Chicago Transit Authority 2153

Illinois Railway Museum

Built in:1964 by Pullman-Standard (ord#7025)
Out-of-service/Retired:1993
Type of car:rapid transit car (half of married-pair set)
Current Owner:Illinois Railway Museum(Union, Illinois)

Car History by Frank Hicks


Chicago Transit Authority 2153 & 2154
One of only two sets of CTA 2000-series "L" cars in existence, and the only set in a museum, is this married-pair set. The CTA designed the 2000's as fully modern rapid transit cars, unencumbered by the restrictions that were placed on the 1950's-vintage 6000's by using components from scrapped PCC streetcars. The 2000's used newly-designed GE control systems, modern body styling with sculpted fiberglass ends and aluminum sides and framing, and were the first "L" cars in Chicago with air conditioning. They did, however, use the same married-pair design as the 6000's. Though they were fairly successful they ran for fewer than 30 years, most of that time being spent on the Lake Street and Dan Ryan lines. IRM acquired 2153-2154 soon after the set's retirement in 1993; they have never operated at IRM due to electrical problems. They are currently on static display.

Ownership History:Chicago Transit Authority #2153 1964-1993 / Illinois Railway Museum(Union, Illinois) 1993-present



Facts and Figures


Status:operated occasionallyGauge:4'8.5"
Construction:steelRoof type:AREnded:SE
Length:48'0"Width:9'4"Weight:47400#
#Seats:47#Wheels/Conf.:8 (B-B)Total HP:400
Trucks:CTA-1Brakes:ElectricCompressor:n/a
Motors:GE 1250K1 (4)Voltage (if not 600DC)


Notes

Paired with #2154
PHOTO PHOTO