More Rail Moves

[BusHunter]

Looks like there starting to do the rail moves associated with the #5000's arrival. There was a few equipment changes over the weekend. Some more #5000's arrived at Pink line (I'll put the numbers in the #5000's arrive thread) and now the first #3100's from Pink Line are transferring straight to the blue line. I spotted #3187-88 on the Blue line on Sunday. They might have also had #3186-85, but I'm not sure of that yet.

[RJL6000]

It looks like the CTA has taken the more logical route of the 3157-3200 assignments: These cars appear to be headed straight back to the Blue Line (where they had originated on in the first place). By early 2012, enough 2200s will have been retired from the system to enable all off-peak Blue Line service to be operated entirely with 2600-series equipment. (Currently, many of the light-traffic-period four-car consists still have one pair of 2200s and one pair of 2600s.) Additional 2600s from the Purple and Red lines will be added to the Blue Line fleet over the next two years to make room for the Red Line receiving the 5000s.

[BusHunter]

It looks like the CTA has taken the more logical route of the 3157-3200 assignments: These cars appear to be headed straight back to the Blue Line (where they had originated on in the first place). By early 2012, enough 2200s will have been retired from the system to enable all off-peak Blue Line service to be operated entirely with 2600-series equipment. (Currently, many of the light-traffic-period four-car consists still have one pair of 2200s and one pair of 2600s.) Additional 2600s from the Purple and Red lines will be added to the Blue Line fleet over the next two years to make room for the Red Line receiving the 5000s.

It looks like what's going to happen is this. The #3100's come from Pink leaving around 90 #2200's on the blue. The #5000's go to green retiring there #2400's. The best of the #2400's left on the green will go to purple giving them a mixed fleet of #2400's. By that time both #2400's and #2200's will be half eliminated. Then Red gets there #5000's and passes there old cars to both the purple and blue eliminating all the pre 1980's cars. That would be around when the Red receives the 160th #5000 car. Then everything after that retires #2600's, which would mean the purple line #2600 cars would just retire when they get #5000's.

[Sam92]

I was half-kidding about a "more rail moves" thread but the half of me that was serious didn't think it would come this soon.

[csl3407]

Yellow Line:(Updated 6/12/11)

2200-Series Cars(Budd 1969-1970)

No Cars assigned to this Line

2400-Series Cars(Boeing-Vertol 1976-1978)

No Cars assigned to this Line

2600-Series Cars(Budd 1981-1987)

2893-2894,2895-2896,2897-2898

3200-Series Cars(Morrison-Knudsen 1991-1994)

No Cars assigned to this Line

5000-Series Cars(Bombardier 2009-????)

No Cars assigned to this Line

Yellow line hasn't had 2893-2894,2895-2896,2897-2898 for at least several weeks. They started going to Skokie in September for use as the Holiday Train. Yellow Line has 2889-2892 and 2899-2900 currently.

[csl3407]

Pink Line:(Updated 6/12/11)

2200-Series Cars(Budd 1969-1970)

No Cars assigned to this Line

2400-Series Cars(Boeing-Vertol 1976-1978)

No Cars assigned to this Line

2600-Series Cars(Budd 1981-1987)

3157-3158,3159-3160,3161-3162,3163-3164,3165-3166,3167-3168,3169-3170,3171-3172,3173-3174,

3175-3176,3177-3178,3179-3180,3181-3182,3183-3184,3185-3186,3187-3188,3189-3190,3191-3192,

3193-3194,3195-3196,3197-3198,3199-3200

3200-Series Cars(Morrison-Knudsen 1991-1994)

No Cars assigned to this Line

5000-Series Cars(Bombardier 2009-????)

5001-5002,5003-5004,5005-5006,5007-5008,5009-5010,5011-5012,5013-5014,5015-5016,5017-5018,

5019-5020,5021-5022,5023-5024,5025-5026,5027-5028,5029-5030,5031-5032,5033-5034,5035-5036,

5037-5038,5039-5040,5041-5042,5043-5044,5045-5046,5047-5048,5049-5050,5051-5052,5053-5054,

5055-5056,5057-5058,5059-5060,5061-5062,5063-5064,5065-5066

Not all Cars assigned or delivered yet. Assignments may vary...

As of today, Pink Line has these 2600s:

3157-3184, 3157-3184 3189-3190, 3193-3200 (38 total) (corrected)

and these 5000s:

5001-5002, 5013-5014, 5015-5016, 5019-5020, 5021-5022, 5023-5024, 5037-5046, 5049-5062, 5065-5068 (40 total)

(5001-5002, 5013-5014, 5021-5022 are training consists)

[sw4400]

As of today, Pink Line has these 2600s:

3157-3184, 3157-3184, 3193-3200 (38 total)

and these 5000s:

5001-5002, 5013-5014, 5015-5016, 5019-5020, 5021-5022, 5023-5024, 5037-5046, 5049-5062, 5065-5068 (40 total)

(5001-5002, 5013-5014, 5021-5022 are training consists)

3185-3192 are assigned to the Blue Line now?

[csl3407]

3185-3192 are assigned to the Blue Line now?

No, see correction.

But 3185-88 and 3191-92 are assigned to Blue Line

[Sam92]

As of today, Pink Line has these 2600s:

3157-3184, 3157-3184 3189-3190, 3193-3200 (38 total) (corrected)

and these 5000s:

5001-5002, 5013-5014, 5015-5016, 5019-5020, 5021-5022, 5023-5024, 5037-5046, 5049-5062, 5065-5068 (40 total)

(5001-5002, 5013-5014, 5021-5022 are training consists)

Looks like the Pink Line is almost at it's full fleet if they plan on keeping the same number of cars in service that they do now (44).

[BusHunter]

Looks like the Pink Line is almost at it's full fleet if they plan on keeping the same number of cars in service that they do now (44).

Looks like the Pink may hang on to some of the #2600's for a while. There up to 3 #5000 trains in service now. Depending on when they put out the rest of them should decide the #2600's future.

[ArcherRider]

I saw 2479-2480 and 2487-2488 on the Purple Line last week. So it is not on the Green Line anymore.

[RJL6000]

I saw 2479-2480 and 2487-2488 on the Purple Line last week. So it is not on the Green Line anymore.

It is possible that those cars were sent there to compensate for the Purple Line's loss of a couple of 2400-series units. In turn, the Green Line fleet is kept at full strength by the temporary transfer of a few 2600s from the Blue Line. (By the way, the six Blue Line 2600s that were on the Green Line a couple of weeks ago were (in numerical order) 3015-3016, 3045-3046 and 3111-3112 (I was wrong about 3119-3120).)

Nonetheless, the 5000s should arrive on the Green Line (at least the Harlem and Loomis yards) within the next few weeks. However, the 5000s aren't expected to officially enter revenue service on the Green Line until late January or early February.

[qwantae]

Nonetheless, the 5000s should arrive on the Green Line (at least the Harlem and Loomis yards) within the next few weeks. However, the 5000s aren't expected to officially enter revenue service on the Green Line until late January or early February.

So is it after when Pink Line will be 100% Of 5000s, then 5000s will start to come to Green Line with Pink Line transfers all their 1987 (late 2600s) models and some Red Line 2600s to Blue Line to replace 2200s Budd ?

[ChicagoNova]

So is it after when Pink Line will be 100% Of 5000s, then 5000s will start to come to Green Line with Pink Line transfers all their 1987 (late 2600s) models and some Red Line 2600s to Blue Line to replace 2200s Budd ?

I can personally imagine all of the Pink Line's 2600s going to the Blue Line.

[RJL6000]

I can personally imagine all of the Pink Line's 2600s going to the Blue Line.

Looks that way. Also, the Red and Purple lines (Howard Yard) will receive those Green Line 2400s that are in better shape when the Green Line starts receiving 5000s. This will enable some of the Red Line 2600s (most likely the lowest-numbered, and therefore oldest, 2600s) to be moved to the Blue Line, retiring all remaining 2200s. Then, when the Red Line begins receiving 5000s (after the Green Line gets 100% 5000s), the retirement of all remaining 2400s from passenger service will commence. At some point in the midst of the Red Line's reception of 5000s, the Purple Line will be all 2600s for the time being. Then, the Orange Line is next to receive 5000s; at that point, retirement of the oldest 2600s will likely commence, being replaced in the Blue Line fleet with the Orange Line 3200s. In the end, after all of the lines slated for 5000s gets them, the Blue Line will become the only line to still have 2600s in its fleet as well as the only line to operate with mixed 2600- and 3200-series equipment.

The above scenario is the most prudent because it keeps equipment swapping to a minimum.

[ArcherRider]

It is Red Line short of operate train because I saw 2951-2952 and 2953-2954 on the Red Line this afternoon.

[sw4400]

It is Red Line short of operate train because I saw 2951-2952 and 2953-2954 on the Red Line this afternoon.

2889-2890, 2891-2892 and 2899-2900 are operating on the Yellow Line while 2893-2894, 2895-2896, 2897-2898 are working for the rest of this month and most of next month as the Holiday Train.

[artthouwill]

Last night I saw 2 3200 series trains normally assigned to the Brown Line(8 car consists) heading northbound on Green Line tracks, I assume from the Loomis Yard. When I got to Harlem, then I saw a 3200 series train (8 car consist) normally used on the Orange Line come out of the Harlem Yard and proceed toward downtown. None of the trains were in revenue service.

[sw4400]

Last night I saw 2 3200 series trains normally assigned to the Brown Line(8 car consists) heading northbound on Green Line tracks, I assume from the Loomis Yard. When I got to Harlem, then I saw a 3200 series train (8 car consist) normally used on the Orange Line come out of the Harlem Yard and proceed toward downtown. None of the trains were in revenue service.

This puts a bit of stock in the possibility of the Brown Line becoming all 5000-Series in the near future. the 3200-Series cars from Kimball can be transferred to the Loomis or the 63rd Yard which can effectively start retiring the 2400-Series or complete retirement of the 2200-Series cars by transferring some 2400's to the Blue Line while the 5000-Series next batch start coming to Kimball Yard when the Brown Line is shut down nightly around 2-3a.

[RJL6000]

This puts a bit of stock in the possibility of the Brown Line becoming all 5000-Series in the near future. the 3200-Series cars from Kimball can be transferred to the Loomis or the 63rd Yard which can effectively start retiring the 2400-Series or complete retirement of the 2200-Series cars by transferring some 2400's to the Blue Line while the 5000-Series next batch start coming to Kimball Yard when the Brown Line is shut down nightly around 2-3a.

Again, this is unlikely because the Brown Line has a lot more sharp turns than most other CTA lines (including the Green Line). However, the temporary assignment of the 3200s on the Green Line is plausible because that line is once again short on operable 2400s (and will be short on operable 2400s for at least the remainder of this holiday season). Plus, the 3200s are used on the Green Line only when they're really needed. So, the 3200s are at both Harlem and Ashland yards primarily on standby.

In addition, the Kimball Yard is currently short on space. Hence, the 3200s that are not needed that day on the Brown and/or Orange lines are stored at a yard where there is extra capacity (in this case, the Harlem and/or Ashland yards).

[ryanbytes]

I saw a training train made up of 2600s puling into the Brown line Kedzie stop this afternoon. As a brown line rider I really hope we don't lose our 3200s!

[sw4400]

I saw a training train made up of 2600s puling into the Brown line Kedzie stop this afternoon. As a brown line rider I really hope we don't lose our 3200s!

I don't understand the need for a Rail Instruction Train of 2600's when the Brown Line had some 2600's in the past (2993-2994,2995-2996,2997-2998,2999-3000,3001-3002, and of course 3458(ex-3032).

[RJL6000]

I saw a training train made up of 2600s puling into the Brown line Kedzie stop this afternoon. As a brown line rider I really hope we don't lose our 3200s!

More often than not, "training trains" are used for new operator hires to familiarize themselves with the CTA rail system.

[BusHunter]

Again, this is unlikely because the Brown Line has a lot more sharp turns than most other CTA lines (including the Green Line). However, the temporary assignment of the 3200s on the Green Line is plausible because that line is once again short on operable 2400s (and will be short on operable 2400s for at least the remainder of this holiday season). Plus, the 3200s are used on the Green Line only when they're really needed. So, the 3200s are at both Harlem and Ashland yards primarily on standby.

In addition, the Kimball Yard is currently short on space. Hence, the 3200s that are not needed that day on the Brown and/or Orange lines are stored at a yard where there is extra capacity (in this case, the Harlem and/or Ashland yards).

I was thinking when the Green line does get all #5000's, I wonder if they would need 120 cars, like they do now. I know the Blue line usually has 30 #2200 cars laying around Forest Park and Rosemont yard in the rush periods. With the equipment so bad at the green line (no plausible substitution with one type of old car stationed there) I'm surprised there not sending some #5000's there way before the weather gets too bad.

[BusHunter]

I saw a training train made up of 2600s puling into the Brown line Kedzie stop this afternoon. As a brown line rider I really hope we don't lose our 3200s!

Maybe someone has put there thinking cap on at CTA. The Brown line should lose a few #3200's to Blue line (maybe after green line gets some #5000's) perhaps with a small #2600/#3200 swap. It seems ridiculous to have newer type trains sitting in a yard, when they have older ones running 24/7. I still say the #2600's should become what the #6000's and 5-50's were in the late 80's - early 90's, a rush hour only equipment. I'm still surprised the Purple line is slated to get all #5000's, when 80 percent of the time most of the trains are not in service. Most likely those will head to red when the 130th street expansion gets going. I wouldn't be surprised if the blue line would then give back it's #3200's to Purple giving them all old trains.