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| July Closed A Chicago CTA Era (1239012) | |||
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July Closed A Chicago CTA Era |
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Posted by ChicagoPCCLCars on Fri Aug 2 10:56:16 2013 It was spectulated about for years...2012 was to have been the end for sure...but an edict to reduce crowding delayed it another year...added to that came two suspensions of new car deliveries form Bombardier. Mark your calendars, July 31, 2013 it DID happen, the CTA Budd-built 2200 series of railcars spent their last day in scheduled revenue rail service.Built and entering service in 1969-1970, the cars served a 43 year plus service life, matched only by the trolley equipped 4000s which were needed on the Evanston route until that route converted from trolley wire to third rail in the 70s. Originally a 150 car order that opened two expressway median routes in Chicago, the Dan Ryan (West-South) route and the Kennedy (West-Northwest) route, the fleet diminished to 144 over the years with fires and crashes. On the final July date, ten cars were operational out of Rosemont Yard on the Blue line. Besides the stainless steel corrugated body style, the cars were unique for having the last "blinker doors", a Chicago heavy rail exclusive. In later years to accomodate ADA riders, the cars were paired with 2600 series cars that had sliding doors. In eight car trains the 2200s always were in the belly position, but on the weekends when four car trains were run, a 2200 paired could be found in the lead position. In 2012, the Red line (Howard-Dan Ryan) began receiving new 5000 series AC cars and its displaced 2600 Budd cars were transferred to the Blue line to finally send the 2200s into retirement. At an undisclosed date, 2200s no longer were used on four car trains over the weekends, leading up to the quiet departure completely on July 31, when the two Blue line yards had enough 2600 series cars to handle all weekday assignments. The end had occurred. Sources state that a commemorative train of eight cars will be operated on Thursday, August 8. The train will run as an extra in between two regularly scheduled trains. The CTA to date has not made an official announcement. Here are some photos in the later years I've taken. A pair of 2200s are outfitted as a switchmen/operators' trainroom in the 61st St yard to serve Green line operators. The 61st St yard was reactivated during the five month shutdown of the Ryan Red line with Red line trains rerouted to the Green line tracks to Ashland/63  A four car charter for IRM is shown on the 63rd St. branch of the Green line on a cold winter-type day.  This shot of an IRM Snowflake charter at Midway catches the flash from the last trolley shoe as the charter makes a move to the yard.  A photoline at the Clinton station on the Green line catches the Snowflake chartert at a place where the 2200s actually ran in service when the cars were assigned to the West-South (Lake-Dan Ryan).  CTA trains have featured unpainted stainless steel for decades. On the far track at Midway terminal is a 3200 series revenue train of the Orange line waiting for the starting bell while our 2200 charter sits on the lay-up track.  A NB Blue line train has its 2200s in the belly position as the train leaves the Medical District station and passes beneath the Pink line.  A shot of the 2200s filling both "belly" positions on the elevated alongside Milwaukee Ave. This structure is original Metropolitan West Side Elevated from 1895.  The same shot taken from Western-Milwaukee with a tele lens with the downtown background.  David Harrison |
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