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Mass transit service has served Maywood and suburbs to the west for decades.  In that time there have been countless changes and demands from the riders.  Here is an article from June 23, 1939 of the “Star Progress” newspaper about the differing needs of the suburban riders.

New Plan on Maywood Westchester Elevated

In an effort to further, improve the service for passengers on the Maywood - Westchester express trains on the Chicago Rapid Transit company has added an additional coach to six of the nine trains leaving the loop between 4:43 and 6:20 p.m.  The plan is experimental and for two weeks engineers for the Illinois Commerce Commission will make a close study.  The result will decide whether the extra coaches are to be permanent.  Their inauguration was the result of conferences between officials of Maywood, the commerce commission and representatives of the Chicago Rapid Transit company.  The plan was put in effect Monday afternoon when the six trains each carried an extra coach.

For several years residents of Oak Park have been forced to abandon the Maywood-Westchester trains at Laramie avenue and was for the next local.  On May 1, however, residents of the southern part of the village were presented with improved service when the late afternoon express trains from the loop stopped at Gunderson.  Oak Park and Home avenue stations, giving 24 minute service from the loop and making a considerable reduction in the usual time for the trip.

This unexpected improvement was quickly noted in Maywood where efforts were immediately made to stop it by an appeal to the commerce commission.  A petition objecting to these stops on the ground that the trains are already overcrowded and the addition of Oak Park peoples makes the situation worse, filed by Attorney Joseph M. Tobias.  He withdrew his petition, however, when e learned that the commission already was holding conferences with the Maywood officials and the representatives of the Chicago Rapid Transit company.

Maywood "L" riders charged that with the trains stopping at the three Oak Park stations they not only have to stand all the way out to Laramie avenue from the loop because Chicago riders insist on riding the Maywood - Westchester express, but also have to stand until the train reaches Forest Park, As Oak Park riders now can take the express.

Rapid transit officials said they believed the additional coaches would solve the problem.

Source: An article published in the June 23, 1939, of the “Star Progress” newspaper

Added:  02/05/2006