Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad (NICTD)

Portage / Ogden Dunes Station

The station at Ogden Dunes has grown from being a simple flag stop to being a major station on the South Shore line. The line past Ogden Dunes was double tracked during a construction project in 1998-1999. A new low boarding platform was constructed along the north side of the former single track and a second track was added to the south of the former single track. Asphalt walkways were installed to allow passengers to cross over to the new track to board trains. Concrete boarding ramps were installed to provde access for ADA passengers.

As part of the 2022-2024 Double Track Northwest Indiana project that extended double track from Gary all the way to Michigan City, Ogden Dunes receive additional upgrades including a high level platform and gauntlet on track 1 (the south track) and an additional large parking lot south of US 12 (Dunes Highway) which runs just south of the South Shore tracks.


Looking east from the west end of the Track 1 platform. (Apr 2024)


Looking west from the west end of the Track 1 platform. (Apr 2024)


Looking east from the east end of the Track 1 platform. (Apr 2024)


Looking west from the east end of the Track 1 platform. (Apr 2024)


Looking east from the crosswalk at the east end of the station. (Apr 2024)


Looking west from the crosswalk at the east end of the station. (Apr 2024)


A sign at the east end of the north parking lot directs overflow traffic to the south lot. (Apr 2024)


A protective barrier is in place to protect the platform from vehicles leaving the roadway. (Apr 2024)


Looking west from the east end of the Track 2 platform. (Apr 2024)


Looking east from the west end of the Track 2 platform. (Apr 2024)


Looking east from the ADA ramp on track 2 at the west end of the station. (Apr 2024)


Looking west from the ADA ramp on track 2 at the west end of the station. (Apr 2024)


Looking west from the crosswalk at the west end of the station. (Apr 2024)


Looking east from the crosswalk at the west end of the station. (Apr 2024)


US 12 (Dunes Highway) westbound past the station. Traffic can turn left to reach the south parking lot or use the extended right turn lane to reach the north parking lot. Access to the north parking lot will be blocked when a train is approaching or present (including trains on the Norfolk Southern line that runs parallel to the South Shore to the north of the station parking lot). (Apr 2024)


The ADA ramp built in 1999 remains on Track 2 to serve passengers as needed. Operationally, NICTD plans on using the high platform on Track 1 for all passenger trains. Using Track 2 only when Track 1 is not available. (Apr 2024)


The station sign next the parking lot. (June 2024)


The station sign next the parking lot at night. (November 2024)
 DOUBLE TRACK NORTHWEST INDIANA CONSTRUCTION 

This station closed January 9th, 2023, with busing replacing trains effective August 6th, 2022. The station reopened April 8th, 2024.
 
Ogden Dunes 1999-2009


Approaching Ogden Dunes station from the west crossing Hillcrest Road. The station is located on a double track segment just east of Miller. In 1999 this double track segment was created by joining two high speed passing segments. (See construction notes below.)


The station had a single long platform on the north side of the tracks with shelters to protect passengers while they wait for a train. Special high loading platforms were available on both tracks. Walkways were available to access trains that stop on Track 1 (to the right).

Looking west (left) and east (right) from the station one can see the path the old single track (at the center of each picture) followed. During double track construction in 1998-99 the new second track was built to the north of the existing track east and west of the station and to the south of the existing track at the station. The track was shifted on both sides of the station. (See construction notes below.)


A special paint job was given to the signal cabinet closest to Hillcrest Road (the entrance to the Ogden Dunes community). These cabinets are normally painted solid gray.


The high level ADA platforms are designed to serve a single car at a time. The platform edge folds down when a person is waiting to board as a train approaches. This is the Track 1 platform (removed in 2024).
1997 Flashback
Ogden Dunes was a flag stop until November 1997 (the 1997 station is pictured to the left). A double tracking project linked the Wilson and Wagner sidings and this station received new platforms and a new parking area. The new parking area and westbound platform opened in November 1998. The eastbound rail and platform was then built in the old parking area south of the tracks. Across the street (US Highway 12) from Ogden Dunes is the Wycliffe Substation.

Prior to the station pictured here there was a wooden shack and parking along US 12 west of Hillcrest Rd.
 1998-1999 STATION CONSTRUCTION 
The 1998-1999 double track project added "Track 2" to the north of the existing single track line between Wilson and Wagner. To provide enough room for the parking lot and platform the new track at Ogden Dunes was built south of the existing track. The main line tracks were shifted south just to the west and east of Ogden Dunes to line up with the new platform tracks. Due to the shortened distance between the tracks and US 12 a traffic light was installed at the Hillcrest Rd intersection with US 12 to allow traffic leaving Ogden Dunes to safely cross the tracks and enter US12. Turn lanes for entering Ogden Dunes from US 12 were also added. Traffic for the Continental Can plant was rerouted from the crossing to the east of Ogden Dunes to follow a new road along the north side of the parallel Norfolk Southern tracks to Hillcrest Rd. The Continental Can crossing over the NS line was closed with the road over the NICTD line used as the exit from the South Shore station parking lot.

The diagram above shows the track layout in 1997, 1998 and 1999. 1997 with Wagner ending two miles west of Ogden Dunes and Wilson ending one and a half miles east of Ogden Dunes. 1998 with the new track extended from each siding and separate new track past the station (new platform to the north of the tracks). And 1999 with the track shifts in place. The crossover at Pauls was also added in 1999 as part of the project.
Looking northeast from the old (now removed) platform toward the new parking lot and platform. (October 30th, 1998.) Looking northwest from the old (now removed) platform toward the parking lot entrance. (October 30th, 1998.)
Late in 1998 with the new parking area open a two car train consisting of cars 12 and 24 makes an eastbound stop at the new platform. The old platform and shelter has been removed and parking is no longer permitted on the south side of the tracks. Construction is beginning on the roadbed for the second track.
A westbound train arrives on the then single main line. Looking east from the crossing at the east end of the station. The new double track is on the left (north) side of the old main line. The crossing has been rebuilt with the new track built on the right (south) side of the main. (January 16th, 1999)
The new high level boarding platform for eastbound trains (Track 1). The handrails have not yet been installed in this picture (and neither has the eastbound track). (January 16th, 1999) The old main line track and what became the Westbound platform. The high level boarding platform just out of view to the left. Note that all of the shelters are lit and have overhead heaters. (January 16th, 1999)
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