and a new office high-rise for the Chicago Stock Exchange. The Chicago Board of Trade Building, Sears Tower and Harold Washington Library are close by.

History

The first station on the site opened on May 22, 1852 with the completion of the Northern Indiana and Chicago Railroad. On October 1, 1852, the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad began using the station. The two railroads later became the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway (New York Central Railroad) and Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. North of a junction at Englewood Station, both companies' lines ran parallel to the terminal.

In December 1866 a new station opened. The Great Chicago Fire of October 1871 destroyed the station, which was rebuilt. The station that stood until 1981 opened July 1, 1903. This station was a set for Alfred Hitchcock's 1959 "North by Northwest," starring Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint, and also in the 1973 hit movie, "The Sting" staring Paul Newman and Robert Redford.

From its completion in 1882, the New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad (Nickel Plate Road) ran over the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway from a junction at Grand Crossing north to downtown Chicago, where it had its own terminal south of LaSalle. The LS&MS quickly gained control of the Nickel Plate, and later allowed it into its LaSalle Street Station as a tenant. In July 1916 the LS&MS sold the Nickel Plate to the Van Sweringens, but it continued to operate into LaSalle until the end of Nickel Plate passenger service.

On January 18, 1957 trains of the Michigan Central Railroad started to use LaSalle, running over the New York Central Railroad's Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway from their former crossing at Porter, Indiana to Chicago. LS&MS and Michigan Central trains (both part of the New York Central system) last used LaSalle on October 26, 1968 (soon after the merge into Penn Central); the next day they began running into Union Station via a connection in Whiting, Indiana and the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railway.

Most intercity rail service at La Salle Street Station ended on May 1, 1971 when Amtrak consolidated long-distance services at Union Station. Rock Island opted out of Amtrak and continued to operate intercity service from LaSalle Street Station until 1978.

A connection at Englewood Station was completed October 15, 1971 to allow the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad to also operate over the PFW&C to Union Station. But the failing Rock Island decided to continue using LaSalle. Now only commuter trains on Metra's Rock Island District serve the station.

Among the most famous name trains that terminated at LaSalle Street Station were the New York Central's 20th Century Limited from 1902 until 1967 and the Rock Island-Southern Pacific Golden State Limited from 1902 until 1968.

Although only Metra Rock Island District trains currently serve LaSalle Street Station, the future of the station is not in question. Metra's planned SouthEast Service would terminate at LaSalle Street Station, and Chicago's massive CREATE infrastructure improvement program would allow trains from other lines to access the terminal.

ervices

LaSalle Street Station served as a terminal for the following lines and intercity trains:
*Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad (until 1978)
*New York Central Railroad (up to October 26, 1968)
*New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad (Nickel Plate)
*Michigan Central Railroad (part of the New York Central) (January 18, 1957 to October 26, 1968)

LaSalle still serves commuter trains on Metra's Rock Island District. Approximately 17,000 people board Metra trains at LaSalle Street Station each day. ["On the Bi-Level", October 2007.]

Bus Connections

CTA Buses
* #1 Indiana/Hyde Park
* #7 Harrison
* #22 Clark (Owl Service)
* #24 Wentworth
* #36 Broadway
* #126 Jackson
* #129 West Loop/South Loop
* #130 Grant Park Treasures (Seasonal Service)
* #132 Goose Island Express
* #145 Wilson/Michigan Express
* #151 Sheridan (Owl Service)
* #156 LaSalle

External links

* [http://www.metrarail.com/Sched/ri/chicagolasalle.shtml Metra Rock Island District - Chicago LaSalle Station]
* [http://www.trainweb.org/rshs/VD%20-%20LaSalle%20Street%20Station.htm Vintage Depots - LaSalle Street Station in Chicago]

References

* [http://www.prrths.com/PRR_hagley_intro.htm PRR Chronology]
* [http://www.michiganrailroads.com/RRHX/Timeline/TimeLine.htm Michigan's Internet Railroad History Museum - Railroad History Time Line]