1895: The Debut of Chicago’s First Elevated Rapid Transit Line to be Electrically Operated

May 6, 1895

The third elevated rapid transit line in Chicago, and the first of those lines to be electrically operated, made its debut. The first train of the Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad — also called the Metropolitan “L” — left the Robey Street station at six o’clock that morning for the downtown terminal at Canal Street.

The next day’s edition of the Chicago Tribune reported that this train “was made up of a combination electric motor and smoking car and two passenger coaches.” This article also noted, “The train left the station on schedule time and completed its trip without hitch or accident.” Thomas Hanson, who resided on North Oakley Avenue in the Windy City, became the first passenger to pay the required five-cent fare for riding on board a Metropolitan “L” train.  

The initial rolling stock for this rapid transit line included a total of 55 wooden motor coaches made by the Barney and Smith Car Company of Dayton, Ohio, and 100 wooden trailer coaches built by the Pullman Car Company there in Chicago. The Metropolitan “L” remained in existence until 1924, when it was merged with city’s three other elevated railroad companies in service at the time to form the Chicago Rapid Transit Company.

(The accompanying postcard of a Metropolitan “L” train crossing the Chicago River was created in 1919.)

Image Credit: Public Domain

For more information on the Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad (Metropolitan “L”), please check out https://www.chicago-l.org/history/chron_metro.html