I was walking past the old 'L' station at 35th Street the other day when I stumbled upon some incredible photos taken by Bill Friedrich back in 1962. They depict a devastating fire that engulfed the elevated station and left a lasting impact on the area's transit history.
The fire broke out on October 17, 1962, at the Tech-35th station on the North-South line. It was a massive blaze that not only destroyed much of the station but also caused significant damage to several train cars. One of the trains involved had its lead car, number 6453, so badly burned that it had to be retired just a few months later, on April 5, 1963. The mate car, 6454, underwent extensive testing after the incident and was eventually renumbered as 6721, paired with 6722.
This unfortunate event led to a suspension of service between Cermak and Indiana for four days, marking one of the worst rapid transit fires Chicago had ever experienced. After the fire was extinguished, temporary measures were put in place to get the station running again, including reopening the old southbound platform and setting up a temporary northbound side platform. Repairs to the mezzanine followed shortly afterward.
By April 8, 1963, the station was officially designated as an "AB" (all-stop) station. About three weeks later, a new temporary island platform opened on the south side of 35th Street, allowing the older platforms to close while construction began on a brand-new station on the north side of the street.
Fast forward to June 21, 1965, and a brand-new station finally opened at a cost of half a million dollars. This replacement structure featured a modern tan brick station house with distinctive curved canopies at the front entrance. It was a significant upgrade from the temporary facilities that had been in use since the fire.
Looking at these photographs now, you can see the extent of the destruction. In one image, you can clearly see flames consuming both the station and a train car. Another shot captures the aftermath, showing firefighters still working to extinguish the blaze, with one of the service cars, SS1, visible in the background.
These photos really highlight how such a disaster could disrupt public transportation and force communities to adapt quickly. It’s fascinating to see how the city rebuilt and moved forward after such a challenging event.
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