2400 series (Chicago "L")

2400 series
In service	1976–2014
Manufacturer	Boeing-Vertol
Built at	Boeing-Vertol Plant, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Family name	High Performance
Constructed	1976–1978
Entered service	1976
Refurbishment	1987–1995
Scrapped	2013-2014
Number built	200
Number in service	(24 in work service)[1]
Number preserved	10
Number scrapped	164
Formation	Married pair
Fleet numbers	2401–2600
Capacity	43 (seated-A car) 45 (seated-B car)
Operator(s)	Chicago Transit Authority
Specifications
Car body construction	Stainless steel
Car length	48 feet (15 m)
Width	9 feet 4 inches (2.84 m)
Height	12 feet (3.66 m)
Doors	4 per car
Maximum speed	55 miles per hour (89 km/h)
Weight	54,300 pounds (24,600 kg)
Traction motors	4 GE1262A1 per car
Power output	110 horsepower (82 kW) each motor
Electric system(s)	600 V DC third rail
Current collection method	Contact shoe
Track gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

The 2400 series is a series of Chicago "L" cars built between 1976 and 1978 by Boeing-Vertol of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 200 cars were built (numbered 2401–2600) and on October 31, 2014, the series was retired from revenue service.^[2] These cars were in service for 38 years.

The 2400 series was the third series of five series of Chicago "L" cars known as the High Performance Family. These cars were the first "L" cars built since the 4000 series of 1914 to feature sliding doors rather than the folding blinker doors featured on the other cars that were in service at the time, with wider doorways allowing the cars to accommodate wheelchair users. The 2400-series cars featured smooth steel exteriors as opposed to the corrugated exteriors of the previous series. 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. Cars 2401–2422 were later modified to be used for work service as well as revenue passenger service and given red and white striping along their sides as well as on the front and rear of the cars. They were refurbished at the Skokie Shops in Skokie, Illinois between 1987 and 1995. These work motor units remain active.

Beginning in Fall 2003, the red, white and blue colors on the ends and sides of the 2400-series cars were removed, giving the cars an unpainted steel appearance similar to the rest of the "L" fleet. This was done so as to give a more unified appearance, as well as to reduce maintenance costs. The work cars retain the red and white striping on their ends, but the stripes on their sides have been removed.

In the 1990s, the 2400-series cars were used on the Red Line in mixed sets with unrefurbished 2600-series cars. While the 2600-series cars were being refurbished, the 2400-series cars were used temporarily on the Red Line. The Green Line also used these cars until mid-May 2013 when they were replaced by 5000-series cars. Until late May 2014, these cars were also assigned to the Purple Line; for the entire 2000s and early 2010s, the Purple Line fleet consisted entirely, or nearly entirely of these cars. The Purple Line fleet of 2400-series cars were retired in May 2014 and have been replaced by 2600-series cars which were transferred from the Red Line as more 5000-series cars were assigned to that line and since April 2014, several 5000-series cars have been assigned to the Purple Line as well. From November 8, 2012 until retirement on October 31, 2014, some of these cars were also assigned to the Orange Line. During the morning rush hour on October 31, 2014, the 2400-series operated its last revenue run on the Orange Line. The Orange Line cars have been replaced by 2600-series cars until the Red and Purple Lines are fully equipped with 5000-series cars. However, as of November 2015, the assignment of 2600-series cars to the Orange Line is now permanent until the delivery of the future 7000-series cars, since all 5000-series cars have been delivered with all cars fully assigned to all lines except for the Orange, Blue, and Brown Lines.

After retirement, several cars were preserved. Preserved cars include:

• 2433-2434, preserved at the Illinois Railway Museum.^[3]
• 2455-2456, 2489-2490, 2537-2538, 2543-2544, used on the ceremonial last trip and farewell tour of the 2400-series cars on January 21, 2015.^[4]
• 2503, used in a training facility.^[5]

Footnotes

References

• "CTA Car Assignments". Chicago-L.org. Archived from the original on 16 March 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-30.  External link in |publisher= (help)
• "2400-series Cars". Chicago-L.org. Archived from the original on 19 April 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-30. 

External links

Media related to 2400 series at Wikimedia Commons