Palatine Past and Present: Train Travel Over the Years

The latest, Palatine Past and Present. 

In 1855, Palatine was graced with the railroad, and the first train depot in town was built in 1866. Back then, it was located east of Brockway Street, on the north side of the railroad tracks (across from the Mia Cucina building and the former Uptown Cafe).

Passenger service, according to the book Then & Now: Palatine, Illinois, began in 1873 on the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad. In the first train station, oil lamps were used to light the space, and woman and men had segregated waiting rooms.

By 1949, the 83-year-old station was torn down, and a new, more modern one built north of the railroad tracks at the end of Bothwell Street (south of Lamplighters and Rock N Roll a' la Mode where commuter park exists today). That depot had heat, and electricity for lighting, and automatic crossing gates as an added safety feature. The gates were manually controlled from a tower located above the ticket office. 

In the early 1970's, village officials decided to move the station west of the downtown area, and another depot was constructed near where the Gateway Center stands today, which encompasses the parking garage, Durty Nellie's and its parking lot.

That station included shopping, more than enough parking and bus and taxi service areas as well. Though it was the first of its kind in the suburbs to create a mixed use, it did not survive. The retail areas of the depot, according to Then & Now Palatine, Illinois, were removed and it remained Palatine's train station until 2001, when the new station currently in use, was built. 

The Palatine Metra Station today is a modern facility, with outdoor seating, a Starbucks and is decorated with antique benches, vaulted ceilings and a fountain. A clock tower with a brick facade pays homage to the 158 year history of train service in Palatine. 

Information provided by Marilyn Pedersen of the Palatine Historical Society and Then & Now Palatine, Illinois.  

To view previous Palatine Past and Present features, click here.