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.

[Bus1883]

On 12/17/2024 at 8:46 AM, Busjack said:

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.

Just plain odd and frustrating lol, It was better pre-2018 wise 3200s fit better on the Orange Line, Blue Line should of just stayed with all 2600s until the 7000s arrive, luckily the 3200s are DC powered to help cover the full route from lack of power, while in the mix a lot of Blue Line riders were complaining about being neglected from having new cars which Blue haven’t seen since the 80s, another reason is the pretty frequent breakdowns the 2600s were having which force CTA to send down newer equipment for the most part as well to alleviate crowding. 

Originally CTA sent around 100 cars down to Blue from the Brown and Orange Lines along with 22 5000s from the Red Line for 100 2600s to the Brown and Orange Lines which those ran and are currently running two trips between UIC and Jefferson Park then to 54th yard but start service at Racine en route to Jefferson Park. Around some 30 days later the last of the 3200s were kicked from the Orange Line in October 2018, however the 7000s were originally expected to go to the Orange Line to retire their 2600s there but that has backfired from the looks while they are going to the Blue instead. As of last year, around 50 3200s were sent down to the Blue Line in exchange of the same amount of 2600s to the Brown Line and a few to the Orange. The procession of removing the remaining 2600s from the Blue Line is happening at a descent pace.

[Bus1883]

On 12/13/2024 at 6:14 PM, NovaBusFan said:

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

Wish I can answer that, but at Midway as @garmon757pointed out they are on maintenance hold for Orange Line service. Credits to him

[Erin Mishkin Jr.]

This is currently what's at Harlem yard from the Orange Line this winter that I saw (so far)

2679-2680

2783-2784

2877-2878

2883-2884

2889-2890

[Bus1883]

2637-38 and 3113-14 is a few more I caught at 98th yard. 2647-48 and 3147-48 are another set of cars on maintenance hold at Midway as well.

[NovaBusFan]

On 3/7/2024 at 9:54 AM, garmon757 said:

 

Maintenance hold per the Midway Shop. They’re slated as transfers for Orange Line service.

As of today I went to midway and they are still there in the same spot since 

[Busjack]

Some of them are meeting their maker:

[andrethebusman]

24 2600's to Scrap Metal Services in 2024:

2632/2721 3/6

2657-2658 2/13

2691-2692 10/15, 10/16

2693-2694 5/21, 5/22

2695-2696 8/1

2717-2718 5/6

2813-2814 3/27, 4/2

2831-2832 7/25, 7/26

2887-2888 6/27

2935-2936 7/12

3025-3026 12/10, 12/13

3185-3186 7/30, 7/31

[Bus1883]

5 hours ago, Busjack said:

Some of them are meeting their maker:

Could brown line be next to retire a few of theirs? I’m guessing it may be the ones stored down south 

[Bob65]

Blue Line 2600s: 58
2745-46
2819-20
2863-64
2929-30
2945-46
2965-66
2979-3112
3011-12
3019-20
3033-34
3035-36
3057-58
3069-70
3073-74
3075-76
3077-78
3095-96
3099-3100
3115-16
3125-26
3127-28
3131-32
3133-34
3135-36
3151-52
3163-64
3165-66
3181-82
3195-96

[Bus1883]

1 hour ago, Bob65 said:

Blue Line 2600s: 58
2745-46
2819-20
2863-64
2929-30
2945-46
2965-66
2979-3112
3011-12
3019-20
3033-34
3035-36
3057-58
3069-70
3073-74
3075-76
3077-78
3095-96
3099-3100
3115-16
3125-26
3127-28
3131-32
3133-34
3135-36
3151-52
3163-64
3165-66
3181-82
3195-96

3133-34 are brown line cars

[Erin Mishkin Jr.]

5 hours ago, Bob65 said:

Blue Line 2600s: 58
2745-46
2819-20
2863-64
2929-30
2945-46
2965-66
2979-3112
3011-12
3019-20
3033-34
3035-36
3057-58
3069-70
3073-74
3075-76
3077-78
3095-96
3099-3100
3115-16
3125-26
3127-28
3131-32
3133-34
3135-36
3151-52
3163-64
3165-66
3181-82
3195-96

2993-2994

3089-3090

Also active

3035-3036 retired years ago

3057-3058 are orange

[Erin Mishkin Jr.]

This week I just saw these on the orange line that just arrived from blue

2841-2842

3081-3082

2903-2904

[Bus1883]

13 hours ago, Erin Mishkin Jr. said:

This week I just saw these on the orange line that just arrived from blue

2841-2842

3081-3082

2903-2904

Actually 2841-42 and 3081-82 been there. I mentioned those above

[Erin Mishkin Jr.]

6 hours ago, Bus1883 said:

Actually 2841-42 and 3081-82 been there. I mentioned those above

Yea I didn’t realize that till now 

[Javi75]

Given recent updates with 7000s assignments on the blue line reaching the 200 mark and the line currently having approximately 220 3200s in service. Is it accurate to say the 2600s will be off the line by the summer? I’m estimating the number of 3200s on the blue line based off of me frequently riding the brown line. This would be a significant milestone for the blue line after 40 years of 2600s. When the 2600s retirements do come and they do the farewell trains I wonder which lines are going to get picked for the farewell tour. 

[artthouwill]

1 hour ago, Javi75 said:

Given recent updates with 7000s assignments on the blue line reaching the 200 mark and the line currently having approximately 220 3200s in service. Is it accurate to say the 2600s will be off the line by the summer? I’m estimating the number of 3200s on the blue line based off of me frequently riding the brown line. This would be a significant milestone for the blue line after 40 years of 2600s. When the 2600s retirements do come and they do the farewell trains I wonder which lines are going to get picked for the farewell tour. 

I guess that depends on how fast subsequent deliveries of 7000s arrive and enter service.   Eventually we will see the 3200s start returning to the Brown Line and then the Orange Line.