Postcard view ca. 1910

Wells Street Station was a former passenger terminal of the Chicago and North Western Railway, located at the southwest corner of Wells Street and Kinzie Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. It was replaced in 1911 by the Chicago and North Western Terminal on the other (west) side of the North Branch of the Chicago River, removing passenger trains from the bascule bridge over the river. The Merchandise Mart opened in 1930 on the land formerly occupied by the station. 1910 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... A terminal station, or terminus (plural: termini) is commonly used to describe a bus station or train station/railway station. ... The Chicago and North Western Railway (AAR reporting marks: CNW, CNWS, CNWZ; unofficial abbreviation: C&NW) was a Class I railroad in the United States. ... Chicago, colloquially known as the Second City and the Windy City, is the third-largest city in population in the United States and the largest inland city in the country. ... 1911 was a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... A bascule bridge is a drawbridge with a counterweight that continuously balances the span, or leaf, throughout the entire upward swing in providing clearance for boat traffic. ... The Merchandise Mart is the world’s largest commercial building, largest wholesale design center and one of the premier international business locations in Chicago. ... 1930 is a common year starting on Wednesday. ...

History

Another view of the station

The line running past the station was part of the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad, the first railroad in Chicago (though it ended on the west side of the North Branch of the Chicago River until the early 1850s). By 1856 a station was in place east of the river, and soon the Chicago and North Western Railway had acquired the G&CU and two other lines (now the three lines of Metra's Union Pacific District). In 1881 the Wells Street Station opened in the same location. Galena & Chicago Union Railroad Categories: Stub | Defunct railroad companies of the United States | Defunct companies | Illinois railroads ... Events and Trends Technology Production of steel revolutionised by invention of the Bessemer process Benjamin Silliman fractionates petroleum by distillation for the first time First transatlantic telegraph cable laid First safety elevator installed by Elisha Otis Science Charles Darwin publishes The Origin of Species, putting forward the theory of evolution... 1856 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... The Chicago and North Western Railway (AAR reporting marks: CNW, CNWS, CNWZ; unofficial abbreviation: C&NW) was a Class I railroad in the United States. ... Metra system schematic Metra (officially known as the Northeastern Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation) is Chicagolands commuter rail system, serving over 200 stations on eleven lines across the Regional Transportation Authoritys (RTAs) six-county service area. ... 1881 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

This sign directed passengers to the new Chicago and North Western Terminal.

As both rail and ship traffic increased, the bascule bridge over the river resulted in congestion. In 1911 the new Chicago and North Western Terminal opened, with new elevated approaches branching from the old ones west of the river. The station remained for freight, and when the Merchandise Mart opened in 1930 (using air rights above the railroad), a new freight station served the Mart, and was connected by elevators to the Chicago Tunnel Company. A bascule bridge is a drawbridge with a counterweight that continuously balances the span, or leaf, throughout the entire upward swing in providing clearance for boat traffic. ... 1911 was a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... The Merchandise Mart is the world’s largest commercial building, largest wholesale design center and one of the premier international business locations in Chicago. ... 1930 is a common year starting on Wednesday. ... A modern elevator has buttons to allow passengers to select the desired floor. ... Pre-1910 photograph of the Chicago Freight Subway The Chicago Freight Subway was a unique freight tunnel network under the downtown of the city of Chicago. ...

Inter-city rail services are train services which cover larger distances than commuter trains. ... During the heyday of rail transportation in the first half of the twentieth century, Chicago reigned as the undisputed railroad center of the United States and was served by six intercity train terminals. ... Chicago, colloquially known as the Second City and the Windy City, is the third-largest city in population in the United States and the largest inland city in the country. ... LaSalle Street Station is a commuter rail terminal in downtown Chicago, Illinois, serving Metras Rock Island District. ... Modern Ogilvie Transportation Center Ogilvie Transportation Center (formally, the Richard B. Ogilvie Transportation Center) is a Chicago, Illinois train station which was in built 1911. ... The Randolph Street Terminal (sometimes called the Randolph Street Station or the Randolph-South Water Street Station) is a major commuter rail terminal in downtown Chicago that serves the Metra Electric Lines to University Park, Blue Island, and South Chicago; and the South Shore Line to South Bend, Indiana. ... In the waiting room of the Union Station, January 1943 Union Station is a Chicago, Illinois train station which was built 1913–1925, during the time when Chicago reigned as the undisputed railroad center of the United States. ... The Chicago Union Station Company (AAR reporting mark CUST) owns Chicagos Union Station and the approach tracks. ... Central Station, located at the southern end of Grant Park at 11th Place and Michigan Avenue, was one of the six intercity train stations serving Chicago, Illinois during the heyday of rail in the twentieth century. ... Dearborn Stations train shed being demolished in May 1976, with the head house in the back Dearborn Station was the oldest of the six intercity train stations serving downtown Chicago, Illinois during the heyday of rail in the twentieth century. ... Chicago and Western Indiana Railroad ... Grand Central Station in July 1963, showing the B&O advertising Grand Central Station was a railroad terminal in downtown Chicago at the corner of Harrison and Wells from 1890 to 1969. ... The Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal Railroad was a Class II railroad in the United States. ... The passenger depot of the New York, Chicago and St. ... Englewood Station or Englewood Union Station in Chicago, Illinois south side Englewood neighborhood was a crucial junction and passenger depot for three railroads - the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, the New York Central Railroad, and the Pennsylvania Railroad - although it was for the glamorous eastbound streamliners of the latter...

External links

• Maps and aerial photos
  • Street map from Google Maps or Yahoo! Maps
  • Topographic map from TopoZone
  • Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
  • Satellite image from Google Maps or Microsoft Virtual Earth

References

• The Merchandise Mart - Air Rights