wayfaringrob Posted July 30 Report Share Posted July 30 40 minutes ago, Rhys Pate said: What is the estimate on when the 2600s will be completely retired? 2 years? How many remain in service currently? Is it time for the Illinois Railway Museum to acquire a pair(s) of 2600s that are in good condition for preservation? At the end, when the retirement process is completed, will there be a special train of 2600s like when the 2200s retirement process was completed in 2013? When will 2600s be added to the Heritage Fleet? Off the top of my head: there were slightly fewer than 500 when the 7000s started coming in. The base order (400) would not be enough to retire them even if CTA weren't trying to expand its fleet. Since they are, I'd imagine they will hold onto some 2600s as "expansion" cars even after enough options come in to replace them 1:1 (about 100 more cars). In fact, they are going to be rehabbing about 100 of them for this purpose (I believe) since it will take some time to increase the fleet to the number they need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhys Pate Posted July 30 Report Share Posted July 30 45 minutes ago, wayfaringrob said: Off the top of my head: there were slightly fewer than 500 when the 7000s started coming in. The base order (400) would not be enough to retire them even if CTA weren't trying to expand its fleet. Since they are, I'd imagine they will hold onto some 2600s as "expansion" cars even after enough options come in to replace them 1:1 (about 100 more cars). In fact, they are going to be rehabbing about 100 of them for this purpose (I believe) since it will take some time to increase the fleet to the number they need. What source says that there will be 2600s that will be rehabbed as “expansion cars?” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bus1883 Posted July 30 Report Share Posted July 30 6 minutes ago, Rhys Pate said: What source says that there will be 2600s that will be rehabbed as “expansion cars?” 51 minutes ago, wayfaringrob said: Off the top of my head: there were slightly fewer than 500 when the 7000s started coming in. The base order (400) would not be enough to retire them even if CTA weren't trying to expand its fleet. Since they are, I'd imagine they will hold onto some 2600s as "expansion" cars even after enough options come in to replace them 1:1 (about 100 more cars). In fact, they are going to be rehabbing about 100 of them for this purpose (I believe) since it will take some time to increase the fleet to the number they need. Definitely don’t see them rehabbing 100 cars again to see 50 years, these cars need to go regardless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayfaringrob Posted July 30 Report Share Posted July 30 2 hours ago, Rhys Pate said: What source says that there will be 2600s that will be rehabbed as “expansion cars?” Pages 62 (pdf 76) and 72 (pdf 86) of this year's budget. My 100 number seems to be off. Sounds like up to 200 of them could even get AC motors along with the 3200s. I would guess that that would only happen, though, if for some reason they cannot get more 7000s, but it is budgeted for. Reading the tea leaves, there won't be a 9000 series anytime soon, either (see this thread)--perhaps leading to this last resort move to keep 2600s running longer if needed. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.cta85 Posted August 12 Report Share Posted August 12 On 7/30/2025 at 3:33 PM, wayfaringrob said: Pages 62 (pdf 76) and 72 (pdf 86) of this year's budget. My 100 number seems to be off. Sounds like up to 200 of them could even get AC motors along with the 3200s. I would guess that that would only happen, though, if for some reason they cannot get more 7000s, but it is budgeted for. Reading the tea leaves, there won't be a 9000 series anytime soon, either (see this thread)--perhaps leading to this last resort move to keep 2600s running longer if needed. With the regenerating of power back into the 3rd raid like the 5000 and 7000’s series do, I wonder will that upgrade make the 26 and 3200’s electronically compatible with the newer cars. Not saying it would even happen if it was able but still curious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted August 12 Report Share Posted August 12 33 minutes ago, Mr.cta85 said: With the regenerating of power back into the 3rd raid like the 5000 and 7000’s series do, I wonder will that upgrade make the 26 and 3200’s electronically compatible with the newer cars. Not saying it would even happen if it was able but still curious. Regenerative could be either AC or DC; the question is how they would regulate braking over gaps in the third rail. Even if the controllers were made compatible, there would be other issues, such as different numbers of pins in the couplers governing such things as the electronic signs. It was specified that the signs on the 3200s use the same train wires that were already on those cars, it seems not only to work with the two knobs, but also so they could be coupled with 2600s, but it is unlikely that the same arrangement was made on 5000s and 7000s. But I guess we should leave it to the engineers, if it has gone as far as from the budget office to the engineering office. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garmon757 Posted August 13 Report Share Posted August 13 23 hours ago, Mr.cta85 said: With the regenerating of power back into the 3rd raid like the 5000 and 7000’s series do, I wonder will that upgrade make the 26 and 3200’s electronically compatible with the newer cars. Not saying it would even happen if it was able but still curious. 22 hours ago, Busjack said: Regenerative could be either AC or DC; the question is how they would regulate braking over gaps in the third rail. Even if the controllers were made compatible, there would be other issues, such as different numbers of pins in the couplers governing such things as the electronic signs. It was specified that the signs on the 3200s use the same train wires that were already on those cars, it seems not only to work with the two knobs, but also so they could be coupled with 2600s, but it is unlikely that the same arrangement was made on 5000s and 7000s. But I guess we should leave it to the engineers, if it has gone as far as from the budget office to the engineering office. You hit it right on the nose alongside with the 5000s hydraulic system and propulsion system would be conflicting if were electronically coupled with any other rail series. It can result to suspension and/or brake propulsion failures. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bus1883 Posted August 23 Report Share Posted August 23 3155-56 and 3167-68 hasn’t ran since early 2025 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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