Passenger Trains > Trains and Stations: Highland Park, IL

Once the C&NW, now this Chicago suburb is served by METRA.

B&OB

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That's a nice looking clock tower. Looks like Europe.

Great shot!

Still running left-hand on ex-CNW lines.

chakk Wrote:
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> Still running left-hand on ex-CNW lines.

And Metra always will as all of the depots are on the Chicago-bound side of the tracks.

Molino Wrote:
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> That's a nice looking clock tower. Looks like Europe.

Clock tower is a Metra addition to the circa 1960 C&NW station, a bare-bones masonry replacement of the previous (wooden) C&NW station that was located one block north.  Moving south provided more off-street parking and reduced auto/pedestrian traffic delays at the Central Avenue crossing adjacent to the previous platforms.  Highland Park in the 1950s also featured a turntable and small engine facility for suburban trains originating or terminating there, plus a separate freight station at the northeast corner of Central Avenue and 1st Street.

My kids' aunt lives in Lake Bluff. For both of them, their first rain ride was a RT from Lake Bluff to Highland Park, with blintzes at a great deli near there. I did it when they were each around 4 or 5. Great memories.

kevink Wrote:
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> chakk Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
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> > Still running left-hand on ex-CNW lines.
>
> And Metra always will as all of the depots are on
> the Chicago-bound side of the tracks.

I suppose the logic here is that most passengers purchase their tickets at these stations for inbound trains.

It is just the opposite on the Caltrain (ex-ESPEE Commuter) route.   All of the stations, IIRC, are on the OUTBOUND side of this double-track line, running right-handed.

chakk Wrote:
>
> I suppose the logic here is that most passengers
> purchase their tickets at these stations for
> inbound trains.
>
I think the logic is that for inbound trains, people might be waiting and so need a building for shelter. Chicago winters... But coming home, they get off the train and head straight to their cars.