5000-series - Updates

[BusHunter]

Yeah, yesterday #5349-50 was on the red line. The other day when it ran in service on the yellow line it was having door problems and was taken off the line. Bombardier reps were looking for certain #5000 cars that night and #5349 was one of them. Must have been a quick fix though. Maybe i can upload some pics in a few hours.

[garmon757]

Yeah, yesterday #5349-50 was on the red line. The other day when it ran in service on the yellow line it was having door problems and was taken off the line. Bombardier reps were looking for certain #5000 cars that night and #5349 was one of them. Must have been a quick fix though. Maybe i can upload some pics in a few hours.

Thanks for the info. Yeah, uploading some pics of it would sound cool to see.

[BusHunter]

Thanks for the info. Yeah, uploading some pics of it would sound cool to see.

Here's a few pictures I snapped of #5349-50 when it was on the yellow line, it's first day in service.

[garmon757]

Here's a few pictures I snapped of #5349-50 when it was on the yellow line, it's first day in service.

cta 5349.png

cta5349end.png

cta5350.png

Nice shots of them, thanks. Are they going to continue having the newer ones come out the Howard Yard to operate them on the Yellow Line before they switch them to the Red Line?

[BusHunter]

Seems to be the pattern lately. Maybe they want them on a shorter line so if they have a defect they can take them off the line quicker or it just may be the convenience of having new cars so close to the line. I've been told they are not laying up #5000's at 98th yard. (they didn't lay #5000's up either at Racine yard when I was over there) I don't know why not. You would think they would then have more #2600's available for the Purple line should they need to borrow.

[Sam92]

I've been told they are not laying up #5000's at 98th yard. (they didn't lay #5000's up either at Racine yard when I was over there) I don't know why not. You would think they would then have more #2600's available for the Purple line should they need to borrow.

I've definately seen 5000's at Racine during construction, maybe they might have stopped during the last weeks but what you say about them not laying up at 98th totally makes sense and explains why in the PM rush I see nearly all 2600's running Northbound but more.5000's southbound (I'm guessing Howard stores less-nearly no Red Line 2600's as a result)

[BusHunter]

I've definately seen 5000's at Raci

Was that after the Green line started going there again because i didn't see any when that was part of the Red line.

[garmon757]

Seems to be the pattern lately. Maybe they want them on a shorter line so if they have a defect they can take them off the line quicker or it just may be the convenience of having new cars so close to the line. I've been told they are not laying up #5000's at 98th yard. (they didn't lay #5000's up either at Racine yard when I was over there) I don't know why not. You would think they would then have more #2600's available for the Purple line should they need to borrow.

That don't make any sense why they're not having them at the 98th Yard. They can't just keep them at the Howard Yard forever. That's going to cause some problems down the stretch. Also, I agree with you about the Racine Yard and the #2600s for the Purple Line. What's the point having an open yard like Racine if they're not utilizing it?

[Busjack]

That don't make any sense why they're not having them at the 98th Yard. They can't just keep them at the Howard Yard forever. That's going to cause some problems down the stretch. Also, I agree with you about the Racine Yard and the #2600s for the Purple Line. What's the point having an open yard like Racine if they're not utilizing it?

Eventually 98th Yard will get them, but since the ones that are currently delivered are only about 40% of the necessary fleet, and the 2 series are not compatible, no sense creating a maintenance problem by spreading them over two yards now.

Besides that, since 98th Yard was closed for 4 months, it probably would take their yard crews some time to get trained on the new equipment.

Racine is a Green Line yard, not a Red Line one (at least now). The question is then whether all of the Green Line is stored at Harlem.

[Sam92]

Was that after the Green line started going there again because i didn't see any when that was part of the Red line.

I've deffinately seen them when the Red Line.was part of it the first few months

[MTRSP1900-CTA3200]

The question is then whether all of the Green Line is stored at Harlem.

Chicago-L.org says Harlem's capacity is 130 cars. The same site says the Green Line uses 110 5000s, so it's possible.

I've seen both the 61st/63rd complex and the Racine/Ashland yards, but before the Red Line reroute. Both looked pretty void of any L cars besides the excursion train that entered the yards.

[Busjack]

Chicago-L.org says Harlem's capacity is 130 cars. The same site says the Green Line uses 110 5000s, so it's possible.

I've seen both the 61st/63rd complex and the Racine/Ashland yards, but before the Red Line reroute. Both looked pretty void of any L cars besides the excursion train that entered the yards.

Train Tracker shows some 600 series runs, which presumably are out of Racine. Harlem yard run numbers start with 0.

[MTRSP1900-CTA3200]

Train Tracker shows some 600 series runs, which presumably are out of Racine. Harlem yard run numbers start with 0.

OK. I have ridden runs 606, 615, and 607 on my commutes.

[BusHunter]

That don't make any sense why they're not having them at the 98th Yard. They can't just keep them at the Howard Yard forever. That's going to cause some problems down the stretch. Also, I agree with you about the Racine Yard and the #2600s for the Purple Line. What's the point having an open yard like Racine if they're not utilizing it?

Yes, i was talking to some of the supervisors because I had observed there were hardly any #2600's at howard yard. I was asking where they were and they said "98th yard where they don't store the #5000's". I haven't seen too many #2600's on the Purple line like I did before observing one day as many as 24-30 cars in service. Now it seems to be down to 10-16 cars. Of course as the Red line gets more #5000's and purges #2600's, it will get harder for #2600's to be borrowed to the purple line especially if most of them are layed up at 98th. I think that #5000 sighting on the loop "L" is the first of a test of #5000 equipment there in an effort to put those on the Purple line. Maybe there's an issue with the signaling. I know #5000's have ran to Linden from Howard here and there but south of howard has been extremely limited, I believe there was only one sighting of that on here. It does make sense to make the Orange line the last line to get #5000's just thinking about the trouble of having #2600's available for the purple line. They may start with #5000's only on the shuttle not the express.

[garmon757]

Yes, i was talking to some of the supervisors because I had observed there were hardly any #2600's at howard yard. I was asking where they were and they said "98th yard where they don't store the #5000's". I haven't seen too many #2600's on the Purple line like I did before observing one day as many as 24-30 cars in service. Now it seems to be down to 10-16 cars. Of course as the Red line gets more #5000's and purges #2600's, it will get harder for #2600's to be borrowed to the purple line especially if most of them are layed up at 98th. I think that #5000 sighting on the loop "L" is the first of a test of #5000 equipment there in an effort to put those on the Purple line. Maybe there's an issue with the signaling. I know #5000's have ran to Linden from Howard here and there but south of howard has been extremely limited, I believe there was only one sighting of that on here. It does make sense to make the Orange line the last line to get #5000's just thinking about the trouble of having #2600's available for the purple line. They may start with #5000's only on the shuttle not the express.

That's exactly what I'm talking about (Orange Line). It would make a lot of sense for the Orange Line to be last getting the 5000s. Now I don't know that much about the statistics of the #2600s between Howard and 98th but they need to start thinking fast before conflicts be intiated between #2600s and #5000s. Having some more 5000s on the Purple Line? I don't have a problem with that but I have a good feeling that everything should turn out smoothly in the next couple of months.

[garmon757]

Eventually 98th Yard will get them, but since the ones that are currently delivered are only about 40% of the necessary fleet, and the 2 series are not compatible, no sense creating a maintenance problem by spreading them over two yards now.

Besides that, since 98th Yard was closed for 4 months, it probably would take their yard crews some time to get trained on the new equipment.

Racine is a Green Line yard, not a Red Line one (at least now). The question is then whether all of the Green Line is stored at Harlem.

During the process of the 5000s entering on the Green Line last year, there were some of them with some of the 2400s in the Racine Yard. I used to live in the Englewood area for almost a year. So sometimes, I can see up to 8-16 5000s throughout some days and about 4-8 throughout some nights. However, the newer ones last year were held at Harlem until they begin service.

[Sam92]

Yes, i was talking to some of the supervisors because I had observed there were hardly any #2600's at howard yard. I was asking where they were and they said "98th yard where they don't store the #5000's". I haven't seen too many #2600's on the Purple line like I did before observing one day as many as 24-30 cars in service. Now it seems to be down to 10-16 cars. Of course as the Red line gets more #5000's and purges #2600's, it will get harder for #2600's to be borrowed to the purple line especially if most of them are layed up at 98th. I think that #5000 sighting on the loop "L" is the first of a test of #5000 equipment there in an effort to put those on the Purple line. Maybe there's an issue with the signaling. I know #5000's have ran to Linden from Howard here and there but south of howard has been extremely limited, I believe there was only one sighting of that on here. It does make sense to make the Orange line the last line to get #5000's just thinking about the trouble of having #2600's available for the purple line. They may start with #5000's only on the shuttle not the express.

Are the signals on tracks 1&4 that different from tracks 2&3 on that stretch? Because the Red Line 5000's don't appear to have to much of an issue up there with signals (otherwise they'd be limited too ) Maybe it was more of an issue of keeping a high speed on such a long stretch between stops (sb purple line trains doesn't have as many slow zones as nb trains do so they dont slow down nearly as much). I noticed a pair of 5000's (newer ones at that) I rode down the Ryan had a bit of a hum to them after we got past Cermak and could hit 55 mph. Maybe the fact that I was sitting at the #2 end of the car combined with the fact that 5000's are now quiet on that stretch had something to do with that. I'll sit where I was at again to see if I notice it In any other 5000s.

[Busjack]

Are the signals on tracks 1&4 that different from tracks 2&3 on that stretch?

I doubt it given all the crossovers, and CTA having suggested that all the signal upgrades have been completed. They had to have had some way of running bidirectionally when traffic was restricted to one track each way during all of last year's work.

[Bus fanatic30]

Saw some 5000s sitting at the 98th yard around 10:00

[Sam92]

Saw some 5000s sitting at the 98th yard around 10:00

Guess that means Howard is done getting their fill. Guessing the Red Line is 50% 5000's now? When the Dan Ryan reopened 5000's were 40% of the fleet I remember

[Sam92]

I doubt it given all the crossovers, and CTA having suggested that all the signal upgrades have been completed. They had to have had some way of running bidirectionally when traffic was restricted to one track each way during all of last year's work.

So can we debunk that as a probable reason for 5000's rarely being used on the Purple Express as opposed to shuttles?

[Busjack]

So can we debunk that as a probable reason for 5000's rarely being used on the Purple Express as opposed to shuttles?

I've noted two reasons to begin with:

• It is not an efficient use of them if the line runs only 8 hours or so a day, especially if it appears that there is a sufficient number only to run the estimated 50% on the Red Line.
• Unless the operating pattern has changed, they need to send some cars from Howard (I said 2 car trains, someone else said 4) to couple up with cars at Linden to make the trip to the Loop until trains from the Loop come back approximately 1:45 later. Therefore, both Howard and Linden yards would have to be mostly converted before one could make up the trains.

#1 indicated to me that assigning them to the Purple Line express made no sense, #2 indicated to me (plus with the sightings on the Yellow and Purple shuttle) that sooner than later.

Between the sightings overnight, about 356 cars being tallied, 154 being needed for Pink and Green, and 389 being the last reported assignment for Red, Red is about half done, and undoubtedly converting 98 yard is the next step.

[BusHunter]

Are the signals on tracks 1&4 that different from tracks 2&3 on that stretch? Because the Red Line 5000's don't appear to have to much of an issue up there with signals (otherwise they'd be limited too )

Well they were testing on the loop elevated, not tracks 1 and 4, so there is something they are looking at there. i still say the Red line will not receive more than 360 cars. I think they are more done than we think, maybe about 3/4's done. If the Red line gets more cars then the Purple line would get less #5000's. They don't need 90 all new cars either. They have been borrowing off the Red line and have consistently been ran with old cars. Now that soon the cars will be new I don't see that many cars needed unless they are storing new cars, which doesn't make sense for places running old cars. Maybe the Orange line will get more than 80 something #5000's after all. They could go with #5147- #5152 on the yellow, #5153 - #5517 on the Red, #5518 - #5608 Purple line or just put up to #5538 on the Red line leaving #5539- #5608 on the Purple, #5609 - #5714 Orange.

[Busjack]

Well they were testing on the loop elevated, not tracks 1 and 4, so there is something they are looking at there. ....

Probably if they would get hung up on the crossover from Wells SB to Lake EB, given that they were hung up just going through that junction on the Pink Line. Otherwise, it would be the same as Pink Line operation until it got back to Tower 18.

[artthouwill]

To my knowledge, there are no cars stored overnight at the 63rd/Loomis Yard. There are 8 cars laid up at the Cottage Grove station to start the first two runs from Cottage in the a.m. This is why the first train out of Harlem is actually a "B" train (Cottage Grove train). Also all of the six car consists start and end at Harlem (at least in the P.M) but I am pretty sure its the same with tha a.m. as well.