SUBSTATIONS

CHICAGO RAILWAYS


VAN BUREN
(No. 1)
570 W. Van Buren St. (at Jefferson St.)

Adapted in 1906 from cable car powerhouse, rotary converters 25 hertz.

Originally installed 1 2,000 kilowatt rotary converters, total 2,000 kilowatts.
1907 added 3 2,000 kilowatt rotary converters, total 8,000 kilowatts.
1908 added 1 2,000 kilowatt rotary converter, total 10,000 kilowatts.
1909 added 1 2,000 kilowatt rotary converter, total 12,000 kilowatts.
1923 relocated 1 2,000 kilowatt rotary converter to Grand, total 10,000 kilowatts.

Served streetcar lines until 1950's, building demolished around 1960's.


MILWAUKEE
(No. 2)
1085 N. Milwaukee Ave. (at Cleaver Ave.)

Adapted in 1908 from cable car powerhouse, rotary converters 25 hertz.

Originally installed 2 2,000 kilowatt rotary converters, total 4,000 kilowatts.
1909 added 1 2,000 kilowatt rotary converter, total 6,000 kilowatts.

Also served elevated lines in later years.

Replaced around 1970 by new substation across street, building demolished shortly after.


LILL
(No. 3)
1019 W. Lill Ave. (near Sheffield Ave.)

Opened in 1909, rotary converters 25 hertz.

Originally installed 3 2,000 kilowatt rotary converters, total 6,000 kilowatts.
By 1914 added 1 3,000 kilowatt rotary converter, total 9,000 kilowatts.

Also served elevated lines.

Replaced 1969 by Lincoln substation.
Building sold 1971, remains standing, in use as art studio.


BLUE ISLAND
(No. 4)
2440 S. Leavitt Ave.

Opened in 1909, rotary converters 25 hertz.

Originally installed 2 2,000 kilowatt rotary converters, total 4,000 kilowatts.
1910 added 1 2,000 kilowatt rotary converter, total 6,000 kilowatts.

Served streetcar lines until 1950's, building demolished around 1960's.


GRAND
(No. 5)
4004 W. Grand Ave. (at Pulaski Rd.)

Opened in 1909, rotary converters 25 hertz.

Originally installed 2 2,000 kilowatt rotary converters, total 4,000 kilowatts.
1910 added 1 2,000 kilowatt rotary converter, total 6,000 kilowatts.
1923 added 1 2,000 kilowatt rotary converter from Van Buren, total 8,000 kilowatts.

Served trolleybus lines until 1973, building demolished shortly after.


ILLINOIS
(No. 6)
152 W. Illinois St. (near La Salle St.)

Opened in 1910, rotary converters 25 hertz.

Originally installed 3 2,000 kilowatt rotary converters, total 6,000 kilowatts.
By 1914 added 1 3,000 kilowatt rotary converter, total 9,000 kilowatts.

Also served elevated lines in later years.
Modernized 1967 with rectifiers 60 hertz.

Still a CTA substation, proposed to be replaced with new Hubbard substation.


BROADWAY
(No. 7)
5847 N. Broadway (near Ardmore Ave.)

Opened in 1911 inside portion of former car house, rotary converters 25 hertz.

Originally installed 2 2,000 kilowatt rotary converters, total 4,000 kilowatts.

Also served elevated lines.
Modernized 1967 with rectifiers 60 hertz.

Still a CTA substation.


HOMER
(No. 8)
1934 N. Campbell Ave.

Opened in 1913, rotary converters 25 hertz.

Originally installed 2 4,000 kilowatt rotary converters, total 8,000 kilowatts.

Also served elevated lines.

Replaced 1969 by Sacramento substation.
Building sold, remains standing, in use as arts/acrobatics school.


WESTERN
(No. 9)
2357 W. Washington Blvd.

Opened in 1914, rotary converters 25 hertz.

Originally installed 3 4,000 kilowatt rotary converters, total 12,000 kilowatts.

Replaced around early 1970's by new substation north of Lake St.
Building demolished around 1990's.


CRAWFORD
(No. 10)
3348 N. Pulaski Rd. (near Roscoe Ave.)

Opened in 1914, rotary converters 25 hertz.

Originally installed 2 4,000 kilowatt rotary converters, total 8,000 kilowatts.

Served trolleybus lines until 1973.
Building remains standing.


GRIMM
(No. 11)
5329 W. Ainslie Ave. (near Lipps Ave.)

Opened in 1926, rotary converters 60 hertz.

Served trolleybus lines until 1973.
Building demolished around 2000.


NORTH
4801 W. North Ave. (at Cicero Ave.)

Opened in 1945 within car house/bus garage complex, rectifiers 60 hertz.

Served trolleybus lines until 1973.
Bus garage closed 1986, demolished shortly after.


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