Possible new trail

There is an unused rail line that runs through Forest Park, River Forest, Melrose Park, River Grove, Franklin Park and connects to another line in Chicago, and Oak Park. The Illinois Prairie path ends a few blocks away. I am hoping to get the ball rolling to make it a trail. I think the line is or was owned by Wisconsin Central RR. Anyone interested in finding it on a map can look for Triton College. It runs right next to the college. I would like hear from riders in the towns, local officials, anyone with experience with the conversion process ...

Thanks

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Permalink Reply by Russ Mugnaini on May 4, 2015 at 7:14am

I am skeptical it could be active.  I live 2 blocks from the line and haven't seen a train on it for probably 10 years.  

Take a look at the bridge over the Des Plaines river.

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.9039745,-87.8318816,101m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

 

Permalink Reply by Mike Schwab on May 4, 2015 at 6:15am

5th avenue South of Triton College still has signals up.

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.909785,-87.83999,3a,75y,20.78h,76.2...

George street West of Triton College still has signals up.
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.917241,-87.850038,3a,75y,10.91h,88....

Permalink Reply by Russ Mugnaini on May 4, 2015 at 7:15am

Take a look at the bridge over the Des Plaines river.

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.9039745,-87.8318816,101m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

Permalink Reply by Mike Schwab on May 4, 2015 at 9:08am

It used to be double tracked.  Maybe Rails with Trails?

 http://www.railstotrails.org/resource-library/resources/americas-ra...

Permalink Reply by Russ Mugnaini on May 4, 2015 at 7:05am

Yes there are signals up. But if the line is no longer in use would the RR pay the expense to have removed? I live 2 blocks from the line and haven't seen a train on it for probably 10 years.  

Permalink Reply by Rob Kowalczyk on May 5, 2015 at 11:04am

Whoa. A unicorn-train! I've never seen a train on those tracks, going back eight or nine years. Anyway, nuts. I would have loved for this section of track to be converted to trail. This map sort-of shows that that segment is still owned by Canadian National Railway: http://www.idot.illinois.gov/assets/uploads/files/transportation-sy... .

Permalink Reply by Russ Mugnaini on May 6, 2015 at 3:04am

I wrote an email to CN RR PR dept just to see what they would say about the line status. So far no reply. Andy said he saw a train about a month ago. Can't believe they would run a train across the bridge over the Des Plaines river. 

Permalink Reply by Mike Schwab on May 6, 2015 at 8:32am

Near every signal, there should be a phone number to notify the company of problems.  You could call it.

Permalink Reply by Bob Kastigar on May 4, 2015 at 9:19am
Permalink Reply by Tom Z on May 5, 2015 at 1:48pm

Bob is correct... Rails-to-Trails is a great place to start.

Permalink Reply by Tricolor on May 7, 2015 at 3:35am

It looks like a connector between Canadian Pacific and CSX. North of the CP crossing it's on a Metra route and is owned by CN, but the track section in question could belong to anyone, even a contractor that only is responsible for keeping the track in order in case a train needs to use it.

Permalink Reply by Tim Heckman on May 7, 2015 at 6:48am
On a related note, there is abandoned railroad ROW (tracks are gone) running approximately 3 blocks west of Harlem, from 16th Street in Forest Park to Cermak Road, and through the North Riverside mall property to 26th. This is still used as a utility corridor, with transmission lines running north/south. It would be quite nice to have that available as short connector. I've never been a big fan of cycling the section of Des Plaines several blocks to the west.

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