Lombard in DuPage County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Main Street Station
Chicago, Aurora and Elgin Railway
| | Lombard Historic Site | |
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 21, 2025
1. Main Street Station Marker
The first service began on August 25, 1902 and ended on July 3, 1957.
This railway was heralded by the trade press as the greatest single advance in the industry.
The Lombard Main Street Station had a full waiting room and a ticket agent. The building also housed a substation for supplying 600 volt DC power stepped down from the high voltage AC lines on power poles. Unlike traditional trolley lines, the mainline was powered by the third rail.
All trains passing through Lombard stopped at Main Street, except the "Cannonball". In the 1940's, a mid-day Limited ran the full twenty miles from Chicago to Lombard in 38 minutes with only a few stops.
Erected by Lombard Historic Preservation Commission.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical date for this entry is August 25, 1902.
Location. 41° 52.913′ N, 88° 1.086′ W. Marker is in Lombard, Illinois, in DuPage County. It is on Main Street south of Ash Street, on the right when traveling north. The marker is on the Illinois Prairie Path, just east of its crossing at Lombard's Main Street. Touch for map.
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Gearing Bicycle Ads Towards Women (within shouting distance of this marker); Watts Up with the Illinois Prairie Path? (within shouting distance of this marker); Original Dairy Queen Sign (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Votes For Women (approx. 0.2 miles away); Reuben Mink (approx. Ό mile away); Veterans of Lombard Cemetery (approx. Ό mile away); Babcock's Grove Cemetery (approx. Ό mile away); Babcock's Grove House (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lombard.
Also see . . .
1. Hidden History of the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin Railroad. A history of the
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 21, 2025
2. Main Street Station Marker
Excerpt: For more than 50 years, the CA&E known as the 'Roarin' Elgin' reached smaller rural communities and provided rapid, affordable transit from western suburbs to the Loop. The line ran through several modern-day DuPage forest preserves, including along a glacial moraine at Churchill Woods in Glen Ellyn, and through St. James Farm in Warrenville. Farmers, businessmen and other folks from Warrenville came to rely on the CA&E to transport them and their products to and from Chicago.(Submitted on November 21, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
2. Illinois Prairie Path official site. (Submitted on November 21, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 21, 2025
3. Main Street Station Marker at the Prairie Path's Main Street crossing in Lombard
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 21, 2025
4. Main Street Station Marker, facing east
The small sign on the kiosk says "Please say 'On Your Left' in memory of Lombard Trails Committee Chair George Diener who rode over 30,000 miles on the IPP"
Credits. This page was last revised on November 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 21, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 68 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 21, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
