2200 series (Chicago 'L')
Encyclopedia
The 2200 series is a series of Chicago 'L'
car built between 1969 and 1970 by the Budd Company
of Philadelphia. 150 cars were built, 136 of them remain in service as of 2011.
The 2200 series was the second series of five interoperable series of Chicago 'L' cars known as the High Performance Family. These cars were the last 'L' cars built with blinker doors, with all subsequent cars employing sliding doors. Due to the narrow opening afforded by these doors, the 2200 series cars cannot admit a bicycle or wheelchair, and so are not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
. For this reason, these trains can no longer operate alone in revenue service, and are always coupled with at least one pair of cars with sliding doors. In addition, these cars are relegated to "belly car" service in train consists more than four cars long (which means that they are in the middle, but not at either end, of the train consist).
construction projects, both in the medians of major expressways, namely the Dan Ryan
and the Kennedy
. These two projects necessitated the order of new rail cars to supplement the existing fleet, and the City of Chicago ordered 150 new rail cars from the Budd Company to fill that need. The city retained two important consultants on the project, the Chicago Transit Authority (who would operate the cars) and the architectural firm of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill
, which was heavily involved in the architectural work of the new stations. The new cars were designed to complement the modernist
approach that SOM was taking to the design of the new stations, and featured unpainted fluted sides, a first for the CTA that would later become the standard for its rail fleet.
Chicago 'L'
The L is the rapid transit system serving the city of Chicago and some of its surrounding suburbs. It is operated by the Chicago Transit Authority...
car built between 1969 and 1970 by the Budd Company
Budd Company
The Budd Company is a metal fabricator and major supplier of body components to the automobile industry, and was formerly a manufacturer of stainless steel passenger rail cars during the 20th century....
of Philadelphia. 150 cars were built, 136 of them remain in service as of 2011.
The 2200 series was the second series of five interoperable series of Chicago 'L' cars known as the High Performance Family. These cars were the last 'L' cars built with blinker doors, with all subsequent cars employing sliding doors. Due to the narrow opening afforded by these doors, the 2200 series cars cannot admit a bicycle or wheelchair, and so are not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is a law that was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1990. It was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H. W. Bush, and later amended with changes effective January 1, 2009....
. For this reason, these trains can no longer operate alone in revenue service, and are always coupled with at least one pair of cars with sliding doors. In addition, these cars are relegated to "belly car" service in train consists more than four cars long (which means that they are in the middle, but not at either end, of the train consist).
History
In 1967, the Chicago Transit Authority embarked on two ambitious rapid transitRapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
construction projects, both in the medians of major expressways, namely the Dan Ryan
Dan Ryan Expressway
The Dan Ryan is an expressway in the city of Chicago that runs from the Circle Interchange with I-290 near downtown Chicago through the South Side of the city. It is designated as both Interstate 94 and Interstate 90 south to 66th Street, a distance of...
and the Kennedy
Kennedy Expressway
The John F. Kennedy Expressway is a long highway that travels northwest from the Chicago Loop to O'Hare International Airport. The expressway is named for the 35th U.S. President, John F. Kennedy. The Interstate 90 portion of the Kennedy is a part of the much longer I-90...
. These two projects necessitated the order of new rail cars to supplement the existing fleet, and the City of Chicago ordered 150 new rail cars from the Budd Company to fill that need. The city retained two important consultants on the project, the Chicago Transit Authority (who would operate the cars) and the architectural firm of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill
Skidmore, Owings and Merrill
Skidmore, Owings and Merrill LLP is an American architectural and engineering firm that was formed in Chicago in 1936 by Louis Skidmore and Nathaniel Owings; in 1939 they were joined by John O. Merrill. They opened their first branch in New York City, New York in 1937. SOM is one of the largest...
, which was heavily involved in the architectural work of the new stations. The new cars were designed to complement the modernist
Modern architecture
Modern architecture is generally characterized by simplification of form and creation of ornament from the structure and theme of the building. It is a term applied to an overarching movement, with its exact definition and scope varying widely...
approach that SOM was taking to the design of the new stations, and featured unpainted fluted sides, a first for the CTA that would later become the standard for its rail fleet.