Chicago "L" tracks in B&W
Sep 1, 2020 10:03:16 #
The Chicago "L" (short for "elevated railroad") is the rapid transit system serving the City of Chicago and some of its surrounding suburbs. Operated by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), the "L" is the fourth-largest in total route length and the third busiest rail mass transit system in the US, 102.8 miles (165.4 km) as of 2014.
Chicago, IL
April 2020
Chicago L Tracks by Paul Sager, on Flickr
The "L" reference has existed since the first lines opened in Chicago in 1882. The reasons for "L" rather than "el" have been lost to history, but theories point to "L" being another way for the Second City to differentiate from NYC that also had an "el" system in the late 1800s.
Chicago L Tracks by Paul Sager, on Flickr
The "L" system consists of eight rapid transit lines laid out in a spoke & hub distribution paradigm focusing transit towards the central Loop in downtown Chicago. The "L" gained its name because large parts of the system run on elevated track. The "L" system was entirely above ground until the first subway sections were added in 1943.
A French artist visiting the downtown Loop around 1900 commented that “The sky is made of iron, and perpetually growls a rolling thunder … below are wagons of every size and kind, whose approach cannot be heard in the midst of the noise; and the [street]cars, with jangling voice which never ceases, cross and recross.”
Chicago L Tracks by Paul Sager, on Flickr
Images shared in this post come from an EOS 1v, Ilford Delta 100 with a dark red filter, and EF 35mm f/1.4L USM. All images were shot from a tripod. Processing and scanning was performed by North Coast Photography Services of Carlsbad, CA, with the resulting JPEGs processed in Adobe Lightroom.
Chicago L Tracks by Paul Sager, on Flickr
The "L" provides 24-hour service on the Red and Blue Lines and is one of only five rapid transit systems in the United States to do so (the tracks shown here support the Red Line, near Wrigley Field and about 5-miles north of the Loop).
Chicago L Tracks by Paul Sager, on Flickr
Much of the system uses riveted steel-plate that resembles of the Eiffel Tower (1889) and the original Ferris Wheel (1893).
Chicago L Tracks by Paul Sager, on Flickr
Currently, there are 144 operating CTA stations, and 6 abandoned ones. The most stations there have ever been on the "L" system at one time is 227. Ridership peeked in the 1920s just before the automobile became widely affordable. Since 2005, yearly ridership has again started to increase, including several recent all-time ridership records.
Chicago L Tracks by Paul Sager, on Flickr
The "L" operated as a network of private businesses until 1947 when the City of Chicago purchased the majority of the private rapid transit operators and consolidated them under the newly-formed Chicago Transit Authority. The CTA was required to be financially self-sufficient. All maintenance and upgrades had to be paid for out of the fare box—out of the pockets of transit riders. This resulted in constantly increasing fares and some service cutbacks. Still, Loop commuters were using the CTA at rates near 80% as late as the mid-1950s.
Chicago L Tracks by Paul Sager, on Flickr
These images are sized to fill your wide-screen display. Try using <F11> to maximize your browser window for the full effect. If the images overshoot your display, such as a laptop, just click on the image or the URL link and they'll resize to your screen from the host Flickr site. You can click a bit further into the image details on the Flickr page, if desired. EXIF data is available from the host Flickr pages as well. On the Flickr site, use your <L>key for Large and the <F11> for the full-screen.
If the images are not filling your widescreen display due to recent UHH changes, follow this link and update your UHH profile: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-572300-1.html
Chicago, IL
April 2020
Chicago L Tracks by Paul Sager, on Flickr
The "L" reference has existed since the first lines opened in Chicago in 1882. The reasons for "L" rather than "el" have been lost to history, but theories point to "L" being another way for the Second City to differentiate from NYC that also had an "el" system in the late 1800s.
Chicago L Tracks by Paul Sager, on Flickr
The "L" system consists of eight rapid transit lines laid out in a spoke & hub distribution paradigm focusing transit towards the central Loop in downtown Chicago. The "L" gained its name because large parts of the system run on elevated track. The "L" system was entirely above ground until the first subway sections were added in 1943.
A French artist visiting the downtown Loop around 1900 commented that “The sky is made of iron, and perpetually growls a rolling thunder … below are wagons of every size and kind, whose approach cannot be heard in the midst of the noise; and the [street]cars, with jangling voice which never ceases, cross and recross.”
Chicago L Tracks by Paul Sager, on Flickr
Images shared in this post come from an EOS 1v, Ilford Delta 100 with a dark red filter, and EF 35mm f/1.4L USM. All images were shot from a tripod. Processing and scanning was performed by North Coast Photography Services of Carlsbad, CA, with the resulting JPEGs processed in Adobe Lightroom.
Chicago L Tracks by Paul Sager, on Flickr
The "L" provides 24-hour service on the Red and Blue Lines and is one of only five rapid transit systems in the United States to do so (the tracks shown here support the Red Line, near Wrigley Field and about 5-miles north of the Loop).
Chicago L Tracks by Paul Sager, on Flickr
Much of the system uses riveted steel-plate that resembles of the Eiffel Tower (1889) and the original Ferris Wheel (1893).
Chicago L Tracks by Paul Sager, on Flickr
Currently, there are 144 operating CTA stations, and 6 abandoned ones. The most stations there have ever been on the "L" system at one time is 227. Ridership peeked in the 1920s just before the automobile became widely affordable. Since 2005, yearly ridership has again started to increase, including several recent all-time ridership records.
Chicago L Tracks by Paul Sager, on Flickr
The "L" operated as a network of private businesses until 1947 when the City of Chicago purchased the majority of the private rapid transit operators and consolidated them under the newly-formed Chicago Transit Authority. The CTA was required to be financially self-sufficient. All maintenance and upgrades had to be paid for out of the fare box—out of the pockets of transit riders. This resulted in constantly increasing fares and some service cutbacks. Still, Loop commuters were using the CTA at rates near 80% as late as the mid-1950s.
Chicago L Tracks by Paul Sager, on Flickr
These images are sized to fill your wide-screen display. Try using <F11> to maximize your browser window for the full effect. If the images overshoot your display, such as a laptop, just click on the image or the URL link and they'll resize to your screen from the host Flickr site. You can click a bit further into the image details on the Flickr page, if desired. EXIF data is available from the host Flickr pages as well. On the Flickr site, use your <L>key for Large and the <F11> for the full-screen.
If the images are not filling your widescreen display due to recent UHH changes, follow this link and update your UHH profile: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-572300-1.html
Sep 1, 2020 10:15:55 #
Really great shots for B&W, Paul. Good time to get them before they're painted. Love structural shots, especially the long views.
Sep 1, 2020 10:21:04 #
Sep 1, 2020 10:21:23 #
John from gpwmi wrote:
Really great shots for B&W, Paul. Good time to get them before they're painted. Love structural shots, especially the long views.
LOL John, I don't think these get painted very often ... The same Red Line runs up the alley of the buildings directly across the street from my building. The stretch of tracks here is about a mile north of my place and I had never really noticed them for photography before walking around this Spring. Glad you enjoyed.
Sep 1, 2020 10:22:02 #
Sep 1, 2020 10:23:15 #
Thank you Bob, Carol! I found this stretch is one of those places that oddly works best in full light for the shadows. Glad you enjoyed.
Sep 1, 2020 10:29:10 #
Great series and narrative Paul - I always enjoy the background historical information for your series almost as much as the photographs. Out of curiosity, what characteristics of an image cause you to choose film or digital since I know you shoot both? Isn’t it cool that with the Canon EOS system that you can use the same set of lenses and just change bodies.
Cheers
Cheers
Sep 1, 2020 10:33:34 #
Sep 1, 2020 10:38:08 #
TriX wrote:
Great series and narrative Paul - I always enjoy the background historical information for your series almost as much as the photographs. Out of curiosity, what characteristics of an image cause you to choose film or digital since I know you shoot both? Isn’t it cool that with the Canon EOS system that you can use the same set of lenses and just change bodies.
Cheers
Cheers
Thank you Chris! The 'industry details' were the reasons for B&W film here. I've been working with colored filters now for a few years for increased / dramatic contrast. I sold all my manual focus film bodies a few years ago after settling on the EOS 1v. I just can't focus as well manually with no magnification assist from a DSLR LiveView or the mirrorless EVF. Autofocus rarely misses and never for static subjects. Glad you enjoyed.
Sep 1, 2020 13:07:35 #
Photomac wrote:
Great Art!
Thank you Photomac! B&W film and a 35mm is one of my favorite documentary tools. Glad you enjoyed.
Sep 1, 2020 14:05:34 #
Never rode the L that many times but did have to board the blue line a few times in Rosemont for downtown Chicago. The blue line also goes to O'Hare. Nice shots.
Sep 1, 2020 14:48:32 #
JRiepe wrote:
Never rode the L that many times but did have to board the blue line a few times in Rosemont for downtown Chicago. The blue line also goes to O'Hare. Nice shots.
Thank you JRiepe! I've lived a few places in Chicago, mostly near Red Line stops, also the Brown Line. And, a lot of trips to O'Hare on the Blue.
Sep 2, 2020 07:13:18 #
Ahh yes, the 'L" trains; one of the great things I miss about Chicago. Thanks Paul!
Sep 2, 2020 07:56:40 #
Nice close-in shots of the L’s underpinnings--enjoyed seeing these. I also like that you did these in black and white, which is appropriate for the subject.
Sep 2, 2020 09:06:54 #
Beautiful set of urban images. These needed to be in B & W and bring back memories of good times in Chi-town.
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