I am trying to recreate this facility in trainz but can’t find too many good pictures.
How many tracks/platforms are there?
Chicago Union Station is a double-ended facility with a through track on the Chicago River (east side). There are 14 even-numbered tracks pointing south (2 through 28) and 10 odd-numbered tracks (1 through 19) pointing north. Trach 28/19 is the through track. Both sides have separate passenger and baggage/mail/express platforms between each track except between Tracks 2 and 4, which are adjacent.
The north platforms service Metra Milwaukee District North and West lines, Metra North Central service, and Amtrak’s Hiawatha service and the “Empire Builder”
The south platforms service Metra’s Southwest, Heritage and BNSF lines and the balance of Amtrak’s Chicago service.
Actually, Paul, when we had to meet a passenger off the arriving Empire Builder a couple of months ago, we waited near the north platforms, only to see the train run through the station and unload on the south side. Surprised me, too!
This has always been known as Union Station or is formally known as Dearborn?
Does Amtrak go to Dearborn too or only Union?
Dearborn Station was the facility owned by Chicago & Western Indiana located at Polk and Dearborn Streets. It was used by C&WI’s five owners (C&EI, EL, GTW, MON, N&W) and ATSF as a tenant. It closed to intercity service on April 30, 1971. N&W’s Orland Park suburban local operated on an adjacent track for a few more years before being rerouted into Chicago Union Station. The Dearborn Station trainshed was eventually torn down and the site is occupied by the Dearborn Park housing development.
Chicago Union Station is located at Canal Street between Adams and Jackson just west of the South Branch of the Chicago River. It was owned by PRR (50%), CB&Q (25%) and MILW (25%) with GM&O as a tenant. It is currently owned by Amtrak with Metra as a tenant.
Thankyou for the information folk, I much appreciate it.
Another question I have is how long are the platforms? How many coach/superliner car lengths can fit in the station?
Did Union Station have another concourse in the past, with additional tracks? The way that the Great Hall is set up makes me suspect that at one time it did. If so, how many did it originally have?
The Great Hall (west of Canal Street) is the original waiting room. The concourse building (east of Canal Street) was torn down in 1968 for the construction of Riverside Plaza. The number of tracks is unchanged from its original construction.
About 10 years ago, the facility was rebuilt. Amtrak added some metro luunges for passengers to wait before boarding trains. Trains should have an article about it. At the time, the dark & dirty trainshed was cleaned.
I’m not sure when Amtrak’s version of the Chief moved there from Dearborn. ATSF used their own coach & loco yard for many years. It is possible the longest terains get routed to the #28/19. Most commuters run with 6-8 cars & 1 or 2F40’s for power.
The longest trains may have had their Amboxes & roadrailers added after leaving the station. Also, you may have to wait for the CZ & SWC to back in from St Charles Junction.
During peak commuter hours, it may be possible for the EB & other trains to be routed to the #28/19 track. I can remember boarding the Lake Shore Limited there. Seems to me, the commuters may have priority on some tracks. If you add the whole Metra schedule + Amtrak, you have a lot of people to route to the right train.
Both the north and south Metra trains are loaded from the western most tracks. Since the Amtrak lounges are on the east side, Amtrak trains use the eastern most tracks. Although it may change from time to time, generally a commuter train is going to be loaded and depart from the same track every day. All of this is done in an effort to keep the pedestrian traffic in the station moving as smoothly as possible. In the rush hour, if the commuters had to look around to find their train that place would be a disaster.
Jay
A few answers: The Chiefs moved from Dearborn to Union Station on May 1, 1971.
Track 28/19 has long been used for the very long trains, the “Pennsylvanian” of recent memory was one case. The coaches would be at the south platform and the M&E would extend to somewhere between Monroe and Madison Streets.
Several trains did indeed have their M&E added on the approach tracks, usually just south of Roosevelt Road.