[5][6] [7][8] When Yerkes sold most of his Chicago interests and moved away in 1899, he left a network of financially weak companies behind.

The Consolidated Traction Ordinance of October 10, 1910, required the Yerkes suburban lines to be separated from their Chicago operations.

Despite the problems, he was able to organize the company and make a profit every year until 1931, after the Great Depression began.

[12] The West Towns had different operating conditions than adjoining Chicago as a smaller system through less densely populated areas.

Management met the union's demands for equal pay as Chicago streetcar employees.

[12] Arrangements for franchises were made, except with Forest Park, who was a problem for the West Towns.

The company went into bankruptcy and was reorganized as the "Chicago and West Towns Railway Incorporated".

[19] West Towns began buying 27-passenger buses in 1941 and the War Production Board approved continued sales from 1942 until 1945, the last order was filled in 1946.

West Towns only bought 45 passenger buses new after 1949, when the first GMC TDH4509 "old look"" series arrived.

Leyden had a route west to Wheaton in DuPage County and north to O'Hare Airport.

The first West Towns company, they would serve the area of Cicero and Proviso townships.

Their first route was a horsecar line on Madison St. with a loop north to Lake St. Electric power began on February 12, 1891.

The Suburban was bought by County Traction on February 27, 1912, and became part of the West Towns in 1913.

[23] The Chicago Consolidated Traction Co. was incorporated on February 29, 1899, to unify eight streetcar companies (seven were controlled by Yerkes).

[22] Metropolitan Motor Coach Co. (the Marigold Line) started with two small companies providing local service in Oak Park.

Northwestern Transit bought Oak Park Motor Transport in 1921, when both companies were only months old.

Leyden was seized by the federal government for unpaid taxes in 1963 and the Illinois Commerce Commission issued an emergency order for the West Towns to acquire them.

[27][28] Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) was created on December 13, 1973, to fund area transit districts and private companies.

In November 1981, the RTA bought the West Towns and had ATE Management operate it, but the funding crisis continued.

In 1983, the RTA was completely re-organized with all the bus companies merged into the Pace West Division.

In 1934, the area north of the line would become Brookfield Zoo, a high traffic weekend destination.

At La Grange Rd., the line turned south to La Grange and at Hillgrove, it went west to Brainard Ave.[35] [36] Route #8 - Veteran's Hospital Edward Hines VA Hospital has had bus service to the Forest Park rapid transit station since it was opened in 1921.

Speedway Auto Bus Co. started a route from the Forest Park terminal south to 12th St. (now Roosevelt Rd.)

It served the customers of the Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad, which ended service on July 3, 1957.

At Lawrence Ave., the line went west to Mannheim Road and north to O'Hare International Airport.

[43] Chicago and West Towns Bus Co. numbered their buses in the order they were received, with few exceptions.

In 1959, Oak Park sold North Bvld., the street behind the car-barn, to the West Towns so they could store buses there.

[45] The West Towns also had a car-barn and storage on the northwest corner of Harlem Ave. and 22nd St. (now Cermak Rd.).

During WWII, a bus garage was opened there to reduce empty travel mileage to and from southern routes, saving tires wear and fuel (both rationed).

[45] In 1913, the West Towns generated its own electricity from two power-houses, one at each car-barn complex.