General
A single car version of the post-World War 6000 series rapid transit cars which modernized the elevated and subway service of CTA replacing the old wooden L cars. These cars use all-electric power and brake systems adapted from the streamlined PCC streetcars first developed in the late 1930’s. It seats 46 passengers and has four 55 hp 300-volt motors that operate in series pairs to handle the 600-volt DC traction power. These motors also become generators to provide electric braking.
History
Car 43 and her museum sisters 40 and 45 were part of the final fifty car order of rapid transit cars based on the 6000 series rapid transit cars which were operated in married pairs, after four 5000 series 1947 experimental cars proved the all-electric control system could be used in a rapid transit environment. The articulated design turned out to not be practical, so it was not repeated. The Evanston line (the Purple Line) which is primarily a shuttle from the northside Howard Street terminal, needed a car that could be operated by one person who could also collect fares on the car and thus eliminate the need for station agents to staff the ticket windows as at all others L stations on the rest of the system. The Evanston line was also unique in that the City of Evanston did not allow third rail power collection, so trolley wire had to be used, so a group of the cars (39-50) were trolley pole equipped when built to cover this service. Eventually the CTA convinced the City of Evanston to change its ordinance in 1974. Those cars built not having trolley poles (5-38) were used primarily on the Ravenswood line (the Brown Line).
As a side note: In Chicago elevated rapid transit lines are referred to as the “L” not the “EL” which is short for the term “Elevated”. If you want to ride the “EL” you need to go to New York, Philadelphia or Boston where the name “Elevated” is used.
Narrative
When car 43 arrived at the museum it also no longer had its trolley poles and was in a variation of a “Spirit of Chicago” themed silver paint scheme that was applied during a 1984 mid-life rebuilding. Car 43 was re-equipped with trolley poles after its arrival at the museum and also came setup with the ability to bus 600 volts DC to sister car 40. The pair of 40 and 43 hold down many of our special event trains such as the Bunny Burrow Express, the Ghost Story Train and the holiday trains.
Author: Joseph Hazinski, Curator