Quote:
Originally Posted by ardecila
^ The whole system worked on sight - some guy sat up in the tower at Clark Junction and operated the signals manually. Trains could clear the junction as fast as the signalman could work the signals.
The modern electronic signaling system has to include a cushion before and after each train moves through the junction, to allow for unexpected issues (before, the signalman could just respond in a live fashion). That cushion time, plus the longer length of Brown Line trains, has slowed down the junction in terms of TPH considerably.
Also consider that CTA didn't necessarily run more trains back then... there was just more crowding.
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Plus, transit ridership wasn't so downtown-centric back then, trains were full both ways as factory workers rode them to outlying industrial corridors like Ravenswood, Kinzie and Cicero.
Regarding the northside subway concept mentioned on the previous page; keep in mind the subway is only a two track option; forever giving up the possibility of a true local and express train set up on the north side main. Other than the opportunity to fill the existing ROW with new TOD infill development, I really don't see the advantage to replacing the elevated embankment.