California
2800W
2300N
2300N
California is the northwestern-most of just three stations on the Blue line that are on a conventional light grey painted elevated structure that was built back in 1895 as part of the Metropolitan West Side Elevated's Northwest Logan Square Branch. The station has two wooden side platforms that have been given a historic renovation and lack tactile warning strips. They still have their original white iron platform railings that have decorative triangles within them. There is a canopy on each platform held up by central white supports that covers about two cars of each platform. These are across from each other but extensions were made to the platforms in separate directions: Todays these are towards the northern end of the Loop-bound platform and in the middle of the O'Hare-bound platform.
To leave the platform a single covered staircase leads down to street level staying outside. Here there is a high exit turnstile at the bottom of the O'Hare-bound platform and doors into the rear (all painted white) historic 1895 station house. Inside are the turnstiles and former collectors booth. These lead out to two doors out to the street and a historic red brick facade. One door out to the street has Exit ingraved above it, the other entrance. This house is along the east side of California Avenue between Milwaukee Aveune and Stave Street (Lyndale and Palmer Street end at T-intersections across from the station).
All Photos: 4 July, 2013
