Franklin Park, Illinois

Leyden Township is one of 29 townships in Cook County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2010 census, its population was 92,890.

Franklin Park is one of two stations on Metra's Milwaukee District West Line in Franklin Park, Illinois. The station is 13.2 miles (21.2 km) away from Union Station, the eastern terminus of the line. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Franklin Park is in zone C. As of 2018, Franklin Park is the 123rd busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 392 weekday boardings.As of 2022, Franklin Park is served by 17 inbound trains and 19 outbound trains on weekdays, by all 12 trains in each direction on Saturdays, and by all nine trains in each direction on Sundays. One outbound train terminates here on weekdays, and one inbound train originates here. Franklin Park is a centerpiece of the Milwaukee District West Line. Located adjacent to the Canadian Pacific Bensenville yard, the station sees a large volume of freight traffic, and many trains on the MD-W line run express to and from this station. With the two north tracks used by Metra and two south tracks used for freight (Canadian Pacific) as well as frequent Metra and freight action, Franklin Park and nearby smaller stations (Belmont Avenue and Mannheim) are a favorite of railfans. The annual Railroad Daze festival is held at this station, and is a festival catered to railfans and celebrates the railroad's role in Franklin Park's history. The historic B-12 interlocking tower for the Milwaukee Railroad is situated one block west of the station, accompanied by a preserved Milwaukee Road caboose. This tower, constructed in the 1890s, was located at the intersection of the MD-W line and the Canadian National (ex-Soo Line/Wisconsin Central) (east) and Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad (west) tracks, but closed in July 1996 and was relocated a year later. Although the Milwaukee system as a whole ceased to exist in 1986, the tower still dons the Milwaukee Road logo. Franklin Park Station is the last station outbound along the Milwaukee District West Line to use three tracks. It is also the closest full service Metra station to O'Hare International Airport.

Mannheim is a station on Metra's Milwaukee District West Line in Franklin Park, Illinois that gets services during rush hour as a flag stop. The station is 14.0 miles (22.5 km) away from Union Station, the eastern terminus of the line. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Mannheim is in zone C. As of 2018, Mannheim is the 218th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 35 weekday boardings. The reason this station is named because of Mannheim Road running right next to it. It is the only non-ADA-accessible station on the Milwaukee District West Line. The Tri-State Tollway also runs adjacent to the Mannheim station. As of 2022, Mannheim is served by eight inbound trains and three outbound trains on weekdays. There is no service on weekends or holidays. All trains scheduled to stop here treat the station as a flag stop. Mannheim Station is little more than a wooden shelter, which is smaller than Hanson Park further east. The station lies on the south side of Front Street between Lincoln and Ernst Streets. Parking is available on the north side of Front Street along the same block. It is just east of the large Canadian Pacific Bensenville Yard, which sits to the south of O'Hare International Airport. This station originally served as a milk stop for the village of Mannheim, Illinois. Mannheim was founded in the 1870s when the railroad was built through the area and was later annexed into Franklin Park.

Belmont Avenue (also known as Franklin Park – Belmont Avenue) is a station on Metra's North Central Service in Franklin Park, Illinois. The station is 15.8 miles (25.4 km) away from Union Station, the southern terminus of the line. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Belmont Avenue is in zone C. As of 2018, Belmont Avenue is the 224th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 24 weekday boardings. Belmont Avenue was opened on January 30, 2006, along with three other new stations on the North Central Service.

Schiller Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 11,793 at the 2010 census.

WTZI is an ethnic radio station located in Rosemont, Illinois. It primarily broadcasts Indian music under a non-profit no commercials format and serves the Chicagoland Area.

On February 5, 2001, a mass shooting occurred at a Navistar engine plant in Melrose Park, Illinois, when former employee William Daniel Baker entered the facility and fatally shot four employees and wounded four others with an SKS rifle before committing suicide. At the time, Baker was involved in a criminal case involving a conspiracy to steal machinery from Navistar. He had been convicted of crimes related to the plot months before the shooting and was due to turn himself into custody on February 6.

The Thirsty Whale, which opened in 1971, was a rock music club at 8800 Grand Avenue, River Grove, Illinois. It brought in acts like Blue Öyster Cult, Molly Hatchet, Black Oak Arkansas, Extreme, Foghat, Johnny Winter, Mother Love Bone (who played their only Chicago show at the Whale), and Peter Criss. Survivor performed here monthly early in their career. Future Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Cheap Trick played there regularly in the late 1970s, promoting the release of their first two albums, Black & White and In Color, respectively. The club began to be a showcase for local Chicago area hard rock and heavy metal bands such as Enuff Z'nuff, D'Molls, 7th heaven band and others from the mid-80s through its closing in 1996. The height of the club was during the mid-1980s. Young bands would have the opportunity to open for national acts to grow their fan base and sometimes the attention of major record companies. Although the Thirsty Whale was a small club in size it had its own scene and from it grew a local music magazine, The Chicago Rocker, which was founded by Tony LaBarabra, one of the clubs many booking agents over the years. Chicago never had the metal scene that Los Angeles had but The Thirsty Whale was always a stopover for most bands playing the arenas in Chicago. If you were to ask a local rock musician from this era, they would say "Without The Thirsty Whale, there wouldn't have been a rock scene in Chicago".The club closed its doors on June 2, 1996, and was demolished to make way for a BP gas station and McDonald's. LaBarbara has hosted a "Thirsty Whale Reunion" where some of the bands that played The at the Whale, back in its heyday, held a one-night-only reunion.

Gene's & Jude's or (sic: Gene & Jude's) is a popular and iconic hot dog stand in River Grove, Illinois, founded in 1946 by Chicago city worker Gene Mormino. The stand is famous for its limited approach to the Chicago-style hot dog, its toppings departing from tradition by including only mustard, onions, relish, sport peppers and fresh cut French fries placed on top, known as a Depression Dog. The menu is limited to hot dogs, double dogs, tamales and fries, and lacks any trace of ketchup even for dipping the fries.

Melrose Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is a suburb of Chicago. As of the 2020 census it had a population of 24,796. Melrose Park had long been home to a large Italian-American population. The suburb was the home of Kiddieland Amusement Park from 1929 until 2010 (it closed in September 2009 before it was demolished in 2010 and the sign of Kiddieland was relocated to the Melrose Park Public Library, a Costco warehouse store now stands in its place), the Shrine of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Stern Pinball, Inc., the Melrose Park Taste home of the famous Melrose Stuffed Peppers, and the now-defunct Maywood Park horse racing track. There is a Metra railroad station in Melrose Park with daily service to Chicago. Melrose Park is home to Gottlieb Memorial Hospital.

Schiller Park is a station on Metra's North Central Service in Schiller Park, Illinois. The station is 17.4 miles (28.0 km) away from Union Station, the southern terminus of the line. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Schiller Park is in zone C. As of 2018, Schiller Park is the 214th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 41 weekday boardings. Schiller Park was opened on January 30, 2006, along with three other new stations on the North Central Service.

Stone Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,946 at the 2010 census. Incorporated in 1939, the town was named for insurance magnate Clement Stone, who bought most of the land when it was still corn fields.