Unusual Red Line Sighting

[juelzkellz]

Today and once last week I spotted a Red Line train with all #2600's and Brown Line Belmont signs. The first time, I spotted the train leaving 95th around 6:00 last week and today arriving into Roosevelt around 6:25-6:30. Both trains were northbound trains during AM rush. Any explanations?

[chicagopcclcar]

I have heard that two "gap trains" are running from Belmont to subway.  They stage on track one north of Clark Tower and then go into service as needed.  Remember, track is not used due to construction at Wilson. And they use 2600s.  This is the best I can guess. "Gap trains" have run all through the system of the "L". 

[chicagopcclcar]

You might look for these run numbers.... runs X842 & X843. Would these be north side crews, deadheading to 95th St. then running in service to Belmont? I'm completely out of touch with today's run numbers. LOL. When I motored run 847 was the last midnight.

[klabstep]

You might look for these run numbers.... runs X842 & X843. Would these be north side crews, deadheading to 95th St. then running in service to Belmont? I'm completely out of touch with today's run numbers. LOL. When I motored run 847 was the last midnight.

841 is the last midnight out of Howard today.  842 and above are used when special events or baseball games are going on.  The two sets staged at Addison would be 9 something, for 95th.

[chicagopcclcar]

Klabstep, thanks for this information. So using high performance rail cars allows fewer crews to deliver service even when the line is longer.  Of course, the interval is longer. In the PCC days, the north side runs left earlier because the south side had fewer yard capacity. I'm talking about the North-South, Howard-Englewood, Jackson Park. Do they still have the deadheads, operator reports and rides to opposite terminal without working...."run lite." How about "swing runs"?

[klabstep]

Klabstep, thanks for this information. So using high performance rail cars allows fewer crews to deliver service even when the line is longer.  Of course, the interval is longer. In the PCC days, the north side runs left earlier because the south side had fewer yard capacity. I'm talking about the North-South, Howard-Englewood, Jackson Park. Do they still have the deadheads, operator reports and rides to opposite terminal without working...."run lite." How about "swing runs"?

In the new pick 801 starts at 5 AM, instead of 4:30 ish.  Yes there are still deadheads and swings.

[Brandon93]

In the new pick 801 starts at 5 AM, instead of 4:30 ish.  Yes there are still deadheads and swings.

I'm aware of the picks for the buses, but I didn't know rail had a pick recently.

[chicagopcclcar]

841 is the last midnight out of Howard today.  842 and above are used when special events or baseball games are going on.  The two sets staged at Addison would be 9 something, for 95th.

I don't get up that early but a source tells that even though the trains begin at 95th, they have numbers in the eights, not the nines.  842 leaves 95th at 6am and 843 leaves 95th about 15 minutes later.  They lay up at Belmont and go back south to 95th. 

[chicagopcclcar]

Reported today one is now 5000s.

[Rahm's denim shirt]

I can confirm that today 843 was a consist of 5000s, staged at Addison around 7:40? The other one was 2600s. 843 was in front (south) of the other consist. 

Odd considering this is one of the only times I've rode the Red Line at that hour, and didn't get the "pleasure" of seeing two 2600 consists.