sw4400 Posted November 14, 2014 Report Share Posted November 14, 2014 Should be seeing a Press Release about the Holiday Train soon. Last year, the train debuted on Friday, 11/29/13(day after Thanksgiving). It should do the same thing this year, so 11/28/14 will be the debut of the "Santa's Express" 'L' Train. Countdown To The Ho-Ho-Holiday Train 2014: 1 Day!!! http://youtu.be/kSyx6DaUwxA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juniorz Posted November 14, 2014 Report Share Posted November 14, 2014 Exactly. If an announcement isn't made this week, expect it by next next week by Wednesday November 19th. Here's hoping that the "SC" display board returns to the front of the train this year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted November 21, 2014 Report Share Posted November 21, 2014 https://twitter.com/cta/status/535810327892750336 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted November 21, 2014 Report Share Posted November 21, 2014 Okay, wrong thread... that would be the new Holiday Bus. But here's the train information: http://www.transitchicago.com/holidaytrain/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTRSP1900-CTA3200 Posted November 21, 2014 Report Share Posted November 21, 2014 Official Facebook announcement by the CTA. Kevin has the train info above. https://www.facebook.com/thecta/posts/750480438374915 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajm522 Posted November 26, 2014 Report Share Posted November 26, 2014 The holiday train is on the rails (guess training or positioning) right now, just went past Adams and Wabash southbound... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juniorz Posted November 26, 2014 Report Share Posted November 26, 2014 Must be going to Midway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter.pyterek Posted November 26, 2014 Report Share Posted November 26, 2014 Must be going to MidwayOr 63rd Street. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juniorz Posted November 26, 2014 Report Share Posted November 26, 2014 All Holiday Train runs from the Green Line will pull-out/pull-in from the Midway Yard. This began in 2012 and has been the practice since then. Green Line Holiday Runs used to originate from the Linden Yard (hence there aren't anymore merged Green/Purple Line Express runs during the Green Line's operation of the Holiday Train). This is due to security, so that holiday train you saw this afternoon going southbound is laying up at the Midway Yard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sw4400 Posted November 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2014 Schedules linked to Rail Rosters page for 11/28, 11/29 and 12/2(Green & Orange) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTRSP1900-CTA3200 Posted November 28, 2014 Report Share Posted November 28, 2014 Just saw it about to end its maiden voyage on the Orange/Green Lines. Saw it from a distance at Oak Park. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juniorz Posted November 30, 2014 Report Share Posted November 30, 2014 If you were anticipating for a new decal scheme for the holiday train this year, than expect to be sadly disappointed. Apparently, the CTA wanted to cut back on decorating the train and used the decal scheme from the 2013 train to dress up this year's train. Now, that's not a bad thing in my opinion, but i was anticipating for the legendary "SC" display board to return to the front and rear ends on the train. I'll still come out and see the train, but knowing that i'll be seeing deja vu this season Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juniorz Posted November 30, 2014 Report Share Posted November 30, 2014 I noticed lights on the windshield in-between the 2nd and the 3rd cars. That should count for a new change. DH Really.............LOL!!!!!! I'm just thankful that there is even a holiday train period, I was anticipating for a new decal scheme, but i guess taking shots of the same train is ok too, gives time for more location shots Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sw4400 Posted December 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2014 Who doesn't like the Holiday Train? Everyone in Chicago seems to!!! https://www.facebook.com/thecta/photos/ms.c.eJw1ycENACAIA8CNjJQWuv9kJqjPy7WUZLJtC1w9JgMI09~_bksJ6zppX~;cf9PIUFEBQ~-.bps.a.754734771282815/755344361221856/?type=1&theater I anticipate similar crowds for the Holiday Bus debuting in a few more days... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted December 1, 2014 Report Share Posted December 1, 2014 Who doesn't like the Holiday Train? Everyone in Chicago seems to!!! https://www.facebook.com/thecta/photos/ms.c.eJw1ycENACAIA8CNjJQWuv9kJqjPy7WUZLJtC1w9JgMI09~_bksJ6zppX~;cf9PIUFEBQ~-.bps.a.754734771282815/755344361221856/?type=1&theater I anticipate similar crowds for the Holiday Bus debuting in a few more days... Unless they are all on 30-day passes, CTA must be making some money on this, as well as collecting food for the needy. Especially if the Green Line is that packed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sw4400 Posted December 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2014 New schedules are going up, now for the Brown & Orange Lines!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rotjohns Posted December 3, 2014 Report Share Posted December 3, 2014 Just saw the holiday train at Roosevelt and State. Very cool! I hate I was in my car so I couldn't get pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBrunswickBowler Posted December 7, 2014 Report Share Posted December 7, 2014 I was at Midway for the Holiday Train and it looked cool! But I didn't like the fact that it started from Kimball. Midway was WAY crowded and they had people waiting outside of the doors in the cold. They had 2897-2898 completely outside of the station to get Santa's flatbed away from the stairs. Also, when on the train, there was no elbow room at all. It was way over crowded and I think these problems would've been resolved if the train originated from Midway like it has in the past years. Overall, I thought the train was cool, just too crowded from Midway to Roosevelt (I got off at Roosevelt). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juniorz Posted December 7, 2014 Report Share Posted December 7, 2014 I was at Midway for the Holiday Train and it looked cool! But I didn't like the fact that it started from Kimball. Midway was WAY crowded and they had people waiting outside of the doors in the cold. They had 2897-2898 completely outside of the station to get Santa's flatbed away from the stairs. Also, when on the train, there was no elbow room at all. It was way over crowded and I think these problems would've been resolved if the train originated from Midway like it has in the past years. Overall, I thought the train was cool, just too crowded from Midway to Roosevelt (I got off at Roosevelt). Just a future suggestion: Never ride the Holiday Train on Saturdays!!!!!!!!!! These are Santa Photo days and the Train is anticipated to become over capacity with Families in attendance. Best suggestion is to ride and get good shots of the train this upcoming Tuesday and Wednesday on the Pink Line. After that, tough luck on enjoying the train as it will round out it's run on the "Money Routes" the Blue and Red Lines Also, if the train looks very familiar, it's because its the same decal wrap from the 2013 Holiday Train, so there will be a difficult time in the future to tell the difference between the 2013 and 2014 Holiday Train's because of the decal scheme. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBrunswickBowler Posted December 7, 2014 Report Share Posted December 7, 2014 Just a future suggestion: Never ride the Holiday Train on Saturdays!!!!!!!!!! These are Santa Photo days and the Train is anticipated to become over capacity with Families in attendance. Best suggestion is to ride and get good shots of the train this upcoming Tuesday and Wednesday on the Pink Line. After that, tough luck on enjoying the train as it will round out it's run on the "Money Routes" the Blue and Red Lines Also, if the train looks very familiar, it's because its the same decal wrap from the 2013 Holiday Train, so there will be a difficult time in the future to tell the difference between the 2013 and 2014 Holiday Train's because of the decal scheme. I think they left 2893-2898 at Skokie Shops over the winter of 2013- winter of 2014... But I could be wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTRSP1900-CTA3200 Posted December 7, 2014 Report Share Posted December 7, 2014 Just a future suggestion: Never ride the Holiday Train on Saturdays!!!!!!!!!! These are Santa Photo days and the Train is anticipated to become over capacity with Families in attendance. Best suggestion is to ride and get good shots of the train this upcoming Tuesday and Wednesday on the Pink Line... I actually did both for two different years. I rode the Brown-Orange Line combo on a Saturday, and I rode the Pink Line run on a weekday. Both were very pleasant rides. The trick for the Saturday run is to board at Kimball, and if you have no business with Santa, just make a dash for the train car you want. For the Pink Line, there weren't many people to begin with, so I instantly got the "railfan" seat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juniorz Posted December 10, 2014 Report Share Posted December 10, 2014 Season's Greeting's from the CTA's Annual Virtual Christmas Card https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCPtQ4ySPuw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusHunter Posted December 11, 2014 Report Share Posted December 11, 2014 It was dead heading this evening through the Dearborn Subway en route to Rosemont. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juniorz Posted December 11, 2014 Report Share Posted December 11, 2014 Here it come's, the Grand Finale on the "Money Route's". Today was the last day to getting that "comfortable" ride on the Holiday Train on the Pink Line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TripleTransit1 Posted December 15, 2014 Report Share Posted December 15, 2014 With less of two weeks to go, here's some shots of this years trips. The Holiday Train on a deadhead trip from 54th to Forest Park on the incline between the Pink and the Blue lines. The "Man" himself aboard the flat car as the Holiday Train runs into yard at the Brown line Kimball terminal. Motorist catch a friendly wave from Santa himself as the CTA Holiday Train streaks over Interstate 90- 94, the Kennedy Expressway. Four out of eight CTA lines feature surface operations including the Brown line which is entirely within the city. Here the Holiday Train, Santa, and the six cars descend. Santa, the six cars descend to the ground on the Pink line. I'm pretty sure Santa was nervous about climbing that Congress incline. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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