Chicago & North Western Bridge

Constructed between Chicago and Waukegan in 1854, service commenced on the Chicago & Milwaukee Railway in 1855. The original terminal in Chicago was at Water & Kinzie streets, and the train ran at street level. The Chicago & North Western bought the line in 1883.

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Berwyn viaduct and historic Summerdale station

Summerdale_Station(1875-1958)

In 1875, two developers of residential land in this area, James Clybourn and Robert Greer, contracted with the Chicago & North Western Railway for 5 trains a day in each direction to stop at the station built on this site. The establishment of this train service kicked of the residential and industrial development of this area. By 1900, 56 trains a day were stopping at Summerdale. As part of a wave of consolidation by the railway, the station (as well as Rose Hill to the north) was closed in 1958. The Ravenswood station was constructed at Lawrence Ave shortly thereafter, and is now the highest ridership station on the line.