Ghost Train by CoreyBlack
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Description
To the best of my knowledge, the Ravenswood/Brown Line is the only elevated train in Chicago that still has station stops at grade level. The vast majority of the line IS elevated as it winds its way from the northwest side, into Chicago's loop, and back again. However, once it passes Western Avenue on the return trip, it drops down rollercoaster-like to street level for the final four stops ending at Kimball Avenue. This appears to be a throwback to "Old Chicago", where prior to 1892, all trains operated at grade level. To quote Eric Larson in his fascinating book about Chicago in the late 19th Century, "The Devil in the White City":
"Each of the thousand trains that entered and left the city did so at grade level. You could step from a curb and be killed by the Chicago Limited. Everyday on average two people were destroyed at the city's rail crossings. Their injuries were grotesque. Pedestrians retrieved severed heads."
It's very difficult to get killed at grade level rail crossings these days (although some people still try and occasionally succeed), with all the modern safety features in place; on the Ravenswood/Brown Line it's practically impossible.
Still, late at night, when I see one of these behemoths barreling into the station with whistle blaring, I can't shake the perversely romantic notion that it's being piloted by the ghosts of all those killed so many years ago. That's how a writer's brain works.
Photographed at the Kedzie Ave station on May 31, 2011.
Comments (10)
Chipka
If these trains are conducted by the souls of the beheaded and otherwise departed, that might explain their spotty service in the more remote parts of the city. I mean, how do you conduct/drive a train if you're headlessly ectoplasmic? And as for this shot, it's a doozie. I love night shots like these; they border on the abstract. Chicago actually looks best in the dark; I think it's because the darkness hides all of the garish bits of the city and makes things seem a bit more substantial. I love this shot, and yeah, it's so odd seeing el trains at street level, especially in an area known for flooding. There's so much to think about when seeing shots like this. I love the infernal orange, the blur, and everything else that goes with this. Nice shot.
auntietk
Wowwwwwwwwwww!! Love the motion blurrrrrrrrr! A most excellent night shot. I can feel the air move as the train goes by. Wonderful!
durleybeachbum
What a brilliant shot! Thankyou for your hilarious comment on my church/tesco interior, Corey! O to have your talent.
Lashia
Awesome motion blurr and cool POV :)
kbar
I think the pink line has grade level crossings as well. Nice picture of a speeding el train.
kgb224
Stunning capture my friend. God Bless.
flavia49
splendid capture
sandra46
splendid image
beachzz
Wow, this is awesome. I have a shot quite similar I took several years ago under the influence of way too much tequila. I do NOT remember taking the foto, but it turned out very nicely. I'm lucky my head wasn't rolling down the tracks!!
junge1
Love the way you created motion. Great capture!