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 (61st Shops)
Established: 1893 (61st Yard); 1905 (63rd Yard)
Shop Area: 47,373 square feet
Yard Area: 206,392 square feet
Rebuilt: n/a

Status:..	61st Shops: Demolished
	61st and 63rd Yards: 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.

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)

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 opened in 1894 and 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. The crew terminal and trainroom was also located on the track-level second floor of the facility.

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).

Lower 63rd Yard Added

The Lower 63rd Yard is seen looking north from its south end, where the tracks curve to parallel the ex-NY Central tracks, on March 28, 2010. The yard only consists of a few tracks; much of the east half is land for materials storage. The building on the left is a warehouse. The 2200-series cars on the left are in the yard for an IRM fantrip. For a larger view, click here. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

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, still later a part of Conrail, now owned by CSX). 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.

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.

CTA Era Developments

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.

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. For a larger view, click here. (Photo by Peter Vesic, from the John Dowdall Collection)

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 accidentally 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 two 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 branch was temporarily closed during the blaze and shortly afterward, with all trains rerouted to Ashland on the Englewood branch.

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. The 61st Shops building continued to house maintenance functions and a crew terminal into the 1990s. With the closure of the Green Line in 1994 for renovation, both of these functions ceased. The crew terminals for the south end of the Green Line were consolidated at Ashland/63rd Terminal when the line reopened in 1996, while the passenger car maintenance functions were absorbed by Harlem and Racine shops on the Green Line.

At that time, 61st Shops began to be used for the maintenance of non-revenue rail equipment such as the 5-50, 61-65 and 6000-series work motors, as well as all the tampers, smoothers, flatcars, weed-sprayers, and other work cars. With the retirement of the PCC work motors, the crews at 61st Street no longer had to maintain motor cars, but they continued to handle work equipment, such as snow-fighters, flatcars, ballast cars, and smoothers.

61st Shops Demolished

61st Shops was demolished in late winter 2009-10, sweeping away the last of the turn-of-the-20th century-era shop facilities on the rapid transit. The facility was demolished due to its deteriorated condition. By the time of its demolition, the building needed several structural and other repairs. As minor repair work and continued investigation of the building's deficiencies proceeded, it was found that the building's problems were more severe than anticipated. With the building housing limited functions and insufficient financial resources to bring the building back to a good state of repair, a decision was made to instead vacate and demolish the building and relocate its assigned functions. The elevated yard south of the shop building remains and was not included in the demolition.

The demolition of the old 61st Shops building is well underway in this view looking west across Calumet Avenue on February 3, 2010. For a larger view, click here.

On Friday, January 22, 2010, tracks 2N, 3N, 4N, 5N, 6N, 7N, 8N, 8S, and 9S, most of which led up to the shops, were taken out of service for the demolition of the building. CTA forces installed a guard rail along the north edge of the yard, so that once the building is demolished there will be a guardrail where the building use to be.

The work was contracted to FH Paschen, who subcontracted the demolition work to the Midwest Wrecking Company. On January 26, 2010, the contractor started hand demolition of wood decking and some non-structural steel members to separate the building from the track structure at the southeast corner of the building. The contractors demolished as much of the building by hand as they could, starting at the top of the shops' tall chimney. Once the chimney was demolished down to the level of the "L" structure, they finished the demolition using a crane with a clamshell bucket. Extreme care was needed during demolition since Green Line service runs immediately adjacent to the shops' former west elevation. The demolition work was completed on March 15, with the smoke stack the last part to be demolished. Foundation demolition and backfilling was completed on March 18, 2010.

The rail maintenance equipment functions at 61st Shops were transferred to Skokie Shops, while the carpenter shop that was located on the first floor moved to Building 2 at South Shops.

61st Yard continues to be used for the storage of rail maintenance equipment. The Lower 63rd Yard is still used for material storage and loading purposes.

	ctaS-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. (Photo by Peter Vesic)
	ctaS-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)
	61stShops01.jpg (81k) The 61st Street shop and elevated yard, looking northwest on adjacent Calumet Avenue in December 2002.  (Photo by John Smatlak)
	61stYard02.jpg (74k) 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)
	61stShops03.jpg (168?k) The 61st Shops is seen looking south from the Green Line East 63rd branch elevated structure on July 18, 2006. 61st Street is the street in front of the building. The street-facing elevation of the shop building had a very piecemeal appearance, with different sections consistent of varying brick colors and window heights, sizes, lintels and sills. The building seems to have been built in sections. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	61stShops04.jpg (171k) The interior of the west half of 61st Shops, housing tracks A, B and C, is seen looking north on September 18, 2009. Each shop track could only fit two cars, severely limiting the capacity of the shop. By the end of its life, the shop was servicing work cars and maintenance-of-way equipment.  (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	61stShops05.jpg (188k) By the time of its demolition, 61st Shops had been serving rapid transit equipment of various types for 113 years. It was the oldest maintenance facility on the "L" system, and was the last remaining example of a turn-of-the-20th-century shop building from the "L"'s early years. This interior view, looking north in the east half of the shop on September 18, 2009, shows its historic construction, complete with latticed steel columns and wooden floors. Some of the inspection track rails in the floor bore roll dates from the 1890s.  (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	61stShops06.jpg (178k) One of 61st Shops' legendary features was the original boiler in the basement. Dating from the original construction of the building, it still bore the name of its original company cast into its face plate: "THE CHICAGO & SOUTH SIDE RAPID TRANSIT CO." The boiler -- which had ceased to service the facility many decades earlier, but was too large and complicated to remove -- is seen on September 18, 2009. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	61stShops07.jpg (178k) The shop floor of the east half of the car inspection and maintenance facility at 61st Shops is seen looking down from the third floor mezzanine on September 18, 2009. Track D is the open track in the foreground; Tracks E (with a piece of snowfighter S-502 parked on it) and F are to the left. To the right, next to the wall, is an unnamed track that was disconnected from the yard many years ago. Behind the photographer, on the mezzanine level, was a locker room, kitchen and break room, and doorway to the terminal Transportation Office and trainroom.  (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	61stShops08.jpg (117k) The interior of the former clerk's office for the 61st Street Terminal trainroom is seen looking south on September 18, 2009 The window on the right was the clerk's window through which trainmen received their assignments, banks for conductors and ticket agents, and other paperwork and equipment for service. After the crew terminal at 61st closed, the office was used for other purposes. Through the open door is visible an office across the hallways used by Transportation management.  (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	61stShops09.jpg (130k) The 61st Shops building is seen looking north in 61st Yard on September 18, 2009. Note the smoke stack on the left from the shop building's old furnace. The shop doors are old heavy wooden doors that pivoted open, the last of their kind on the "L" system. All of the switches in this view are spring-and-stay switches; note the double slip switch on the right.  (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	61st05.jpg (180k) A Harlem-bound Green Line train passes by the former location of the 61st station platforms, looking north on September 18, 2009. The side platforms were on both sides of the tracks, and the inbound platform connected to the 61st Shops building on the right, which also housed the crew terminal and trainroom for the Jackson Park branch. The shop/terminal building was demolished about six months after the photo was taken. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	61stShops10.jpg (165k) Demolition has begun on the 61st Shops building, seen looking west along Calumet Avenue on January 26, 2010. Note that the shop building has already been disconnected from the yard tracks and structure on the left, making the break clean and the demolition easier.

 

	61stYard01.jpg (43k) Looking north in the long upper 61st Yard from the south end of the complex on August 20, 2000. Note the rail in the center of the photo that ends in the foreground: it is not associated with any track set around it and is, in fact, the third rail left over from the long-removed Track 7S that formerly occupied the space in the center of the photo. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	61stYard03.jpg (152k) Looking north at 61st Yard from the East 63rd branch line tracks over 63rd Street on July 18, 2006. 61st Shops and various pieces of work equipment are visible in the north half of the yard in the distance. The curved track in the foreground provides a direct connection from the northbound East 63rd branch track (Track 2) leaving King Drive station and the yard's angled ladder track, providing more direct access to most of the yard's storage tracks as well as direct access to all but one shop track, compared to the access track along the west side of the yard. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	61stYard04.jpg (142k) The 61st Yard is seen looking northwest from its southeast corner on January 13, 2007. On this particular day, the south half of the yard has a number of pieces of work equipment on it, including a a tank car (often used for weed spraying) on Track 5S and two trains of 2400-series work-capable motor cars. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	61stYard06.jpg (199k) This view looking south on the East 63rd (Jackson Park) branch on September 18, 2009, shows the 61st Yard on the left, the angled yard leads that cut diagonally across the yard and the connection to the mainline in the right foreground, the connection to the Lower 63rd Yard in the background behind the inbound Green Line train, and in the right middle the 61st Tower that controls the interlocking protecting it all. Note the double slip switch where the south lead and the inbound mainline track cross. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	ctaS-502.jpg (141k) One of CTA's four diesel locomotive snowfighter units, S-502, sits in the yard outside of 61st Shops on shop track D on September 18, 2009. The diesel snowfighters, built in 1986 by Niigata, are useful for clearing large snow drifts on ballasted "L" tracks. Each snowfighter actually consist of three units: the main unit is the diesel locomotive, the A unit is a broom attachment, and the B unit is an auger attachment. Here, the B unit is connected to the locomotive, but the A unit is disconnected and inside the shop. Their self-propelled design, not relying on 600V traction power like most "L" equipment, is especially useful when the snow covers the third rail. The locomotive unit is sometimes also used for other purposes, such as moving work equipment, at times when traction power is otherwise unavailable. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	61stYard07.jpg (149k) Looking north at the far north end of 61st Yard from a passing IRM fantrip train on March 28, 2010 shows the abrupt end to the tracks and yard where the shop building had once been. There is a guardrail along the edge of elevated yard where the threshold of the shop once was, with warning signs for protection. The low building on the left was a switchman's shanty and yardmaster's office when the 61st Yard stored passenger equipment. The booth on stilts was for a security officer to watch the yard at night. Note the track marker flag labeling the track in the middle as Track A. This is a remnant from when the shop existed, as "Track A" was the track's designation inside the inspection shop. The track's designation in the yard is Track 1N. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	61stYard08.jpg (113k) This view looking south from an IRM fantrip train on March 28, 2010, shows the north end of 61st Yard, now coming to an abrupt end with the removal of the 61st Shops. The large, empty lot, graded with gravel, is where the shop building once stood. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

	63rdYard02.jpg (146k) The Lower 63rd Yard is seen looking south from the incline up to the East 63rd branch mainline tracks on March 28, 2010, during an IRM fantrip. The ground-level yard has widely-spaced non-powered (without third rail) tracks, between which materials (like the railroad ties and other items seen here) are stacked for storage and loading onto work cars for distribution around the "L" system. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	cnsm227.jpg (109k) With the success of the North Shore Line's express package service, additional cars were needed. Bought between 1922-24 from the Cincinnati Car Co., in a change from the previous 203-class express cars, the 215-class cars had a single freight door located in the center of the car instead of two doors at each end. Merchandise despatch car 227 is seen in Lower 63rd Yard with the ramp up to the Jackson Park branch elevated on the left. (Photo from the Lou Gerard Collection)
	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 Appleman)
	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 Appleman)