Chicago Rapid Transit 4272

www.nycsubway.org

Built in:1922 by Cincinnati Car Company (ord#2660)
Out-of-service/Retired:n/a (1973)
Type of car:rapid transit car (standard)
Current Owner:Chicago Transit Authority(Chicago, Illinois)

Car History by Frank Hicks

Chicago Rapid Transit 4272 When the Chicago elevated system was unified in 1913, design and construction of the system's first steel cars began. The result was several series of all-steel cars built with more modern trucks and electrical equipment than the older wood cars and designed with subway operation in mind. The early 4000's were built with all-steel roofs and no trolley poles and were nicknamed Baldies, but in the early 1920's more of the cars were built to a somewhat different design. Cars 4251-4455 were nicknamed Plushies due to their plush seats and had standard wood-and-canvas roofs and trolley poles. These cars operated across the Chicago rapid transit system for fifty years with few modifications. Around 1948 the CTA combined all of the 4000's into semi-permanently coupled pairs and rebuilt them for multiple unit door control, but except for these and a few other minor changes the cars that closed out the 4000 era on CTA in late 1973 were largely the same cars that had come from the factory fifty years earlier. Car 4272 was one of two 4000's that were chosen by the CTA for historic preservation on home rails. In 1974, 4272 and 4271 were repainted in their 1940's-era livery and given modern cab signalling equipment to allow them to run on CTA lines. Since then, they have been used during occasional fan trips and publicity events, though in recent years their use has declined significantly due to deteriorating mechanical condition.

Ownership History:Chicago Elevated Railway #4272 1922-1924 / Chicago Rapid Transit #4272 1924-1947 / Chicago Transit Authority #4272 1947-1973 / Chicago Transit Authority(Chicago, Illinois) 1947-present

Facts and Figures

Status:operated occasionally		Gauge:4'8.5"
Construction:steel	Roof type:AR	Ended:DE
Length:48'6"	Width:8'11"	Weight:76800#
#Seats:52	#Wheels/Conf.:8 (B-2)	Total HP:340
Trucks:Baldwin 78-25A/72-22A	Brakes:AMU (M23)	Compressor:D3-F
Motors:WH 567R1 (2)	Voltage (if not 600DC):

PHOTO PHOTO