Arts & Entertainment
Commuters Step Back in Time as CTA Brings Out 1970s Railcars for Crosstown Classic Game
The Chicago Transit Authority brought out some of its Heritage Fleet railcars for the Crosstown Classic on May 16, 2025. The 2400-series railcars were built by Boeing-Vertol between 1976 and 1978. Pictured are the front of the train, reprinted vintage ads and a seat. (Eunice Alpasan and Nicole Cardos / WTTW News)
Some baseball fans taking the Red Line to the Cubs and White Sox Crosstown Classic game at Wrigley Field on Friday might have felt like they were stepping back in time.
The Chicago Transit Authority ran one of its vintage railcars Friday morning as part of its Heritage Fleet program, which aims to preserve and celebrate retired railcars and buses going as far back as the early 1900s.
The vintage train that some commuters might have seen Friday was part of the 2400-series of railcars built by Boeing-Vertol between 1976 and 1978. The vintage train sports a red, white and blue striped design, a nod to the U.S. bicentennial, the 200th anniversary since the U.S. gained its independence.
Reprints of maps and ads from the era were displayed along the interior.
While the train had some commuters looking intrigued and confused, others didn’t seem to mind, or maybe even notice, the 1970s train pulling up to various Red Line stations.
The CTA’s 1970s railcars have many similarities to the modern-day railcars used by the agency today, according to Graham Garfield, who manages CTA’s Heritage Fleet program.
“This was the beginning of the evolution of our railcars to what you see today, but they do have some differences,” Garfield said. “They have DC motors, which is just a different type of propulsion system. We now use a more modern AC-based propulsion system.”
Exterior of the CTA's 2400-series railcars from the 1970s at the Howard Red Line Station on May 16, 2025. (Eunice Alpasan / WTTW News)
The CTA typically tries to bring out its vintage fleet for service to the public once or twice a year for special anniversaries or just “for fun” like the Crosstown game, according to Garfield. The vintage fleet is also sometimes rented out for film productions.
However, a downside of bringing out the older trains for service is that they are shorter in length, according to Garfield. During a ride from the Howard Red Line station southbound toward the 95th Street station, some commuters ran down platforms to catch the last car of the train.
“Initially, I was a little irritated because they flew past the platform, and we’re all standing in the shade,” said Edgewater resident Alex Hay, who was heading to the Crosstown game. “But when I saw what kind of train it was — I saw ‘The Spirit of Chicago’ — that kind of piqued my interest.”
“You get to see how the city changes over time,” Hay continued. “Even though you think the ‘L’’s been here forever, it’s been a staple. It’s part of the city. It’s the lifeblood of it. But, then over time, the cars change, and it’s kind of subtle. … You forget what the old one was until they bring it out.”
The transit agency planned to use the older railcars for just one round trip Friday morning, according to Garfield. For those hoping to catch a ride, the agency is planning to bring out its Heritage Fleet again for the next Crosstown series in July, Garfield added, where the Sox will be hosting the Cubs.
Contact Eunice Alpasan: [email protected]
