History
The railroad between Chicago and Aurora was originally constructed by the Chicago and Aurora Railroad (later merging in to the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad) in 1864. The CB&Q operated the commuter service until the railroad became part of the Burlington Northern in 1970. Burlington Northern merged with Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in 1995, and the name of the new railroad became Burlington Northern Santa Fe. The railroad has now been renamed to simply BNSF.
With its three tracks and fast and frequent Amtrak and Metra passenger trains plus many BNSF freight trains, this line earned the nickname "The Racetrack" (though even 79 mph has not been allowed for many years).
The Clyde station, at South Austin Boulevard and West 29th Street in Cicero, was closed on April 1, 2007, due to low ridership and its dilapidated condition. At time of closing, it was only used by about 50 passengers a day.
Read more about this topic: BNSF Railway Line
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“The second day of July 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more”
—John Adams (1735–1826)
“History has neither the venerableness of antiquity, nor the freshness of the modern. It does as if it would go to the beginning of things, which natural history might with reason assume to do; but consider the Universal History, and then tell us,—when did burdock and plantain sprout first?”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“Racism is an ism to which everyone in the world today is exposed; for or against, we must take sides. And the history of the future will differ according to the decision which we make.”
—Ruth Benedict (1887–1948)