Chicago ''L''.org: Picture Gallery - 2400-series Gallery 13

2400-series Gallery 13

cta2400_rendering.jpg (174k)
This early rendering of the planned 2400-series cars, from 1972, shows that the basic form and look the cars would have was present from early stages, including the front-end design characteristic of the work of industrial design consultant Sundburg-Ferar. There would be some changes before production, however: the marker lights would revert from the rectangular strip shown to individual circular lenses, and the livery would be similar but have the added pop of color of red, white and blue striping added to the sides, and panels on the front end. But perhaps the biggest change would be the change from folding "blinker" doors shown, used on all preceding new "L" cars since the 5000-series in 1947, to a return to sliding doors. (Rendering from the CTA Collection)

cta2400_model.jpg (172k)
Officials look approvingly at a scale model of the planned 2400-series railcar in 1972. The design, shape and details of the cars, both inside the model and outside, are already very close to the final design even at this early point. Aside from the change from quarter-point folding doors to sliding doors, the biggest change would be the exterior graphics. The livery -- matching the silver with a charcoal band through the windows the 2000-series cars began receiving in 1972 to make them visually harmonize better with the all-stainless steel 2200-series, only with unpainted stainless steel for the silver rather than the platinum-painted steel of the 2000s -- would have red, white and blue accent added to the sides and front. The model carries the fleet number "8490", but it was known at the time that the cars would likely be numbered in the 2400 series, so it is not clear what this refers to. Also note that the cars have the older "Metropolitan Transit" CTA logo under the end window; not only would the cars use the new Helvetica "cta" logotype instead (on a decal with the car number on the side windows), but there would be no logo under the window there. In fact, no CTA railcar carried a logo under the side windows nearest the #1 end of the car until the 1990s. (CTA photo)

cta2400_construction1.jpg (282k)
About a dozen 2400-series cars are in various states of assembly at Boeing-Vertol's Ridley Park, Pennsylvania plant in 1977. (CTA photo)

cta2400_construction2.jpg (201k)
At Boeing's factory outside Philadelphia, a 2400-series carbody is being lifted onto a set of trucks as plant workers and officials look on. (CTA photo)

cta2407_delivery.jpg (197k)
Car 2407 was delivered from Boeing in late 1976. 4000-series cars, in work service, are being used to "horse" the car off the flatcar it was delivered on. The car was mated to 2408 after delivery, then entered acceptance testing before entering revenue service. (CTA photo)

cta2402_preview1.jpg (264k)
On August 29, 1976, 2401-2402 left Skokie Shops on a "preview trip" to the Loop and over the Lake-Dan Ryan route, including the stop shown here at Monroe on the Wells side of the Loop. The cars were operated across the aforementioned lines and posed for photos, while also giving them a "workout". Two days later, the unit was placed in service and ran in service on various lines for 600 hours of testing. (CTA photo)

cta2402_preview2.jpg (236k)
A group of CTA employees and other invited transit professionals and enthusiasts are photographing new car 2402 while it is stopped at Monroe on the Wells side of the Loop during a "preview trip" for the 2400-series prototypes cars on August 29, 1976. (CTA photo)

cta2401_preview.jpg (201k)
Car 2401, followed by its mate 2402, is staged on the Dan Ryan connector track near 18th and Clark, north of Cermak-Chinatown, during a "preview trip" for the cars on August 29, 1976. One of the purposes for the trip was to stage the cars at various locations to take "beauty shots" of the cars -- like this one against the downtown Chicago skyline, with the recently-completed Sears Tower in the background -- to use for publicity and informational materials. (CTA photo)

cta2402_preview3.jpg (228k)
In another staged publicity photo taken during the cars' "preview trip" on August 29, 1976, car 2402 leads the 2400-series prototype unit on the Lake line at Canal Street, just west of the Chicago River. In the background, over 2402, is the Merchandise Mart, where CTA's headquarters was located on the 7th floor at the time. Aboard the train were CTA officials, invited guests and their families; in the window under the car number is CTA manager, General Operations Harold H. Geissenheimer. (CTA photo)

cta2402_preview4.jpg (225k)
A side view of car 2402, seen on Lake Street just west of the Chicago River on August 29, 1976, provides a good perspective of what the 2400-series as-delivery livery looked like -- stainless steel sides and roof, with a charcoal gray band through the side windows. Below the windows were thick red, white and blue stripes, which turned upwards at the motorcab window and arched over the roof. While the scheme was no doubt inspired by the Bicentennial scheme CTA applied to select cars in 1974-76, some publicity materials at the time noted that the red, white and blue accents were not for the Bicentennial celebration, but rather as a continuing reminder of the colors of our nation and the City of Chicago. (CTA photo)

	cta2400_rendering.jpg (174k) This early rendering of the planned 2400-series cars, from 1972, shows that the basic form and look the cars would have was present from early stages, including the front-end design characteristic of the work of industrial design consultant Sundburg-Ferar. There would be some changes before production, however: the marker lights would revert from the rectangular strip shown to individual circular lenses, and the livery would be similar but have the added pop of color of red, white and blue striping added to the sides, and panels on the front end. But perhaps the biggest change would be the change from folding "blinker" doors shown, used on all preceding new "L" cars since the 5000-series in 1947, to a return to sliding doors. (Rendering from the CTA Collection)
	cta2400_model.jpg (172k) Officials look approvingly at a scale model of the planned 2400-series railcar in 1972. The design, shape and details of the cars, both inside the model and outside, are already very close to the final design even at this early point. Aside from the change from quarter-point folding doors to sliding doors, the biggest change would be the exterior graphics. The livery -- matching the silver with a charcoal band through the windows the 2000-series cars began receiving in 1972 to make them visually harmonize better with the all-stainless steel 2200-series, only with unpainted stainless steel for the silver rather than the platinum-painted steel of the 2000s -- would have red, white and blue accent added to the sides and front. The model carries the fleet number "8490", but it was known at the time that the cars would likely be numbered in the 2400 series, so it is not clear what this refers to. Also note that the cars have the older "Metropolitan Transit" CTA logo under the end window; not only would the cars use the new Helvetica "cta" logotype instead (on a decal with the car number on the side windows), but there would be no logo under the window there. In fact, no CTA railcar carried a logo under the side windows nearest the #1 end of the car until the 1990s. (CTA photo)
	cta2400_construction1.jpg (282k) About a dozen 2400-series cars are in various states of assembly at Boeing-Vertol's Ridley Park, Pennsylvania plant in 1977. (CTA photo)
	cta2400_construction2.jpg (201k) At Boeing's factory outside Philadelphia, a 2400-series carbody is being lifted onto a set of trucks as plant workers and officials look on. (CTA photo)
	cta2407_delivery.jpg (197k) Car 2407 was delivered from Boeing in late 1976. 4000-series cars, in work service, are being used to "horse" the car off the flatcar it was delivered on. The car was mated to 2408 after delivery, then entered acceptance testing before entering revenue service. (CTA photo)
	cta2402_preview1.jpg (264k) On August 29, 1976, 2401-2402 left Skokie Shops on a "preview trip" to the Loop and over the Lake-Dan Ryan route, including the stop shown here at Monroe on the Wells side of the Loop. The cars were operated across the aforementioned lines and posed for photos, while also giving them a "workout". Two days later, the unit was placed in service and ran in service on various lines for 600 hours of testing. (CTA photo)
	cta2402_preview2.jpg (236k) A group of CTA employees and other invited transit professionals and enthusiasts are photographing new car 2402 while it is stopped at Monroe on the Wells side of the Loop during a "preview trip" for the 2400-series prototypes cars on August 29, 1976. (CTA photo)
	cta2401_preview.jpg (201k) Car 2401, followed by its mate 2402, is staged on the Dan Ryan connector track near 18th and Clark, north of Cermak-Chinatown, during a "preview trip" for the cars on August 29, 1976. One of the purposes for the trip was to stage the cars at various locations to take "beauty shots" of the cars -- like this one against the downtown Chicago skyline, with the recently-completed Sears Tower in the background -- to use for publicity and informational materials. (CTA photo)
	cta2402_preview3.jpg (228k) In another staged publicity photo taken during the cars' "preview trip" on August 29, 1976, car 2402 leads the 2400-series prototype unit on the Lake line at Canal Street, just west of the Chicago River. In the background, over 2402, is the Merchandise Mart, where CTA's headquarters was located on the 7th floor at the time. Aboard the train were CTA officials, invited guests and their families; in the window under the car number is CTA manager, General Operations Harold H. Geissenheimer. (CTA photo)
	cta2402_preview4.jpg (225k) A side view of car 2402, seen on Lake Street just west of the Chicago River on August 29, 1976, provides a good perspective of what the 2400-series as-delivery livery looked like -- stainless steel sides and roof, with a charcoal gray band through the side windows. Below the windows were thick red, white and blue stripes, which turned upwards at the motorcab window and arched over the roof. While the scheme was no doubt inspired by the Bicentennial scheme CTA applied to select cars in 1974-76, some publicity materials at the time noted that the red, white and blue accents were not for the Bicentennial celebration, but rather as a continuing reminder of the colors of our nation and the City of Chicago. (CTA photo)