5000-series - Updates

[briman94]

Garmon757 and I might have brought up that light in the Random CTA thread. Where was the light on the train?

It was on one of the middle cars, where the blue light would be but on the other set of three lights for that car.

Also, how come I've never seen the white light on? Chicago-L.org says it indicates that the car is not powered (running on battery versus 3rd rail) but I've seen countless trains sitting on unpowered track (like when they shut the red line subway off last year) that don't have the light.

[MTRSP1900-CTA3200]

It was on one of the middle cars, where the blue light would be but on the other set of three lights for that car.

Also, how come I've never seen the white light on? Chicago-L.org says it indicates that the car is not powered (running on battery versus 3rd rail) but I've seen countless trains sitting on unpowered track (like when they shut the red line subway off last year) that don't have the light.

Oh OK, that has to do with a door lock bypass. Normally, all doors have a lock that won't allow them to open over 10 MPH. Sometimes this lock will act screwy and will keep the doors shut even if the train is at a stop at a station. In that case, the train operator can bypass the lock and open the doors to let the people out, but this will trigger the light. The train you saw was probably taken out of service for the door problems.

The white light is a little different than what you explained. It does say that the train is running on battery power, but this is because the train's generator has failed, not because the train has no third rail. I did see one train car with its white light on in Rosemont yard after a late flight into O'Hare once, and it was moving around with its mate, probably for repairs.

*Info paraphrased from ChicagoL.org

[garmon757]

About time I get some shots of 5000s on the Purple Line. Run #506 @ Belmont consists of #5405-06, #5413-14, and #5409-10.

[BusHunter]

#5443-46 is on the red line today. #5443-44 just left howard sb #5445-46 just went into the yard. Run #822 is the sb trains follower if anyone's tracking. 3rd and 4th cars are #5443-44. #5453-54 are on the flatbed trucks at skokie. #5451-52 are still unmated outside the shops doors.

[garmon757]

#5443-46 is on the red line today. #5443-44 just left howard sb #5445-46 just went into the yard. Run #822 is the sb trains follower if anyone's tracking. 3rd and 4th cars are #5443-44. #5453-54 are on the flatbed trucks at skokie. #5451-52 are still unmated outside the shops doors.

Yeah I saw #5443-43 @ Fullerton earlier but my train blocked me from taking some shots of them. Also, I've spotted #5441-42 @ Wilson about 30 minutes ago.

[BusHunter]

I took some shots of #5443-44 garmon style at Jarvis I need to see if they look good enough to upload.

[garmon757]

I took some shots of #5443-44 garmon style at Jarvis I need to see if they look good enough to upload.

Hey take your time. I'm riding around the Brown Line heading back north. Hopefully I can get some shots of #5441-42 even though they should be close to Belmont right now. Garmon style?!?! Lol :D

[BusHunter]

Here they are. Using that garmon style technique. Lol!!

I had an opportunity to take a picture of #5445-46 in the yard ala #5433-34 style. I missed it and it was like two tracks over. My jaw just about hit the floor. I was running late and it was either go back over there and take a shot of that or see what was up at skokie shops so I chose the second choice.

[garmon757]

Here they are. Using that garmon style technique. Lol!!

cta 5443.pngcta 5444a.png

I had an opportunity to take a picture of #5445-46 in the yard ala #5433-34 style. I missed it and it was like two tracks over. My jaw just about hit the floor. I was running late and it was either go back over there and take a shot of that or see what was up at skokie shops so I chose the second choice.

LOL NOT BAD MATE!!! :D

[garmon757]

Shots of #5441-42 @ Roosevelt. I've decided to make these shots in a landscaping style to provide more quality of my shots.

[MTRSP1900-CTA3200]

Update on the dirty Green Line 5000s: On my way to the AT&T store, I noticed some 5000s on the Green Line look cleaner than others. I'm assuming the clean cars were removed from a six car set after rush hour and cleaned.

Shots of #5441-42 @ Roosevelt. I've decided to make these shots in a landscaping style to provide more quality of my shots.

Landscape is much better.

I still like the bluish tint in the windows.

[briman94]

I noticed that some of the cars' doors are changing again. Previously, we had the ones that beeped when they were open, and they would sort of "slam" closed as opposed to slowing down when they're almost closed. Now, some of the doors slam but they don't beep while they're open. Seems like more of them are getting updated too. I wonder what the reason for the change is...

[garmon757]

Shots of #5437-38 @ Fullerton. First time I'm taking shots on the opposite side of the platform.

[garmon757]

A shot of #5427-28 near Garfield yesterday afternoon and shots of #5433-34 @ Addison this morning. All of them were on the same 8-car set yesterday and again today.

[garmon757]

#5439-40 on the Yellow Line this morning.

[garmon757]

Well guys, y'all might wanna get some erasers about the roster on the Purple Line because #5323-24 are the lead cars on the Purple Line I'm riding right now.

[BusHunter]

Well guys, y'all might wanna get some erasers about the roster on the Purple Line because #5323-24 are the lead cars on the Purple Line I'm riding right now.

Sounds like a loan Garmon.

[garmon757]

Sounds like a loan Garmon.

Naw naw naw it's gotta be more than that lol :D

[Sam92]

Naw naw naw it's gotta be more than that lol

lol should we even report cars moving between Red, Yellow and Purple as loans or moves? Their pretty much interchangable at this point right? look at yellow, they have a different set so often

[garmon757]

lol should we even report cars moving between Red, Yellow and Purple as loans or moves? Their pretty much interchangable at this point right? look at yellow, they have a different set so often

Hey, sharing is caring lol!!! I don't mind seeing all three share no matter what!

[MTRSP1900-CTA3200]

lol should we even report cars moving between Red, Yellow and Purple as loans or moves? Their pretty much interchangable at this point right? look at yellow, they have a different set so often

Yeah, I don't see a point anymore. The interior maps, the operators, the three lines themselves, everything can handle a 5000 set being thrown around (except the 5000s, because throwing them around would probably break them).

[Busjack]

Yeah, I don't see a point anymore. The interior maps, the operators, the three lines themselves, everything can handle a 5000 set being thrown around (except the 5000s, because throwing them around would probably break them).

That makes sense. Also, that takes care of my objection that it doesn't make sense to assign a fixed fleet of new cars to the Purple Line, with most (LOOP trains) to run only 6 hours a day. Just rotate what you have at Howard, although that does raise the question of what you store at Linden Yard. Certainly, there isn't a Dempster Yard.

[MTRSP1900-CTA3200]

That makes sense. Also, that takes care of my objection that it doesn't make sense to assign a fixed fleet of new cars to the Purple Line, with most (LOOP trains) to run only 6 hours a day. Just rotate what you have at Howard, although that does raise the question of what you store at Linden Yard. Certainly, there isn't a Dempster Yard.

Good point (about Linden Yard). From my infrequent visits up there, it looks like a decent yard, so why leave it empty and put more load on Howard Yard?

[Busjack]

Good point (about Linden Yard). From my infrequent visits up there, it looks like a decent yard, so why leave it empty and put more load on Howard Yard?

I wasn't assuming that. What I was assuming was the operational pattern (at least up to now) of sending a couple of cars north from Howard at the beginning of each rush hour to couple with some more cars from Linden to (1) keep northbound service running until the first Express returns from the Loop and (2) be able to run a longer train on the Express part than the northbound shuttle.

To maintain that operating pattern, eventually the cars stored at Linden would have to be 5000s, but I suppose that there could be a pattern of rotating them between Linden and Howard to try to even out the mileage.

[BusHunter]

Unfortunately what would happen then is the harder working red line cars will become purple line cars. They are going to be dirty and smelly. But you are probably right that they will float the fleet between the three lines but how it will be done most likely will be the same as the green and pink they will be assigned cars but about 10 percent could float at a time.