Blue Island (Metra Electric District Blue Island Branch)

Blue Island is the terminus of the Metra Electric Blue Island branch, and is on the northside of Vermont Street, alongside the Rock Island Mainline. The Blue Island/Vermont Street Station platforms begin across from the Metra electric station (on the south side of Vermont Street). Metra electric trains terminate at a high-level island platform whose two tracks end at bumper blocks just before Vermont Street. A third siding track for train storage is just to the east. Just north of the station there is a switch onto the Rock Island Line, near the much larger Rock Island yard for diesel trains.

The station was renovated in 2003 as a plaque dictates. Passengers reach the platform through a little circular plaza with 3 steps or a ramp up to a small enclosed entrance area. A TVM was once inside the entrance area. The entrance has two columns holding up canopy before a decoratively high tower-style roof. A ramp leads out the opposite end of this enclosed area to the narrow island platform. The ramp along with the start of the platform are covered by a canopy that ends after about a car length with the rest of the platform exposed to the elements.
All Photos taken on 4 August, 2012

Entrance through a small enclosed corridor to the Blue Island Metra electric platform

The bumper blocks and end of the catenary system

Looking to the diesel Rock Island's yard north of it's station

The station's modern entrance is raised from the street with a ramp and 3 steps

Plaque for the station's dedication to the people of Blue Island in the year 2003

Two Metra electric Highliner MUs, one has just arrived at the station, the other is on a weekend layover on the one electric station siding

The parking pay station and an electric train in the station

The electric station parking lot and electric trains in the yard beyond

A train of Highliner IIs leaves the station for another run to Millennium Park

At a dead end street north of the station

The first grade-crossing on the Blue Island line at Hoyne Avenue, as the 3 yard tracks (and drill track that has a switch onto the Rock Island Line) become 1 track for the rest of the 4 mile trip to the Metra electric main line