CTA Celebrates Heritage Fleet Rail Cars’ Centennial

THE CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY (CTA) MARKED THE 100TH “birthday” of its vintage 4000-series railcars recently by inviting customers to take a ride back in time on the Loop ‘L.’ The 4000-series railcars are the oldest vehicles in CTA’s Heritage Fleet, a collection of vintage buses and railcars from the 1920s through the 1970s. The 4000-series were built in two phases: from 1914-15 and from 1922-24. “The 4000-series railcars and the entire Heritage Fleet are a treasure not just in CTA’s history, but the City of Chicago’s history too, and Chicagoans of all ages are welcome to come out and experience this century-old gem,” said CTA President and APTA Chair Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “It is a privilege to serve our customers each day, and events such as this are just as much a gift for us as it is for those coming out to ride and experience a bygone era of public transit that is appreciated across multiple generations.” The last of the 4000-series cars were retired in October 1973, serving out their last days on the Evanston Express (today’s Purple Line Express).