Chicago ''L''.org: Yards & Shops - Upper 61st/Lower 63rd Yard

Above: 61st Street Shop, looking north in the Upper 61st Street Yard on August 20, 2000. On an average day, several pieces of work equipment are usually in the yard. The tall smoke stack on the left is part of the old 1897 shop building, obscured behind the metal shop entrance. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

Below Right: Looking north in the long Upper 61st Street Yard from the East 63rd branch line tracks on August 20, 2000. For a larger view, click here. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

61st Yard & Shops
Lower 63rd Yard
63rd Street and Calumet Avenue, Washington Park

Service Notes:

Located:

Green Line: East 63rd

Services:

All routes, maintenance/nonrevenue stock

Quick Facts:

Address: 329 E. 61st Street
Established: 1893 (61st Yard); 1905 (63rd Yard)
Shop Area: 47,373 square feet
Yard Area: 206,392 square feet
Rebuilt: n/a
Status: In Use

When the South Side Rapid Transit began operations in 1892, they had a serious deficiency: where to store cars and make repairs. The original Congress-to-39th line had no yard or maintenance shop; idle cars were stored on the main line south of the last open station (usually 39th Street). Locomotives were serviced at a small facility built south of 39th. Coal was received from the Chicago Junction Railroad at this location as well.

As part of the South Side's extension to Jackson Park, a full yard facility was built where the line turned east over 63rd Street from the alley between Prairie and Calumet. The elevated coach yard covered a two block region from 61st to 63rd, and a large engine house in the southwest corner of the yard for the servicing of the steam locomotives augmented the 39th Street shop.

In 1897, the South Side Elevated began work to retire their steam locomotives and covert the line not only to electric traction but to Sprague's experimental multiple unit control (the first major application of the technology). Another major improvement that year was the construction of a shop building in the 61st Street Yard. The shops were at the north end of the yard, fronting 61st Street, with a connection to the northbound platform of the 61st Street station. The first floor housed the carpentry and tin shops, a storeroom, and an employee area. The second floor (track-level) contained offices, a three-track repair shop, and a four-track paint shop. Interestingly, concurrent with electrification, the yard began to use low-slung trolley wire on the lead (ladder) tracks because of fears that trains could become stranded on dead sections of the third rail at switches. (No other part of the South Side elevated used overhead wire.) The company engineers designed a unique bow trolley for roof the cars that was always in the upright position, which was fitted onto all South Side cars in 1893, as well as Northwestern 1-59 series motors circa 1912 (presumably in anticipation of the beginning of crosstown service).

A view of the 61st Street Shop from the corner of 61st and Calumet, looking southwest in December 2002. For a larger view, click here. (Photo by John Smatlak)

In 1905, concurrent with the South Side's last expansion of their 39th Street power house, the company purchased a large tract of land on the south side of 63rd Street at Calumet Avenue, adjacent to the 61st Street Yard. A large car storage yard was built at surface level and plans were developed for the construction of a shop to handle heavy repairs at a later date. (One was never built.) The 63rd Street Yard also used over head trolley wire for power until 1913. The yard included an interchange track with the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad (later part of the New York Central System, now part of Conrail). This gave the South Side a second place to take coal deliveries. A number of cars were actually delivered via this spur (including 5000-series cars 5001 and 5002 from Pullman on Chicago's South Side), as were supplies. The 63rd Yard was connected to the 61st Yard via a long ramp that connected to the elevated main line tracks just north of 63rd Street and descended across the street and down into the yard.

Through-routing of Northwestern and South Side trains began in November 1913 and as a result, some Northwestern Elevated cars were occasionally stored in the 61st/63rd Yards. Overhead trolley operation in the yards was discontinued at that time; apparently, the engineers had determined that the chances of a car getting stranded were not as great as they had feared. By this time, an additional car inspection shop had been built on the two most eastern tracks in the 61st Yard. Constructed of wood, it was long enough to accommodate two 8-car trains side by side, whereas the 61st Shops could only take a few cars on each track.

The 61st Street shop and elevated yard, looking northwest on adjacent Calumet Avenue in December 2002. . For a larger view, click here. (Photo by John Smatlak)

In later years, the Lower 63rd Yard began to be used for materials storage as well as the storage of retired rolling stock. From 1922 to 1947, the Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee also used it for merchandise dispatch. After the CRT and CSL were consolidated into the CTA in 1947, a connector track was constructed between the Lower 63rd Yard and the 63rd Street streetcar tracks.

The late 1970s saw a series of fires break out in the 61st/63rd Yard complex. One evening in October 1978, a fire broke out in the Lower 63rd Yard. Work locomotive S-343 was nearly lost in the fire, but luckily the Chicago Fire Department was able to save it. It did, however, sustain some serious damage. It turned out that there were oxygen and acetylene tanks stored in the yard, which made for a spectacular fire.

On the morning of August 3, 1979, an extra-alarm fire consumed the wooden inspection shop in the 61st Yard, which was known as the White House. The White House was being used as a bad order repair shop at the time. It was most likely set by iron workers that were doing structure repair nearby. The fire started at the north end and consumed the entire shop in minutes. Six cars inside were destroyed: 2517-2518, 6367-6368, and 6335-6336. Three cars out side and next to the shop were also destroyed: 2481, 2447-2448. Two more cars, 2479-2480, were inside when the fire broke out but were saved by 2 signal personal that had just completed repairing the ATC. The shop was never rebuilt and the structure was finally replaced several years later. As one might imagine, the Jackson Park Line was temporarily closed during the blaze and shortly afterward, with all trains rerouted to Ashland.

In early 1991, a new heavy duty storage building was nearly completion in the Lower 63rd Yard. The 700,000 square foot warehouse measured 353 by 80 feet and had separate truck and rail loading docks with bridge cranes. The $3.3 million facility replaced several outmoded frame storage buildings and was expected to improve operational efficiency significantly when it opened later in 1991.

Apparently, the 61st Yard and Shops were rehabbed in 1993. Today, the 61st Street Yard is no longer used for car storage. With the reopening of the Green Line in 1996, 61st Street began to be used for nonrevenue rail equipment maintenance. Initially, this meant 5-50, 61-65 and 6000-series work motor maintenance, as well as all the tampers, smoothers, and other work cars. However, with the retirement of these cars and the conversion of revenue equipment to work train handling capability, the crews at 61st Street no longer deal with the motor cars. All Green Line storage and maintenance functions have been moved to the Harlem and Racine Yards and the 61st Shops and Yard handle only work equipment, such as snow-fighters, flatcars, ballast cars, and smoothers. The Lower 63rd Yard is still used for material storage and loading purposes.

61st_fire1.jpg (81k)

After the 61st Yard fire, CTA workers look over the wreckage of several cars burned and totaled in the blaze. Although completely unidentifiable down to the car number just by looking at the remains, seen here are cars 6335-6336, 6367-6368, and 2517-2518. (Photo by Peter Vesic, from the John Dowdall Collection)

S-343a.jpg (76k)

Service car S-343 started its life as locomotive C-50 (later L-202) for the Chicago Surface Lines, built in 1908. The car was transferred to the rapid transit division of the CTA circa 1957 and received an extensive rebuilding in June 1958. S-343 is seen here inside the White House inspection shop in the 61st Yard on November 10, 1978. Note that you can see the main 61st Shop in the background of the photo, which still stands today. (Photo by Peter Vesic)

S-343b.jpg (74k)

Service locomotive L-202 was renumbered S-343 circa 1959. A fire in the Lower 63rd Yard in October 1978 nearly destroyed S-343, as can be seen by the damage evident in the photo. It is seen here inside the White House inspection shop in the 61st Yard on November 10, 1978 shortly after a fire in the Lower 63rd Yard. S-343 is now at the Fox River Trolley Museum, where it has been stored to its CTA/L-202 appearance circa 1957. (Photo by Peter Vesic)

cta293.jpg (108k)

Former South Side car 293 has met a fate similar to many other wooden "L" cars: after being retired in June 1957, it sits on the Lower 63rd Yard on October 4, 1972. It has received a low-cost conversion, mostly consisting of blocking out the windows with plywood, into a stationary tool or storage car. (Photo by Steve Zabel, Collection of Joe Testagrose)

cta4083.jpg (131k)

Long after being decommissioned, car 4083 sits converted to a storage room in the Lower 63rd Street Yard on October 4, 1972. The removed center door -- only on the 1st version "baldie" 4000s -- is still evident in the metalwork. (Photo by Steve Zabel, Collection of Joe Testagrose)

cta4427.jpg (141k)

Car 4427, seen here in the Lower 63rd Yard on July 4, 1971, appears to be consigned to work motor service here, though it was never officially converted to a service car. It was near the end of its life, as it would be scrapped exactly one year later in July 1972. (Photo by Joe Testagrose)

cta4427b.jpg (117k)

Car 4427 is parked in the Lower 63rd Yard among the many construction materials that are commonly stored there on July 4, 1971. The Chicago Skyway is in the background on the right while a CHA apartment building can be seen on the left. (Photo by Joe Testagrose)

ctaS-332.jpg (118k)

Derrick S-332, seen in Lower 63rd Yard on October 4, 1972, has an unusual history: Wood car 1753 was converted to work motor S-332 in 1958. That car was stripped down to its frame and rebuilt as an unpowered derrick by 1965, christened S-332 II. It was equipped with 6000-series couplers in 1975. (Photo by Steve Zabel, Collection of Joe Testagrose)

ctaS-338.jpg (98k)

Yet another work motor recycled from a 1950 CTA^® wood motor converted from a Northwestern Elevated trailer (in this case, car 1813 created from 1274), S-338 is in 63rd Street Yard on July 3, 1966. The car was scrapped two years later, in June 1968. (Collection of Joe Testagrose)

ctaS-343c.jpg (130k)

Work locomotive S-343 is in Lower 63rd Yard on October 4, 1972, with the Chicago Skyway in the background. (Photo by Steve Zabel, Collection of Joe Testagrose)

ctaS-223.jpg (108k)

Self-propelled diesel crane S-223 was purchased new by CTA^® in 1950. Built by Industrial Brownhoist, it was equipped with railroad couplers giving it the capability to spot freight carloads of supplies for unloading. It was still in active service at the Lower 63rd Street materials yard on October 4, 1972. (Photo by Steve Zabel, Collection of Joe Testagrose)

ctaS-347.jpg (103k)

S-347 was one of many work motors converted from 4000-series cars (many of which are shows below), in this case car 4323. It is in the 63rd Street Yard on August 6, 1972. (Photo by Bruno Berzins, Collection of Joe Testagrose)

ctaS-348.jpg (115k)

4000-series car 4324, converted to work motor S-348 in February 1965, is in Lower 63rd Yard on August 6, 1972. (Photo by Bruno Berzins, Collection of Joe Testagrose)

ctaS-350.jpg (127k)

Work motor S-350, known as car 4318 in its previous incarnation, is in the 63rd Materials Yard on October 4, 1972. (Photo by Steve Zabel, Collection of Joe Testagrose)

ctaS-350b.jpg (121k)

S-350, seen at 63rd Street on August 6, 1972, was the first of several S-350 series work motors that were equipped with snow plows. A wooden blade wouldn't stand up in service and a plain steel one could not safely clear ice off the third rail, so two-ply rubber flooring material was fastened to the blade with canvas backing to make it strong enough to move snow but flexible (and nonconductive) enough to be effective in service. (Photo by Bruno Berzins, Collection of Joe Testagrose)

ctaS-356.jpg (107k)

In December 1965, car 4316 became one of twelve 4000-series units to be converted to work service, all with snow plows. Re-christened S-356, the car is in Lower 63rd Yard on October 4, 1972. (Photo by Steve Zabel, Collection of Joe Testagrose)

ctaS-358b.jpg (127k)

Work motor S-358, formally passenger car 4430, is waiting in Lower 63rd Yard between assignments on October 4, 1972. (Photo by Steve Zabel, Collection of Joe Testagrose)

ctaS-359.jpg (120k)

Baldie car 4138 was one of only five of the center-door 4067-class 4000-series cars to be assigned to work service. Due to subway and canopy clearances, bald-roof cars were needed to service the Kennedy Line. 4138 became S-359, seen in Lower 63rd Yard with another baldie work motor (probably S-360) on July 4, 1971. (Photo by Joe Testagrose)

ctaS-368.jpg (109k)

S-368 was one of another batch of 4000s converted for work service in 1972; seven cars were converted that year in all. S-368 is in the 63rd Materials Yard on October 4, 1972. (Photo by Steve Zabel, Collection of Joe Testagrose)

ctaS-368b.jpg (106k)

Ex-4386, renumbered S-368 in work service, had been a work motor for only four months when it was seen in the 63rd Street Yard on August 6, 1972. (Photo by Bruno Berzins, Collection of Joe Testagrose)

ctaS-370.jpg (110k)

Work motor S-370, formally car 4393, is among its 4000-series work car brethren in 63rd Yard on August 6, 1972. (Photo by Bruno Berzins, Collection of Joe Testagrose)

ctaS-339.jpg (61k)

Work motor S-339, built by American Car & Foundry in 1907 as Northwestern Elevated trailer 1276 (later motorized and renumbered to 1814 in 1950), was converted for work service in 1958. It's seen here at the Lower 63rd Street yard in March, 1965. (Photo by Jerry Appleman)

ctaS-358c.jpg (135k)

Work motor S-358, formerly Plushie 4000 car 4430, is in Lower 63rd Yard between runs in June 1968. The car was converted to a work motor two and a half years before in December 1965 and in winter was often equipped with a plow to act as a snowfighter. (Photo by Leon Kay)

ctaS-332b.jpg (84k)

Chicago Transit Authority S-332, originally built by Jewett in 1906, was converted from ex-Northwestern car 1753 to work service in 1957. S-332 is parked in Lower 63rd Yard in April 1965. (Photo by Jerry Applemen)

ctaS-348b.jpg (88k)

CTA^® work motor S-348 -- formerly 4000-series passenger car 4324, converted for work service in 1965 -- is seen with a work train at 63rd Street lower yard in June, 1968. (Photo by Jerry Applemen)

Located:
	Green Line: East 63rd
Services:
	All routes, maintenance/nonrevenue stock

	61st_fire1.jpg (81k) After the 61st Yard fire, CTA workers look over the wreckage of several cars burned and totaled in the blaze. Although completely unidentifiable down to the car number just by looking at the remains, seen here are cars 6335-6336, 6367-6368, and 2517-2518. (Photo by Peter Vesic, from the John Dowdall Collection)
	S-343a.jpg (76k) Service car S-343 started its life as locomotive C-50 (later L-202) for the Chicago Surface Lines, built in 1908. The car was transferred to the rapid transit division of the CTA circa 1957 and received an extensive rebuilding in June 1958. S-343 is seen here inside the White House inspection shop in the 61st Yard on November 10, 1978. Note that you can see the main 61st Shop in the background of the photo, which still stands today. (Photo by Peter Vesic)
	S-343b.jpg (74k) Service locomotive L-202 was renumbered S-343 circa 1959. A fire in the Lower 63rd Yard in October 1978 nearly destroyed S-343, as can be seen by the damage evident in the photo. It is seen here inside the White House inspection shop in the 61st Yard on November 10, 1978 shortly after a fire in the Lower 63rd Yard. S-343 is now at the Fox River Trolley Museum, where it has been stored to its CTA/L-202 appearance circa 1957. (Photo by Peter Vesic)
	cta293.jpg (108k) Former South Side car 293 has met a fate similar to many other wooden "L" cars: after being retired in June 1957, it sits on the Lower 63rd Yard on October 4, 1972. It has received a low-cost conversion, mostly consisting of blocking out the windows with plywood, into a stationary tool or storage car. (Photo by Steve Zabel, Collection of Joe Testagrose)
	cta4083.jpg (131k) Long after being decommissioned, car 4083 sits converted to a storage room in the Lower 63rd Street Yard on October 4, 1972. The removed center door -- only on the 1st version "baldie" 4000s -- is still evident in the metalwork. (Photo by Steve Zabel, Collection of Joe Testagrose)
	cta4427.jpg (141k) Car 4427, seen here in the Lower 63rd Yard on July 4, 1971, appears to be consigned to work motor service here, though it was never officially converted to a service car. It was near the end of its life, as it would be scrapped exactly one year later in July 1972. (Photo by Joe Testagrose)
	cta4427b.jpg (117k) Car 4427 is parked in the Lower 63rd Yard among the many construction materials that are commonly stored there on July 4, 1971. The Chicago Skyway is in the background on the right while a CHA apartment building can be seen on the left. (Photo by Joe Testagrose)
	ctaS-332.jpg (118k) Derrick S-332, seen in Lower 63rd Yard on October 4, 1972, has an unusual history: Wood car 1753 was converted to work motor S-332 in 1958. That car was stripped down to its frame and rebuilt as an unpowered derrick by 1965, christened S-332 II. It was equipped with 6000-series couplers in 1975. (Photo by Steve Zabel, Collection of Joe Testagrose)
	ctaS-338.jpg (98k) Yet another work motor recycled from a 1950 CTA^® wood motor converted from a Northwestern Elevated trailer (in this case, car 1813 created from 1274), S-338 is in 63rd Street Yard on July 3, 1966. The car was scrapped two years later, in June 1968. (Collection of Joe Testagrose)
	ctaS-343c.jpg (130k) Work locomotive S-343 is in Lower 63rd Yard on October 4, 1972, with the Chicago Skyway in the background. (Photo by Steve Zabel, Collection of Joe Testagrose)
	ctaS-223.jpg (108k) Self-propelled diesel crane S-223 was purchased new by CTA^® in 1950. Built by Industrial Brownhoist, it was equipped with railroad couplers giving it the capability to spot freight carloads of supplies for unloading. It was still in active service at the Lower 63rd Street materials yard on October 4, 1972. (Photo by Steve Zabel, Collection of Joe Testagrose)
	ctaS-347.jpg (103k) S-347 was one of many work motors converted from 4000-series cars (many of which are shows below), in this case car 4323. It is in the 63rd Street Yard on August 6, 1972. (Photo by Bruno Berzins, Collection of Joe Testagrose)
	ctaS-348.jpg (115k) 4000-series car 4324, converted to work motor S-348 in February 1965, is in Lower 63rd Yard on August 6, 1972. (Photo by Bruno Berzins, Collection of Joe Testagrose)
	ctaS-350.jpg (127k) Work motor S-350, known as car 4318 in its previous incarnation, is in the 63rd Materials Yard on October 4, 1972. (Photo by Steve Zabel, Collection of Joe Testagrose)
	ctaS-350b.jpg (121k) S-350, seen at 63rd Street on August 6, 1972, was the first of several S-350 series work motors that were equipped with snow plows. A wooden blade wouldn't stand up in service and a plain steel one could not safely clear ice off the third rail, so two-ply rubber flooring material was fastened to the blade with canvas backing to make it strong enough to move snow but flexible (and nonconductive) enough to be effective in service. (Photo by Bruno Berzins, Collection of Joe Testagrose)
	ctaS-356.jpg (107k) In December 1965, car 4316 became one of twelve 4000-series units to be converted to work service, all with snow plows. Re-christened S-356, the car is in Lower 63rd Yard on October 4, 1972. (Photo by Steve Zabel, Collection of Joe Testagrose)
	ctaS-358b.jpg (127k) Work motor S-358, formally passenger car 4430, is waiting in Lower 63rd Yard between assignments on October 4, 1972. (Photo by Steve Zabel, Collection of Joe Testagrose)
	ctaS-359.jpg (120k) Baldie car 4138 was one of only five of the center-door 4067-class 4000-series cars to be assigned to work service. Due to subway and canopy clearances, bald-roof cars were needed to service the Kennedy Line. 4138 became S-359, seen in Lower 63rd Yard with another baldie work motor (probably S-360) on July 4, 1971. (Photo by Joe Testagrose)
	ctaS-368.jpg (109k) S-368 was one of another batch of 4000s converted for work service in 1972; seven cars were converted that year in all. S-368 is in the 63rd Materials Yard on October 4, 1972. (Photo by Steve Zabel, Collection of Joe Testagrose)
	ctaS-368b.jpg (106k) Ex-4386, renumbered S-368 in work service, had been a work motor for only four months when it was seen in the 63rd Street Yard on August 6, 1972. (Photo by Bruno Berzins, Collection of Joe Testagrose)
	ctaS-370.jpg (110k) Work motor S-370, formally car 4393, is among its 4000-series work car brethren in 63rd Yard on August 6, 1972. (Photo by Bruno Berzins, Collection of Joe Testagrose)
	ctaS-339.jpg (61k) Work motor S-339, built by American Car & Foundry in 1907 as Northwestern Elevated trailer 1276 (later motorized and renumbered to 1814 in 1950), was converted for work service in 1958. It's seen here at the Lower 63rd Street yard in March, 1965. (Photo by Jerry Appleman)
	ctaS-358c.jpg (135k) Work motor S-358, formerly Plushie 4000 car 4430, is in Lower 63rd Yard between runs in June 1968. The car was converted to a work motor two and a half years before in December 1965 and in winter was often equipped with a plow to act as a snowfighter. (Photo by Leon Kay)
	ctaS-332b.jpg (84k) Chicago Transit Authority S-332, originally built by Jewett in 1906, was converted from ex-Northwestern car 1753 to work service in 1957. S-332 is parked in Lower 63rd Yard in April 1965. (Photo by Jerry Applemen)
	ctaS-348b.jpg (88k) CTA^® work motor S-348 -- formerly 4000-series passenger car 4324, converted for work service in 1965 -- is seen with a work train at 63rd Street lower yard in June, 1968. (Photo by Jerry Applemen)