Flag Stop 4,614 transit photos from Chicago and beyond, mostly 1940s–2000s
Vehicles

Rapid Transit Car

196 photographs
A side view of a vintage rapid transit car labeled 'South Side Rapid Transit' with the number 13, parked in front of a building with 'Delaware Car Works' lettered on it in 1892. A side view of South Side Rapid Transit car number 13, a first-generation steel rapid transit car, at the Delaware Car Works yard in 1892. 1892 · Jackson and Sharp, Delaware A black-and-white photo of a Chicago Rapid Transit Company 4000-series rapid transit car, numbered 4085, at an elevated station with a platform and tracks visible. Chicago Rapid Transit Company car 4085, a 4000-series rapid transit car, stopped at an elevated station platform. 1941 · Wells and Randolph, Chicago, IL A black and white photo of a heavily damaged rapid transit car with its front end crumpled, sitting on an elevated track next to another car. A severely damaged Chicago Rapid Transit Company 4000-series rapid transit car after a wreck, seen on an elevated structure. July 1944 · 61 St and Calumet, Chicago, IL A vintage black-and-white photo of a Chicago 'L' car, number 1149, with a rear destination sign reading 'EXPRESS HOWARD ST', on elevated tracks with city buildings in the background. A Chicago Rapid Transit Company 4000-series rapid transit car, number 1149, is shown on an elevated structure with a destination sign indicating service to Howard Street. 1945 · Wabash and Congress, Chicago, IL A vintage black and white photo of a streetcar on a city street with an elevated train above it and storefronts along the sidewalk. A Chicago Surface Lines Master Unit streetcar, number 3260, travels along a city street under an elevated rapid transit line. 1946 · 69th and Normal Blvd A black-and-white street scene from the 1930s showing a Chicago Surface Lines streetcar numbered 3260 on the street, with a Chicago Rapid Transit Company elevated car visible on the structure above. A Chicago Surface Lines Master Unit streetcar, number 3260, on a street below an elevated structure carrying a Chicago Rapid Transit Company car, likely at 69th and Normal Boulevard in the late 1930s. 1946 · 69th and Normal Blvd., Chicago, IL A vintage black and white photo of a 4000-series 'L' car, numbered 2900, at a station with its destination sign 'LOOP' visible. A Chicago Rapid Transit Company 4000-series rapid transit car, number 2900, is pictured at a station platform with its destination sign reading 'LOOP.' 1946 · Canal St. Union Sta., Chicago, IL A black-and-white photo of a single, old rapid transit car, number 2077, on an elevated track with snow on the ground and city buildings in the background. A Chicago Rapid Transit Company 2000-series rapid transit car, number 2077, on an elevated structure in winter. July 18, 1947 · Market and Madison, Chicago, IL A black-and-white photo of a Chicago Rapid Transit Company rapid transit train at an elevated station, showing the front of the lead car with a destination sign and a person in the cab. A Chicago Rapid Transit Company 4000-series rapid transit car, number 4[?]71, at an elevated station in 1949, with an 'EXPRESS HOWARD SKOKIE' destination sign. 1949 · North and Halsted, Chicago, IL A vintage black and white photo of a Chicago Rapid Transit Company rapid transit car, number 2719, on an elevated track with a destination sign reading 'DOUGLAS A PARK'. Chicago Rapid Transit Company 4000-series car 2719 at Polk Street on the Douglas Park line, showing its destination to Douglas Park. 1950 · Polk St A vintage black-and-white photo of a wooden rapid transit car on an elevated track, with a destination sign reading 'A LAKE' and city buildings in the background. A wooden Chicago Rapid Transit Company rapid transit car on an elevated structure, showing its 'A LAKE' destination sign. 1950 · Madison and Wells, Chicago, IL Black-and-white photo of a streetcar numbered 1674 on a city street beneath an elevated train line with a car numbered 2535, located at the corner of Van Buren and Clinton streets in Chicago. A Chicago Surface Lines Birney streetcar, number 1674, operates under an elevated structure with a Chicago Rapid Transit Company 4000-series car, number 2535, above at Van Buren and Clinton streets. 1950 · Van Buren and Clinton, Chicago, IL A vintage wooden rapid transit car on an elevated track in a city, with tall buildings in the background. A Chicago Rapid Transit Company 4000-series rapid transit car, number 321, on an elevated structure. 1950 · Clark and Lake, Chicago, IL Front three-quarter view of a green and cream Chicago Transit Authority 2000-series rapid transit car with an 'A LOGAN SQUARE' destination sign, running on an elevated structure under an overcast sky. A Chicago Transit Authority 2000-series rapid transit car on the 'A' line to Logan Square, photographed on an elevated structure in the 1960s or 1970s. September 16, 1950 · Logan Square, Chicago, IL An elevated train of vintage wooden 'L' cars travels across a metal truss bridge above a river, with a large building visible behind it under a clear sky. A train of Chicago Rapid Transit Company 4000-series 'L' cars crosses an elevated truss bridge over a river, with a large building in the background. November 1, 1950 · Canal St. Union Sta., Chicago, IL A green and cream streetcar numbered 4095 travels down a slushy city street past brick warehouses with The Fair billboards, while a red and green train passes on an elevated structure at right. Chicago Transit Authority PCC streetcar 4095 heads along State Street near 15th Street in winter, with The Fair billboards and an elevated train behind. 1951 · 15th and State, Chicago, IL A green and cream Chicago Transit Authority rapid transit train, car number 6150, travels on an elevated track with a destination sign reading 'JACKSON PARK', set against an urban skyline with water towers. A CTA 6000-series rapid transit car, number 6150, heads toward Jackson Park on an elevated structure in Chicago, likely in the 1950s or 1960s. 1951 · Racine Ave A black and white photo of a vintage wooden 'L' car with a clerestory roof, stopped at an elevated station. The front sign reads 'A LAKE', and a 'Del Monte Fruit Co.' ad is visible on the platform wall. A Chicago Rapid Transit Company Master Unit rapid transit car at an elevated station platform, with a destination sign reading 'A LAKE'. 1951 · Wells and Madison, Chicago, IL Two dark green and cream rapid transit cars travel on an elevated steel trestle above a street scene with a large black steam crane and several vintage automobiles. A Chicago Rapid Transit Company 4000-series rapid transit car on an elevated structure above street-level construction featuring an American Bridge Company steam crane, likely in the late 1930s or early 1940s. April 28, 1951 · Lake Market A vintage elevated train with a cream and maroon livery travels on wooden-decked tracks between tall buildings, passing a signal marked '0' and a building with a 'Rubin Grand' sign. A Chicago Rapid Transit Company 4000-series car, number 2[?]94, navigates the complex trackwork of the Wells Street Terminal, with a second car in the background. July 1953 · Wells St. Term. A red and cream streetcar with the number 1788 is on a city street, with a green and white elevated train passing overhead on a steel structure, surrounded by 1950s-era cars and storefronts. A Chicago Surface Lines Peter Witt streetcar, number 1788, travels on the street below an elevated Chicago Transit Authority rapid transit train at the Lake and Dearborn intersection. September 26, 1953 · Lake and Dearborn, Chicago, IL A red and cream streetcar marked 'LAKE' and numbered 1758 runs on a city street beneath an elevated green and cream rapid transit train, surrounded by 1940s automobiles and storefront signs including 'ENNEPER' and 'Ford'. A Chicago Surface Lines Peter Witt streetcar, number 1758, on a street below an elevated 'L' line carrying a Chicago Rapid Transit Company train, with vintage automobiles and storefronts in the background. September 26, 1953 · Lake and Dearborn, Chicago, IL A green and cream two-car rapid transit train crossing a street with embedded streetcar tracks, next to a green and cream streetcar under overhead wires, with a man walking at right. A two-car Chicago Transit Authority rapid transit train crosses the street at grade beside a Chicago Transit Authority PCC streetcar at Western and Van Buren, Chicago. June 16, 1954 · Western and Van Buren, Chicago, IL A maroon and cream rapid transit car on a wooden elevated track with a tower and brick buildings in the background. A Chicago Rapid Transit Company 4000-series wooden rapid transit car on an elevated structure in Chicago, Illinois. July 25, 1954 · 42nd Pl, Chicago, IL A green and cream streetcar numbered 7156 crosses a street intersection with diagonal track crossings, while an old wooden elevated train car stands on ground-level tracks behind barricades at left under overhead wires. Chicago Transit Authority streetcar 7156 crosses Van Buren Street at Western Avenue in Chicago while a wooden 'L' train waits on the ground-level tracks behind. August 13, 1954 · Western and Van Buren, Chicago, IL A green and cream streetcar comes toward the camera on a wide street with streetcar tracks; to the left, a brown wooden train car stands beside a brick tavern building, with a truck and a dark 1950s sedan between them. A Chicago Transit Authority PCC streetcar signed for Western-Archer crosses Van Buren as a wooden 'L' car waits on the street-level tracks at Western Avenue. November 3, 1954 · Western and Van Buren, Chicago, IL A green and cream streetcar comes toward the camera on a city street under a steel elevated structure carrying a two-car train, with neon signs, a yellow truck, a sedan and pedestrians in winter coats. A Chicago Transit Authority PCC streetcar runs under the Loop elevated at Clark and Van Buren while a two-car 'L' train passes overhead. April 19, 1956 · Clark and Van Buren, Chicago, IL A green and cream streetcar comes toward the camera on a wide street, under a steel elevated railway bridge that carries a CTA 'Park and Ride' sign, with 1950s cars on both sides. Chicago Transit Authority PCC streetcar passing under the elevated line at Western and Leland, Chicago, mid-1950s. June 10, 1956 · Western and Leland, Chicago, IL A vintage brown and cream Chicago transit train runs on an elevated track above a street lined with classic 1950s cars and a lone pedestrian. A Chicago Transit Authority 4000-series rapid transit car crosses an elevated structure over a parking lot filled with 1950s automobiles. September 3, 1957 · Stock Yards, Chicago, IL A silver Chicago 'L' car, numbered 2275, is stopped at an elevated station platform; a sign overhead reads 'Evanson Express trains North to Linden-Wilmette'. A Chicago Transit Authority 2200-series rapid transit car, numbered 2275, is at a station platform on the Dan Ryan line, with a sign for the Evanston Express visible in the background. c. 1960 to 1990 Looking down the aisle of an empty CTA 2000-series 'L' car, number 3204, at an elevated station with a passenger on the platform visible through the window. The interior of Chicago Transit Authority rapid transit car 3204, a Budd-built 2000-series car, showing its distinctive gray and green livery and seating while stopped at an elevated station. c. 1964 to 1993 An olive green and cream Chicago Transit Authority rapid transit train, numbered 1892 and marked 'Chartered', is stopped at an elevated station platform with a 'SELF PARK' sign visible behind it. Chicago Transit Authority 2000-series rapid transit car 1892 is chartered and stopped at an elevated station platform. c. 1964 to 1993 A dark green and maroon CTA 'L' train numbered 185 on an elevated track in a city, with tall buildings and street traffic below on a clear day. A Chicago Transit Authority 2000-series rapid transit train on an elevated structure, with the front car numbered 185 and marked 'Chartered', moving through a city street scene in the 1970s. c. 1964 to 1975 A black and white photo of a CTA 2000-series rapid transit car, number 2002, stopped at an elevated station platform with its destination sign reading 'LAKE B'. Chicago Transit Authority 2000-series car 2002 at an elevated station on the Lake Street line. 1964 · Lake B Clinton A white and dark-colored rapid transit car, numbered 2003, sits on a flatcar in a rail yard, surrounded by several men observing and working on it. A CTA 2000-series rapid transit car, number 2003, is being unloaded from a flatcar in a rail yard. 1964 · Skokie, IL A white and green CTA rapid transit car, number 2004, sits on a flatcar in front of a brick building, with an orange forklift and a man nearby. A Chicago Transit Authority 2000-series rapid transit car, numbered 2004, is spotted on a flatcar in a yard, with a 'SKOKIE SWIFT' cab attached. 1964 · Skokie, IL A long line of blue and red Chicago 'L' cars on an elevated track, with the lead car showing the number 2482 and 'cta' on its front window, against a backdrop of tall buildings. A Chicago Transit Authority 2400-series rapid transit car, number 2482, on an elevated structure with passengers nearby. c. 1970 to 1990 An overhead view of a white and black CTA rapid transit car, number 209, on an elevated track next to a highway with vintage cars, in a winter scene. CTA 2000-series rapid transit car 209 travels along an elevated structure on a winter day. January 6, 1973 · Congress, Milwaukee, WI A vintage green and cream Chicago Transit Authority rapid transit car numbered 46 is at a station on an elevated structure, with a Linden destination sign and a water tower visible in the background. CTA 4000-series rapid transit car 46 at a station on an elevated structure, showing its green and cream livery and Linden destination. August 13, 1974 · Howard St, Evanston, IL A silver Chicago Transit Authority 2200-series rapid transit car, numbered 2230, is stopped at an elevated station platform with a green roof and a 'Lake Dan Ryan' destination sign. Chicago Transit Authority 2200-series rapid transit car 2230 at an elevated station platform. March 16, 1975 · Lake and Clinton, Chicago, IL A night scene of a white rapid transit train on an elevated track, with a station platform and moving cars visible below. A CTA 2000-Series rapid transit car on an elevated structure at night, with a single person on the platform and cars streaking past below. January 9, 1976 · Addison A side view of a silver CTA 2400 series rapid transit car with red, white and blue stripes, numbered 2446, sitting on a flatcar marked MTTX 92177. A Chicago Transit Authority 2400 series rapid transit car, number 2446, is being transported on an MTTX flatcar at a yard. June 1977 · Conrisly, PA The burned-out shell of a CTA 2000-series rapid transit car sits on tracks in a scrap yard, with another similar car behind it, under an overcast sky. A stripped CTA 2000-series rapid transit car in a scrap yard, likely from the 1970s. August 28, 1977 Three different types of electric railcars, one a Chicago Transit Authority rapid transit car and two former Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee interurban cars, are shown in a rail yard, with the front car stripped of its interior and equipment. A CTA 2000-series rapid transit car and two former Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee interurban cars sit in a scrapping yard in Skokie, Illinois, in the 1970s. August 28, 1977 · Skokie, IL Looking down the aisle of an empty rapid transit car with wood paneling, rows of seats, and metal poles, with the number 420 visible above the far door. Interior view of a Chicago 'L' rapid transit car showing wood-paneled walls and vintage seating. September 5, 1977 An elevated train car with red, white and blue stripes, labeled CTA 2460, stopped at a station platform in an urban setting with office buildings in the background. A Chicago Transit Authority 2400-series rapid transit car, number 2460, at an elevated station platform, with a destination sign reading 'Douglas Milwaukee'. April 16, 1978 · Milwaukee Polk St., Milwaukee, WI A Chicago Transit Authority 2000-series rapid transit car with gray body and red and blue stripes is stopped at an elevated station with wooden platforms and metal canopies on an overcast day. A Chicago Transit Authority 2000-series rapid transit car stands at an elevated station platform under an overcast sky. April 16, 1978 · Milwaukee 18th St., Chicago, IL A silver CTA rapid transit train with red, white, and blue stripes, numbered 305, is stopped at an elevated station platform under a clear sky. A CTA 2600 series rapid transit car, numbered 305, is shown at a station platform with its destination sign reading 'Douglas Milwaukee B'. April 22, 1978 · 18th and Paulina, Chicago, IL