(
Satellite, south of 175th between Center Ave (Hoffman Way) and Halsted Street and most of the way South to Ridge Road)
 |
| 1953 Harvey Quadrangle @ 1:24,000 |
Curt Seeliger
posted a 1964 photo that shows
the lead going down the east side of Markum Yard was electrified. This electrification allowed IC to run special commuter trains directly to the Washington Park Racetrack.
Edward Konecki There were a series of manual throw cross overs to get the trains over to the Washington Park line, which ran on the west side of Markham yard and then along the west side of Center Ave in Hazel Crest into Homewood. The track is still in place to just north of 171st St., last time I looked, which was many years ago. The last race trains to Washington Park ran in December,1971. I remember the IC advertising Highliner nights at Washington Park so the original Highliner MU cars did go there. During the heyday, there were so many race track specials to Washington Park, the a steam locomotive was stationed on the south connection to Homewood (near current Woodcrest shops). The 3 or 4 MU trains were coupled together and then the locomotive would pull them south through the Homewook interlocking over to the suburban mains where the trains would be un-coupled and then head back north to Chicago.
[I think it ran along the east side of
Markham Yard rather than the west side.]
Paul Mazzone As a youngster we would ride our bikes to the pond to swim. That is, until we witnessed horses being washed in it. That’s when we realized the muck at the bottom of pond was not earth. Lol
 |
| Cuirt commented on his post |
 |
| Cuirt commented on his post |
Washington Park was one of the first Chicago tracks founded in 1884. For a few years it was quite fashionable to be part of the Washington Park Jockey Club and it was the rage of Chicago. Gambling reform hit Chicago in 1893 and the track was closed in 1894. It was able to re-open in 1898 and ran till 1905 which at that time the state of Illinois banned gambling.
When gambling finally returned in 1926 a new Washington Park was built in the general vicinity of the first track. From that time the track went from Thoroughbreds to pacers tried thoroughbreds for the last time in 1970 and went back to harness racing. In 1977 the track burned to the ground and was never rebuilt. the track born of runners was probably most remembered in later years as a harness venue. At present there is no indication that a racetrack existed at either location.
[horseracing-tracks]
 |
Homewood Historical Society, late 1930s
View of the grandstand and grounds of The Washington Park Racetrack, completed in 1926, located on the southwest corner of Halsted and 175th Streets. |
 |
Nikki Burgess commented on Curt's post
This is the last catenary support still standing on what was the branch. The track goes south about another tenth of a mile from here, then curves across Center Avenue and serves a small asphalt plant that still gets occasional tank cars of liquid tar, at least in the summertime. There are still visible traces of the right of way south of there, especially under and just south of the I-80 overpass. South of 175th Street however it is pretty much obliterated by new construction in the industrial park that now occupies much of the old race track site. The photo is from 2013 but as far as I know it is still standing at present. |
Topo maps agree with Nikki that the IC shared an underpass with Center Avenue.
 |
| 1973 Harvey Quadrangle @ 1:24,000 |
Since I-80 was completed in Illinois in 1968 and Ed's comment above indicates trains ran until 1971, Center Avenue must have been rather narrow back then.
 |
Dennis DeBruler commented on Curt's post
Here is the "big picture" using the 1953 Harvey and Calumet City Quadrangles @ 1:24,000. I'm also trying to learn about the branch that served the quarry. |
John Eagan added some Flickr links of photos of this branch as comments on a
post.
The street you refer to as Central Avenue is actually named Center Avenue.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the correction. Fixed.
DeleteThere actually is one indication of the track…was this written before the plaque went up?
ReplyDeleteI remember early 70s I went 2 a concert, won the tickets at WLS radio. I think it wasn't 2 much longer, it burned, I mean blazed. I could c the sky,from 183rd & poplar.
ReplyDeleteThe above picture of the Tri-State Tollway overpass shows the structure built in 2004-2006, that replaced the original overpass, which was first built in 1957-58, was longer to accommodate both Center Ave. and the IC track to Washington Park race track.
ReplyDelete