6000-series (CTA)

The 6000-series was a series of "L" cars built between 1950 and 1959 by the St. Louis Car Company for the Chicago Transit Authority. A total of 720 cars were produced, and remained in operation on the "L" until 1992.

6000-series
A two-car Ravenswood train made of a 6000-series pair in April 1966
In service1950–1992
ManufacturerSt. Louis Car Company
Constructed1950–1959
Entered service1950
Number built720
Number in service4 (in Heritage Fleet service)[1]
Number preserved13
Successor3200-series
Fleet numbers6001–6720
Capacity47 (A unit), 51 (B unit)
Operator(s)Chicago Transit Authority, SEPTA
Specifications
Car length48 ft (14.63 m)
Width9 ft 4 in (2.84 m)
Height11 ft 10+1⁄8 in (3.61 m)
EntryLevel
Doors4 (2 per side)
Maximum speed50 mph (80 km/h)
Weight41,700 lb (18,900 kg)
Traction motors4 × GE 1220 or Westinghouse 1432 55 hp (41 kW) DC motor
Power output220 hp (160 kW)
Electric system(s)Third rail, 600 V DC
Current collector(s)Contact shoe
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

Design

In 1947–1948 the Chicago Transit Authority received four three-car articulated trainsets, 5001–5004, to test PCC technology in rapid transit use. Two sets of cars were built by Pullman, two by St. Louis Car, with equipment supplied by competing suppliers, in order to test them directly against each other. The 6000-series was designed with knowledge from the 5000-series.[2][3][4] The design would influence the G series for the Toronto subway.

Bodies

5000-series bodies had a curved profile previously used by North Shore Line and then Chicago, Aurora & Elgin cars which operated on the "L". The floor width was the 8 ft 8 in (2.64 m) needed for platform clearance, then above the sides curved outward, so the car was wider at seat level. This profile was used, 6000-series cars were 8 in (20 cm) wider at the seats than the floor. Blinker doors, which swing on an arc and open inward, were also successful and were used in the 6000-series.

Articulation was not repeated; the 6000s were individual cars semi-permanently attached in married pairs. The outside end of both cars had a cab, making a two-car double-ended arrangement. This has become the CTA standard.

St. Louis Car Company built all 6000-series cars, as well as their single car variant 1-50 series, many with components salvaged from Pullman streetcars, starting with car No 6201 and continuing until the end of production.[5][1]

Driveline

The 5000s had modified Clark and St. Louis trucks with 28 in (711 mm) wheels designed for high speeds. The 6000s had more standard streetcar trucks, with 26 in (660 mm) wheels. These had a top speed of 50, which was adequate for CTA needs until the high-speed Skokie Swift shuttle started in 1964.

The first 200 cars were built with new components, including Clark B-2 trucks, the next 310 cars had Clark B-2s salvaged from Pullman streetcars, and the final 210, plus most of the similar 1-50 class, had St Louis B-3s salvaged from St Louis streetcars.

All cars had Westinghouse XDA1 controls. 6001–6488 had Westinghouse 1432 motors, all following cars had General Electric 1220 motors. Both type motors delivered 220 hp (160 kW). The exceptions are test cars 6127–6130, which had non-standard equipment and higher performance.[2][6]

Routes

The 6000-series became the standard of the system, and were used almost everywhere. In 1975 there were still over 700 6000s in service.

Initially, all of the first 130 6000s were assigned to the Logan Square line. The North-South and Ravenswood lines had 6000s in service in 1952 (with the 4000-series cars taking the 6000s' place on the Logan Square line); other lines (except the Lake Street line, presumably due to width clearance issues on the at-grade section of the line west of Laramie Avenue, which was also powered by overhead wire) received cars when they became available.

Because of overhead wire, no 6000s were used on the Skokie or Evanston lines, except 6127–6130, which received trolley poles for express service on the Evanston line. (The western section of the Lake line was elevated in 1962; however, it remained equipped entirely with 4000s until the arrival of the 2000-series cars from Pullman-Standard in 1964.) Two of the routes that the 6000s were not used on were served by their single car variants, the 1-50 series. The Evanston line began to receive additional 6000s after it converted entirely from overhead wire to third rail in 1973.

When the Dan Ryan line was opened in 1969, newer cars were assigned there, but 6000s were sometimes used for special movements.[7]

CTA sold some of the cars to SEPTA for use on the Norristown High Speed Line during the delay of the N-5 car delivery.

Retirement
6000-series work train at California on the O'Hare branch on May 19, 1985.

The last of the 6000-series cars were retired on December 4, 1992; the oldest had a service life of 42 years. Some were repurposed as work motors.

Several cars have been preserved:

Interior of car 6101 at the Fox River Trolley Museum in August 2014

References
  1. "About the 6000-series rail cars". Chicago Transit Authority. Retrieved 2022-08-29.
  2. Carlson, Stephen P.; Schneider III, Fred W. (1980). PCC-The Car that Fought Back. Interurban Press. pp. 165 & supplement. ISBN 0-916374-41-6.
  3. C.E.R.A. (1973). Chicago's Rapid Transit v.1: Rolling Stock/1892-1947. Central Electric Railfans’ Association. pp. 215–227, 244–247. ISBN 0-915348-15-2.
  4. C.E.R.A. (1976). Chicago's Rapid Transit v.2: Rolling Stock/1947–1976. Central Electric Railfans’ Association. p. 8. ISBN 0-915348-15-2.
  5. C.E.R.A. (1976), pp. 8–13, 21.
  6. C.E.R.A. (1976), pp. 8–13, 174–175, 186, 189–190, .
  7. C.E.R.A. (1976), pp. 114–115.
  8. "Chicago Transit Authority 6599 and 6600". Seashore Trolley Museum. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  9. "CTA Car 6719—From Scrap to History". Smithsonian. National Museum of American History. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
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