OTHER RAILROADS (9-124-400 et seq.)

Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 9, ch. 9-124, art. IV

in effect

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-124-400 Scope of regulations.

9-124-400 Scope of regulations. Nothing herein contained and no act of any person by reason of the provisions of this part of this chapter dealing with other railroads shall be held or be construed to be in the nature of a contract between the city and any person owning, controlling or operating any railroad. Nor shall any provision of this part of this chapter be construed to release any person from any obligation now existing or which may hereafter be imposed by the city to construct or build viaducts, to raise or lower their tracks, to construct subways or to abolish grade crossings at any or all streets within said city when ordered so to do by the city council. Nothing herein shall be construed to create any obligation upon the part of any railroad company to construct any viaduct, or to create any new liability against any railroad, except as provided by the terms of this part of this chapter. Nothing in this part of this chapter contained shall commit the city to any permanent plan or system for the operation of railroad cars, engines or trains, or the protection of the public on streets or at street crossings, or the regulation and control and supervision of railroad track. The city hereby reserves the right to alter, amend, or repeal any provisions herein contained. (Prior code § 188-43)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-124-410 Signals on engines.

9-124-410 Signals on engines. No person owning or operating a railroad shall cause or allow the whistle of any locomotive engine to be sounded within the city, except necessary brake signals and such as may be absolutely necessary to prevent injury to life and property. Each locomotive engine shall be equipped with a bell-ringing device which shall at all times be maintained in repair and which shall cause the bell of the engine to be rung automatically. The bell of each locomotive engine shall be rung continuously when such locomotive is running within the city, excepting bells on locomotives running upon railroad tracks enclosed by walls or fences, or enclosed by a wall on one side and public waters on the other side, and excepting bells on locomotives running upon those portions of the railroad track which have been elevated. In the case of these exceptions, no bell shall be rung or whistle blown except as signals of danger. Every person owning or operating a railroad within the city, shall erect at the point where such railroad enters the city, a signboard, having thereon the words "stop speed", "ring bell", legibly painted thereon, and keep the same so erected. (Prior code § 188-44)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-124-420 Bumping posts.

9-124-420 Bumping posts. Every person owning or operating any railroad track, switch, side track, or turnout on which any car may be operated or moved by steam power, is hereby required to establish and maintain substantial bumping posts or other suitable obstruction at the end of each such track, to prevent any such car from being hurled, driven or pushed from such track. Each day after the first conviction that any track situated as aforesaid shall be permitted to remain without such bumping post shall constitute a separate and distinct offense. (Prior code § 188-45)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-124-430 Allowing steam to escape.

9-124-430 Allowing steam to escape. No person in charge of any locomotive engine shall cause or allow the cylinder cock or cocks, safety valve or other valves of any locomotive engine to be opened so as to permit steam to escape therefrom at any time while running upon or along any railroad track where the engine is within 100 feet of any street or railroad crossing or viaduct. Provided, however, that when any such engine shall be standing at any such place in said city, and for six revolutions of the driving wheel after being put in motion, the said cocks may be opened for the purpose of allowing condensed steam to escape. (Prior code § 188-46)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-124-440 Making up trains.

9-124-440 Making up trains. No train of a greater length than 700 feet shall be moved for the purpose of transferring such train or any part of it, to another, or opposite, or adjoining track in making up any train or distributing the same. No such train shall be composed of more than 20 cars. Provided, further, that the provisions of this section shall not apply to trains while running or being operated on railroad tracks which are elevated above or depressed below the surface of the streets crossing, or adjacent to, such tracks, in accordance with the provisions of any city ordinance requiring such depression or elevation. Provided, further, that this section shall not apply to any private switch yard nor to any place where such train or cars do not obstruct a crossing at the street grade used by traffic and public travel. Any person that shall violate any of the provisions of this section shall be fined for the first violation $100.00, and for each succeeding violation the sum of $200.00. (Prior code § 188-47)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-124-450 Shunting cars.

9-124-450 Shunting cars. No person shall drive or shunt any passenger or freight car across any public street at the street grade without an engine attached to such car. (Prior code § 188-48)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-124-470 Changing from steam to electricity.

9-124-470 Changing from steam to electricity. No person operating a railroad by steam power shall hereafter operate the same by electric power, either by the overhead contact system or otherwise, within the city without first obtaining authority and permission therefor from the city council. (Prior code § 188-50)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-124-480 Furnishing employee copy of regulations.

9-124-480 Furnishing employee copy of regulations. Every person owning or operating a steam railroad within the city shall furnish each engineer and train conductor employed thereon a certified or printed copy of this part of this chapter dealing with other railroads. (Prior code § 188-51)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 9-124-490 Penalty.

9-124-490 Penalty. Except where some other penalty has been specifically provided, any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this part of this chapter dealing with other railroads shall be fined not less than $10.00 nor more than $200.00 for each offense. (Prior code § 188-52)

Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2649837Fetched: 10/24/2026