Metal cars Chicago "L" rolling stock

1 metal cars

1.1 4000-series
1.2 5000-series
1.3 6000-series
1.4 1-50-series
1.5 2000-series
1.6 2200-series
1.7 2400-series

metal cars

4000-series

a pair of 4000-series plushie cars @ illinois railway museum.

the 4000-series cars manufactured cincinnati car company of cincinnati, ohio, between 1914 , 1924. first steel cars on chicago l system. these cars built in 2 distinct variants, earlier, metal-roofed cars being known baldies (due smooth iron roofs) , later, wooden-roofed cars being known plushies (due more comfortable, green plush seats). baldies equipped 6 doors per car, center doors never used regularly. plushies equipped end vestibule doors, cars internal structure arranged allow later addition of center doors.

these cars built result of several distinct purchases (dates date of order, not actual production date):

december 29, 1913: 66 trailer (non motorized) cars, numbered (4001-4066) , 62 motor cars, numbered (4067-4128), baldies , longitudinal seating (car 4005 later motorized , renumbered 4456)
december 30, 1914: 122 motor cars, numbered (4129-4250), baldies , transverse seating.
september 1, 1922: 100 motor cars, numbered (4251-4350), plushies , transverse seating.
april 2, 1923: 5 motor cars, numbered (4351-4355), plushies , transverse seating.
december 13, 1923: 100 motor cars, numbered (4356-4455), plushies , transverse seating.

the 445 cars of 4000-series last chicago l cars purchased air brakes.

when state street subway opened in 1943, older wooden cars not allowed operate through safety reasons. cars available operate in subway 4000-series, led production of 5000 , 6000-series cars.

the last 4000-series cars retired in 1973 after being in service on 50 years.

5000-series

the 5000-series cars (numbered 5001–5004) manufactured pullman car company , st. louis car company. arrived on cta property in 1947. these 4 cars ever built. these cars first l cars feature blinker door configuration, in doors train open inward car rather slide horizontally. door configuration later used on 6000-series, 1-50 series, 2000-series , 2200-series.

the technology these cars based on presidents conference committee streetcar borrowed design elements north shore line s electroliners. 5000-series distinct in each car three-piece articulated unit, cars on l system ever feature articulation. first series of l cars wider @ windowsills @ doorsills permit more interior space , still provide clearance station platforms.

they assigned service on garfield route (a precursor of today s blue line) before being refitted pantographs , renumbered 51 54 service on skokie swift finished service life. 5000-series retired in 1985.

6000-series


6000-series work train cars @ california station on o hare branch on may 19, 1985.

the 6000-series cars (numbered 6001–6720) manufactured st. louis car company of st. louis, missouri , first delivered cta in 1950. 130 ordered series totaling 720.

the 6000-series built upon design of 5000-series, using pcc technology , blinker doors. unlike 5000-series, 6000-series units consisted of 2 cars coupled in married-pairs, first series of l cars designed.

a large percentage of these cars built using trucks, motors, control equipment, seats, windows , other components salvaged chicago s retired fleet of pcc streetcars.

the 6000-series in service on of cta s routes except skokie swift. use on lake-dan ryan route limited emergencies , during car shortages in late 1969 , during winter of 1979-80. 6000-series cars used septa on norristown high-speed line during delays of n-5 car deliveries. last of 6000-series cars retired on december 4, 1992.

1-50-series


car 48 @ halton county radial railway museum.

the 1-50 series cars (numbered 1-50) manufactured st. louis car company of st. louis, missouri, , delivered cta in 1959 , 1960. cars similar 6000 series design, double ended, single cars, opposed 6000 series single ended, married pair configuration. quarter point doors adjacent operators cabs, allowing operator collect fares without leaving cab. members of 6000 series, these cars utilized parts salvaged chicago s retired fleet of pcc streetcars.

cars 1-4 equipped high performance test service, higher horsepower motors, , delivered in distinctive maroon , silver gray paint scheme.

originally assigned west-northwest service, in later years these cars found on ravenswood, skokie, , evanston lines.

10 of these cars converted in 5 married-pair sets , renumbered 61a-b 65a-b, , utilized in skokie service.

the last cars of 1-50 series retired in 1999. 7 cars of series have been preserved various railway museums.

2000-series


2000-series cars on lake st.

leaving loop @ wells st.

the 2000-series cars (numbered 2001–2180) manufactured pullman-standard of chicago, , delivered cta in 1964. 6000-series before them, 2000-series built married-pair sets. cars had number of modern features, including air conditioning, fluorescent lighting, large picture windows , sculptured fiberglass front ends car bodies. car bodies aluminum. these cars start of high performance family.

the 2000-series more modern control systems prevented them being used in train other types, until delivery of 2200-series , later cars.

the last 2000-series cars scrapped after final service on green line on december 17, 1993.

the 2000-series had short service life of 29 years, every car of series being scrapped in 1993. 4 cars preserved @ illinois railway museum in union, illinois. rest scrapped.

2200-series


a 2200-series car @ des plaines terminal on june 1, 1970



retired 2200-series car 2346 in harlem yard on august 24, 2013.

the 2200-series cars (numbered 2201–2350) manufactured budd company of philadelphia, pennsylvania , first delivered cta in 1969, before dan ryan branch (now known south end of red line) opened. 150 cars ordered, , delivered in 1969 , 1970. these cars last feature blinker door configuration, in doors train opened inward car rather slide horizontally. these doors, had narrower opening newer sliding doors, unable accommodate wheelchair. because of this, 2200-series cars ran in regular service on blue line had coupled married pair of 2600-series cars, in order comply americans disabilities act of 1990. in addition, during 8 car operation on blue line, 2200-series cars referred belly car service (which means not @ either end of consist), 2600-series cars on ends of train.

the 2200-series featured fluted, unpainted stainless steel sides, unique feature in rolling stock until delivery of 3200-series.

cars 2307 , 2316 renumbered 2351 , 2352; 2351 numbered 2307 , repaired after mate 2308 damaged in accident @ addison station in 1976; 2352 renumbered 2316 , paired 2351 after 2315 damaged in fire in skokie shops yard in november 1977. cars 2289 , 2290 damaged in 1977 chicago loop derailment on february 4, 1977. after derailment cars 2289 , 2290 later retired , scrapped.

the cars rebuilt new york rail car corporation of brooklyn, new york, 1990 until 1992, extend service life.

retirement of 2200-series cars began in october 2010 , completed in august 2013. last 8 2200-series cars retired service after ceremonial last trips on blue line on august 8, 2013. farewell tour of 2200-series cars took place on 6 car private charter ran eric zabelny on august 25, 2013 toured of cta system. cars 2243-2244 preserved @ illinois railway museum in union, illinois.

2400-series


prior rehab, 2400 series trains painted in red, white, , blue colors celebrate bicentennial.



after rehab, 2400 series trains had colors removed better match rest of fleet.

the 2400-series cars (numbered 2401–2600) manufactured boeing-vertol of ridley park, pennsylvania , first delivered cta in 1976. 100 ordered originally, option additional 100 (which exercised , additional cars delivered through 1978). retirement of 2400-series cars began in 2013 after of 2200-series cars retired service.

the first cars l feature sliding doors, 2400-series features smooth steel exteriors, ideal decals and, in many cases, advertisements. delivered, cars featured red, white, , blue color scheme on front , rear of cars, stripes along sides. these modified several times on years , colors removed cars, leaving them unpainted match bare stainless steel scheme of rest of fleet. cars feature advertising , cars 2401–2422 work cars identified red , white striping along sides on front , rear of cars. (cars 2423-2424 converted work cars time after 2401-2422 had been converted.)

the cars rehabbed @ skokie shops in skokie, illinois 1987 until 1995.

in 1990s, 2400-series cars used on red line in mixed consists unrehabbed 2600-series cars. while 2600-series cars being rebuilt, 2400-series cars used temporary on red line. 2400-series cars retired service on october 31, 2014, orange line being last line operate them. ceremonial last trip of 2400-series cars held on january 21, 2015. cars 2433-2434 preserved @ illinois railway museum in union, illinois , cars used ceremonial last trip have been preserved part of cta s historic fleet.