CTA RAPID TRANSIT PHOTOS (RETIRED)

Chicago's first elevated trains were hauled by steam locomotives. The Lake Street Elevated Railroad's steam locomotives were 0-4-4T's built by the Rhode Island Locomotive Works. #9, the "Charles H.", was a typical such locomotive. On September 30, 1997, locomotive was displayed in downtown Chicago in commemoration of the CTA's 50th anniversary. Locomotive is on permanent display at the St. Louis Museum of Transportation.

Between 1922 and 1924, the Chicago Rapid Transit Company acquired 205 steel cars, numbers 4251-4455. Cars 4271 and 4272 have been preserved by the CTA in their original paint scheme, and were operated around the Loop on October 12, 1997, in commemoration of the Loop's 100th anniversary.

The 4000 series cars remained in service until 1973, when the overhead trolley wire on the Evanston route was replaced with third rail. Car 4451, painted in the CTA scheme, is preserved at the Fox River Trolley Museum in South Elgin, IL.

In the 1950's, the CTA modernized most of its fleet with these St. Louis cars, many of them built using components from trade-in PCC streetcars. Cars were in married pairs and numbered 6001-6720. Cars 6101 and 6102 have been preserved at the Fox River Trolley Museum in South Elgin, IL, in their original paint scheme.

Cars 1-50 were similar to the 6000's, but were single unit cars. The doors on these cars were closer to the ends, enabling the motorman to collect fares in certain situations. These cars were painted green and white during most of their lives. After these cars have been retired from regular service, they were used for fan trips and other special movements. Photo taken on April 2, 1997, at the Harlem Avenue terminal of the Lake Street Green Line.

The CTA's first air conditioned cars were the series 2001-2180, delivered in 1964. These cars last operated on the Green Line in 1994, and finished their lives in this current CTA paint scheme. These cars were originally painted green and white. Car 2154 is preserved at the Illinois Railway Museum.

Cars 2007 and 2008 were repainted in 1992 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Chicago's first elevated line, the South Side Rapid Transit. After these cars had been retired from regular service in 1994, they were used for fan trips and other special movements. Photo taken on April 2, 1997, at the Harlem Avenue terminal of the Lake Street Green Line.