Chicago ''L''.org: Picture Gallery - 2400-series Gallery 15

2400-series Gallery 15

cta2400s-2400farewell2.jpg (165k)
The 8-car 2400-series Farewell Trip train lays over at Ashland/63rd between trips on the evening of January 21, 2015. The historically-painted cars show off their original 1976 livery nicely when coupled in a long consist together and viewed from a distance. Although the 2400-series railcars are only seven years newer than the Ashland station (built in 1969), they have a decidedly different type of "modern" aesthetic than the station. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

cta2455.jpg (229k)
Following the series' Farewell Event, the eight 2400-series railcars historically-repainted and used for the event were retained by CTA for use on charters. The first such private charter was only three months after the farewell trip. Car 2455 leads 4-car charter train laying over at Kimball on April 19, 2015. Eventually, the eight 2400-series cars would become the inaugural group of cars for the CTA's Heritage Fleet in 2016. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

cta2455a.jpg (235k)
Representing two distinct eras in industrial design and aesthetics, four of CTA's vintage cars post at CTA's then-newest station during a charter trip. Historically-painted car 2455 leads a 4-car charter train at Cermak-McCormick Place station on April 19, 2015. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

cta2490-89_2456-55.jpg (224k)
Running on a private charter, four of CTA's historically-painted 2400-series cars strike an attractive pose on the curve approaching Sheridan station, looking east on April 19, 2015. The cars -- in order, from the front of the train at left to right: 2490-2489 and 2456-2455 -- provide a pleasing, well-coordinated appearance in their original 1976 livery, designed to coordinate well in long trains of alike cars. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

cta2455b.jpg (282k)
In addition to being retained for charters, the CTA also used the eight historically-repainted 2400-series cars for special and promotional events. Here, car 2455 leads a 2-car train on the Yellow Line at Dempster-Skokie, one of a few historic 2400s used for promotional purposes as part of the reopening of the line after closure for a few months due to the tracks being undermined near McCormick Blvd due to non-CTA construction adjacent to the line. Promotional uses like this would help lead to CTA's creation of a Heritage Fleet program, and these cars inclusion in it. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

cta2544_seats.jpg (186k)
As the eight historically-repainted 2400-series cars continued to be used for charters and special events in the year after their retirement and farewell trip, additional historic restoration efforts began to be considered for the cars. One such idea was to restore the original padded orange and brown seat inserts the cars had when they were delivered in 1976-79. Although most would need to be reproductions, any authentic period inserts were also sought. A few were found on a bus in the "graveyard" at CTA's South Shops heavy bus maintenance facility. Although from a bus rather than a train, the seat inserts used in the late 1970s on CTA's buses were largely identical to those used on the trains. The vintage inserts were installed in car 2544, seen here on April 3, 2016, as a proof-of-concept test. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

cta2489.jpg (205k)
Historic car 2489 gleams in its restored livery inside the recently-brightened O'Hare station during a charter for an Illinois Railway Museum fantrip on April 3, 2016. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

cta2489-90_2544-43.jpg (278k)
Four of CTA's historic 2400-series railcars strike an impressive and graphically-coordinated appearance parked on the 14th Middle Track on the South Loop Connector of the Green and Orange lines during an Illinois Railway Museum fantrip on April 3, 2016. Sitting during a lunch break in the charter, cars (right to left) 2489-2490 and 2544-2543 are dramatically framed by the South Loop skyline. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

	cta2400s-2400farewell2.jpg (165k) The 8-car 2400-series Farewell Trip train lays over at Ashland/63rd between trips on the evening of January 21, 2015. The historically-painted cars show off their original 1976 livery nicely when coupled in a long consist together and viewed from a distance. Although the 2400-series railcars are only seven years newer than the Ashland station (built in 1969), they have a decidedly different type of "modern" aesthetic than the station. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	cta2455.jpg (229k) Following the series' Farewell Event, the eight 2400-series railcars historically-repainted and used for the event were retained by CTA for use on charters. The first such private charter was only three months after the farewell trip. Car 2455 leads 4-car charter train laying over at Kimball on April 19, 2015. Eventually, the eight 2400-series cars would become the inaugural group of cars for the CTA's Heritage Fleet in 2016. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	cta2455a.jpg (235k) Representing two distinct eras in industrial design and aesthetics, four of CTA's vintage cars post at CTA's then-newest station during a charter trip. Historically-painted car 2455 leads a 4-car charter train at Cermak-McCormick Place station on April 19, 2015. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	cta2490-89_2456-55.jpg (224k) Running on a private charter, four of CTA's historically-painted 2400-series cars strike an attractive pose on the curve approaching Sheridan station, looking east on April 19, 2015. The cars -- in order, from the front of the train at left to right: 2490-2489 and 2456-2455 -- provide a pleasing, well-coordinated appearance in their original 1976 livery, designed to coordinate well in long trains of alike cars. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	cta2455b.jpg (282k) In addition to being retained for charters, the CTA also used the eight historically-repainted 2400-series cars for special and promotional events. Here, car 2455 leads a 2-car train on the Yellow Line at Dempster-Skokie, one of a few historic 2400s used for promotional purposes as part of the reopening of the line after closure for a few months due to the tracks being undermined near McCormick Blvd due to non-CTA construction adjacent to the line. Promotional uses like this would help lead to CTA's creation of a Heritage Fleet program, and these cars inclusion in it. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	cta2544_seats.jpg (186k) As the eight historically-repainted 2400-series cars continued to be used for charters and special events in the year after their retirement and farewell trip, additional historic restoration efforts began to be considered for the cars. One such idea was to restore the original padded orange and brown seat inserts the cars had when they were delivered in 1976-79. Although most would need to be reproductions, any authentic period inserts were also sought. A few were found on a bus in the "graveyard" at CTA's South Shops heavy bus maintenance facility. Although from a bus rather than a train, the seat inserts used in the late 1970s on CTA's buses were largely identical to those used on the trains. The vintage inserts were installed in car 2544, seen here on April 3, 2016, as a proof-of-concept test. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	cta2489.jpg (205k) Historic car 2489 gleams in its restored livery inside the recently-brightened O'Hare station during a charter for an Illinois Railway Museum fantrip on April 3, 2016. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	cta2489-90_2544-43.jpg (278k) Four of CTA's historic 2400-series railcars strike an impressive and graphically-coordinated appearance parked on the 14th Middle Track on the South Loop Connector of the Green and Orange lines during an Illinois Railway Museum fantrip on April 3, 2016. Sitting during a lunch break in the charter, cars (right to left) 2489-2490 and 2544-2543 are dramatically framed by the South Loop skyline. (Photo by Graham Garfield)