RW Collins Co.

RW Collins had the privilege of performing site work at the CTA Brown Line Western Station in the Lincoln Square neighborhood. During our time on site, we encountered many remnants of Chicago’s historic railcar infrastructure, a fascinating reminder of how deep the city’s history runs beneath the surface.

Chicago’s history of public transit stretches back to the pre–Civil War era, when horse-drawn streetcars first appeared. By the 1880s, cable-drawn and electric streetcars had begun to reshape the city, alongside the first “el” trains in the 1890s. These streetcars paved the way for what would become the world’s largest cable-rail system at the turn of the 20th century, then known as Chicago Surface Lines (CSL). In the 1940s, the CSL was rebranded as part of the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), ushering in the modern era of subways and buses that keep the city moving today.

As an underground contractor in Chicago, we’re constantly reminded that every project tells a story of progress and legacy. Each piece of buried infrastructure we uncover connects us to the generations who built this great city before us.

The season is in full swing at RW Collins! We’re beginning site work on a retention pond, with crews in the early stages and equipment fully back in action. Dirt is moving and the site is taking shape. A great way to kick off the season!