Loomis was a

rapid transit Rapid transit or mass rapid transit (MRT), also known as heavy rail or metro, is a type of high-capacity public transport generally found in urban areas. A rapid transit system that primarily or traditionally runs below the surface may be c ...

station on the

Chicago Transit Authority The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is the operator of mass transit in Chicago, Illinois, United States, and some of its surrounding suburbs, including the trains of the Chicago 'L' and CTA bus service. In , the system had a ridership of , o ...

Lake Street Elevated The Lake Street Elevated, also known as the Lake branch, is a long branch of the Chicago "L" which is located west of the Chicago Loop and serves the Green Line for its entire length, as well as the Pink Line east of Ashland Avenue. As of Febr ...

, which is now part of the

Green Line Green Line may refer to: Places Military and political * Green Line (France), the German occupation line in France during World War II * Green Line (Israel), the 1949 armistice line established between Israel and its neighbours ** City Line ( ...

. The station was located at the intersection of Lake Street,

Loomis Street Loomis Street is a north–south street in Chicago that is 1400 W in Chicago's grid system, making it west of the north–south baseline of State Street. It runs from the Chicago and Northwestern Railway tracks south, with interruptions, to Cent ...

, and Ogden Avenue in the Near West Side neighborhood. Loomis opened on November 6, 1893, and closed on April 4, 1954.

History

The Lake Street Elevated Railway Company was incorporated on February 7, 1888. Reincorporated as the

Lake Street Elevated Railroad The Lake Street Elevated Railroad was the second permanent elevated rapid transit line to be constructed in Chicago, Illinois. The first section of the line opened in November 1893. Its route is still used today as part of the Green Line route of ...

Company on August 24, 1892, to avoid legal issues, its line, the

, commenced revenue operations at 5 a.m. on November 6, 1893, between California station and the

Market Street Terminal The Market Street Terminal was a station on the Chicago "L"'s Lake Street Elevatedtoday part of the Green Linebetween 1893 and 1948. The Elevated's original downtown terminus, it opened at the corner of Madison Street and Market Street (modern ...

. The new line had 13 stations, one of which was located on Sheldon Street. The Elevated was powered by steam locomotives until May 9, 1896, when its tracks were

electrified Electrification is the process of powering by electricity and, in many contexts, the introduction of such power by changing over from an earlier power source. The broad meaning of the term, such as in the history of technology, economic history ...

. The Lake Street Elevated Railroad, having been dogged by financial issues since its inception, was reorganized as the

Chicago and Oak Park Elevated Railroad The Lake Street Elevated Railroad was the second permanent elevated rapid transit line to be constructed in Chicago, Illinois. The first section of the line opened in November 1893. Its route is still used today as part of the Green Line route of ...

(C&OP) on March 31, 1904. Sheldon Street was renamed "

" after the station opened, and so was the station. The station closed on February 25, 1951, so that Ashland could reopen now that the Lake Street Transfer was unnecessary, but local pressure caused it to reopen several days later on March 5. The station closed again for good on April 4, 1954, after an auxiliary exit to Ashland was opened near the site.

Station details

Ridership

In 1948, Loomis served 79,158 passengers, a 7.07 percent increase from the 73,931 served in 1947. Its 1948 performance made it the 206th-busiest of the "L" 223 stations at the beginning of the year that were at least partially staffed, whereas in 1947 it had been the 215th-busiest of 222 such stations.

Notes

References

Works cited

* * Defunct Chicago "L" stations Railway stations in the United States opened in 1893 Railway stations in the United States opened in 1951 Railway stations closed in 1954 1893 establishments in Illinois 1954 disestablishments in Illinois Railway stations in Chicago Railway stations in the United States closed in 1951 {{Chicago-railstation-stub