Nostalgia & History > A sad day at Dearborn Station in Chicago

Dec 75

Unfortunately I never saw Dearborn Station (built 1885) full of trains, but like this, void of rail activity.
4.5 years after the last intercity passenger train left, the station is abandoned and eerily quiet.
The N&W commuter train was the last train to use the station (I think it parked on the side somewhere) it might have moved to Union Station at this date.
To stand on the platforms and think about all the great trains that operated here back to the late 1800's was humbling.
My grandfather was a salesman out of Mansfield,Ohio and twice a year- in the 30's-50's - his company had a convention in Chicago. He had a choice of many PRR trains at Mansfield but he liked the Erie and that is what he took to this station. Sometimes he brought my grandmother with him for a fun weekend. I wondered which platforms they had walked down so long ago.
Anyway the shed, platforms and tracks would be taken out in 1976.

(1-2) The main station and clock tower is still there.
Originally there was a steep roof above the station buildings and clock tower.
These were taken down after the disastrous 1922 fire.

(3) Delivery and pickup areas along the station.
In old photos horse and wagons, early autos can be seen on the brick street that is showing itself.

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(4) Plenty of baggage wagons were around the station - hope a few of them were saved.

(5-6) Next to the station were these other platforms - for mail and express ?

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A sad time but many pictures have been posted on TO with trains at the station so at least we have that.

Gary 

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Really great set of images.  Sad to see, but very glad that you took the time to preserve them.  Thanks for sharing.

Although the scenes are, indeed, very sad, you have posted an excellent set of photos in this thread.

gcm Wrote:
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> The N&W commuter train was the last train to use
> the station (I think it parked on the side
> somewhere) it might have moved to Union Station at
> this date.

At the time you took these photographs, the N & W commuter train used a track along the right side of the headhouse in the first photograph.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/09/20 20:55 by RuleG.

True historic treasures!
Bob

A very somber series of images. Well done!

Lance/199

Wonderful set of photographs, thanks for sharing.  Also, really curious if you knew why your grandfather preferred the Erie?

OMG, I had no idea you visited Dearborn in 75.  All of my attempts to arrive and depart from that station before Amtrak were thwarted by incidents and accidents that made me think I was cursed.  Did you get any photos looking inside the station?  No matter how dark, fuzzy or ill composed they might be, I would love to see them.

The stay at home orders are sure reaping a great harvest of historical photos these days.  Keep on and keep safe!


 

Pictures of a world that no longer exists.  Shame.

Even though sad, your photos provide a comprehensive documentary of the terminal facility as it existed before its demolition, excluding headhouse, was started in the spring of 1976.  The season your photos were taken helped contribute to the forlorn appearance of the practically abandoned facility.
Thanks for an your absolutely outstanding documentary posting.
ALLEN

 

Waybiller Wrote:
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> Wonderful set of photographs, thanks for
> sharing.  Also, really curious if you knew why
> your grandfather preferred the Erie?

I never knew the reason he liked that line, just remembered my mom telling me he preferred the Erie.
This was after I found a couple of his tickets.
Gary

Hou74-76 Wrote:
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> OMG, I had no idea you visited Dearborn in 75.
>  All of my attempts to arrive and depart from
> that station before Amtrak were thwarted by
> incidents and accidents that made me think I was
> cursed.  Did you get any photos looking inside
> the station?  No matter how dark, fuzzy or ill
> composed they might be, I would love to see them.
>
> The stay at home orders are sure reaping a great
> harvest of historical photos these days.  Keep on
> and keep safe!

Unfortunately I didn't get inside.
Thanks.
Gary

rantoul Wrote:
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> I like this 20 year old TO post that has many of
> the same elements shown in this marvelous 2020
> post, except when operating.
>
> https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,
> 491291,491299#msg-491299

Thanks for the link.
The place looks a lot better with trains there.
I noticed the post was from yardclerk - I haven't seen any posts from him in a number of years.
Anyone know how he is doing ?
Gary

An excellent post Gary. Once again I enjoy your attention to details and the overall scenes. These tell a story- smart man taking the time to document places like Dearborn station instead of just running after more locomotive shots.

Roger Durfee
Akron, OH

I happened to be at Dearborn (just wandering around Chicago) when the news came that the ICC had approved the Santa Fe's request to eliminate a lot of its passenger trains because of the loss of the US mail contracts.  Listening to the employees talk you could feel that the vibrant station I was in would ultimately end up like the pictures you show.

Very sad to see this...but nice shots
 

Glad you took your walkabout. Thanks for sharing.