Oh no its more Chicago- The tourist version

hulkrogan · #1 Posted **Feb 24, 2007, 10:37 PM**

Nothing major here, just a few I snapped back in January on my first trip to Chicago. Pretty typical tourist shots I'm sure.

Note: I had done a quick batch resize on these to use them for something else and it did a really crappy job.

Chicago through my dirty hotel room window:

Through the window up in the Hancock:

The L:

The Water Tower:

Cold windy winter day:

More of the L... loved that thing:

Under an L station in the Loop:

Looking down from Sears:

More L:

Under the L:

Sunset:

Sunset Hancock:

Fiddling around with the above picture:

One more:

dktshb · #2 Posted **Feb 24, 2007, 11:09 PM**

Very nice!

giantSwan · #3 Posted **Feb 24, 2007, 11:18 PM**

Great pics -- i have a semi-related question....

Does anyone know the rationale for having all the public transportation in Chicago above ground? Is this because of the proximity to the lake? Or other reasons? And if it's not a engineering problem, will they ever replace lines and put them underground?

hulkrogan · #4 Posted **Feb 24, 2007, 11:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by giantSwan

Great pics -- i have a semi-related question....

Does anyone know the rationale for having all the public transportation in Chicago above ground? Is this because of the proximity to the lake? Or other reasons? And if it's not a engineering problem, will they ever replace lines and put them underground?

There are actually two subway lines under downtown Chicago.

Historically, I think the first locomotives were steam, which don't work well in tunnel systems. I think another factor was price. Especially with the Chicago River there, and the great cost of building tunnels under it. Although there is a tunnel under almost ever street in downtown Chicago that they used for mini freight trains to deliver coal and take away ash among other things. A leak in one of the sections under the river is what caused the huge flood.

MayorOfChicago · #5 Posted **Feb 24, 2007, 11:25 PM**

Many of the lines were built 100 years ago before it was so popular to put them underground. There are two subway lines through downtown though, and a few other part of the L that are underground, but most of it is above ground.

They talked about putting them underground a few decades ago, but it was shot down for financial reasons, etc.

Now the L is such a tourist and cultrual icon in the city - they don't plan on doing anything with the lines.

The L is basically one of the defining darlings of our city, most people who visit "love" the L running through downtown, etc.

ikcyzrteip · #6 Posted **Feb 24, 2007, 11:35 PM**

Nice pics. They aren't really that touristy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by giantSwan

Great pics -- i have a semi-related question....

Does anyone know the rationale for having all the public transportation in Chicago above ground? Is this because of the proximity to the lake? Or other reasons? And if it's not a engineering problem, will they ever replace lines and put them underground?

Not all of it is under ground, 85% is above ground. The red and blue lines run underground downtown. The L is the second oldest rapid transit system in the americas after boston's, and when it started,in 1892, the trains were steam engines, and I dont know, but I dont think its a good idea to put steam engines underground. About replacing lines if there is an engineering problem, I dont know.

ikcyzrteip · #7 Posted **Feb 24, 2007, 11:37 PM**

I started writing my reply before the two above mine. ;-)

the urban politician · #8 Posted **Feb 25, 2007, 4:42 AM**

^ Standard tourist shots my ASS. That's my new desktop

hulkrogan · #9 Posted **Feb 25, 2007, 9:09 AM**

Wow, well thanks! If you want the bigger version let me know and I can throw it on here.

olga · #10 Posted **Feb 25, 2007, 10:54 AM**

Very nice. I love Chicago (haven't been there yet though) and I love the colors in the daytime pics.

Frank 77 · #11 Posted **Mar 2, 2007, 8:44 AM**

Cool pix...

I love L trains .In Hamburg with much more channels and rivers are also some parts of some lines elevated ( since early 1900) also they were able at the same time to build the old Elb tunnel with steam propelled elevators.Many decades later in the 1960s they have build on of the biggest subway-hubs of the (Jungfernstieg/Rathaus) next to and even more under the Inner-Alster-lake though.
But this elevated tracks like in Chicago,Hamburg , Berlin or Brooklyn works as well as a sight seeing line for visitors better than undergrounds.

pdxman · #12 Posted **Mar 2, 2007, 8:49 AM**

Chicago is amazing! I really must visit there someday.

Neuman · #13 Posted **Mar 2, 2007, 11:52 AM**

"The L is basically one of the defining darlings of our city, most people who visit "love" the L running through downtown, etc."

Except when the damn thing passes over head and causes ear drum damage...

I would hope after the recent reconstruction problems of the Brown and Red Lines that they will reconsider putting it underground the next time they have to do it. They should have a plan to bury it in place long before the infrastructure rusts away again... I would imagine that the annual maintenance cost of a subway are far less than an elevated and exposed system...

I do believe Daley the First tried to bury the thing but he got shot down by preservationist back in the 60's. I don't think future politicians are going to have to fight all that hard to make this a reality.. Financing it is another story...

Boris · #14 Posted **Mar 2, 2007, 11:58 AM**

Great pics Hulk, Chicago's a great town.

UrbanSophist · #15 Posted **Mar 2, 2007, 7:29 PM**

In the dead of winter, I pine for an extensive subway system that goes through the whole city (at least the areas where I need it).

j korzeniowski · #16 Posted **Mar 2, 2007, 9:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Chicago through my dirty hotel room window:

terrific shots. looks like you stayed at the hard rock?

i only bring it up as i am, as of recently, a proud new tenant in the above building, the beautiful 333 n michigan ave building. (i have also seen it as poster lukecuj's avatar.)

again, beautiful shots.

cheers.

b-s · #17 Posted **Mar 3, 2007, 7:51 AM**

Very cool pics, I hope you had a good time.

One thing...

Quote:

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

The Water Tower:

That's the Chicago Avenue Pumping Station. The Water Tower is across the street and looks like this:

(Photo by David Hansson.)

BG918 · #18 Posted **Mar 3, 2007, 7:22 PM**

I will be there in two weeks, were those shots of the skyline with the lake in foreground taken from Navy Pier?

Wheelingman04 · #19 Posted **Mar 6, 2007, 5:23 AM**

Cool photo:

hulkrogan · #20 Posted **Mar 6, 2007, 7:49 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by j korzeniowski

terrific shots. looks like you stayed at the hard rock?

i only bring it up as i am, as of recently, a proud new tenant in the above building, the beautiful 333 n michigan ave building. (i have also seen it as poster lukecuj's avatar.)

again, beautiful shots.

cheers.

Impressive! That's exactly where I stayed, a very cool building in itself. You're llucky to live in such a great location, congratulations on the place.

Quote:

Originally Posted by b-s

Very cool pics, I hope you had a good time.

One thing...

That's the Chicago Avenue Pumping Station. The Water Tower is across the street and looks like this:

Good catch! Thanks for that. I really wish I would have had the time to tour the inside, but I was there after it had closed for the day.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BG918

I will be there in two weeks, were those shots of the skyline with the lake in foreground taken from Navy Pier?

You bet. One thing I learned is the Navy Pier is way longer than it looks at first. The other thing I learned is there is a shuttle that runs up and down the North side of it, which is handy when the wind is howling and the temperatures are freezing. Too bad I didn't learn that one until after I'd walked all the way back.