Union Pacific/North Line

Infobox rail line
name = Union Pacific/North Line

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image_width = 250px
caption = A southbound train departs Highland Park station
type = Commuter Rail
system = Metra
status = Operational
locale = Chicago metropolitan area
start = Ogilvie Transportation Center
end = Kenosha, Wisconsin
stations = 27
routes =
ridership =
open =
close =
owner =
operator = Union Pacific Railroad
character =
stock =
linelength = mi to km|51.6 [ [http://hometown.aol.com/chirailfan/mmupn.html Metra Railfan Tips - Union Pacific/North Line] ]
tracklength =
notrack =
gauge =
el =
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infobox rdt|Union Pacific/North Line|

The Union Pacific/North (UP-N) is a commuter rail line in the Chicago metropolitan area that runs between Chicago and Waukegan, Illinois, with some trains continuing to Kenosha, Wisconsin. It is part of the Metra system, but it is operated by the Union Pacific Railroad. While Metra does not specifically refer to any of its lines by a particular color, the timetable accents for the Union Pacific/North line are printed in dark "Flambeau Green".

History

The route followed by the Union Pacific/North Line was constructed in 1854 by the Chicago & Milwaukee Railroad Company. [cite web |url=http://www.gurnee.il.us/history/index.html |title=Gurnee History |accessdate=2007-09-16 |work=Village of Gurnee ] Passenger service between Chicago and Waukegan commenced on January 4 1855. Initially a single train ran each day, departing from a terminal in Chicago at Water & Kinzie Streets at 8:30 am and returning from Waukegan at 3:30 pm, taking 2 hours to complete each leg of the journey. [cite web |last=Mason |first=Blanche |year=1919 |url=http://www.highlandpark.org/hpg_about_sketch.htm |title=Historical Sketch of Highland Park |accessdate=2007-12-03 |publisher=Highland Park Public Library ] cite book |title=The History of Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin |chapter=Wisconsin Railroads |pages=pp. 173–185 |last=Giles |first=H. H. |year=1879 |publisher=Western Historical Company |location=Chicago |isbn= ] The president of the railroad, former Chicago mayor Walter S. Gurnee, speculated on land in Lake County spurring the development of railway suburbs along the line. [cite web |first=Michael H |last= Ebner |url=http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/706.html |title=Lake County, IL |accessdate=2007-09-21 |work=Encyclopedia of Chicago ] The railroad merged with the Green Bay, Milwaukee & Chicago Railroad in 1863, and was acquired by the Chicago and North Western Railway in 1866. [cite web |url=http://www.cnwhs.org/ch_cnw.htm |title=Chicago & North Western - A Capsule History |accessdate=2007-09-16 |publisher=Chicago & North Western Historical Society ] Commuter rail services along the line started running into the new Chicago and North Western Terminal (now Ogilvie Transportation Center) in 1911, and became part of Metra when it was formed in 1984. The trains—though owned by Metra—continued to be operated by the Chicago and North Western Railway until it was bought by the Union Pacific Railroad in 1995. The UP now operates passenger services along the line for Metra.

Route

The southern terminus of the Union Pacific/North Line is at the Ogilvie Transportation Center in downtown Chicago. The route traverses Chicago's northern neighborhoods and its northern and far northern suburbs to Kenosha, Wisconsin, although most trains originate or terminate in Waukegan, Illinois.

The Green Bay Trail and North Shore Trail parallel the Union Pacific North Line, using the former right of way of the North Shore Line for over 20 miles from Wilmette to North Chicago.

Preliminary engineering has also begun in extending Metra service further north from Kenosha to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Should all go well in cooperation between Wisconsin and Illinois, and should officials in Wisconsin find funding, Metra hopes to begin service by 2010. [cite web |url=http://www.transitnow.org/KRM.html |title=Kenosha Racine Milwaukee (KRM) Commuter Rail |accessdate=2008-07-06 |work=Transit Now ] Fact|date=December 2007 This new section of Metra would make stops in Milwaukee, Cudahy, South Milwaukee, Oak Creek, Caledonia, Racine, and Somers.

References

External links

* [http://metrarail.com/Sched/cnw_n/cnwn.shtml Metra Union Pacific/North] service schedule