This information may be of interest to the group, but is primarily posted for the benefit of Charlie Vlk. Charlie and I had a conversation at one of the recent BRHS meets about the profile and grade that likely existed through Congress Park before Bridge 13.44 was built over the IHB.
While doing some research of some CB&Q bridge records a while back at the BNSF Structures Department in Kansas City, I ran across an agreement dated February 2, 1897, between CB&Q and Chicago, Hammond and Western (predecessor to IHB). This agreement covered the construction of new Bridge 13.44 by CB&Q over the IHB, which had received permission by the Village of LaGrange to extend it's tracks through the the village. There was no crossing at grade between CB&Q and CH&W or IHB prior to this agreement.
I wasn't allowed to copy the agreement, but noticed that it required the CB&Q to raise it's existing grade 8.5' at the location of the proposed bridge. Looking at the track profile, the CB&Q tracks were at, or very nearly at, the existing (today's) ground line at Maple Avenue in Brookfield, and at the LaGrange Road crossing in LaGrange. I arbitrarily lowered the elevation at Bridge 13.44 by 8.5', and then re-calculated the average grade that would have existed prior to 1897. The results were 0.26% ascending westward from Maple Avenue to the IHB bridge, and 0.62% ascending westward from the bridge to LaGrange Road.
The 0.62% grade might at first be considered steep for the suburban territory, but actually would have been similar to the existing westward grade in places between Highlands and Westmont (and less than the grade between Canal Street and Union Avenue).
Glen Haug