Fall 24 OP Newsletter

HERITAGE SITES

The Wabash was sold to Norfolk and Western Railroad in 1964; however, the Wabash Company name continued to exist on paperwork until Norfolk and Western merged into Norfolk Southern Railway in 1982. In 1976, the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) began to control various privately-owned Chicago-area commuter services. The RTA operational subsidies to the Orland Park commuter train service

began in 1978. In 1993, Metra, a commuter rail division of RTA, was available in Orland Park. Over the following years, what was the Wabash’s lone rail line that ran Monday through Friday to Chicago grew to over 15 Metra trips each weekday. Today, you can take the commuter rail downtown to Chicago at the 143rd Street Station, the 153rd Street Station, or the 179th Street Station. This article was written by Heritage Sites Supervisor Libby Paulson. For more information on the Orland Park Heritage Sites, visit orlandpark.org/heritagesites or email heritagesites@orlandpark.org. Orland Train Depot, 1962

orlandpark.org | Fall 2024 |

25