Evergreen Junction
Evergreen Avenue and Milwaukee Avenue, Wicker Park/Noble Square (West Town)

Service Notes:

Services:
	Paulina Connector/Milwaukee Elevated

Quick Facts:

Established: February 25, 1951
Original Line: Paulina Connector & Milwaukee Elevated
Rebuilt: n/a
Status: Demolished

Profile:

On February 25, 1951, the Milwaukee-Dearborn Subway opened, connecting the Logan Square branch with downtown more directly. At this point, the north-south section of the old Northwest branch became nonrevenue trackage known as the Paulina Connector. A connection between the Milwaukee Elevated and Paulina Connector remained at Evergreen Avenue for several years, as the connector was the only connection between the Milwaukee Elevated (as the newly-independent portion of the Northwest branch along Milwaukee Avenue became known) and the rest of the system and was used for nonrevenue equipment moves.

In the years after the Congress Line opened, very few trains used the portion of the Paulina Connector north of Lake Street. A couple of fan trips used it, and a work train or two every now and then. Finally, in August 1964, it was decided to remove the portion of the Paulina Connector between Washington Junction and Evergreen Junction from service in preparation for demolition. Evergreen Junction was removed from service at that time. Actual demolition may not have occurred until about 1968. The switches were replaced with straight rails. Today, only a few cutoff bents encased in the concrete walls along side the descent into the Milwaukee-Dearborn Subway belay the previous existence of the elevated line that once connected overhead.