Thanks for the shoutout! I'm glad you uploaded this because going forward they won't be running these 5000s on the Blue Line anymore. They need the crews on the Pink Line and they were originally meant to give the Blue Line some newer cars during rush hour back in 2018, along with the Blue getting 3200s. With the new 7000s being in regular service these extra UIC-Jeff Park runs from 54th have become useless.

Actually the 5ks don't run on the blue line because of their air suspension and increased maintenance costs to fix said air suspension because of the poor condition of the tracks whereas the 26/3200s just have regular coil suspension.

Slightly odd routes like the one in this video are indeed one of the interesting qwerks of older and more interconnected Transit systems. Thanks for making a video about it.

I love how informative your videos are and they always answer those quirky questions I have about transit systems, Chicago in particular. This has do be my favourite channel of the many I watch.

This has caught me. Running down the stairs and Clinton, seeing a train headed toward Forest Park, rush to get on... and get kicked out at UIC so I can stand around on a highway median for fifteen minutes.

Another fun fact: In Singapore, back in 2013 - 2015 when the Downtown Line (blue line coincidentally) is between DT14 Bugis and DT19 Chinatown (stage 1 with 6 stations), after train service hours have ended, the trains will slowly head to DT16 Bayfront (cross interchange station) and will cross over towards the Circle Line (orange line) tracks using a locomotive as both Circle line and Downtown Line uses different rolling stocks respectively.

Used to take the blue line to school, it definitely needs a ton of attention considering the track condition and lack of traction power. Catching all four series in one is an interesting one.

Nice job catching the 5000 Series, and I also realized the car you're on is the same car I was riding on the Pink Line not too long ago

An interesting angle on Chicago rapid transit and some details I've overlooked in re a line I often ride, illustrated with some good photography. Loved the bluesy, bleary-eyed 5am reference.

I can’t wait to see the 7000 series on more lines

“This regular boring Forest Park train” 😂😂😂

The CTA has a series of videos (normal speed and accelerated) with RFW views of all routes, including a trip via the Loomis ramp (normal speed only).

Thanks for doing this. I'm long time transferred out of Chicago, but I loved running around on the trains and trying figure things out from the ground. Well before KZfaq! Great ideas. I'm jealous as a new content creator!

Yet another great informative video. Thank You!

Done the Halstead ride quite a bit when going to the Greektown area. Cool video about the differences; I just learned something. 😊

AWESOME Video and description, I learned a whole lot! THANKS!!!

What a great, informative video!!! I never knew about this special train and route. Very happy for you and your awesome channel!!!

Great video as per usual!!! I really like this videos about the "L".

That's a fantasic story you made youngblood. Keep it up dude. 👍🏾

Amazing Video! I love your videos because there is not much people that have good chicago videos but you have trains and chicago!!!!!!

Did know that! I used to take that train everyday when I was commuting to UIC.

that white background blue lable belong to the old route to 54th and cermank now used to by pink link

The closest one can get to an O'Hare-Douglas train.

Back when the the blue ran along the Douglas route the conductors would say "This is a Douglas btach train, the train that goes up"

Cool. So this particular 5000 series set interlines with Blue/Pink. Intresting

Do you know why the brown line still runs only 2600/3200 mix? I’ve been wondering this for a bit. Also nice video

It’s pretty neat to be sure that all the lines on the “L” are the same standard gauge and same diameter in the Subway tunnels, because the engineers built in the requirement that the State Street Line must be able to go “up and over” on the Union Loop!

Thanks again John in Chicago

Entertaining and informative. I'll bet they run this train just to give the crew something to do for their full day's pay.

these operators are quick with opening and closing the doors now

I wondered why the route selector had a uic Halsted blue line option. Now I know.

London Underground and Overground have a few of these anomalies but since the sub surface trains are all the same type it does no feel quite do different riding on them. It is funny though as people don’t pay attention to the destination so they look baffled when the train arrives at a different station to normal.

You gonna do a fan meetup / train ride in Chicago? Lemme know

thanks,,,,never knew about this service

Western Station forest park branch will be renovated soon.

Blue line is the only line in the L where you can ride ALL variants of CTA's trains on their fleet. 2600, 3200, 5000 (during rush), and 7000 all on the Blue Line.

Die to recent cutbacks due to staffing shortages, schedules were adjusted on all rail lines to better reflect staffing availability and provide more consistent levels of service. As a result, these trains no longer operate on the Blue Line.

5000s make up a majority of Orange, Blue, and Brown lines. Orange and Brown are the lines where I see them the most, Orange uses them the most, while Brown has integrated newer car sets but still use 5000 cars.

CTA recently announced they are bringing back rush-hour service to Halsted in response to ridership rebounds from Covid. Trains will run from O'Hare to Halsted during rush only where they will be turned back. This is to provide extra service where it is needed only. I assume they will use the Loomis ramp for the turnaround and not run to Forest park witch would be really inefficient.

Does the extra weight have a benefit over the 7000 series for the regular 5000 series lines, such as more grip on the tracks or something?

California is one of the best station you get a great view of the city and because it’s my home stop

Being from Chicago the blue line is my favorite to ride

I don't think they need those short runs anymore. I'm surprised that they still run them. I doubt that downtown activity will ever return to what it was before the pandemic. I think Chicago downtown employee back-to-work is currently hovering between 50-60% and that the most optimistic return to work forecast is at 75-80%. That's still 20% below what was before. That's why I don't think those short runs will last. I know most Chicagoans don't like the longitudinal seating but I love it. I get carsick sitting forward or backward on the L and on the bus so, I always sit in the sideways seats. The new cars gives me more options. They are a little too slidey though except the ones with butt buckets (technical term?) like on the train you were on. That Loomis ramp is a pretty cool experience.

Thom, your videos are excellent. Transit planning agencies could use more people with your knowledge and insights. Are you a member of any railfan or rail historical organizations?

What's with the train giving off all those sparks coming from the 3rd. rail?

7:25 I wonder when that was taken?

You can also tell because of the run number. Blues have run numbers starting with 1 or 2 depending on if they're dispatched from O'Hare or Forest Park. Pinks (and formerly Blues from 54th/Cermak) start with 3. What that train *actually* does is start life as a Pink mid-afternoon, then after one or two trips between downtown and 54th via Pink switches into Blue (going out of service between Polk and UIC so as not to confuse people) and runs as Blue to Jefferson Park and then back to UIC before returning to its normal life as Pink. Dunno why they don't just bring back the Blue rush branch like they had in 2006 on maps - not like the signs aren't still there with the blue-on-white 54th/Cermak at all of the stations and on the trains too - but eh. It is what it is.

Thom, which blue line stop is the best for plane spotting near O'hare?

The tracks are bad, and it’s a major power problem. That’s why they only run to UIC halsted. Because as you stated, there is not (none) power stations capable of powering them, however CTA has asked for for a 1.4 million grant from the feds. Let’s see what happens.

5211-5216, 5219-5228 have transferred back to the red line

However, I did get a 7000 series on the Pink when I rode it

What is that train at 8:24 that appears to be pulling hopper cars? I've never seen that on the L before.

I'm confused. When you talked about the 2600 series, you showed a car with green and white livery, but other videos of 2600 cars have stainless steel sides. What's up? So I've got a trip to Chicago planned in May. Which lines have the most 2600-series cars running? Are cars with low 3000's numbers also 2600 series?

Trains Are Awesome!!!!!

The orange and brown lines are having the same problems

I haven’t been seeing these special runs in the morning. Do they still run them?

Wow! Way to make things more complicated!

Question. Do you know the run number for Racine to Jefferson Park? Just curious

Hi Tom, why are there so many sparks at the wheels in some of the footage?

How would weight be a problem on a line at ground level?

I vastly prefer trains with more longitudinal seating cause of better car capacity. Do you know how often 7000 series trains are on the blue line? I wanna see one in person.

Am I going insane or are the captions suddenly grey

They should just Tru run them to the pink line to Cicero. The trains run anyway so let them carry passengers for this leg to. Nobody gets hurt by extra service even if rather obscure and odd.

8:23 What's up with that train? Is that like MOW equipment or something?

The 7Ks will eventually run on the Blue Line, right?

So these are technically blue local trains.

What happened to the northern branch?

Using NYC subway broadcasting language, do we call these "pink train on blue line"? 😂

You chigagoans really love your elevateds here in NYC we don't like them they are viewed as an 'eyesore'