| Shore Line Route | |
|---|---|
 Chicago and Milwaukee Electric car 37 in Wilmette | |
| Overview | |
| Other name(s) | Shore Line Division; Shore Line |
| Status | Defunct |
| Locale | Lake and Cook Counties, Illinois |
| Termini |
|
| Stations | 52 (including 16 Chicago "L" stations) in 1954 |
| Service | |
| Type | Interurban |
| Operator(s) |
|
| Ridership |
|
| History | |
| Commenced | 25 June 1894 |
| Opened | 30 May 1895 |
| Completed | 6 August 1899 |
| Closed | 25 July 1955 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 37.37 miles (60 km), including 15.97 miles (26 km) of trackage rights over Chicago "L" |
| Number of tracks | 2-4 |
| Character | Double-tracked mainline
|
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Electrification | Overhead line, 600v DC |
The Shore Line Route (also known as the Shore Line Division or the Shore Line) was an electrified railroad line in the U.S. state of Illinois.
Built between 1894 and 1899 by predecessor companies of the Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad, the line operated south from the city of Waukegan, through the North Shore communities, to the village of Wilmette, where trains continued on to Evanston and Chicago through the use of trackage rights over the "L" network. After Chicago–Milwaukee service was transferred to the new Skokie Valley Division in 1926, the line was retained for Chicago–Waukegan suburban service until 1955, when passenger service ceased and the line was abandoned south of Highland Park. A single track was retained for freight and non-revenue service between North Chicago and Highland Park until 1963.
Much of the former Shore Line Route right-of-way has since been converted into rail trails.