Chicago 'L' rolling stock

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The rolling stock of the Chicago 'L' heavy rail system consists of 1,190 rail cars (all permanently coupled into 595 married pairs) dating from 1969 to 1994, delivered in four series: the 2200-series, 2400-series, 2600-series, and 3200-series, also known as the High Performance Family, because of innovative design and technological features from previous equipment in Chicago transit beginning with the former 2000-Series cars which operated between 1964 and 1993. All cars are 12 feet tall (from top of rail), 9'-4" wide (at window sill; 8'-8" at door sill), and 48'-3" long (over coupler pulling faces). Presently, all rail cars operating on the Chicago 'L' are DC power only; the next shipment of rail cars is expected to feature AC motors, but the traction power supply will continue to use DC.

Contents 1 Historic 1.1 Wooden Cars 1.2 Steel cars 2 2200-series 3 2400-series 4 2600-series 5 3200-series 6 5000-series 7 External links 8 References 9 See also

[edit] Historic

[edit] Wooden Cars

Operator	Manufacturer	Delivered	Type	Notes
South Side Elevated Railroad	Jackson and Sharp Company; Gilbert Car Company; Jewett Car Company	1892-1905	Wooden cars	pulled by steam loco (Baldwin Locomotive Works Vauclain four-cylinder compound locomotives)
Lake Street Elevated Railroad	Gilbert Car Company, Pullman Car Company; St. Louis Car Company and Co. Shop	1893-1909	Wooden cars	pulled by steam loco
Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad	Pullman Car Company, Harland and Hollingsworth Company; American Car & Foundry, Barney and Smith; Jewett Car Company	1894-1907	wooden cars
Northwestern Elevated Railroad	Pullman Company; American Car & Foundry; St. Louis Car Company; Jewett Car Company	1898-1908	wooden cars

[edit] Steel cars

Operator	Manufacturer	Delivered	Type	Notes
Chicago Surface Lines; later Chicago Transit Authority	Cincinnati Car Company	1914-15	4000 series
Chicago Transit Authority	Pullman Car Company (5001-02) and St. Louis Car Company (5003-04)	1947	5000 series
Chicago Transit Authority	St. Louis Car Company	1950-59	6000 series
Chicago Transit Authority	St. Louis Car Company	1959-1960	1-50 \ 61-65 series Cars
Chicago Transit Authority	Pullman Car Company	1964	2000-series Cars

[edit] 2200-series

The 2200-series of train cars (numbered 2201-2352) was manufactured by the Budd Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and first delivered to the Chicago Transit Authority in 1969 when the Dan Ryan branch (now known as the south end of the Red Line) was opened. 150 cars were ordered, and all delivered between 1969 and 1970. These cars, the oldest still in revenue service on the 'L', are the only CTA cars still to feature the "blinker door" configuration, in which the doors to the train open inward into the car rather than slide horizontally. These doors, which have a much narrower opening than the newer sliding doors, are unable to accommodate a wheelchair. Because of this, all 2200-series trains in the system must be coupled with another married pair of a different series car, usually the 2600-series, in order to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

The 2200-series also features fluted, unpainted stainless steel sides, a unique feature in the rolling stock until the addition of the 3200-series.

The 2200-series currently operates solely on the Blue and Pink Lines. The CTA plans to replace all these cars with newer train cars in the near future.^[1]

[edit] 2400-series

The 2400-series of train cars (numbered 2401-2600) was manufactured by Boeing-Vertol of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and first delivered to the CTA in 1976. 100 were ordered originally, with an option for an addition 100 (which was exercised, and the additional cars delivered through 1978). Presently, the cars are reaching the end of their expected service lifetimes and are to be replaced with the 5000-series starting in 2010.^[1]

The first cars for the 'L' in many decades to feature sliding rather than "blinker" doors, the 2400-series also features smooth steel exteriors, ideal for decals and, in many cases, advertisements. As delivered, the cars featured a red, white, and blue color scheme on the front and rear of the cars, as well as stripes along the sides. These were modified several times over the years and the color has been removed from most cars at present, leaving them unpainted to match the bare stainless steel scheme of the rest of the fleet. Some cars feature advertising and cars 2401–2422 are "work" cars which are identified by red and white striping along their sides as well as on the front and rear of the cars.

In the 1990s, the 2400-series cars were used on the Red Line in mixed consists with unrefurbished 2600-series cars. While the 2600-series cars were being rehabbed, the 2400-series cars were used prominently on the Red Line. Today, however, this series comprises the entire rolling stock for the Green Line and a sizeable portion of the Purple Line.

[edit] 2600-series

The 2600-series cars (#2601-3200) was manufactured by the Budd Company, the same company that made the 2200-series, and first delivered to the CTA in 1981 in time for the upcoming O'Hare Airport extension of the Kennedy Line (now known as the northwestern end of the Blue Line). Originally, an order was made for 300 cars, but eventually this was doubled to 600, all of which were delivered between 1981 and 1987. They were the final cars ever constructed by Budd, later renamed to TransitAmerica. With 596 active cars, the series is by far the most abundant in the 'L' rolling stock. They were rehabbed by Alstom beginning in 1998 and ending a year early in 2002. They have few features to differentiate them from the earlier 2400-series, but nevertheless remain a mainstay of the 'L'.

These cars make up the entire Red Line fleet and are also found on the Blue, Purple, and Pink Lines, with an occasional appearance on the Brown Line.

[edit] 3200-series

The 3200-series cars (numbered 3201-3457) were manufactured by Morrison-Knudsen of Hornell, New York, and first delivered to the CTA in 1992. The original order for 256 was motivated primarily by the impending opening of the Orange Line, which would need new cars when it opened in October 1993.^[1] The order was completed in 1994.^[2]

The newest cars of the CTA fleet, the 3200-series contains many innovations over the previous 2600-series. Computers control much of the cab functions and simplify operation for the motorman. Diagnostics are also easier to perform on this series than on previous series. In addition, fluted steel siding is included on these cars for the first time since the 2200-series, in order to reduce graffiti. The series also introduced openable hopper windows for use in case of air conditioner failure.^[2]

Cars 3441-3456 were originally equipped with pantographs for use on the Yellow Line, which was powered by overhead lines until 2004. The pantographs on 3451-3456 were removed in the late 1990s when they were reassigned to supplement the Brown Line, while the rest lost their pantographs when the Yellow Line was converted to third rail power in 2004.^[2]

Car 3457 was an additional car built specifically for the purpose of serving as a mate to the 2600-series car 3032, whose mate had been damaged. 3032 was subsequently renumbered 3458.^[3]

The 3200-series cars are currently assigned to the Orange, Brown, and Yellow Lines, composing their entire fleets. A small number have also been assigned to the Purple Line.

[edit] 5000-series

The next series of rail cars, expected to replace the aging 2200-series and 2400-series cars, is tentatively called the 5000-series^[4]. The series will be built by Bombardier, and the CTA expects to receive the first prototypes in 2008 and take delivery of the production cars starting in 2010. The order is for 406 cars, with options for up to 300 more.^[1]

Originally assumed to be the 3500-series, the procurement of these cars experienced several delays, including a cancellation of the original bid announcement in 2002.^[5]

• Type: 5000-series Cars
• Builder: Bombardier Transit Corporation
• Delivery Date: 2008-10?

[edit] External links

• CTA Car Assignments. Chicago-'L'.org. Retrieved on 2007-01-31.
• 2200-series Cars. Chicago-'L'.org. Retrieved on 2007-01-31.
• 2400-series Cars. Chicago-'L'.org. Retrieved on 2007-01-31.
• 2600-series Cars. Chicago-'L'.org. Retrieved on 2007-01-31.
• 3200-series Cars. Chicago-'L'.org. Retrieved on 2007-01-31.

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Chicago 'L'
• Chicago Transit Authority