To mark the milestone, CTA offered rides aboard its vintage 6000-series rail cars on Sunday, Sept.1, beginning at 10 a.m., from the O’Hare Blue Line station. Riders were able to take a 15-minute round trip ride from O’Hare to Rosemont Yard until 1:30 p.m.
The 6000-series cars, part of CTA’s Heritage Fleet, were built in the 1950s and were retired from regular service at the end of 1992. These cars were among the type of ‘L’ trains that brought CTA riders to and from the airport when the O’Hare extension was completed in 1984. The cars have been outfitted with vintage maps and advertisements from the 1980s, around when the extension opened for the anniversary celebration.
Additionally, a pair of 2600-series cars—another type of ‘L’ car that provided service to the new O’Hare station in 1984—were on display at the event. Still running in service today on the Blue, Brown and Orange lines, the 2600-series cars were brand-new and in the midst of being built and delivered to CTA when the O’Hare extension opened. The 2600s on display were wrapped in their original 1980s “Spirit of Chicago” paint scheme, and also decorated inside with vintage maps and advertisements from the period. Heritage Fleet staff were available to answer questions from rail fans about the historic vehicles.
Proposals to extend the ‘L’ to O’Hare Airport date back to the 1950s, and the Kennedy Expressway was built in the 1960s with a wide median strip specifically to accommodate the tracks. The ‘L’ was extended toward O’Hare in stages, first extended from Logan Square to Jefferson Park in 1970, then to Rosemont in 1983. The final stretch to O’Hare opened on Labor Day, Sept. 3, 1984. When the O’Hare station opened, the CTA was one of only a few cities in the U.S. with a direct rapid transit connection to an airport. CTA made history again when the Orange Line opened in 1993, connecting to Midway and becoming the first city in the U.S. to provide direct, one-seat rapid transit service to and from two major airports.
“Extending the Blue Line to reach O’Hare is an investment that has paid in dividends over the past four decades,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “Our rail network connects to both of our city’s airports, benefiting both Chicago residents and visitors. It’s become a hallmark of a world-class city, and I’m proud that our system connects riders to the rest of the world.”
The Heritage Fleet Program is designed to preserve and celebrate Chicago’s and CTA’s history and is maintained by volunteers. More information about the 6000-series railcars and the CTA Heritage Fleet is available here.
