Westchester branch

Westchester branch
Westchester branch
Overview
Status	Closed
Locale	Forest Park, Illinois; Maywood, Illinois; Bellwood, Illinois; Westchester, Illinois
Termini	Des Plaines;
Stations	9
Service
Type	Rapid transit
System	Chicago "L"
Operator(s)	Chicago Transit Authority (1947–1951); Chicago Rapid Transit Company (1926–1947)
History
Opened	October 1, 1926
Closed	December 9, 1951
Technical
Line length	5.6 mi (9.0 km)
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification	Third rail, 600 V DC
Route map
	Legend
	Garfield Park branch
	to Loop
	Forest Park
	Maywood
	Maywood
	Bellwood
	Bellwood
	Westchester
	This diagram: view; talk; ;

The Westchester branch was a rapid transit line which was part of the Chicago "L" system from 1926 to 1951. The branch served the suburbs of Forest Park, Maywood, Bellwood, and Westchester, and consisted of nine stations.^[1] It opened on October 1, 1926 and closed on December 9, 1951.^[2]

Operations[]

The Westchester branch was 5.6 mi (9.0 km) long, and originated from the Garfield Park Branch at the Des Plaines station in Forest Park, Illinois. Initially the line terminated at near Bellwood Avenue.^[3] On December 1, 1930, service was extended to . Service on the Westchester branch ended on December 9, 1951,^[2] and was replaced by the Westchester bus route (now Pace Route 317), which largely mirrored the route of the Westchester branch, though the bus route only extended as far south as Canterbury Street.^[4]

Station listing[]

Westchester Maywood branch stations^[5]^[1]^[3]
Station	Location
Des Plaines	711 S. Des Plaines Avenue, Forest Park
	5th Avenue near Quincy Street, Maywood
11th Avenue	11th Avenue and South Maywood Drive, Maywood
17th Avenue	17th Avenue and South Maywood Drive, Maywood
	25th Avenue and Maywood Drive, Maywood
	Bellwood Avenue near Madison Street, Bellwood
	Harrison Street near Bellwood Avenue, Bellwood
	Roosevelt Road near Bellwood Avenue, Westchester
	Canterbury Street near Westchester Boulevard, Westchester
	Mannheim Road and 22nd Street, Westchester

References[]

^ ^a ^b 'L' Map of Chicago (Map). Chicago Rapid Transit Company. 1934. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
^ ^a ^b "Westchester branch". Chicago "L".org. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
^ ^a ^b Map of Chicago Rapid Transit Company (Map). Chicago Rapid Transit Company. 1926. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
^ Chicago Transit Map (Map). Chicago Transit Authority. 1954. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
^ Chicago Map Showing Rapid Transit Lines (Map). Chicago Rapid Transit Company. 1933. Retrieved August 18, 2013.

[1934Map-1] 'L' Map of Chicago (Map). Chicago Rapid Transit Company. 1934. Retrieved August 18, 2013.

[ChiL-2] "Westchester branch". Chicago "L".org. Retrieved August 18, 2013.

[1926Map-3] Map of Chicago Rapid Transit Company (Map). Chicago Rapid Transit Company. 1926. Retrieved August 18, 2013.

[4] Chicago Transit Map (Map). Chicago Transit Authority. 1954. Retrieved August 18, 2013.

[1933Map-5] Chicago Map Showing Rapid Transit Lines (Map). Chicago Rapid Transit Company. 1933. Retrieved August 18, 2013.

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