Chicago Transit Authority 4280



Facts and Figures


Current Number4280
Railway RepresentedChicago Transit Authority
BuilderCincinnati Car Company
Built In1922
Builder's order id2660
Currently in (State)Connecticut
--(Locality)East Haven
Totally out of svc date1975
(Initial retirement date)1973
Car Typerapid transit car
-subtypeelevated car
-designation
Statusstored inoperable
More infohttp://www.bera.org/cgi-bin/viewcar.pl?car=4280
Gauge4'8.5"
Constructionsteel
Roof typeAR
EndedDE
Length48'6"
Width8'11"
Height13'3"
Weight76800
#Seats52
#Wheels/Conf.8
Total HP340
TrucksBaldwin 78-25A/72-22A
BrakesAMU (M23)
CompressorWABCO D3F
ControlWH ABLFM (XM10)
MotorsWH 567R1 (2)
Voltage (if not 600DC)

Car 4280 on display at Branford in 2017
Flickr
photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/widecab/38820081124/

Car 4280 in storage at Branford in 2015
Flickr
photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/81071786@N06/18967016441/
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


OwnerCar NumFromToPreservation?Loan?
Chicago Elevated Railway (Illinois, Chicago)42801922 1924 NO NO
Chicago Rapid Transit (Illinois, Chicago)42801924 1947 NO NO
Chicago Transit Authority (Illinois, Chicago)42801947 1975 NO NO
Branford Electric Railway Association (Connecticut, East Haven)42801975 present YES NO