Navy Pier

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This shot looks due east down Illinois Street and past the North Pier Terminal building on the right. The North Pier Terminal building is already undergoing renovations which will turn it into a popular destination with shops and restaurants. The tracks will soon be history.

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Looking east again, just past Lake Shore Drive and on Illinois St. A switch is under the parked cars just behind the camera. The track that veers to the right is a spur into the City of Chicago water filtration plant which used to receive carloads of chlorine. The track to the right goes on to Navy Pier and will fork twice. The tracks and switches are still there under the gravel and in places, asphalt.

Chicago Surface Line streetcars also serviced Navy Pier via Grand Avenue (next street to the left or north) using the ramps shown in this picture to circle around the main buildings.

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At this junction spot the tracks diverge in front of Navy Pier, with a set traveling to opposite sides. The tracks are buried under gravel. This area today is a popular tourist destination. Back then it was a cheap place to park your car away from the expensive Loop garages.

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This shot shows the C&NW tracks making their way down the south side of Navy Pier. This rail extension was added in 1956 to encourage trade with large ships via the St. Lawrence Seaway. Two sets of tracks cover this end.

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This is a view of the long spur into the Water Filtration Plant which is still in use today.