2600-series - Updates & Retirements

[Bus1883]

On 11/25/2024 at 2:57 PM, kdavis77 said:

I just wondering if the train cars number 2601-2602 is retiring , should the CTA save them and preservation the ILLINOIS RAILWAY MUSEUM?

I have no clue. When Kimball begins sending their 2600s that’s in the worst shape to scrap hopefully that pair doesn’t become one of them.

[Elkmn]

I believe the IRM has to cover the cost of transporting the train to Union, so preserving a pair of 2600s would depend if the IRM has the resources to transport, store and maintain the set. Personally, I'd like to see 2601-02 preserved alongside 3457-58.

[Bus1883]

On 12/8/2024 at 7:55 PM, Elkmn said:

I believe the IRM has to cover the cost of transporting the train to Union, so preserving a pair of 2600s would depend if the IRM has the resources to transport, store and maintain the set. Personally, I'd like to see 2601-02 preserved alongside 3457-58.

Yes IRM covers the transport cost when buying cars of CTA. There should be a set of 2600s stored there before retirement is completed just like they’ve did the 2400s. I visited IRM around August 2014 and #2433-34 were already there a few months ahead before the last remaining 2400s were removed from service on October 31st.

[NovaBusFan]

Does anyone know why there’s 2600s OOS scattered out throughout the system are they bound for scrap?

[Sam92]

7 minutes ago, NovaBusFan said:

Does anyone know why there’s 2600s OOS scattered out throughout the system are they bound for scrap?

Depends. What was on the blue line is probably headed for scrap while orange keeps theirs till retirement

[Mr.NewFlyer1279]

On 11/9/2024 at 7:01 PM, Mr.NewFlyer1279 said:

there’s a few 2600’s at howard yard possibly awaiting for moving to skokie, 2719-2720, 3067-3068, 2655-2656 and a few more that i couldn’t make out the number

these have all possibly ended up at skokie for retirement, the only ones left at Howard’s east yard is 3169-3170 which are work motors.

[Bus1883]

2841-42, 3013-14, 3161-62 & 3187-88 now Orange Line

[Bus1883]

On 12/13/2024 at 6:21 PM, Sam92 said:

Depends. What was on the blue line is probably headed for scrap while orange keeps theirs till retirement

For the most part what’s really going on. The 2600s are being moved from Blue to Orange Line to retire what’s assigned there since 2012 or 14. Every single 2600 that was sent to scrap were Orange Line cars that was in the worst shape. The 8-car 2600s stored in other yards across the system mostly down south also questions me what the future holds for them. Midway looks like they don’t want them🤣

[Busjack]

10 hours ago, Bus1883 said:

For the most part what’s really going on. The 2600s are being moved from Blue to Orange Line to retire what’s assigned there since 2012 or 14. Every single 2600 that was sent to scrap were Orange Line cars that was in the worst shape. The 8-car 2600s stored in other yards across the system mostly down south also questions me what the future holds for them. Midway looks like they don’t want them🤣

My guess is that the answer came from the CTA announcement (Tribune reference) that it was putting 3200s on the Blue Line because they were more dependable, and the 2600s ran adequately on other lines So, it seems to follow that Orange gets the last runs. This seems to have been somewhat confused by the grant announcement and statement in the 2024 Budget that the 9000s were to replace 2600s, but from the 2025 Budget, it seems like it will be more 7000s.

In any event, it seems ironic that the Orange Line, which started with 3200s, got downgraded to 2600s.