Chicago Tunnel Company, Underground freight railway network in Chicago, Illinois
The Chicago Tunnel Company system is an underground railway network running beneath downtown and connecting commercial buildings. The concrete-lined tunnels placed roughly 40 feet below ground used narrow-gauge electric trains to move goods between buildings.
Construction began in 1899 under the Illinois Telephone and Telegraph Company and later expanded under the Chicago Tunnel Company name. The network grew in the early 20th century to meet the growing transportation needs of Chicago's business world.
The tunnel network allowed buildings to exchange goods without blocking streets above, reflecting how Chicago's growing business district needed efficient solutions for moving goods. Newspapers, coal, and merchandise flowed underground while the city carried on above.
Access to the system is normally limited to visitors since it remains a working transportation system. Guided tours or special visits are occasionally available and offer a glimpse into this underground infrastructure.
The system took advantage of the constant ground temperature of about 55 degrees Fahrenheit (13 Celsius) to naturally cool theaters and other buildings. This was an early form of using geothermal conditions for comfort long before modern air conditioning became common.
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