Passenger Trains > question about the IC/CSS trackage south from chicago

i was just watching a video of a cab view on a CSS train leaving south from chicago.

I was surprised how much abandoned track/ROW there was at teh chicago station, and that the IC ROW looks like it was originally 8 tracks.  Was there really so much traffic on that line that it needed 8 tracks?  Apparently it is 4 tracks now, with a lot of vacant ROW on either side.
Anyone know the history here...when the now missing tracks were removed?

TIA

North of 51st St. at one time:
6 electrified suburban tracks for IC and South Shore
2 through passenger tracks for IC, Michigan Central and Big Four trains
2 freight tracks. The land just south of the Chicago River was a big freight yard.

pdt Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> i was just watching a video of a cab view on a CSS
> train leaving south from chicago.
>
> I was surprised how much abandoned track/ROW there
> was at teh chicago station, and that the IC ROW
> looks like it was originally 8 tracks.  Was there
> really so much traffic on that line that it needed
> 8 tracks?  Apparently it is 4 tracks now, with a
> lot of vacant ROW on either side.
> Anyone know the history here...when the now
> missing tracks were removed?
>
> TIA

The IC trunk into Chicago was used by Michigan Central and Big Four passenger trains and also served a sizable freight terminal that took up most of what is currently lakefront parkland. The RoW would have not only supported this additional passenger service, but local freight and road freight, all using less efficient operating practices. 

Currently, Metra Electric District is four tracks and the CN Chicago Sub is two tracks (south of McCormick Place) with additional side tracks at various locations.

Good history and photos at this site: https://industrialscenery.blogspot.com/2019/12/congress-street-yard-and-south-towards.html?_sm_au_=iVVN1q14qV07DDQjvpCWHKQBT4Qq3
 

Specifically to your question about the electric terminal between Van Buren Street and Randolph St and on to the Chicago River - this area was all railroad freight houses. An outstanding series of photos of this area can be found here:
Cut and paste if the link doesn't work...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/barrigerlibrary/albums/72157690635424082/

 

Thanks for interesting links. I would add these details. At Van Buren, there was a track against the west retaining wall starting at the S end of the extant platform where rush hour So Chicago Specials departed.  One boarded at the rear vestibule and walked to the forward cars.  Those trains ceased operating as the 5th and 6th mains between 11th and 51st weretorn out.
In the area around 43rd St, there were extra sidings for freight and a long ramp leading to a crossing above the IC mains heading to the Stock Yards. Remains of some of the concrete supports exist to this day.