Photo cover contest!

August 19, 2026

PHOTO COVER CONTEST: Tracks of the Chicago L

I'm looking for the best photograph to potentially become the cover of my upcoming book, Tracks of the Chicago L.

I'm inviting photographers, transit enthusiasts, and anyone who has captured a great Chicago L photograph to submit their best shot.

I'm especially interested in photographs featuring trains, tracks, stations, signals, interlockings, bridges, or interesting Chicago surroundings. Golden hour, sunrise or sunset, autumn, winter, snow, rain, dramatic weather, or unique perspectives are especially welcome. Photos from any season will be considered if the image stands out.

The winner will receive:

•  A free copy of Tracks of the Chicago L

• Full photographic credit in the book

• Credit in related promotional material

• A link to the photographer's preferred social media, website, portfolio, or other page.

• The photographer retains copyright ownership of the submitted photograph.

Simple rules:

• You must own the copyright to the photograph you submit.

• The train or trains shown in the photograph must be in active passenger service. Photographs featuring CTA revenue equipment such as the 2600-series, 3200-series, 5000-series, or 7000-series are eligible. Photographs primarily featuring retired, preserved, work, or out-of-service equipment are not eligible.

• Photographs must be taken from lawful, non-restricted locations, unless you have explicit permission or authorization to be in the area. No trespassing or unauthorized access to CTA property, railroad property, tracks, tunnels, construction areas, or other restricted areas.

• Drone photographs must comply with all applicable FAA, state, and local laws and airspace requirements.

• Multiple photographs may be submitted.

• AI-generated images are not eligible.

• Normal photographic editing is permitted, including cropping, exposure, contrast, and color adjustments.

• The winning photograph may be cropped or adjusted as necessary to fit the book cover design.

By submitting a photograph, you confirm that you have the right to grant permission for the photograph to be considered for publication.

Submission deadline: October 15, 2026 (11:59 PM, Pacific Time)

To enter, email your photograph to: calcagnomaps@gmail.com

Subject line: Tracks of the Chicago L Cover Photo Contest

Please include your name and, if desired, your Instagram, website, portfolio, or other preferred link for photo credit.

Please submit the highest resolution version available. If your photograph is selected, I will request the original high-resolution file.

I'm looking forward to seeing what Chicago L photographers have captured. The winning photograph could become the face of Tracks of the Chicago L.

Cheers!
Michael Calcagno
Author, Tracks of the Chicago L

Here is the sample book cover: 

Tracks of the Chicago L Book Project in Progress

Updated: February 18, 2026

Project Update – Track Maps Complete

The Tracks of the Chicago ‘L’ project has reached a major milestone: all main line track maps are now complete.

A total of 92 detailed main line map pages have been finished, covering the entire Chicago ‘L’ system. Only a small number of sections may receive minor additions for historical context, but the core mapping work is complete.

Current efforts are focused on:

• Verifying and identifying the remaining signal locations (approximately 100 signals out of 800+ across the system)

• Completing the yard maps section.

With the mapping phase complete and technical verification underway, the project remains on track for an autumn release, with the goal of having the book available in time for the 2026 holiday season.

More updates soon as the final sections come together.

Cheers!
Michael Calcagno
Author, Tracks of the Chicago L

Updated: December 7, 2025

Project Update - 75% Complete!

The Tracks of the Chicago ‘L’ project has officially reached the 75% completion mark.  I now have 68 map pages finished, including every route and alignment completed since the last update:

• Former elevated Garfield Park branch

• Former Westchester branch

• Forest Park branch (Blue Line)

• Former Douglas Park branch (now the Pink Line’s Cermak Branch)

Plenty of work remains, especially verifying signals, traction details, operational notes, and historic alignments. I’ll also be seeking input from Chicagoans familiar with specific technical sections such as signaling, equipment history, and other local knowledge that ensures this book stays accurate and authoritative.

Steady progress continues. More updates soon.

Cheers!

Michael Calcagno

Author, Tracks of the Chicago L

Updated: November 13, 2025

Progress Update - Tracks of the Chicago L

The project just hit a major milestone: 50% complete.

As of today, 45 pages of detailed, diagram-style track maps are finished, covering:

• Entire Purple Line

• Entire Skokie Swift (Yellow Line)

• Entire Brown Line

• Blue Line - O’Hare Branch (O’Hare → Clinton)

• Green Line - Harlem/Lake → just north of Roosevelt

• Former Humboldt Park + Logan Square branches (completed to Madison St.)

I’m currently mapping the Blue Line - Forest Park Branch, which includes unique split pages showing both the pre-1958 Congress Elevated (top half) and the current expressway-median Blue Line (bottom half).

The map will also extend past Forest Park to cover the abandoned Westchester Branch, all the way to 22nd & Mannheim in the Village of Westchester.

Once the Forest Park section is done, the next phases will be:

• Orange Line to Midway

• Green Line to Ashland/63rd and Cottage Grove

• Red Line to 95th/Dan Ryan

• Every demolished or abandoned branch, including:

• Normal Park

• Kenwood

• Jackson Park

• Stock Yards

More updates coming soon as the mapbook keeps growing!

Cheers!

Michael Calcagno

Author, Tracks of the Chicago L

Updated: October 25, 2025

Progress is moving along! The “progress bar” now shows about 25% complete. So far, I’ve finished 16 pages of detailed Chicago L track maps, covering:

• Linden to Clark Junction (just north of Belmont)

• Entire Skokie Swift (Yellow Line)

• Ravenswood Branch (Brown Line)

I’m still digging into the former switches and interlockings so I can accurately mark the gray dashed switches. My goal is to complete all the track map pages by the end of January, then move on to other sections, which will include:

• Introduction & Thank Yous

• Track & Signals

• Rail Control Center & Towers

• Traction Power

• Abandoned Stations and Lines

• Rolling Stock & Car/Yard Assignments

• Work Equipment & Yard Maps

• Historical Track Maps

• Holiday Train (Chicago L)

Excited to keep building this project...thanks for following along!

Cheers!

Michael Calcagno

Author, Tracks of the Chicago L

September 21, 2025

I’m excited to share that I’ve started working on a new book project: Tracks of the Chicago L

Why this project? Because I love maps, transit, and digging into the details that make each system unique. I’ve already spent years making track maps of the Sacramento light rail system, and after a lot of encouragement from family & friends, I decided to take on Chicago’s famous L.

A huge part of my inspiration comes from Peter Dougherty's excellent Tracks of the New York City Subway, a book that showed me just how fascinating and meaningful a detailed track map can be.

This project is about more than just maps. It’s about creating something railfans, riders, and history buffs can enjoy. My goal is to design a full track map of the Chicago L system, show how the lines connect and operate, and present it in a way that’s both accurate and fun to explore.

I’ll be experimenting with design ideas, typefaces, and how to best show tricky things like shared tracks, flyovers, and duck-unders. Most importantly, I want this to be a book people enjoy flipping through, with clean maps, clear details, and perhaps even some cool extras, such as popular railfan photo spots, transit-related businesses, museums, murals, and more.

This is a long project, but I’ll keep sharing updates as I go. Thanks for following along, and stay tuned for more!

Cheers!

Michael Calcagno

Author,  Tracks of the Chicago L

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