Chicago Transit Authority 4280

www.nycsubway.org

Built in:1922 by Cincinnati Car Company (ord#2660)
Out-of-service/Retired:1975 (1973)
Type of car:rapid transit car (standard)
Current Owner:Branford Electric Railway Association(East Haven, Connecticut)

Car History by Frank Hicks


Chicago Transit Authority 4280
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 4280 was chosen by BERA to be a representative example of the Chicago rapid transit system, to contrast with its numerous examples of New York elevated and subway cars. The car was shipped to Connecticut with much of its electrical components removed and stowed inside the car, and after arrival it was never completely reassembled. The car has been in storage at BERA since that time.

Ownership History:Chicago Elevated Railway #4280 1922-1924 / Chicago Rapid Transit #4280 1924-1947 / Chicago Transit Authority #4280 1947-1975 / Branford Electric Railway Association(East Haven, Connecticut) 1975-present



Facts and Figures


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

PHOTO PHOTO