Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad

The Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad was a Chicago rapid-transit operator commonly known as the Met or Polly L. It was the third elevated rapid-transit system built in Chicago and the first of the city's elevated railways to use electric power. The system was designed to connect Chicago's central business district with growing residential areas west of downtown, using an elevated main line and several branches. The first Metropolitan train entered service at 6:00 a.m. on May 7, 1895, running from Robey Street toward the downtown terminal at Canal. The main route extended west from the central area to Marshfield Avenue. Branches subsequently served Logan Square, Humboldt Park, Garfield Park, and Douglas Park. The Douglas Park route was ultimately extended beyond Chicago to Berwyn, Illinois, giving the system a suburban reach as well as a predominantly urban role. Electric operation was a defining feature of the company. At a time when elevated railways were experimenting with different forms of traction, the Metropolitan's adoption of electric power distinguished it from earlier Chicago elevated lines and helped establish electrically operated rapid transit as a practical model for dense urban service. Its branches connected neighborhoods to downtown and contributed to the development of Chicago's early unified elevated-rail network. The Metropolitan did not remain an independent operator. In 1913, Chicago's four principal elevated railroad companies were brought together through the Chicago Elevated Railways Collateral Trust, enabling coordinated and, for the first time, crosstown service. The four companies were formally consolidated in 1924 as the Chicago Rapid Transit Company. The Metropolitan system consequently ceased to exist as a separate corporate and operating brand, although much of its infrastructure continued to influence Chicago rapid transit. Several major changes followed under the Chicago Rapid Transit Company and later the Chicago Transit Authority. In 1951, the Logan Square branch was rerouted into the Milwaukee–Dearborn Subway, while the Humboldt Park branch was reduced to a shuttle terminating at Damen Avenue. The Humboldt Park service was discontinued the following year. The Douglas branch was shortened in 1952 to the terminal at 54th/Cermak. Construction of the Eisenhower Expressway required the removal of the original Garfield Park branch and portions of the Metropolitan's main line. A replacement rapid-transit route was built in the expressway median and opened in 1958 as the Congress line, later known as the Forest Park branch of the Blue Line. This transformation preserved rapid-transit service in much of the former Garfield Park corridor while eliminating the original elevated structures. The former Metropolitan routes remain important to Chicago's transit history. A portion of the Logan Square branch is used by the Chicago Transit Authority's Blue Line toward O'Hare International Airport. The former Garfield Park service area is served by the Blue Line's Forest Park branch, and the Douglas Park branch continued as part of the Blue Line from 1958 until its replacement by the Pink Line in 2008. Thus, although the Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad is defunct as an independent company, elements of its routes and transportation role survive within Chicago's modern rapid-transit system.

The Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad was established to provide rapid-transit access between Chicago's downtown area and the city's expanding West Side. It became the third elevated rapid-transit line constructed in Chicago and was notable for being the first of the city's elevated systems to operate electrically. Its popular names included the Met and Polly L. The railway opened to passengers at 6:00 a.m. on May 7, 1895. The inaugural service ran from Robey Street to the downtown terminal at Canal. The principal route ran westward from downtown to Marshfield Avenue, with a network of branches intended to serve distinct residential and employment districts. These included the Logan Square, Humboldt Park, Garfield Park, and Douglas Park branches. The Douglas Park route was later extended to Berwyn, Illinois, giving the system one of the more extensive westward reaches among Chicago's elevated lines. The system's electric traction was historically significant. Early elevated railways had been associated with steam or other forms of motive power, but electric operation offered a cleaner and more suitable technology for frequent urban service. The Metropolitan therefore represented an important step in the transition toward the electrically powered rapid-transit network that later became characteristic of Chicago. The company eventually lost its independence as Chicago's elevated railways moved toward coordinated ownership and operation. In 1913, the city's four elevated railroad companies were combined through the Chicago Elevated Railways Collateral Trust. This arrangement made crosstown service possible across previously separate systems. In 1924, the companies were formally consolidated into the Chicago Rapid Transit Company. The Metropolitan name consequently disappeared as an independent operating identity, although its routes continued to influence the structure of Chicago's transit network. Post-consolidation changes reflected both subway construction and the redevelopment of Chicago's West Side. In 1951, the Logan Square branch was rerouted into the Milwaukee–Dearborn Subway. The Humboldt Park branch was reduced to a shuttle terminating at Damen Avenue and was discontinued in 1952. That same year, the Douglas branch was shortened to the 54th/Cermak terminal. The most substantial physical change affected the Garfield Park route. Construction of the Eisenhower Expressway required demolition of the Garfield Park branch and the original main-line structures in the affected corridor. Rather than abandon rapid transit in the area, planners built a replacement route in the median of the new expressway. The replacement opened in 1958 as the Congress line and later became known as the Forest Park branch of the Chicago Transit Authority's Blue Line. The Chicago Transit Authority took over the Chicago Rapid Transit Company's assets in 1947, ensuring that the former Metropolitan corridors would be managed within the city's public transit system. Although many original elevated structures disappeared, the transportation functions of several branches survived. The Blue Line toward O'Hare uses part of the former Logan Square alignment, and the Forest Park branch continues to serve much of the former Garfield Park territory. The Douglas Park branch operated as part of the Blue Line from 1958 until 2008, when it became part of the Pink Line. The Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad is therefore best understood as a defunct predecessor rather than a currently operating brand. Its importance lies in its early adoption of electric rapid transit, its role in the westward expansion of Chicago's elevated railway network, and the continuing presence of its former corridors within the Chicago Transit Authority system.

1. 2008Douglas route transferred to Pink Line identity

   The former Douglas Park branch ceased operating as a Blue Line branch and became part of Pink Line service.

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2. 1958Congress line replaces Garfield Park route

   A replacement rapid-transit line opened in the median of the Eisenhower Expressway after the original Garfield Park route was demolished.

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3. 1952Humboldt Park closure and Douglas branch truncation

   Humboldt Park service ended and the Douglas branch was shortened to 54th/Cermak.

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4. 1951Logan Square rerouted into Milwaukee–Dearborn Subway

   The Logan Square branch was redirected into the new subway route, while Humboldt Park service was reduced to a shuttle.

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5. 1947Chicago Transit Authority assumes successor assets

   The Chicago Transit Authority took over the assets of the Chicago Rapid Transit Company.

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6. 1924Consolidation into Chicago Rapid Transit Company

   The four elevated operators were formally united, ending the Metropolitan's separate corporate operation.

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7. 1913Creation of the Chicago Elevated Railways Collateral Trust

   Chicago's four elevated companies were coordinated through a collateral trust, enabling crosstown services.

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8. 1895Opening of the Metropolitan West Side Elevated

   The first train left Robey Street for the Canal Street downtown terminal on May 7, beginning the operation of Chicago's first electrically powered elevated line.

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An early urban rapid-transit operator focused on electrically powered elevated service linking Chicago's downtown terminal with west-side neighborhoods and nearby suburban communities.

• Main lineElevated rapid transit1895

  The principal Metropolitan route ran westward from Chicago's downtown terminal at Canal to Marshfield Avenue. It formed the central trunk from which the system's west-side branches diverged and provided the core connection between downtown and surrounding neighborhoods.

• Logan Square branchRapid-transit branch

  The Logan Square branch extended the Metropolitan network northwest from the main system. It was later rerouted into the Milwaukee–Dearborn Subway and now contributes to the alignment used by the Chicago Transit Authority's Blue Line toward O'Hare International Airport.

• Humboldt Park branchRapid-transit branch

  The Humboldt Park branch served the Humboldt Park area. Its service was reduced to a shuttle terminating at Damen Avenue in 1951 and discontinued in 1952.

• Garfield Park branchRapid-transit branch

  The Garfield Park branch carried Metropolitan service westward through the Garfield Park corridor. Construction of the Eisenhower Expressway required the branch and parts of the original main line to be removed; a replacement route opened in the expressway median in 1958 and later became the Blue Line's Forest Park branch.

• Douglas Park branchRapid-transit branch

  The Douglas Park branch served Chicago's southwest side and was eventually extended to Berwyn, Illinois. After the Metropolitan's consolidation, it continued under successor operators, operated as part of the Blue Line from 1958 to 2008, and then became part of the Pink Line.

• 1958Replacement of Garfield Park elevated routeStrategy

  The construction of the Eisenhower Expressway required demolition of the Garfield Park branch and portions of the original Metropolitan main line.

  What changed. A replacement rapid-transit line was constructed in the expressway median and opened as the Congress line.

  Aftermath. The replacement route later became known as the Forest Park branch of the Blue Line and preserved service in much of the former corridor.

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• 1951Reconfiguration of Logan Square and Humboldt Park servicesStrategy

  Subway development and changing operating plans required the west-side elevated branches to be reorganized.

  What changed. The Logan Square branch was rerouted into the Milwaukee–Dearborn Subway, while Humboldt Park service was reduced to a short shuttle.

  Aftermath. The Humboldt Park branch was closed in 1952, while the Logan Square corridor continued through successor rapid-transit infrastructure.

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• 1924Formal consolidation into Chicago Rapid Transit CompanyM&A

  The four principal Chicago elevated railroads moved from coordinated operation to formal corporate unification.

  What changed. The Metropolitan's independent identity was absorbed into the Chicago Rapid Transit Company.

  Aftermath. The former Metropolitan routes continued under successor operators and were later incorporated into Chicago Transit Authority services.

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• 1913Participation in coordinated elevated-railway operationM&A

  Chicago's four elevated companies were brought together through the Chicago Elevated Railways Collateral Trust as the city sought coordinated service across previously separate systems.

  What changed. The Metropolitan joined the coordinated structure, which enabled crosstown operations.

  Aftermath. The arrangement preceded the formal consolidation of the elevated companies into the Chicago Rapid Transit Company in 1924.

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• 2008Douglas Park route becomes part of the Pink Line

  The former Douglas Park branch, which had operated as part of the Blue Line since 1958, was incorporated into the Pink Line service.

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• 1958Garfield Park service replaced by expressway-median rapid transit

  Construction of the Eisenhower Expressway removed the original Garfield Park branch and parts of the main line. A replacement Congress line opened in the expressway median.

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• 1952Humboldt Park branch discontinued

  The Humboldt Park branch ceased operation after having been reduced to a short shuttle service the previous year.

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• 1952Douglas branch shortened to 54th/Cermak

  The Douglas branch was shortened to its present-day terminal area at 54th/Cermak.

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• 1951Logan Square and Humboldt Park services reorganized

  The Logan Square branch was rerouted into the Milwaukee–Dearborn Subway, while Humboldt Park service was reduced to a shuttle terminating at Damen Avenue.

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• 1924Chicago elevated operators formally unite as Chicago Rapid Transit Company

  The four major elevated railroad companies were formally consolidated into the Chicago Rapid Transit Company, ending the Metropolitan's independent corporate identity.

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• 1913Chicago elevated companies coordinate through collateral trust

  Chicago's four elevated railroad companies were brought together through the Chicago Elevated Railways Collateral Trust, allowing coordinated crosstown services.

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• 1895Metropolitan West Side Elevated begins electric service

  The first Metropolitan train departed Robey Street for the downtown terminal at Canal on May 7, inaugurating the company's elevated rapid-transit operation.

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1. Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad