Berwyn IL, Chicago's urban-ish suburb

[Dinosaurus]

Berwyn is a western suburb just outside of Chicago. It feels a lot like Chicago.

And I guess I can't not post this song

https://youtu.be/BudQ9YWx0X8

Enjoy.

[photoLith]

Reminds me of STL

[xzmattzx]

Urban indeed!

What's with the at-grade train? Isn't everything an L out there? Or is this the same train that's at-grade in northern Indiana?

[the urban politician]

^ Metra commuter train, not the same as the L. Runs throughout the suburbs, often on freight ROW

[Via Chicago]

my old neighborhood. 20 years there. hasnt changed a bit...and i like that about it.

its actually a pretty difficult place to capture. theres two or three business districts. the northern end of the city (pure bungalow belt) has a completely different feel than the south (old Victorians and wider lots). theres also a smattering of small started homes that went up post WWii that fleshed out the remaining plots of land. very few teardowns and everything is relatively in tact architecturally, although....



^those pop tops, for the love of god....have gotta stop. it kills me seeing flippers do that (and usually gutting the interiors of all their charm)

[Rizzo]

Originally Posted by xzmattzx

Urban indeed!

What's with the at-grade train? Isn't everything an L out there? Or is this the same train that's at-grade in northern Indiana?

There's two major rail systems. The CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) and Metra (Metropolitan Rail).

The CTA:
Serves much of the City of Chicago and some adjoining suburbs.
Portions run subway, but the majority of track runs elevated on steel supports or raised embankments and viaducts.
Has the notable "loop" rails that circle downtown and are your stereotypical Chicago image of transit.
Some CTA lines run at grade toward the end of the lines.
Two lines travel in the medians of expressways.

Metra:
All lines converge in downtown Chicago at 4 major stations.
Serve a few neighborhoods in the city, but primarily serve the suburbs
Connect Wisconsin and Indiana cities to Chicago.
Most run on diesel engines but a couple lines are electric.

Excellent thread! Berwyn has some solid housing stock.