I’m looking for information regarding the history of the C&NW’s Mayfair Cutoff (see map at http://rani.sir.arizona.edu/~khan/mayfair.jpg), especially the commuter/passenger service which used to run along that line. I know they tore down the overpass at Green Bay Road within the last few years; when was it built? When did they tear down the passenger stations at Emerson and Greenwood?
Any info or references would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
C&NW (JUNCTION RAILWAY COMPANY)
The Evanston Index carried the following item in its February 23, 1889 (Vol. XVII, No. 41) issue:
As was hinted in The Index some weeks ago, Evanston is soon to have another railroad line. The North Western Railroad Company is to build as soon as the spring opens a branch line from Evanston to Montrose Ave. , , on the Wisconsin Division. The chief aim of this spur is to relieve the freight traffic on the city end of the Milwaukee Division. When the branch is completed, which will be early in the season, all through freight from the north will be carried over the branch line into the city. This is necessary, the officials of the railroad say, to enable them to put on more passenger trains and to decrease the time between Evanston and Chicago. This being the case, the value of this branch line to Evanston and the villages south will be seen at once. With only the local freight to look after much better time can be made by passenger trains. The company proposes to start from the main line at about the junction of Washington Street and Jackson Avenue , and run in a general southwestern direction, along the western bank of what is popularly known as the “Big Ditch .” The traffic over the branch line, therefore, will pass entirely west of that portion of the village now occupied for either residence or business purposes. The effect of the construction of the cut-off will be to reduce largely the number of trains running through thickly populated portions of the village, and therefore, of course, to relieve the people of much of the smoke, confusion, noise, annoyance, and danger which is necessarily attendant on a large freight business on any line of railroad. The new branch is certain in the end to build up the section through which it passes, while it will have an immediate effect on real estate in the western portion of the village. An ordinance granting a right-of-way is now before the village council and will in all probability be passed.
More on the plann
Hank,
That’s awesome! I hope you ddn’t spend all afternoon sitting in the Evanston Public Library to collect all of that great info… 
Thanks very much for your help!!
Actually, I’ve collected almost 300 news articles from 1400+ issues of The Evanston Index on my way to writing a book on the trolleys in Evanston. I just got to 1901 with 1935 as the goal. (The year the trolley system went out of business.)
Lots of hours at Evanston Library with rolls of dimes to feed the microfilm printer.
I have a couple of pages from the Evanston Index which show the passenger schedules of the Mayfair line as well. If all goes well, and I don’t spend another 6 months in the Evanston Northwestern Hospital, I should have all the data collected within 2-3 years. Then I can write the definitive book.
I’m confused by the geographical/street references in these articles, like “Washington Street”…“Jackson Avenue”…“West Avenue”…“Big Ditch”…these used to be in Evanston? Are these former names for present streets?
The Big Ditch is the predecessor, dug by Evanston for drainage into Lake Michigan, for the North Shore Channel we all know and love, except if you live east of Howard and McCormick when there’s a westerly wind[xx(]. Today’s canal follows much of the original right-of-way of the old Big Ditch.
The other street references are streets that were in existence in the late 1890s as they were specifically mentioned in the various issues of the Evanston Index, a local Evanston-based, weekly newspaper. It came out on Saturdays. In my research, I’ve gone over 1400 separate issues for info and have more than that many more to read through. It’s hard to get maps of Early Evanston, so I can’t verify what names any of these streets may now go under. The Evanston Library doesn’t have any and the Evanston Hisorical Society has highly curtailed hours, making research there tennuous, at best.[:(!]
Having spent an afternoon or two in front of a microfilm viewer at the EPL, I feel your pain. 
Please put me down for a signed copy.
I’ll keep my eyes open for maps for you. [:)] Thanks much!
Since Evanston railways are obviously your bailiwick, maybe you could help me uncover the history behind an artifact I found near downtown Evanston…it’s a token that says “Evanston Railway Company” on it, with a large, curvy “E” in the center. I can’t recall what is says on the reverse. It seems to be about the same size as a silver CTA token. Any thoughts?
I just remembered that I had borrowed a neighbor’s “Sauganash: A Historical Perspective” book, which contains direct references to the Mayfair/Weber line and its station at Peterson Avenue. It states as follows: “The track that was located on the east side of the Sauganash Park community was called the Weber line and ran from downtown Chicago to Evanston, where it joined the main north-south line. Passenger service was between downtown Chicago and the Peterson Avenue station by the Sauganash Park community. There were no station buildings, only a wooden platform was provided at [the station]. On weekdays there were two passenger trains in the morning and two in the evening.” The tracks were elevated in 1931. All passenger service ended on December 1, 1958. An account I read on northeshoreline.com states that the station was still present in the early 1960’s. Though the stairs are gone now, it is obvious where they used to be. No evidence of a platform exists to the naked eye.
In reply to dconof here’s more on the street names–
“Washington Street”…“Jackson Avenue”…“West Avenue”…
Washington Street, named after first President, is an east-west street and is the first street south of Main Street.
Jackson Avenue, Named after President Andrew Jackson, is a north-south street in Evanston between Ashland Avenue and Wesley Avenue. However in the area where the Junction Railway once ran, the street is not continuous having been blocked by the earth-filled elevated structure installed in the 1907-1910 time frame.
West Avenue no longer exists in Evanston.
I hope this helps
The token is probably from the Evanston Railway which was one incarnation of the streetcar line in Evanston which was formed in 1913. In early 1926, the Clare Investment Company acquired control of the stock of the Evanston Railway Company. The last streetcar rolled into the Central Street carbarn just before midnight on November 9, 1935; only two months had passed since ER had requested the ICC to stop all rail service.
I hope that helps.
I’d like to get a reproducable photo of the token. I might be able to use it in my book.
Contact me off -thread if agreeable.
Fool that I am for not having seen it sooner! [;)] Jackson Avenue is the little street that intersects Greenbay Road and Simpson Street to form the triangular lot where the one leg of the Mayfair Cutoff joined the north line. The Washington Street reference is still confusing, however: the Washington Street we know today (I even went to school on Washington Street [:)]) seems too far south to be the same one referred to by the article, wouldn’t you think?
The problem lies with the simple lack of maps of early Evanston, or as some call it, “Evingston.” Without a source to check, I can’t assure you that you’re right or wrong. The info cited came from an article in the Evanston Index newspaper.
So, at some time, there was a Washtington Street at the place indicated. What changed, why, and when are simply beyond the scope of the so-far available dats. Maybe the answer will come as I continue the research. There are supposed to be “Sanborn Maps” available, however only at Northwestern U’s library. I have yet to get there.
The answer may yet be found.
here’s a question. it might sound like a silly onewhy would the C&NW have passenger service on the mayfair cut off?
I grew up a few blocks from the cutoff the main line and the bypass. I’m surprised to see the bypass was intended for freight up the North Shore. As I remember from the sixties there was nothing but locals and few of those.
Not a silly question. Hope the answer is not too silly.
Back in the early 20th century, passenger trains went to many places. They were one of the main methods of transportation.
The CNW used to have passenger trains on the KD Subdivision that went from Kenosha, WI west to Rockford, Il, many, many years ago. Service stopped around 1941.
anyone who lives or havw lived in the North Pk. Saugaush neighborhoods know that Bryn Mawr w. of Pulaski is closed off where as you can’t go past whatever the side st. is. 2 weeks ago i was in the neighborhood where Bryn Mawr picks up on the other side of the tracks, looks like the street used to cross them at 1 time but what suprises me is that there’s no singnal. i would think by law the C&NW would of been required to have at least have something to at least warn people about the tracks. how come was that never done? also while we’re at it, when did they close off Bryn Mawr. Ave.
Does it look like this?
If so, it was indeed from the Evanston Railway Company, which ran streetcars through Evanston until 1935.
Some additional info is here:
