How the CTA Orange Line Changed the ‘L’ Map

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  • Опубліковано 14 лип 2024
  • Today is the 30th Anniversary of the CTA Orange Line! Back when it opened on October 31st, 1993, the Orange Line was very different than previous lines. It was built on completely new tracks, paralleling existing freight right of ways. The Orange line runs from the Loop to Midway Airport, a total of about 13 miles. However, the Orange Line wasn't the only thing that changed in 1993...
    Filmed together with my friend ‪@ChicagolandTransit‬
    Support us on Patreon: / trainsareawesome
    Our Instagram: / tra_channel
    Trains Are Awesome!
    0:00 History of the orange line
    1:43 The Loop
    3:03 Roosevelt station
    4:30 Turning onto the “new” line
    5:42 Halsted Station
    6:22 Looking at the L in 1992
    7:37 Names of the lines pre-1993
    8:05 Red-green flip
    8:30 Color names become official
    8:48 Back on the Orange line
    11:05 Midway Station
    11:56 Buses at Midway
    13:39 Midway Airport
    15:05 Final thoughts
  • Авто та транспорт

КОМЕНТАРІ • 171

  • @Thom-TRA
    @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому +23

    Oops! It was Dan's dad, Bill Lipinski, who voted for aid for the Contras in exchange for the Orange line money. Guess Dan's off the hook for now...

    • @kolkoreh
      @kolkoreh 8 місяців тому +1

      Dan is not off the hook for being a massive asshole in many other ways!

    • @729MendicantTide
      @729MendicantTide 8 місяців тому

      I guess it runs in the family.

  • @ayjay4103
    @ayjay4103 8 місяців тому +100

    Omg I’m the person you mentioned in the vid! I’m so happy you remembered me and made this video! I loved it!! Like you said this is my home line so I ride it all the time. It was super cool to learn exactly what it is I stare at out the window whenever I go downtown haha. And of course the history of the line was so interesting as well. This vid was so well made, keep up the awesome work!! 🧡🧡

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому +17

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the idea!

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому +2

      @@kauitsu long live the UPass!

  • @jorggastel1312
    @jorggastel1312 8 місяців тому +21

    There is one interesting travel story which took place at midway airport back in 1996. I was traveling on an Amtrak USA Rail Pass and came into Chicago with a long delay. So I missed my connecting Empire Builder to Minneapolis St. Paul, where I had to get to asap and my Pass expired the next day. So I went to Midway (don’t remember why not O’Hare) and told my story to one of the ladies at an airline counter (don’t remember the airline, probably Delta). She took her phone an told me, if I can make it to a specific gate while it’s still open, they would take me to MSP without charging me for a ticket. So I was just flying through the airport ( That was before 911 and there were no security checks). I made it to the aircraft in time and they placed me in business class with two seats, one for me and one for my oversized backpack.

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому +2

      Wow that was so incredibly nice of her!

    • @jorggastel1312
      @jorggastel1312 8 місяців тому +2

      @@Thom-TRA Yes, I met quite a lot of extremely helpful and friendly people in your country. Especially in the Midwest.

  • @ChicagolandTransit
    @ChicagolandTransit 8 місяців тому +31

    As always your research is on point!! It's always a pleasure collaborating with you. I hope to see you in Chicago again soon.

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому +4

      Literally could not have done this one without you!

  • @pickled51
    @pickled51 8 місяців тому +9

    I get to use the Orange Line almost everytime I visit Chicago since I usually fly Southwest. I have often wondered why the CTA does not build another new line that would connect Midway to O'Hare. It would interconnect with just about all the other westbound CTA lines. It would eliminate what I find is the biggest gripe I have about the CTA "L" lines - no matter where you have to go, you have to go to the Loop first. This connection between Midway and O'Hare would bypass the Loop for riders who don't need to go downtown.

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому +4

      An orbital line is so incredibly needed in Chicago. Will we see it? Probably not...

    • @kenmorrison793
      @kenmorrison793 2 місяці тому

      Actually, there's a way to do that now. Take the 62H bus from the Orange Line CTA Bus Terminal to the Archer/Harlem stop. There's a bus turnaround there, where you'd catch the PACE 330 bus from there to O'Hare. Didn't take the time to explore the connection timing, but service on both routes is relatively frequent...

  • @AverytheCubanAmerican
    @AverytheCubanAmerican 8 місяців тому +15

    Exactly, there's nothing wrong with using an already existing right-of-way, especially if it goes through areas with guaranteed solid ridership! NJ Transit's River LINE for example uses an existing right-of-way that was first used by the Camden & Amboy Railroad and later became Conrail's Bordentown Secondary which NJT bought from them in 1999 for $67.5 million (over $122 million in 2023 money) and reviving this corridor for passenger service has made a huge difference for the communities along the Delaware. And the fact that River LINE is so cheap to go between Trenton and Camden is an absolute steal! The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail also uses existing right-of-ways, like the western side of Hoboken and the Bayonne portion.
    When the original Roosevelt station opened back in 1892, it was known as 12th Street! 12th Street was renamed to Roosevelt Road in May 1919 after Teddy Roosevelt who had died that January. Halsted Street on the other hand was named after William H. and Caleb O. Halsted, Philadelphia bankers who made large investments in Chicago real estate through William B. Ogden, Chicago's first mayor!

  • @andykillsu
    @andykillsu 8 місяців тому +5

    Wow the Orange line opening on Halloween was some great timing!

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому +1

      Happy Halloween!

  • @edtierney6076
    @edtierney6076 8 місяців тому +13

    My original CTA line, would take it on a weekly basis from high school

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому +1

      It's a good line

    • @edtierney6076
      @edtierney6076 8 місяців тому +1

      It's been awhile since I've been on it, should do a ride for old times

  • @MikeyLikesIt89
    @MikeyLikesIt89 8 місяців тому +11

    I remember when that walk to the terminal in midway was just some painted lines through the actual parking garage. Haven’t been through midway in years but it is nice to see that the city finally built a secure enclosed walkway.

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому +3

      That’s as bad as at Fort Lauderdale. Literally just a confusing parking garage.

    • @RenegadeChauffeur
      @RenegadeChauffeur 8 місяців тому

      So do I. And how confusing (and so what dangerous) it was.

  • @jazzmann1984
    @jazzmann1984 3 місяці тому +3

    Speaking of Ford City, on the older cars when they cycle through the placards on the trains when they reverse direction, there is actually an Orange Line sign for Ford City. I've always wondered why they had that destination when it didn't go that far. But, there is a CTA history website, and it talks about their intention of extending the Orange line later.

  • @weenisw
    @weenisw 8 місяців тому +8

    I had no idea that Roosevelt’s elevated station sat vacant for a period. Very interesting tidbit

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому +4

      Yeah I didn't know either until I did the research for this video

    • @TheLewistownTrainspotter8102
      @TheLewistownTrainspotter8102 8 місяців тому

      @@Thom-TRA There's some good cab footage here from 1991 showing the construction of both Roosevelt as well as the Orange Line: ua-cam.com/video/PhttFbOw-s4/v-deo.html&pp=ygUIY3RhIDE5OTE%3D

    • @doomsdayrabbit4398
      @doomsdayrabbit4398 2 місяці тому

      Not even vacant - they tore it out completely. The one present today was built specifically for when the Orange started service to allow an indoor, farecard/token-free transfer to Red, which otherwise is impossible without transfer to Purple (limited trains) or Brown (opposite platform) in the Loop.

  • @victoryleadership1
    @victoryleadership1 8 місяців тому +8

    If someone really wanted to (or had to), they could fly into Midway, take the orange line to the Clark/Lake station (or State/Lake and walk underground to Washington), transfer to the blue line, and go to O'Hare. Two airports are linked by a train. How many places in North America can you do that?

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому +3

      It's certainly a strength of Chicago!

    • @arsenicCatnip413
      @arsenicCatnip413 5 місяців тому +1

      this can be done in boston!
      🔵Take the Blue Libe to State Street
      🔵🟠transfer to orange line at state
      🟠Ride orange line to back bay
      🟠🟣Transfer to mbta commuter rail (providence line(
      🟣Ride to TF Green station!
      (or i suppose you could take a direct logan express bus to back bay and go from there)

    • @kenmorrison793
      @kenmorrison793 2 місяці тому +1

      I answered a previous similar question-it's not by rail, but you can take the 62H CTA Bus from Midway and connect with the PACE 330 Bus to O'Hare...

  • @TheLewistownTrainspotter8102
    @TheLewistownTrainspotter8102 8 місяців тому +3

    4:47 The tracks on the right connect to the Red Line, and were built in 1969 with the Dan Ryan Line's opening. Until 1993, the Dan Ryan didn't connect to the State Street Subway, with the Red Line instead taking the South Side Elevated while the Green Line traveled down the Dan Ryan. The South Side legs of the routes were swapped in February 1993 because the CTA didn't like how the ridership levels were unevenly balanced; West-South Line trains were full on the Dan Ryan but empty on Lake Street, while North-South Line trains were full north of the State Street Subway and empty south of it.
    The swap was made possible by building new tracks from Cermak-Chinatown directly to Roosevelt-State. The old ramp is still used if Red Line trains need to be rerouted over the Loop for any reason.

    • @TheLocalLt
      @TheLocalLt 8 місяців тому

      I’m curious, how did that solve the problem? It seems like it would’ve created a really full red line and a really empty green line

    • @doomsdayrabbit4398
      @doomsdayrabbit4398 2 місяці тому

      ​@@TheLocalLtIt did. But it let them balance out the need for equipment since they could just put all of the stuff they needed at 95th and Howard while the leftovers went to Harlem and 63rd. There's a reason Green had the 2400's for the longest time.

  • @mikehook4830
    @mikehook4830 5 місяців тому +2

    Just got back from Chicago, and I have to say that I searched up orange line here just to find out more about it, which you have done beautifully. I have to travel to the city every few years on business, and I specifically look for flights into Midway because of this line. As a person who has to travel into the loop, I can't imagine a better way of getting there. My trips are always in winter, so I never get to see the green that your video shows, but perhaps someday I'll see that too.

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  5 місяців тому +2

      The orange line is a great way to travel from midway to the loop!

  • @JeffFrmJoisey
    @JeffFrmJoisey 8 місяців тому +5

    In summer 1991, I went on a CTA lead tour of the Midway line under construction. The bus followed the line’s route as best it could. We went by the junction from old to new. We went all the way to Midway, which, if I remember right, looked much different. We even got tours of one or two of under construction, mostly completed stations.
    CTA was proud to show off its newest line to a bunch of transit professionals from around the country.

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому +1

      That’s a cool opportunity you had!

  • @ChrisFisher-hz5cy
    @ChrisFisher-hz5cy 8 місяців тому +4

    Midway used to run the best equipment from 1993 to about 2018. Then they got the oldest cars which are ready to die(2600s)

    • @dmnddog7417
      @dmnddog7417 8 місяців тому +3

      It's strange to me that both Blue and Orange lines run old trains. They are the first impression travelers get of Chicago transit when they step off the airport, so they should be running the nicest trains. Also, those trains should have accommodation for luggage. To this day, I don't understand why all CTA train cars have that end with a crew cabin and that weird little "closet" that just encourages smoking and other annoying activity. As short as CTA train cars are, they should use every bit of space for passengers, and in the case of these two lines, luggage racks.

    • @doomsdayrabbit4398
      @doomsdayrabbit4398 2 місяці тому

      ​@@dmnddog7417When I first started riding the L, Blue still had the 2200's, which were way more ready to die then than the 2600's are now. Pink, which just had just been introduced as an experimental reroute of Blue's Douglas Branch, also ran those ancient trains.

    • @mdf3530
      @mdf3530 Місяць тому +1

      @@dmnddog7417The Purple, Brown and Red Lines get all the newest trains because they all serve the North Side. The North Side aldermen (most notably former alderman Tom Tunney) see to that.

  • @alexlorenz4103
    @alexlorenz4103 7 місяців тому +2

    My dad worked for CTA for nearly 37 years. He worked at the many different shops but finished his career at Midway. He also worked at 54th/Cermak before it was the Pink Line. I even worked at Midway Airport as a Wheelchair Attendant.

  • @RenegadeChauffeur
    @RenegadeChauffeur 8 місяців тому +2

    At 12:50, the long haired guy is a very good friend of mine. He’s a retired fire department lieutenant and is a mentor to many, including me.
    Being from Chicago, this brings back a lot of great memories for me. You definitely have a new subscriber.

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому +1

      Wow I can’t believe you recognized him!

    • @RenegadeChauffeur
      @RenegadeChauffeur 8 місяців тому +1

      @@Thom-TRA oh sure I recognized him. He’s the president of the Axemen, a motorcycle group for firemen. That’s the patch on the back of his leather

  • @doomsdayrabbit4398
    @doomsdayrabbit4398 2 місяці тому +1

    Seeing the view of the city from the Orange Line always makes me realize... I'm home.

  • @roberthansen2008
    @roberthansen2008 8 місяців тому +2

    I remember writing the absolute very first train at 7:30 a.m. on that day when it rolled out from Midway airport to downtown. I remember they used to send the ticket agents that used to work in the booths to each station. I rode the first loot bound in service train and I got to see the first Midway bound train from the beach as it went from a work train to an in-service train😊

  • @bernardtheaubreycoxandcoolgame
    @bernardtheaubreycoxandcoolgame 8 місяців тому +2

    Thank you so much for highlighting the L" in such a amazing light

  • @rikkichunn8856
    @rikkichunn8856 8 місяців тому +2

    The CTA has used the technique of building L lines on railroad right of way before. The Green Line to Harlem, originally called the Lake Street line originally ran on the ground through Oak Park, adjacent to the Chicago and North Western's elevated five-track main line. The railroad sold the CTA two of those tracks for the L. You can tell this when you ride the L, some of the signal bridges still span across all five tracks.

  • @dalecaldwell
    @dalecaldwell 4 місяці тому +1

    Yay 3:19 ff, I got my BA from Roosevelt University and often had breakfast in the coffee shop that was then just on the corner of the building, underneath the EL lines. On the way home to the apartment that I lived in for a year on North Dearborn Parkway, I would dodge in and out of the El posts on Wabash in a sort of insane game with taxi drivers. It's a miracle I survived to enjoy your videos.

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  4 місяці тому +1

      Traffic is still just as bad, if not worse these days!

  • @SteveH-TN
    @SteveH-TN 7 місяців тому +1

    Thanks for updating a Chicago native on the “el” ( Joined the USAF in 1970, currently living in retirement in half way between Nashville and Huntsville AL) when my older brother entered the Air Force he departed from Midway!

  • @tyhik9338
    @tyhik9338 8 місяців тому +2

    Best way to get to Midway and downtown.

  • @BrennanZeigler
    @BrennanZeigler 8 місяців тому +4

    Not only do I think the orange line should be extended to Ford city, but CTA should build a couple new L lines as well. I really think they would benefit from some kind of circular line that connects all the lines together, I think the yellow line should run a rush-hour express to the loop like the purple line, and I think another new line needs to be built to connect the far south eastern neighborhoods in Chicago like Hegewisch with the loop

    • @abreckenridge3001
      @abreckenridge3001 8 місяців тому +2

      Yes I think they should extend the green line from cottage grove to dorchester, go south and west then south down cottage grove/71st and head south Chicago Ave hitting 75th/79th/87th/93rd/100th/East Side/Hegewisch/Hammond

    • @akis3556
      @akis3556 8 місяців тому +1

      @@abreckenridge3001 I think the east branch of the Green Line should continue on and take over the Metra Electric branch and go down the middle of 71st and Exchange streets.

    • @doomsdayrabbit4398
      @doomsdayrabbit4398 2 місяці тому +2

      ​@@akis3556This. But then also bring back the north Paulina connector and Humboldt Park branch, connect them through the Loop, and run it as the one missing color from the CTA's rainbow: Indigo.

    • @728huey
      @728huey 29 днів тому

      The CTA is supposed to be building an extension of the red line to 130th Street in between Indiana Ave and the Bishop Ford Expressway near the water reclamation plant.

    • @BrennanZeigler
      @BrennanZeigler 29 днів тому +1

      @@728huey yes but it’s not enough. Some more lines need to be extended including the addition of at least two new lines; a circle line and another line to like Hegewisch. The south side of Chicago is extremely underserved by CTA. You’re literally spoiled for choice if you’re on the north side or the west side on which CTA route you wanna take

  • @gregggyf
    @gregggyf 8 місяців тому +1

    Good Afternoon, I can't wait for the Loop video.

  • @mrAhollandjr
    @mrAhollandjr 8 місяців тому +1

    The other thing that was notable was that the 3200 series CTA cara were assigned to the Orange Line. Rhe Orange Line was the first lune to feature One Man Operation. Before then, all CTA trains ran with a motor and a conductor ( who operated the doirs). The 3200s were built to be One Nan Operational. The Red, Green, Blue, abd Brown Line cars were retrofitted so that they could be One Man Operational during non peak times with conductors operating doors during rush hour within the downtown area. Eventually every lune became One Man Operational and the door operating equipment was removed from the ends of every odd numbed car and were only in the motor man cabs which got extended from the front right side to across the entire front of the car. The 3200s were also introduced to the Brown and Yellow Line.

  • @officialmcdeath
    @officialmcdeath 8 місяців тому +4

    Looks like a railfanner's dream, thank you! On a sidenote, given your adroit content planning, I sense your ten-sector mega-trip across the USA is intended to climax during the holiday season at the end of the year - nice one! \m/

  • @mdf3530
    @mdf3530 Місяць тому

    I used to have to commute to the Loop. With the hours I was working, the Orange Line made more sense. Every time I’d pass by either Connie’s Pizza or Lindy’s Chili on my way home, I’d get hungry lol.

  • @ck4426
    @ck4426 8 місяців тому +2

    Really love this video, we love the orange line too, and love the reason that you made the video. We agree. The views of the skyline are spectacular while riding. All of your videos are really awesome but we especially enjoy your Chicago content. We miss you here in Chicago but we’re thankful you’re still showcasing Chicago transit in your videos. Awesome!!!

  • @himbourbanist
    @himbourbanist 8 місяців тому +1

    using the old freight ROW was a smart move. man the L rules

  • @tdvandy2
    @tdvandy2 8 місяців тому +2

    Your work just gets better and better so thank you. I live in Chicago and find this very interesting, as are all of your videos. it appears your channel is really starting to grow.

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому +1

      I appreciate it, thank you for commenting! Enjoy that brutal snow today haha

    • @tdvandy2
      @tdvandy2 8 місяців тому

      @@Thom-TRA haha. Good old lake effect.

  • @peters1127
    @peters1127 4 місяці тому +1

    Enjoyed the ride through some of my old stomping grounds.

  • @oddityscrash
    @oddityscrash 8 місяців тому +1

    Video quality is great on this one! Great content as always.

  • @arrowbishop5426
    @arrowbishop5426 8 місяців тому +1

    This was a great video, also I love your shirt!

  • @fortyforfree
    @fortyforfree 2 місяці тому

    Midway to state and lake. Northbound 146. Loved that ride during the summers, going to my night shift.

  • @timothysworld1028
    @timothysworld1028 8 місяців тому +2

    Orange line is Ok. But the Brown linr (Ravenwood) is my favorite. You are so close to buildings. You see the true Chicago.

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому +1

      Brown is by far my favorite too

  • @ninthwardchicago
    @ninthwardchicago 8 місяців тому +2

    I didn't traverse the Orange Line just because until about 2001 which was about 8 years after it had opened. It was brand spanking new compared to the L infrastructure I was used to. And it used the connection to the loop that the Dan Ryan or the Red Line used to use to connect with Lake Street or the Green Line.

  • @jorggastel1312
    @jorggastel1312 8 місяців тому +1

    Thank you Thom for another extremely informative and interesting video.

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому +1

      You’re welcome!

  • @joserivera-yc5rr
    @joserivera-yc5rr 8 місяців тому +1

    Great video, thanks

  • @256emmitt
    @256emmitt 8 місяців тому +1

    Bravo!! Great video!

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому +2

      Thank you, thank you

  • @briansivley2001
    @briansivley2001 8 місяців тому +3

    Some people are still calling the L Lines by their original names like The Skokie Swift with the Yellow Line lol. I find myself sometimes doing it too.

  • @HighHolyOne
    @HighHolyOne 3 місяці тому

    Its great to have the connections to the airports from the trains. Problem: once in the terminal area, wheelchairs are available. But it's a long, long walk to the terminal if you have a disability.

  • @FlightAndTrack
    @FlightAndTrack 8 місяців тому +3

    You know it's a good day when tra posts another vid😀

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому +1

      Happy Halloween!

    • @FlightAndTrack
      @FlightAndTrack 8 місяців тому +1

      @@Thom-TRA you too🎃👻

  • @ganadu
    @ganadu 8 місяців тому +1

    Wow 30 years already! Yes, politics, this is why you may have heard it nicknamed The Contras Line. I like the Orange line quite a bit, for all the same reasons. We lived on the Southwest side for a couple years and it really gets you near anywhere. I do wish it had gone all the way to Ford City, I like that It is such an easy ride to Midway.
    You can tell how long a person has lived in Chicago, by the way they refer to the L lines. For example I still call the brown line Ravenswood. 😊

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому +1

      I’m sure ravenswood is easier to say than Howard englewood Jackson park though!

    • @ganadu
      @ganadu 8 місяців тому +1

      @@Thom-TRA Lol absolutely! Probably why I have graduated to saying Redline, Pinkline, Greenline etc. for the others.

  • @harlemRose381
    @harlemRose381 8 місяців тому +4

    Whenever i was in the southside to see my family, i always pass the orange line, now as a adult i was able to ride it and loved this line to bits, i usually take the green line more often but when i feel like going back there i will take the orange line to connect to Pace services to Oak Lawn 👍

  • @rleeAZ
    @rleeAZ 8 місяців тому +3

    thanks for continuing to feature Chicago after your move to DC. My two favorite transit towns are Chicago and DC... you cover them both quite well.

  • @ikatbrun1553
    @ikatbrun1553 8 місяців тому +1

    Video suggestion: go to the IRM and explore and explain its history. I enjoyed this video more because as a Chicagoan, I really love the CTA and as a railfanner this is entertaining❤ hope to keep seeing more videos!❤

    • @ikatbrun1553
      @ikatbrun1553 8 місяців тому

      Another video idea: Ride a CTA electric bus!

  • @roberthansen2008
    @roberthansen2008 4 місяці тому

    I rode the first train from Midway to the loop and October 31st 1993. It was a Sunday morning. That was back when it started up from Midway to the loop on Sunday 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. but they did have a train from the loop to Midway. What they did back in is the train leave out of service from Midway to the loop and wants it entered the loop it would start dropping off the yes back then fair collection agents at the inner loop stops. Then it would enter service at Clark and lake and go back out to Midway. That's a long time ago.

  • @juelzkellz
    @juelzkellz 3 місяці тому

    My Mom took me for a ride on the Orange Line when it first opened when I was little. I think I was in 1st grade. I also think the Orange Line has the best views on the L system.

  • @EpicThe112
    @EpicThe112 8 місяців тому +1

    Excellent video and for Chicago it joins Washington DC both IAD and BWI and San Francisco by having rapid transit reach the airport directly. In San Francisco BART serves the International Terminal G gates directly although a people mover is needed for OAK WN airport in the Bay area. Just wish that NYC and Boston have this setup like ORD and MDW.

    • @akis3556
      @akis3556 8 місяців тому +2

      The Blue Line has been serving O'Hare since the early 80s.

  • @teon343
    @teon343 8 місяців тому +1

    The orange lines reminds me a lot of the south line from Marta both go to the airport quick and fast&the run on freight right away

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому

      I just rode that recently!

  • @michaelb9629
    @michaelb9629 8 місяців тому

    Yeah that’s right! I remember now that the Orange line opened on Halloween exactly 30 years ago. My mom would’ve liked for there to be a train at Midway Airport sooner to get to downtown. That actually happens to be my favorite CTA train line of all time because of the route it takes. It’s industrial and there’s all kinds of nice views throughout parts of the ride. I also like riding some of the bus routes that serve Midway, mostly Pace. I’ve also been on that River Valley Metro to Kankakee county several times in those 2019 Ford F550 buses, another name for them is Eldorado Aerolite.

  • @samgrunsfeld9335
    @samgrunsfeld9335 8 місяців тому +1

    I understand that the 7000 series will first replace the Blue line and then start replacing the other 2600 and 3200 series. The obvious reasons are that the Blue Line is highly trafficked and with most tourists flying into O'Hare having the newest trains will look good. But one of the biggest problems on the Blue Line is its power constraints and since the 7000 series are more energy efficient thanks to their AC motors they can run more trains.

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому +1

      The 7000s have been on the blue line for a little over a year now

    • @samgrunsfeld9335
      @samgrunsfeld9335 8 місяців тому +1

      @@Thom-TRA Yeah, as the 7000 series come in they're replacing all 2600 and 3200 on the blue line before going on to other lines.

  • @thickernell
    @thickernell 8 місяців тому

    Good job. Can’t believe it’s been 30 years already. I can remember how annoyed people were though with the walk to the terminal. It was almost twice as long as now because the new terminal had not been built. Also, I think they had a good reason for not going on to Ford City. It and the mall had horrible crime then. That was a time when we had 1000 homicides a year. Also at that time the Evanston Express experienced a decline in ridership when snipers ruled Cabrini Green and Dantrell Davis was killed in crossfire. I even switched to the subway when that happened.

  • @ozarkharshnoisescene
    @ozarkharshnoisescene 8 місяців тому +1

    this line and the pink line are my favorite

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому +2

      My two favorites are orange and brown!

  • @dfwrider3830
    @dfwrider3830 8 місяців тому

    Ive been working in that shop for a few weeks now. theres currently 4 7000 cars in the yard. they are sitting like theyre lined up to be brought in the building. but theyve been were for over a week now unmoved. i know one has a propulsion fault.
    I was just working on one of those red and white striped cars, they are modified to be able to provide 600vdc power to work trains, through a special plug next to the coupler.
    the ride to midway is quite nice. im always surprised how short it is.

  • @thyagarajannatarajan425
    @thyagarajannatarajan425 8 місяців тому +2

    Such an amazing video. Great content. I rode a DC metro orange line train over the summer. How do you identify the rolling stock on the DC metro? Also will there be a collab vid with Classy whale?

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому +1

      There is no collab vid as of yet. Also, the DC metro trains all have numbers which is how you can identify them.

  • @keyshawnscott12
    @keyshawnscott12 8 місяців тому +1

    I hope i meet you on the orange line someday lol i was on it last week

  • @user-jm5ur6kk4g
    @user-jm5ur6kk4g 8 місяців тому +1

    very beautiful !!!! chicago ------ cool !!!! 🙂🙂🙂 ❤❤❤ 🧡🧡🧡

  • @michaelvaughan3929
    @michaelvaughan3929 4 місяці тому +1

    My biggest complaint about the Orange line is that it doesn't provide a one-seat ride to O'Hare. Do you know why that wasn't done? Yes, I know that it's in the elevated Loop downtown and the O'hare line is a subway, but that could have been fixed. Note: as an old time Chicagoan, I still don't remember the colored names of the various lines! My trains were the Ravenswood A and, later, the Jackson Park B!

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  4 місяці тому +1

      Probably because there’s not much demand for a Midway to O’Hare connection. You either go to one or the other.

  • @Zions_Awesome_YouTube_Show6381
    @Zions_Awesome_YouTube_Show6381 8 місяців тому

    Safe travels

  • @JBRailfan324
    @JBRailfan324 8 місяців тому

    I haven't been to the Chi but 30 years ago is wild

  • @ntatenarin
    @ntatenarin 8 місяців тому +1

    Knock knock. Who's there? Banana!
    Knock knock. Who's there? Banana!
    Knock knock. Who's there? Banana!
    Knock knock. Who's there? Orange!
    Orange who?
    Orange you glad we have the Orange line?

  • @erichhouchens3711
    @erichhouchens3711 8 місяців тому +1

    One interesting thing about Chicago is it's one of two cities, the other being Washington, that have two airports that are both served by heavy rail mass transit. You could possibly include Dallas and the San Francisco area sort of. In Dallas DART directly serves DFW International but the nearest station to Love Field (Southwest again) requires a short shuttle bus ride. There had been plans to tunnel under Love Field but that was dropped due to the cost and objections from the airport. In San Francisco BART directly serves the San Francisco airport but the Oakland airport BART station requires a short ride on a cable hauled people mover.
    Regarding building lines along side freight railroads things have changed greatly since the Orange line was built. The freight railroads are very weary of having mass transit lines along side their lines due to liability issues as well as the bad publicity should something go wrong. In Washington CSX has had a derailment TWICE along side the Red line between Rhode Island station and Silver Spring that resulted in freight cars on the Metro tracks. As luck would have it both derailments occurred at night when Metro wasn't running. Next time you ride any part of Metro that runs along side a freight line take note of the fence that separates the two. You'll see a cable running along the top of the fence. This cable carries an electrical current and if that cable/fence is broken due to say a derailing freight car the signals on Metro (cab signals) go to stop. This will also trigger an alarm at the Metro Control center and possibly in Jacksonville at the CSX dispatching center. I believe part of the delay to the Minneapolis Green line southwest extension was due to BNSF fighting the planned route along side their tracks.

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому +1

      I'd noticed the fencing but never thought twice about it. Thanks for the interesting fact, will incorporate it into my future red line video!

    • @erichhouchens3711
      @erichhouchens3711 8 місяців тому

      @@Thom-TRA Google "csx washington red line derailment" and you'll find articles about the two derailments. One was in 1987 and the other was in 2016. Both articles are from the Washington Post which is a pay to view site. There's also an ABC video taken from Metro cameras at Rhode Island Avenue station that shows one of the derailments!

    • @TheLewistownTrainspotter8102
      @TheLewistownTrainspotter8102 8 місяців тому

      The OAK peoplemover is actually part of the BART system.

  • @kevinb8881
    @kevinb8881 8 місяців тому +1

    The Orange Line should be 24/7 just like the Blue Line since they both have airport terminals!!

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому +1

      I'm not sure if Midway is open 24/7 though

    • @kevinb8881
      @kevinb8881 8 місяців тому +1

      @@Thom-TRA Oh ok!!

    • @iwouldliketoorderanumber1b79
      @iwouldliketoorderanumber1b79 8 місяців тому +2

      It’s only stops running for 2 hrs, between 1:30am and 3:30am I believe. So technically they should just run it 24hrs but I’m sure it will be in the future.

  • @windycitytransit4054
    @windycitytransit4054 8 місяців тому +2

    This makes me miss the 3200s on that line like they basically downgraded

  • @jameskubajak8489
    @jameskubajak8489 8 місяців тому

    They do use those 9000 series cars on the Orange Line on a regular basis. I have no idea how they ended up with the older equipment by the time you made this video! And the Ford City extension, I hope it does come around. I even have an idea on where they could put the station. The main mall and the north plaza has an underground connection. Some of this space was used for retail stores. But it is an ideal spot to build Orange Line's future station.

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому

      There’s no 9000 series yet. And the orange line has been using the 2600s exclusively for a few years now…

  • @amfm889
    @amfm889 8 місяців тому

    11:45 Bike racks! Re. Freight right-of-way: saved on costs, but some of those stations have terrible "walksheds", especially Halsted and Ashland on the other side of the Stevenson Expressway. I'm guessing a lot of riders arrive at stations by bus.

  • @edwardmiessner6502
    @edwardmiessner6502 8 місяців тому +1

    I think the parapets and concrete decks on the new elevated structures make the train quieter both inside the carriages and in the neighborhood down on the ground. What do you think?

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому +2

      It’s definitely as quiet as an L car can be…

    • @edwardmiessner6502
      @edwardmiessner6502 8 місяців тому +1

      @@Thom-TRA I think so too. I'm acquainted with both old fashioned and modern elevated metropolitan railways.

  • @kevanhubbard9673
    @kevanhubbard9673 8 місяців тому

    Speaking of the Contras you could investigate the railways of Central America.As far as I'm aware only Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama and Honduras have functional systems.The only trains in Central America I've ever ridden is the Mexico City Metro.

  • @roberthansen2008
    @roberthansen2008 8 місяців тому +1

    Actually River road changed to Rosemont in about 1995.

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому

      Did you read the large text at the bottom of the screen?
      The one that says “This continued until 1995.”

  • @BDavinci06
    @BDavinci06 8 місяців тому

    @1:28-1:40 I guess Iran-Contra got Chicago a new L line. I guess that's something good out of that scandal!! That's typical of Chicago, Someone's always exchanging money for a project. And the one that's giving the money is involved in a larger scandal.🤷🏾‍♂️🤷🏾‍♂️🤷🏾‍♂️😂
    Anyway, good video on the CTA Orange line. I did ride it one time all the way to from th Loop going to Ford City Mall. I still hope it goes there one day. But a very short bus ride on the #54B bus does the job.

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому

      Yep, if you look at the construction of the original L lines, there’s a lot of shady stuff that went on

  • @coolboss999
    @coolboss999 8 місяців тому +1

    Are there any future plans that the CTA have to extend the Orange Line to the mall?

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому

      None right now

  • @anthonyhunt701
    @anthonyhunt701 8 місяців тому +1

    You two have to be local folks!

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому +1

      We lived in Chicago for a while yes

  • @jorggastel1312
    @jorggastel1312 8 місяців тому +1

    Thom, you use the term Chicagoland in the vid. I've never heard that. Is it an official term for a geographical area, or just a common term people use for the suburbs?

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому +9

      Chicagoland is the name of Chicago plus its suburbs. It's very widely used.

    • @amfm889
      @amfm889 8 місяців тому

      @@Thom-TRA I think it started with car dealership ads, and then the media picked it up.

  • @rabbbirumba2397
    @rabbbirumba2397 8 місяців тому +1

    Why did they close university station on the greenline?

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому +2

      When they closed the line for reconstruction, they tore it down and never built it back up again

    • @rabbbirumba2397
      @rabbbirumba2397 8 місяців тому +1

      @Thom-TRA oh ok thanks for letting me know. Seems like a shame. University of Chicago is probably the most important university in the city and doesn't actually have a good CTA connection unlike every other university in the city (Northwestern, Loyola, Depaul, UIC, Northeastern, IIT).

    • @amfm889
      @amfm889 8 місяців тому +1

      The story of why the Green Line no longer goes all the way to Jackson Park is a long and sordid one! An entire video could be made about it.

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому +1

      Perhaps I should... I have most of the footage for it@@amfm889

  • @osmar4449
    @osmar4449 6 місяців тому +1

    Hey, I would recommend the Pink Line's Polk-Ashland Path, you'll get a lot of good downtown views.

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  6 місяців тому +1

      Been on that line many times!

  • @Zions_Awesome_YouTube_Show6381
    @Zions_Awesome_YouTube_Show6381 8 місяців тому +1

    I live next to the pink line can you do a video bout it 😌 please I think it had a cool story also like this comment

  • @chicagolandrailfan143
    @chicagolandrailfan143 8 місяців тому

    14:57 hire me please

  • @haj8579
    @haj8579 8 місяців тому

    Using old trains for the newest line in the city is... not weird, but somewhat ironic, isn't it?

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому +1

      It is very ironic. I hope they get new trains soon.

  • @delibakerytravel
    @delibakerytravel 8 місяців тому +1

    Are The Different Lines accessible for people with disabilities,especially the Downtown area? Elevators And Escalators?? Thank You.

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому +2

      Not all the stations are, but all the stations on the Orange line are outside of the loop. The map shows which stations are and are not accessible.

  • @jfmezei
    @jfmezei 8 місяців тому

    Since neither CN nor CP (now CPKC) built tracks in USA, it would be nice to mention "Canadian National , formerly Illinois Central Railroad" (or Wisconsin Central Transportation" when mentioning it, especially in a video such as this one that looks at history sicne when Orange line was built, it definietly was not a line line next to it as CN hadn't even been privatized yet. (once govt sold it shares, CN started to divest from canada and invest in USA by buying railroads left and right, and CP did the same).
    Also, drop bakcground noise when you speak. I guess UA-cam is pushing youtubers to put in annoying background music, but it is annoying.

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому +3

      UA-cam isn’t pushing anything, adding background music has been my style for literally 7 years. Please don’t tell me how to make my video.
      The history of the CN line is also completely irrelevant to the content.
      You calling things annoying is a bit like the pot calling the kettle black.

    • @jfmezei
      @jfmezei 8 місяців тому

      Thank you. you lost a viewer. Good luck with your videos. @@Thom-TRA

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому +1

      @@jfmezei finally! Bye bye now

  • @a81517
    @a81517 8 місяців тому

    I think they shouldn't have built the entire line on freight right of way.

    • @Thom-TRA
      @Thom-TRA  8 місяців тому

      Why? It’s the only way it would have gotten built

    • @a81517
      @a81517 8 місяців тому

      @@Thom-TRA The alignment between western and kedzie is really silly, Archer has enough room for an elevated line in that stretch, but maybe the budget was just super tight? I mean, you can't do that much with diverted highway funds.

  • @weenisw
    @weenisw 8 місяців тому +2

    I understand why they used the railroad alignments for cost, land reasons, and nimby dodging reasons, but I think running on a new elevated structure down Archer Ave would have been much better for the communities walk-shed area and proximity to business districts along Archer. I think ridership would be higher because it would discourage driving with the increased convenience.

  • @FlightAndTrack
    @FlightAndTrack 8 місяців тому +1

    Second