Wells Street Station (Chicago)

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This article is about the terminal of the Chicago and North Western Railway. For the terminal of the Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad, see Wells Street Terminal.

Postcard view ca. 1910

Wells Street Station was a former passenger terminal of the Chicago and North Western Railway, located at the southwest corner of Wells Street and Kinzie Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. It was replaced in 1911 by the Chicago and North Western Terminal on the other (west) side of the North Branch of the Chicago River, removing passenger trains from the bascule bridge over the river. The Merchandise Mart opened in 1930 on the land formerly occupied by the station.

[edit] History

Another view of the station

The line running past the station was part of the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad, the first railroad in Chicago (though it ended on the west side of the North Branch of the Chicago River until the early 1850s). By 1856 a station was in place east of the river, and soon the Chicago and North Western Railway had acquired the G&CU and two other lines (now the three lines of Metra's Union Pacific District). In 1881 the Wells Street Station opened in the same location.

This sign directed passengers to the new Chicago and North Western Terminal on Madison Street.

As both rail and ship traffic increased, the bascule bridge over the river resulted in congestion. In 1911 the new Chicago and North Western Terminal opened, with new elevated approaches branching from the old ones west of the river. The station remained for freight, and when the Merchandise Mart opened in 1930 (using air rights above the railroad), a new freight station served the Mart, and was connected by elevators to the Chicago Tunnel Company.

edit Major intercity railroad stations of Chicago
Active terminals:	LaSalle - Ogilvie (North Western) - Randolph - Union (CUSCo)
Former terminals:	Central Station - Dearborn (C&WI) - Grand Central (B&OCT) Central Depot - Galena and Chicago Union - Nickel Plate Wells (C&NW) - Wells (CA&E) - Columbian Exposition
Other stations:	Englewood