Rock Island District
Encyclopedia
The Rock Island District (RI) is a commuter rail line operated by Metra
from Chicago, Illinois, United States
, southwest to Joliet
. While Metra does not specifically refer to any of its lines by a particular color, the timetable accents for the Rock Island District line are printed in "Rocket Red". This refers to the former Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
's Rocket series of passenger trains.
The trackage is owned by Metra
, bought from the bankrupt Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
for $35 million in December 1982. The Regional Transportation Authority had signed a contract with the Rock Island in 1976 to fund service, and in 1980 the Chicago and North Western Railway
began operating the Rock Island District. In spring
1981 the C&NW stepped away, and the Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation (Metra) was formed to take over operations.
The Rock Island District consists of a main line over the Rock Island's former main line to Joliet
. The slightly longer Suburban Line loops to the west between Gresham and Blue Island
, carrying most trains; the two stations on that part of the main line are served only during rush hours.
The Suburban Line was built in 1870 as a steam dummy
line, splitting from the main line just north of 89th Street, running west along 89th and turning south to merge with the current line at the S-curve
just south of 89th. The crossing of the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway midway along 89th was known as Dummy Crossing. In the early 1890s the line was extended north in conjunction with the expansion of the Chicago Terminal Transfer Railroad, and the portion on 89th was removed.
A new station at 35th Street and Federal Street opened on April, 3 2011 to serve U.S. Cellular Field
and the Illinois Institute of Technology
. It was named 35th Street/'Lou' Jones/Bronzeville Station after Lovana Jones
who was an Illinois State Representative in the Bronzeville neighborhood.
During rush hours, mainline and branch line trains are split. A limited number of rush-hour trains make mainline stops between Gresham and Blue Island - Vermont Street. Mainline stations parallel to the branch are:
Metra
Metra is the commuter rail division of the Illinois Regional Transportation Authority. The system serves Chicago and its metropolitan area through 240 stations on 11 different rail lines. Throughout the 21st century, Metra has been the second busiest commuter rail system in the United States by...
from Chicago, Illinois, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, southwest to Joliet
Joliet, Illinois
Joliet is a city in Will and Kendall Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, located southwest of Chicago. It is the county seat of Will County. As of the 2010 census, the city was the fourth-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 147,433. It continues to be Illinois' fastest growing...
. While Metra does not specifically refer to any of its lines by a particular color, the timetable accents for the Rock Island District line are printed in "Rocket Red". This refers to the former Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad was a Class I railroad in the United States. It was also known as the Rock Island Line, or, in its final years, The Rock.-Incorporation:...
's Rocket series of passenger trains.
The trackage is owned by Metra
Metra
Metra is the commuter rail division of the Illinois Regional Transportation Authority. The system serves Chicago and its metropolitan area through 240 stations on 11 different rail lines. Throughout the 21st century, Metra has been the second busiest commuter rail system in the United States by...
, bought from the bankrupt Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad was a Class I railroad in the United States. It was also known as the Rock Island Line, or, in its final years, The Rock.-Incorporation:...
for $35 million in December 1982. The Regional Transportation Authority had signed a contract with the Rock Island in 1976 to fund service, and in 1980 the Chicago and North Western Railway
Chicago and North Western Railway
The Chicago and North Western Transportation Company was a Class I railroad in the Midwest United States. It was also known as the North Western. The railroad operated more than of track as of the turn of the 20th century, and over of track in seven states before retrenchment in the late 1970s...
began operating the Rock Island District. In spring
Spring (season)
Spring is one of the four temperate seasons, the transition period between winter and summer. Spring and "springtime" refer to the season, and broadly to ideas of rebirth, renewal and regrowth. The specific definition of the exact timing of "spring" varies according to local climate, cultures and...
1981 the C&NW stepped away, and the Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation (Metra) was formed to take over operations.
The Rock Island District consists of a main line over the Rock Island's former main line to Joliet
Joliet, Illinois
Joliet is a city in Will and Kendall Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, located southwest of Chicago. It is the county seat of Will County. As of the 2010 census, the city was the fourth-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 147,433. It continues to be Illinois' fastest growing...
. The slightly longer Suburban Line loops to the west between Gresham and Blue Island
Blue Island, Illinois
Blue Island is a city in Cook County, Illinois. The population was 22,556 at the 2010 census. Blue Island was established in the 1830s as a way station for settlers traveling on the Vincennes Trace, and the settlement prospered because it was conveniently situated a day's journey outside of Chicago...
, carrying most trains; the two stations on that part of the main line are served only during rush hours.
The Suburban Line was built in 1870 as a steam dummy
Steam dummy
A steam dummy or dummy engine, in the United States of America and Canada, was a steam engine enclosed in a wooden box structure made to resemble a railroad passenger coach....
line, splitting from the main line just north of 89th Street, running west along 89th and turning south to merge with the current line at the S-curve
Reverse curve
In civil engineering, a reverse curve is a section of the horizontal alignment of a highway or railroad route in which a curve to the left or right is followed immediately by a curve in the opposite direction....
just south of 89th. The crossing of the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway midway along 89th was known as Dummy Crossing. In the early 1890s the line was extended north in conjunction with the expansion of the Chicago Terminal Transfer Railroad, and the portion on 89th was removed.
A new station at 35th Street and Federal Street opened on April, 3 2011 to serve U.S. Cellular Field
U.S. Cellular Field
U.S. Cellular Field is a baseball ballpark in Chicago, Illinois. Owned by the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, it is the home of the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball's American League. The park opened for the 1991 season, after the White Sox had spent 81 years at old Comiskey Park...
and the Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Institute of Technology, commonly called Illinois Tech or IIT, is a private Ph.D.-granting university located in Chicago, Illinois, with programs in engineering, science, psychology, architecture, business, communications, industrial technology, information technology, design, and law...
. It was named 35th Street/'Lou' Jones/Bronzeville Station after Lovana Jones
Lovana Jones
Lovana S. 'Lou' Jones served as an Illinois State Representative for nearly 20 years, and was known for speaking up for abused and neglected children. On April 3, 2011, a new Metra train station was opened at 35th Street on the Rock Island District line that will be named after her, called 35th...
who was an Illinois State Representative in the Bronzeville neighborhood.
Stations
Rock Island District trains make the following station stops (not all trains stop at all stations):- LaSalle Street
- 35th Street/'Lou' Jones/BronzevilleJones/Bronzeville (Metra)Lovana S. "Lou" Jones/Bronzeville, also known as 35th Street Metra Station is a station on Metra's Rock Island District line and a proposed station for Metra's planned SouthEast Service. It is located in the Bronzeville neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois...
(Flag Stop) - GreshamGresham (Metra)Gresham is a station on the Rock Island District Metra line, which runs between Joliet, Illinois and downtown Chicago, Illinois at the LaSalle Street Station. It is in Zone B according to Metra fee schedules based on its distance from downtown Chicago. It is in the community area of Auburn...
- BrainerdBrainerd (Metra)Brainerd is a station on Metra's Rock Island District line in the Washington Heights community area of Chicago, Illinois. The address is 8901 South Loomis Boulevard, but the station is actually in the middle of 89th Street from Loomis Boulevard to Bishop Street, from LaSalle Street Station, the...
- 91st Street - Beverly Hills91st Street - Beverly Hills (Metra)91st Street Station is one of five Metra stations within the Beverly Hills neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, along the Beverly Branch of the Rock Island District Line. It is located at 9105 South Prospect Square near 91st Street, from LaSalle Street, the northern terminus of the line...
- 95th Street - Beverly Hills95th Street - Beverly Hills (Metra)95th Street Station is one of five Metra stations within the Beverly Hills neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, along the Beverly Branch of the Rock Island District Line. The station is on 95th Street , from LaSalle Street, the northern terminus of the line...
- 99th Street - Beverly Hills99th Street - Beverly Hills (Metra)99th Street Station is one of five Metra stations within the Beverly Hills neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, along the Beverly Branch of the Rock Island District Line. The station is located at 9901 South Walden Parkway near 99th Street, from LaSalle Street, the northern terminus of the line...
- 103rd Street - Beverly Hills103rd Street - Beverly Hills (Metra)103rd Street Station is one of five Metra stations within the Beverly Hills neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, along the Beverly Branch of the Rock Island District Line. The station is located at 10301 South Walden Parkway on the corner of 103rd Street, from LaSalle Street, the northern terminus...
- 107th Street - Beverly Hills107th Street - Beverly Hills (Metra)107th Street Station is one of five Metra stations within the Beverly Hills neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, along the Beverly Branch of the Rock Island District Line. The station is located at 1901 West 107th Street opposite the intersection of South Walden Parkway, from LaSalle Street, the...
- 111th Street - Morgan Park111th Street - Morgan Park (Metra)111th Street Station is one of two Metra railroad stations in the Morgan Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, along the Beverly Branch of the Rock Island District Line, from LaSalle Street, the northern terminus of the line, and is named after 111th Street...
- 115th Street - Morgan Park115th Street - Morgan Park (Metra)115th Street Station is one of two Metra railroad stations in the Morgan Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, along the Beverly Branch of the Rock Island District Line...
- 119th Street - Blue Island119th Street - Blue Island (Metra)119th Street Station is one of four Metra railroad stations in Blue Island, Illinois, along the Beverly Branch of the Rock Island District Line, and five within Blue Island generally. It is from LaSalle Street, the northern terminus of the line, and is named after 119th Street and located between...
- 123rd Street - Blue Island123rd Street - Blue Island (Metra)123rd Street Station is one of four Metra railroad stations in Blue Island, Illinois, along the Beverly Branch of the Rock Island District Line, and five within Blue Island generally. It is from LaSalle Street, the northern terminus of the line, and is named after and located on 123rd Street...
(Flag Stop) - Prairie Street - Blue IslandPrairie Street (Metra)Prairie Street Station is one of four Metra railroad stations in Blue Island, Illinois along the Beverly Branch of the Rock Island District Line, and five within Blue Island. It is from LaSalle Street, the northern terminus of the line, and is both located on and named after Prairie Street...
(Flag Stop) - Blue Island - Vermont Street
- RobbinsRobbins (Metra)Robbins is a station on Metra's Rock Island District line located in Robbins, Illinois. Robbins is located at 139th and Utica. The station is from LaSalle Street Station, the northern terminus of the Rock Island District line. In Metra's zone-based fare structure, Robbins is located in zone D....
(Flag Stop) - MidlothianMidlothian (Metra)Midlothian is a station on Metra's Rock Island District line located in Midlothian, Illinois. The station is located at 3750 West 147th Street Midlothian is away from LaSalle Street Station, the northern terminus of the Rock Island District line. In Metra's zone-based fare structure, Midlothian...
- Oak ForestOak Forest (Metra)The Oak Forest Metra station is located on the Rock Island District Metra line that runs between Joliet, Illinois and downtown Chicago, Illinois at the LaSalle Street Station. It is in Zone E according to Metra fee schedules based on distance from downtown Chicago. It is located at 159th Street ...
- Tinley ParkTinley Park (Metra)Tinley Park Station is an elaborate commuter railroad station along Metra's Rock Island District line in Tinley Park, Illinois...
- Tinley Park - 80th AvenueTinley Park - 80th Avenue (Metra)Tinley Park – 80th Avenue Station is one of two commuter railroad stations along Metra's Rock Island District Line in Tinley Park, Illinois. The station is officially located on 18001 South 80th Avenue, lies away from LaSalle Street, the northern terminus of the line. Parking is available on both...
- Mokena - Hickory CreekMokena - Hickory Creek (Metra)Mokena - Hickory Creek is one of two commuter rail stations along Metra's Rock Island District line in Mokena, Illinois. The station is located at 9430 Hickory Creek Drive east of a former section of US 45, near Exit 145A on Interstate 80, which is the current southbound exit to US 45. It is away...
- Mokena - Front StreetMokena - Front Street (Metra)Mokena - Front Street is one of two commuter rail stations along Metra's Rock Island District line in Mokena, Illinois. The station is located on Front Street and Mokena Street east of Wolf Road, and is away from LaSalle Street, the northern terminus of the line...
- New LenoxNew Lenox (Metra)New Lenox is a commuter railroad station along Metra's Rock Island District line in New Lenox, a southern suburb of Chicago, Illinois, USA. The station is officially located on 300 North Church Street, and lies away from LaSalle Street, the northern terminus of the line, however parking is...
- Joliet
During rush hours, mainline and branch line trains are split. A limited number of rush-hour trains make mainline stops between Gresham and Blue Island - Vermont Street. Mainline stations parallel to the branch are:
- 95th Street - Longwood
- 103rd Street - Washington Heights