I've never lived in Chicago but I'm a die hard Chicago Cubs fan so I've flown in and used the blue line (this line) and the red line, MANY times! This just makes me miss it all that much more! Just not the pee smell! lol
This makes me miss my hometown all the much more. Thanks, CTA for the amazing videos. I enjoy getting to relive my life in Chicago through these videos.
Why do you "love it"? Living within walking distance of a transit line is a great convenience, but living in walking distance of an expressway is a nuissance and health hazard.
That goes back to Mayor Daley’s planning team in the 50s. When the expressways were designed, part of the plan was to put in a wide enough median for CTA train service. The Eisenhower had trains pretty much from day one. The Kennedy and Ryan started in late 1969.
@@ct6502c my aunt is the only one in my family in Illinois. I have been to Forest Park a few times but not since 2006 but I remember walking from her apartment to the grocery store which was a Jewel on the other side of the train tracks
@@PhilLove531 oh, ok. I was born in Chicago and we lived in Forest Park until I was 9. We moved in 1987. I remember everything about it very clearly though and still miss living there.
I took this line for the first time in my life on New Year's Eve 2022 to get downtown and transfer to Howard, and then a few days later reversed the procedure to get back to O'Hare. I'm a born-and-chiefly-raised Chicagoan, and it was not only great to be back at all, but to travel around this time with this perspective; I'm a born train watcher too, Chicago bequeaths that to you! It was great to be back. ❤❤JAT
I'm a native New Yorker, but I twice ventured into Chicago in 2002 (traveling to and from Utah by Greyhound). My second time there, as I was heading back to New York, I rode the Blue Line starting at Clinton, may have gone as far as Jackson, but definitely passed by LaSalle, before turning back and hopping on board the Greyhound bus traveling to NYC. I was struck by the Type II track layout as used on NYC's IND subway, and on the stations of the IRT and BMT that were built in the 1910's and '20's. The exposed third rail was different, though; but also along the lines of Boston's own subways (I've been to all four of those lines, but have to count their Red Line as my favorite).
Boy, how would you like to live like the people at 37:00 and have windows within arms reach of the rail bed? The noise... the shaking! Wasn't there a scene in "The Blues Brothers Movie" like that?
I grew up in an apartment near the red line tracks (on Sheffield), and grew accustomed to the "noise/shaking" from our kitchen/porch. When, in my 20s, I moved to the far northwest suburbs, the silence bothered me.....birds!, humming insects, the wind!!!!....it was terrifying!!!!
@@litlgrey What's real funny....is that most of us blue-collar types that finally "made" it, thought moving to the suburbs was upward mobility. We sold our Lakeview 3-flats to these developers, who knocked down walls, and flipped them into single-family "mansions" for $$$$$...and Lakeview is now, like Lincoln Park, Hilarious!!!
1. You are riding a *Blue Line* train heading 'eastbound' to downtown "Loop" area _thru Dearborn Street subway_ and *Forest Park* . 2. Welcome, passengers aboard Blue Line run *#???* . 3. Be familiar with the maps posted in each car and station that are good and convenient ways to help you be planned for your trip--assistance will be provided by your station personnel with just one call away. 4. The first stop--next is *Rosemont* 🅿️♿. 5. Mainly while traveling in the direction, on the left is where doors will open, at Rosemont. 6. You are now entering "Rosemont". 7. The next stop is *Cumberland* 🅿️♿. 8. On the left is where doors will open, at Cumberland. 9. You are now entering "Cumberland". "please stand clear of the doors while they are closing" 10. The next stop is *Harlem* ♿🅿️. 11. On the left is where doors will open, at Harlem. 12. You are now entering "Harlem". 13. The next stop is *Jefferson Park* ♿. 14. On the left is where doors will open, at Jefferson Park. 15. You are now entering *Jefferson Park*. 16. The next stop is *Montrose* . 17. On the left is where doors will open, at Montrose. 18. You are now entering "Montrose". 19. The next stop is *Irving Park* . 20. On the left is where doors will open, at Irving Park. 21. You are now entering "Irving Park". 22. The next stop is *Addison* ♿. 23. On the left is where doors will open, at Addison. 24. You are now entering "Addison". 25. _As you enter the subway_ the next stop is *Belmont* (on 'Kimball Ave') . 26. On the left is where doors will open, at Belmont. 27. You are now entering "Belmont". 28. _As you turn on 'Milwaukee Ave'_ the next stop is *Logan Square* ♿. 29. On the left is where doors will open, at Logan Square. 30. You are now entering "Logan Square". 31. _As you exit the subway_ the next stop is *California* . 32. On the right is where doors will open, at California. 33. You are now entering "California". 34. The next stop is *Western* ♿. 35. On the right is where doors will open, at Western. 36. You are now entering "Western". 37. The next stop is *Damen* . 38. On the right is where doors will open, at Damen. 39. You are now entering "Damen". 40. _As you enter the subway again_ the next stop is Division/Milwaukee ( *Division* ). 41. On the left is where doors will open, at Division/Milwaukee. 42. You are now entering "Division/Milwaukee". 43. We would like to give you passengers a 'special thanks' for boarding along the CTA's *Blue Line* . 44. The next stop is Chicago/Milwaukee ( *Chicago* ). 45. On the left is where doors will open, at Chicago/Milwaukee. 46. You are now entering "Chicago/Milwaukee". 47. The next stop is Grand/Milwaukee ( *Grand* ). 48. On the left is where doors will open, at Grand/Milwaukee. 49. You are now entering "Grand/Milwaukee". 50. _As you turn (on 'Lake St') while entering the _*_downtown "Loop" area_* the next stop is *Clark/Lake* ♿. 51. On the left is where doors will open, at Clark/Lake. 52. You can transfer over to the *Orange Green Pink* 'Purple (if announced)' and *Brown Line* trains, City Hall and the Thompson Center (if also announced) at Clark Lake. 53. You are now entering "Clark/Lake". 54. _As you turn right (on 'Dearborn St')_ the next stop is *Washington* . 55. On the left is where doors will open, at Washington. 56. You can transfer over to the *Red Line* trains at Washington. 57. You are now entering "Washington". 58. You are riding a *Blue Line* train heading 'westbound' to Forest Park. 59. The next stop is *Monroe* . 60. On the left is where doors will open, at Monroe. 61. You are now entering "Monroe". 62. The next stop is *Jackson* ♿. 63. On the left is where doors will open, at Jackson. 64. You can transfer over to the *Red* 'Purple (if announced)' *Orange Brown* and *Pink Line* trains at Jackson. 65. You are now entering "Jackson". 66. As you turn right *again* (on 'Ida B Wells Dr' formerly known as *"Congress Pkwy"* ) the next stop is *LaSalle* . 67. On the left is where doors will open, at LaSalle. 68. You can transfer over to the *Metra* trains at LaSalle. 69. You are now entering "LaSalle". 70. The next stop is *Clinton* . 71. On the left is where doors will open, at Clinton. 72. You can transfer over to the *Metra* and *Amtrak* trains at Clinton. 73. You are now entering "Clinton". 74. _As you go straight (while exiting the subway)_ the next stop is *UIC-Halsted* ♿. 75. On the left is where doors will open, at UIC-Halsted. 76. You are now entering "UIC-Halsted". 77. The next stop is *Racine* . 78. On the left is where doors will open, at Racine. 79. You are now entering "Racine". 80. The next stop is *Illinois Medical District* ♿. 81. On the left is where doors will open, at Illinois Medical District. 82. You are now entering "Illinois Medical District". 83. The next stop is *Western* . 84. On the left is where doors will open, at Western. 85. You are now entering "Western". 86. The next stop is *Kedzie-Homan* ♿. 87. On the left is where doors will open, at Kedzie-Homan. 88. You are now entering "Kedzie-Homan". 89. The next stop is *Pulaski* . 90. On the left is where doors will open, at Pulaski. 91. You are now entering "Pulaski". 92. The next stop is *Cicero* . 93. On the left is where doors will open, at Cicero. 94. You are now entering "Cicero". 95. The next stop is *Austin* . 96. On the left is where doors will open, at Austin. 97. You are now entering "Austin". 98. The next stop is *Oak Park* . 99. On the left is where doors will open, at Oak Park. 100. You are now entering "Oak Park". 101. The next stop is *Harlem* . 102. On the left is where doors will open, at Harlem. 103. You are now entering "Harlem". 104. The next and last stop--is *Forest Park* 🅿️♿. 105. You are now entering "Forest Park (which goes as far as this train takes you)". 106. Please, all passengers leave the train immediately as you are being told.
I recall standing on the EB Damen platform 37:10 on Monday, January 30, 1967, after 8:30am as I was going back to school. What's Special you maybe ask? It was the first business day after the infamous Chicago Snow Blizzard of January 26-27. There had to be a hundred plus people waiting on the platform and was crammed edge to edge. A train rolled in. As it came to a stop, brakes screeching, the whole station rocked forward and backward like an "Earthquake" hit!!! I was almost knocked off my feet and thought the station would collapse. The train itself was packed before the doors even opened.
0:35 O Hare Subway Under The Airport. 6:19 First Tunnel. 18:37 Second Tunnel. 22:58 Third Tunnel. 26:45 First Subway With Two Stations. 38:55 Second Subway With Nine Stations. 1:18:51 Short Tunnel.
I am glad this video captured the annoying whistle that occurs with the wind blowing in the bad seals on the end doors. Surprised this has yet to be addressed.
At 48:29, that is the under-development crossover to the Red Line tunnel, correct? Agreed - BRAVO to the CTA for proudly off their entire system to us in 4K High Def, something that the MTA (New York City subways) has not (yet) found it within themselves to do! I normally park in the Cumberland Ave park and ride ramp on the Kennedy and Blue Line it in whenever I visit downtown Chicago from here in Appleton, WI.
There sure seems to be plenty of room for extra tracks that can be installed. Maybe some time in the future. The Chicago,Aurora, and Elgin could have easily been accomodated.
Good Evening, I believe, there was a station between Kiedzie and Western. Can someone please tell me the name of that station and is that station "DECOMMISSIONED?" Thank you.
There was a station on the Expway on CALIFORNIA AV, but was shut down (as was Central Ave, and Kostner), due to low ridership. Poor neighborhood (Austin)....lotsa crime.
Im sorry but when the blue line gets on the highway part they go super fast i been on the blue line for one time and it felt like we was going to jump the rails. But it was fun at the same time.
@@llloyd4 Although highways are cheaper places to build rail, they are not always convenient places for riders, because of smog (pollution) and getting access to more populated areas of the city. But building something is better than building nothing at all. There are advantages though. Stations don't have to be close to each other and construction cost is cheaper and quicker on a highway. But often times, a passenger might need to use another mode of transportation to complete their trip. Out of all rail (by this order) 1. Subways are the best. They do not interact with vehicular traffic. They are Fast. But they are costly and construction timelines are longer and affects a community negatively for years. Flooding and water containment can also be an issue with subways. 2. Elevated lines. This is the method I think L.A. should have gone with most of their lines. Like subways, they do not interact with vehicular traffic. They can be Fast. Stations can be closer, because Stations on a subway is the most costlier part of it infrastructure. But when it comes to weather like snow, it can be a problem. But L.A. doesn't have snow. There's also the issue with appearance and how people see these massive structure. But L.A. isn't NYC, where you have very built up areas. L.A. is more spread out. And maintenance costs might be higher due to it being outside. 3. Light Rail. It easier to implement as is why L.A. adapted it. You can get a LINE in a few years and construction timelines are much shorter, which makes residences much happier. They have shorter stops, which is convenient to more users. And they are the best mode in replacing bus service entirely. However, they share most of their infrastructure with vehicular traffic. As a result, they can be very slow because of it. And accidents are common as well. But unlike Subways and Elevated lines, they do not need large yards for storage. And they do better in cities that have under 500,000 people. They are just not design for high capacity, because of their size and their relationship with vehicular traffic. And last, as mentioned above. Trains that run in the highway median is the worse, because it takes a couple of lanes from motor vehicles, it puts passengers in polluted areas that defeats the purpose of what transportation suppose to do, and it also inconvenience them to other modes of transportation. But it is the cheapest to implement. And the government don't have to worry about NIMBY shouting it down.
LA actually invented rail within freeways. 1 the Hollywood Freeway(originally Cahuenga Fwy) had Pacific Electric lines upon its 1940 opening but these were taken out in the mid 1950s. The Red B line subway indirectly replaced it in 2000. And 2 the San Bernadino Freeway was built around the PE mainline to San Bernadino as early as the 1930s (originally Ramona Blvd). Initial plans for a Wilshire subway in the 1960s envisioned utilising the PE row to el monte but the busway was built instead. Amazingly a track still existed after 50 years of freeway upgrades and in 1991/92 rail service was restored to San Bernadino as a part of the Metrolink system, though it takes a different way than the PE
@@louky264 but Chicago made the idea of using rapid transit (not interurban rail) within freeways with the the Eisenhower expy. It could also be argued that the Cahuenga route was more of a parkway instead of an expy. And it apparently attracted global attention when it opened, which is surprising for the city.
Are there plans to redo some of these 'Ride Along' videos after the work that has been undertaken on the Blue Line, and the use of the new 7000-series units?
Not sure. The Washington station on the Red Line has been fully decommissioned, with the platforms remaining open, but the mezzanine closed and power cut.
@@kevinb8881 The Blue Line's earliest parts were built in the 1890s, and newest parts in the 1970s and 1980s, before ridership levels increased to a point where longer trains would be needed. You must never have lived in Chicago during the days when all the lines used skip-stop operations.
@@Benjamin-tf4cm Multiple stations along this line contradict this statement. (Sure, _some_ would need to be extended, but the bulk of the Forest Park branch, some of the O'Hare Branch, and much of the Milwaukee-Dearborn subway are clearly capable of handling 10-car trains. (Sure, I've never been to Chicago, but it's really easy to see, especially as someone who lives where _longer_ 10-car trains (of different but greater lengths) are the norm.
Thanks for an interesting ride on your suburban/city line. I am curious as to the third rail power? Is it the raised line at the side? I noticed in the underground there was a dull brown track in the centre and I was confused as to whether that was the "third rail" for power. then it disappeared out of the tunnel. Those LOOOONG walks on the ramps for the mid-freeway services! I don't suppose they had "travelators" or moving footways on them? I am subscribed and will see what else you have. We were gonna come to America in 2000 but unfortunately, that had to be cancelled.
This is amazing footage ! I love to ride the EL train, everytime I visit Chicago. Is it possible to use that footage for non commercial use? (without showing people!)
Even though this was filmed during the morning rush, it makes no sense to me that on the O’Hare branch there were more cars going towards O’Hare than downtown
@@saltatoria Yes! Mostly outside Manhattan. But they run along a street. We don't have many Alleyways in New York to run trains. And our train systems are based on what street they ride on like (6th Avenue Line, Broadway Line, etc.) They are also based on the neighborhoods they go, like the "Flushing Line". I hope this answers your questions. Good luck and happy traveling.
It sounds like the train this video was taken from might be one of the recently rehabbed 3200 series that were assigned to the Blue Line. I'm only saying that because these cars are rolling very, very smoothly; there is no wheel flat noise. The 2600s, on the other hand, are a little "rough riding" soundwise even when they don't have wheel flats.
Arguably, there should be platform screen doors at all CTA stations. The rolling stock and door placement is exactly the same through each generation of trains, so they could easily add PSDs to the stations and it wouldn’t be much of a hassle.
@@cataginandtonic they could easily add a couple of vertical ventilation shafts at each underground station and it should work fine. It would even work better than just using the tunnels for ventilation.
How can you have a median commuter service that travels half the speed of the 4 wheelers on the road, does that not make the transit seem like an unviable option to drivers if they can get there quicker driving... Or is that just the way it was intended to push the car-centric agenda?
The O'Hare branch is fast, but the Forest Park branch is slow. This isn't to push the car agenda, this is because the O'Hare branch services an airport, and the Forest Park branch services black and brown communities, so they don't care about the track quality degrading. The Forest Park tracks are literally falling apart.
Being a daily commuter rider (2x per day), the Blue Line train almost never travels at the speed shown on this video from the loop to Forest Park...also,the video doesn't capture the whiplash the passengers feel from being jostled in the cars or the usual smell of urine! Cant wait for the CTA to spend some money of replacing the west leg of the Blue Line and upgrading the train cars!
IDOT already has a plan/design for the highway re-alignment through the Oak Park "pinch points"...they are waiting for the next round of funding to complete the next design phase. Additionally, the CTA needs to insist on an express line for the west leg. CAP THE IKE!
The point is that room needs to be provided for a set of tracks that can accomodate express runs...to/from downtown out west....ridership will increase if the transit is more accommodating.
The Blue Line stops at Harlem Avenue twice. In fact, it had additional Pulaski Road, Cicero Avenue, Kedzive Avenue, Western Avenue, California Avenue and Damen Avenue stops prior to 2006 when the Douglas Branch was operated as a branch of the Blue Line rather than as the Pink Line.
Western is one of the longest Streets anywhere 😂 Its confusing sometimes cause you'll hear western and freak out cause you think its the western you want but its not and you'll already have gotten off 🤦♂️
its kind of sad that cars on the highway are flying by the train. isnt the point of a public transit to be more efficient? i feel sorry for the driver if he had to to go bathroom and had to hold it in for 2hrs.
1:09:26 abandoned California Congress branch station 1:15:10 the abandoned kostner street station 1:19:23 abandoned central street station
We rail fans love these thank you CTA
I concur very much.
CTA. I can't wait to come to Chicago and ride your great rails. Awesome videos.
I know what your saying but it sounds kinda sus 😂😭 it’s g tho
@@creedencebakken4148 lol 😂
It’s hard to believe the O’Hare extension is almost 40 years old.
I've never lived in Chicago but I'm a die hard Chicago Cubs fan so I've flown in and used the blue line (this line) and the red line, MANY times! This just makes me miss it all that much more! Just not the pee smell! lol
This makes me miss my hometown all the much more. Thanks, CTA for the amazing videos. I enjoy getting to relive my life in Chicago through these videos.
I love the way the Kennedy Expressway parallels and follows CTA's Blue Line.
The Dan Ryan does the same thing on the Red Line.
Why do you "love it"? Living within walking distance of a transit line is a great convenience, but living in walking distance of an expressway is a nuissance and health hazard.
That goes back to Mayor Daley’s planning team in the 50s. When the expressways were designed, part of the plan was to put in a wide enough median for CTA train service. The Eisenhower had trains pretty much from day one. The Kennedy and Ryan started in late 1969.
0:34 O'Hare
5:20 Rosemont
8:05 Cumberland
13:00 Harlem
19:14 Jefferson Park
21:37 Montrose
23:48 Irving Park
25:39 Addison
27:34 Belmont
30:05 Logan Sqaure
33:29 California
35:26 Western
37:32 Damen
39:30 Division
41:36 Chicago
43:18 Grand
47:03 Clark/Lake
48:58 Washington
50:11 Monroe
51:19 Jackson
52:48 Lasalle
55:38 Clinton
58:46 UIC-Halsted
1:01:11 Racine
1:04:44 Illinois Medical District
1:08:19 Western
1:11:15 Kedzie Homan
1:14:01 Pulaski
1:16:56 Cicero
1:20:42 Austin
1:23:38 Oak Park
1:26:35 Harlem
1:30:12 Forest Park
I love the last min runners..
I love the sensation of riding on a train or subway I first rode one in New York City in 1971 when I was a kid
I love cta thanks for showing us different lines we never went on!
I used to live in Forest Park. This brings back so many memories!
My Aunt used to live near Desplanes and Washington Street I think Washington Street is a one-way road.
@@PhilLove531 I lived at the corner of Ferdinand and Madison (in a very old and creepy apartment building...lol) Do you know where that is?
@@ct6502c my aunt is the only one in my family in Illinois. I have been to Forest Park a few times but not since 2006 but I remember walking from her apartment to the grocery store which was a Jewel on the other side of the train tracks
@@PhilLove531 oh, ok. I was born in Chicago and we lived in Forest Park until I was 9. We moved in 1987. I remember everything about it very clearly though and still miss living there.
@@ct6502c oh ok. I was born in 1987
These videos make me feel like I'm back home.
I took this line for the first time in my life on New Year's Eve 2022 to get downtown and transfer to Howard, and then a few days later reversed the procedure to get back to O'Hare. I'm a born-and-chiefly-raised Chicagoan, and it was not only great to be back at all, but to travel around this time with this perspective; I'm a born train watcher too, Chicago bequeaths that to you! It was great to be back. ❤❤JAT
I'm a native New Yorker, but I twice ventured into Chicago in 2002 (traveling to and from Utah by Greyhound). My second time there, as I was heading back to New York, I rode the Blue Line starting at Clinton, may have gone as far as Jackson, but definitely passed by LaSalle, before turning back and hopping on board the Greyhound bus traveling to NYC. I was struck by the Type II track layout as used on NYC's IND subway, and on the stations of the IRT and BMT that were built in the 1910's and '20's. The exposed third rail was different, though; but also along the lines of Boston's own subways (I've been to all four of those lines, but have to count their Red Line as my favorite).
Why do I watch these I literally take this line almost every other day 😂🤦♂️
Cause you love it just like me
You can hit the CC button, and you can learn some history of the line which is cool
Boy, how would you like to live like the people at 37:00 and have windows within arms reach of the rail bed? The noise... the shaking! Wasn't there a scene in "The Blues Brothers Movie" like that?
I grew up in an apartment near the red line tracks (on Sheffield), and grew accustomed to the "noise/shaking" from our kitchen/porch. When, in my 20s, I moved to the far northwest suburbs, the silence bothered me.....birds!, humming insects, the wind!!!!....it was terrifying!!!!
That's actually really funny,@@michaelbrinkers1145!
@@litlgrey What's real funny....is that most of us blue-collar types that finally "made" it, thought moving to the suburbs was upward mobility. We sold our Lakeview 3-flats to these developers, who knocked down walls, and flipped them into single-family "mansions" for $$$$$...and Lakeview is now, like Lincoln Park, Hilarious!!!
@@michaelbrinkers1145 Yes, you're exactly right. Scary, right?
1. You are riding a *Blue Line* train heading 'eastbound' to downtown "Loop" area _thru Dearborn Street subway_ and *Forest Park* .
2. Welcome, passengers aboard Blue Line run *#???* .
3. Be familiar with the maps posted in each car and station that are good and convenient ways to help you be planned for your trip--assistance will be provided by your station personnel with just one call away.
4. The first stop--next is *Rosemont* 🅿️♿.
5. Mainly while traveling in the direction, on the left is where doors will open, at Rosemont.
6. You are now entering "Rosemont".
7. The next stop is *Cumberland* 🅿️♿.
8. On the left is where doors will open, at Cumberland.
9. You are now entering "Cumberland". "please stand clear of the doors while they are closing"
10. The next stop is *Harlem* ♿🅿️.
11. On the left is where doors will open, at Harlem.
12. You are now entering "Harlem".
13. The next stop is *Jefferson Park* ♿.
14. On the left is where doors will open, at Jefferson Park.
15. You are now entering *Jefferson Park*.
16. The next stop is *Montrose* .
17. On the left is where doors will open, at Montrose.
18. You are now entering "Montrose".
19. The next stop is *Irving Park* .
20. On the left is where doors will open, at Irving Park.
21. You are now entering "Irving Park".
22. The next stop is *Addison* ♿.
23. On the left is where doors will open, at Addison.
24. You are now entering "Addison".
25. _As you enter the subway_ the next stop is *Belmont* (on 'Kimball Ave') .
26. On the left is where doors will open, at Belmont.
27. You are now entering "Belmont".
28. _As you turn on 'Milwaukee Ave'_ the next stop is *Logan Square* ♿.
29. On the left is where doors will open, at Logan Square.
30. You are now entering "Logan Square".
31. _As you exit the subway_ the next stop is *California* .
32. On the right is where doors will open, at California.
33. You are now entering "California".
34. The next stop is *Western* ♿.
35. On the right is where doors will open, at Western.
36. You are now entering "Western".
37. The next stop is *Damen* .
38. On the right is where doors will open, at Damen.
39. You are now entering "Damen".
40. _As you enter the subway again_ the next stop is Division/Milwaukee ( *Division* ).
41. On the left is where doors will open, at Division/Milwaukee.
42. You are now entering "Division/Milwaukee".
43. We would like to give you passengers a 'special thanks' for boarding along the CTA's *Blue Line* .
44. The next stop is Chicago/Milwaukee ( *Chicago* ).
45. On the left is where doors will open, at Chicago/Milwaukee.
46. You are now entering "Chicago/Milwaukee".
47. The next stop is Grand/Milwaukee ( *Grand* ).
48. On the left is where doors will open, at Grand/Milwaukee.
49. You are now entering "Grand/Milwaukee".
50. _As you turn (on 'Lake St') while entering the _*_downtown "Loop" area_* the next stop is *Clark/Lake* ♿.
51. On the left is where doors will open, at Clark/Lake.
52. You can transfer over to the *Orange Green Pink* 'Purple (if announced)' and *Brown Line* trains, City Hall and the Thompson Center (if also announced) at Clark Lake.
53. You are now entering "Clark/Lake".
54. _As you turn right (on 'Dearborn St')_ the next stop is *Washington* .
55. On the left is where doors will open, at Washington.
56. You can transfer over to the *Red Line* trains at Washington.
57. You are now entering "Washington".
58. You are riding a *Blue Line* train heading 'westbound' to Forest Park.
59. The next stop is *Monroe* .
60. On the left is where doors will open, at Monroe.
61. You are now entering "Monroe".
62. The next stop is *Jackson* ♿.
63. On the left is where doors will open, at Jackson.
64. You can transfer over to the *Red* 'Purple (if announced)' *Orange Brown* and *Pink Line* trains at Jackson.
65. You are now entering "Jackson".
66. As you turn right *again* (on 'Ida B Wells Dr' formerly known as *"Congress Pkwy"* ) the next stop is *LaSalle* .
67. On the left is where doors will open, at LaSalle.
68. You can transfer over to the *Metra* trains at LaSalle.
69. You are now entering "LaSalle".
70. The next stop is *Clinton* .
71. On the left is where doors will open, at Clinton.
72. You can transfer over to the *Metra* and *Amtrak* trains at Clinton.
73. You are now entering "Clinton".
74. _As you go straight (while exiting the subway)_ the next stop is *UIC-Halsted* ♿.
75. On the left is where doors will open, at UIC-Halsted.
76. You are now entering "UIC-Halsted".
77. The next stop is *Racine* .
78. On the left is where doors will open, at Racine.
79. You are now entering "Racine".
80. The next stop is *Illinois Medical District* ♿.
81. On the left is where doors will open, at Illinois Medical District.
82. You are now entering "Illinois Medical District".
83. The next stop is *Western* .
84. On the left is where doors will open, at Western.
85. You are now entering "Western".
86. The next stop is *Kedzie-Homan* ♿.
87. On the left is where doors will open, at Kedzie-Homan.
88. You are now entering "Kedzie-Homan".
89. The next stop is *Pulaski* .
90. On the left is where doors will open, at Pulaski.
91. You are now entering "Pulaski".
92. The next stop is *Cicero* .
93. On the left is where doors will open, at Cicero.
94. You are now entering "Cicero".
95. The next stop is *Austin* .
96. On the left is where doors will open, at Austin.
97. You are now entering "Austin".
98. The next stop is *Oak Park* .
99. On the left is where doors will open, at Oak Park.
100. You are now entering "Oak Park".
101. The next stop is *Harlem* .
102. On the left is where doors will open, at Harlem.
103. You are now entering "Harlem".
104. The next and last stop--is *Forest Park* 🅿️♿.
105. You are now entering "Forest Park (which goes as far as this train takes you)".
106. Please, all passengers leave the train immediately as you are being told.
Oh my god
@@Improj69 ??
Forest park station will be renovated soon to include 10-car platform.
15:30 the traffic on the left heading to the airport is pretty much not moving at all 💀😂
Great route... Great city!!!
Like CTA. 👍 Thanks!!!
🚊🚊🚊👏👏
Love that these were remade with 4k! Captions are a really nice touch too!
I better get acclimated to this since I'm moving to Chicago soon
Cc
48:40 Theres the boarded up stairwell that leads to the closed washington redline
I recall standing on the EB Damen platform 37:10 on Monday, January 30, 1967, after 8:30am as I was going back to school. What's Special you maybe ask? It was the first business day after the infamous Chicago Snow Blizzard of January 26-27. There had to be a hundred plus people waiting on the platform and was crammed edge to edge. A train rolled in. As it came to a stop, brakes screeching, the whole station rocked forward and backward like an "Earthquake" hit!!! I was almost knocked off my feet and thought the station would collapse. The train itself was packed before the doors even opened.
0:35 O Hare Subway Under The Airport.
6:19 First Tunnel.
18:37 Second Tunnel.
22:58 Third Tunnel.
26:45 First Subway With Two Stations.
38:55 Second Subway With Nine Stations.
1:18:51 Short Tunnel.
nice job cta with the 4k i can't wait to watch a whole day of ride the rails in 4k let's gooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!
1:28:37 Very old speed limit sign. Not like the signs the CTA uses today. Probably dates back to the opening of the Congress Line in 1958.
I am glad this video captured the annoying whistle that occurs with the wind blowing in the bad seals on the end doors. Surprised this has yet to be addressed.
At 48:29, that is the under-development crossover to the Red Line tunnel, correct?
Agreed - BRAVO to the CTA for proudly off their entire system to us in 4K High Def, something that the MTA (New York City subways) has not (yet) found it within themselves to do! I normally park in the Cumberland Ave park and ride ramp on the Kennedy and Blue Line it in whenever I visit downtown Chicago from here in Appleton, WI.
There sure seems to be plenty of room for extra tracks that can be installed. Maybe some time in the future. The Chicago,Aurora, and Elgin could have easily been accomodated.
The CA&E had a troubled life from changing technology: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Aurora_and_Elgin_Railroad
Damn I was hoping I’d hear the announcements also
It strikes me that the intro to this video looks more like Law and Order rather than CTA 😆
They were the ones that started the idea of putting their tracks down the median of the expressway
Somewhere between Grand and Clark/Lake they were under the Chicago River and again between LaSalle and Clinton.
Good Evening,
I believe, there was a station between Kiedzie and Western.
Can someone please tell me the name of that station and is that station "DECOMMISSIONED?"
Thank you.
There was a station on the Expway on CALIFORNIA AV, but was shut down (as was Central Ave, and Kostner), due to low ridership. Poor neighborhood (Austin)....lotsa crime.
@@michaelbrinkers1145 Hello Michael, So on this line "Blue Line" there was a total of 3 decommissioned stations? Thank you very much for your reply.
A nice ride to Forest Park from O Hare Airport though there were quite a few delays on the way.
Having watched this once a few months ago I enjoyed watching it again, this time at 2x speed. 🐨🇦🇺
47:05 a kid is having a temper tantrum to in the subway.
17:33 and 20:58 they got the 5000-series running the Blue line LOL
Those are Pink Line stock trains that run only on the Blue Line during rush hours.
@@TheLewistownTrainspotter8102 yeah I agree they also use Pink line run numbers #300 groups and run for UIC and Jefferson Park
can you guys do a trip of the blue line yard?
32:00 I see trees of green, parking cars too, green buildings on the left, this line is blue.
And I think for myself, is this really wonderful?
You can walk if you like.
Well, but I prefer singing
Im sorry but when the blue line gets on the highway part they go super fast i been on the blue line for one time and it felt like we was going to jump the rails. But it was fun at the same time.
I see Chicago likes to build their rail system in the median of the highway.
Same here in Los Angeles, our light rail "Green" line has stations down the middle of the I-105 freeway. :D
@@llloyd4 Although highways are cheaper places to build rail, they are not always convenient places for riders, because of smog (pollution) and getting access to more populated areas of the city. But building something is better than building nothing at all. There are advantages though. Stations don't have to be close to each other and construction cost is cheaper and quicker on a highway. But often times, a passenger might need to use another mode of transportation to complete their trip.
Out of all rail (by this order) 1. Subways are the best. They do not interact with vehicular traffic. They are Fast. But they are costly and construction timelines are longer and affects a community negatively for years. Flooding and water containment can also be an issue with subways. 2. Elevated lines. This is the method I think L.A. should have gone with most of their lines. Like subways, they do not interact with vehicular traffic. They can be Fast. Stations can be closer, because Stations on a subway is the most costlier part of it infrastructure. But when it comes to weather like snow, it can be a problem. But L.A. doesn't have snow. There's also the issue with appearance and how people see these massive structure. But L.A. isn't NYC, where you have very built up areas. L.A. is more spread out. And maintenance costs might be higher due to it being outside. 3. Light Rail. It easier to implement as is why L.A. adapted it. You can get a LINE in a few years and construction timelines are much shorter, which makes residences much happier. They have shorter stops, which is convenient to more users. And they are the best mode in replacing bus service entirely. However, they share most of their infrastructure with vehicular traffic. As a result, they can be very slow because of it. And accidents are common as well. But unlike Subways and Elevated lines, they do not need large yards for storage. And they do better in cities that have under 500,000 people. They are just not design for high capacity, because of their size and their relationship with vehicular traffic. And last, as mentioned above. Trains that run in the highway median is the worse, because it takes a couple of lanes from motor vehicles, it puts passengers in polluted areas that defeats the purpose of what transportation suppose to do, and it also inconvenience them to other modes of transportation. But it is the cheapest to implement. And the government don't have to worry about NIMBY shouting it down.
LA actually invented rail within freeways. 1 the Hollywood Freeway(originally Cahuenga Fwy) had Pacific Electric lines upon its 1940 opening but these were taken out in the mid 1950s. The Red B line subway indirectly replaced it in 2000. And 2 the San Bernadino Freeway was built around the PE mainline to San Bernadino as early as the 1930s (originally Ramona Blvd). Initial plans for a Wilshire subway in the 1960s envisioned utilising the PE row to el monte but the busway was built instead. Amazingly a track still existed after 50 years of freeway upgrades and in 1991/92 rail service was restored to San Bernadino as a part of the Metrolink system, though it takes a different way than the PE
So do the Dutch and other countries. Kinda cool..😎
@@louky264 but Chicago made the idea of using rapid transit (not interurban rail) within freeways with the the Eisenhower expy. It could also be argued that the Cahuenga route was more of a parkway instead of an expy. And it apparently attracted global attention when it opened, which is surprising for the city.
Are there plans to redo some of these 'Ride Along' videos after the work that has been undertaken on the Blue Line, and the use of the new 7000-series units?
At 48:30, will the CTA ever finish that connection with the Red line, even if the proposed block 37 project and a new station, has been terminated?
Not sure. The Washington station on the Red Line has been fully decommissioned, with the platforms remaining open, but the mezzanine closed and power cut.
CTA should make the blue line trains 10 cars long, imagine that!!
All cta rail stations only hold 8 cars. If they were to extend them to 10 all platforms would have to be extended as well.
@@Benjamin-tf4cm They should have thought of it when they started building the system back in the day!!
@@kevinb8881 The Blue Line's earliest parts were built in the 1890s, and newest parts in the 1970s and 1980s, before ridership levels increased to a point where longer trains would be needed. You must never have lived in Chicago during the days when all the lines used skip-stop operations.
@@TheLewistownTrainspotter8102 You're right, I haven't, but I woundn't mind visiting there one day!!😁
@@Benjamin-tf4cm Multiple stations along this line contradict this statement. (Sure, _some_ would need to be extended, but the bulk of the Forest Park branch, some of the O'Hare Branch, and much of the Milwaukee-Dearborn subway are clearly capable of handling 10-car trains. (Sure, I've never been to Chicago, but it's really easy to see, especially as someone who lives where _longer_ 10-car trains (of different but greater lengths) are the norm.
This This Under The Airport Right We’re It Started.
If they closed Central, how do people get to Loretto Hospital?
Central has been closed since 1973 good question
It's a pity that you don't post more videos like this. Time goes by, everything changes. It would be interesting to see fresh views of Chicago 🙂
Thanks for an interesting ride on your suburban/city line. I am curious as to the third rail power? Is it the raised line at the side? I noticed in the underground there was a dull brown track in the centre and I was confused as to whether that was the "third rail" for power. then it disappeared out of the tunnel. Those LOOOONG walks on the ramps for the mid-freeway services! I don't suppose they had "travelators" or moving footways on them? I am subscribed and will see what else you have. We were gonna come to America in 2000 but unfortunately, that had to be cancelled.
This is amazing footage ! I love to ride the EL train, everytime I visit Chicago. Is it possible to use that footage for non commercial use? (without showing people!)
Even though this was filmed during the morning rush, it makes no sense to me that on the O’Hare branch there were more cars going towards O’Hare than downtown
What do the blue lights indicate
It is so strange as a New Yorker to see the back of buildings as you traveling on the train.
Doesn't the MTA have elevated lines in some of the boroughs?
@@saltatoria Yes! Mostly outside Manhattan. But they run along a street. We don't have many Alleyways in New York to run trains. And our train systems are based on what street they ride on like (6th Avenue Line, Broadway Line, etc.) They are also based on the neighborhoods they go, like the "Flushing Line". I hope this answers your questions. Good luck and happy traveling.
Oh! That makes sense. :) I've only seen a few pictures of the lines in Brooklyn and such. I forgot you don't have nearly as many alleys.
My First Subway Ride Was Belmont To Jefferson Park, I Think At Time Jefferson Was The End Of The Line.
Ridn the rails wit cha😀
1:09:41 what station was that
California station. It closed in 1973. More information is provided when you turn the CC on.
@@CTAConnections Has the CTA ever considered going back to the A/B express system? Will those closed stations ever be reopened?
@@CTAConnections you guys should reopen them
@@HJW81253212 Why not do a mix of the color coded and A/B express similar to the NYC subway
They need to extend a track to Glen Ellyn
originally they were going to extend this line up to Schaumburg by the Woodfield Mall, but they scraped the idea
It sounds like the train this video was taken from might be one of the recently rehabbed 3200 series that were assigned to the Blue Line. I'm only saying that because these cars are rolling very, very smoothly; there is no wheel flat noise. The 2600s, on the other hand, are a little "rough riding" soundwise even when they don't have wheel flats.
3200 series cars are more common on other lines like the brown line
@@marilynm5483
Yeah, your right. In fact 85-90% of the 3200s are assigned to the Ravenswood Brown line.
51:05 I heard a subway performer.
50:00 a long long station where the train stops several times, but you can walk, if you want
Someone tried it and noticed, that the way was oiled.
have trains like this a electric problem? they acelerate than brake and drive slow and than acelerate.
Wall to wall, standstill freeway traffic. Uggh!!!
This is exactly why we take the L 😎
There should be platform doors on the long platform
Arguably, there should be platform screen doors at all CTA stations. The rolling stock and door placement is exactly the same through each generation of trains, so they could easily add PSDs to the stations and it wouldn’t be much of a hassle.
The only ventilation on the platforms is from the tunnels. It would get really hot in the summer if you blocked it. @@OliversElevators
@@cataginandtonic they could easily add a couple of vertical ventilation shafts at each underground station and it should work fine. It would even work better than just using the tunnels for ventilation.
still faster than new york
How can you have a median commuter service that travels half the speed of the 4 wheelers on the road, does that not make the transit seem like an unviable option to drivers if they can get there quicker driving... Or is that just the way it was intended to push the car-centric agenda?
The O'Hare branch is fast, but the Forest Park branch is slow. This isn't to push the car agenda, this is because the O'Hare branch services an airport, and the Forest Park branch services black and brown communities, so they don't care about the track quality degrading. The Forest Park tracks are literally falling apart.
@@catazatyou made it about skin color congratulations
Temper tantrum at 46:51
What the hell was that sound 🤥🤥
Washington should have a Blue 🪧 & Clark/Lake Should have a Black 🪧 cause Washington doesn’t have a direct transfer while Clark/Lake does
Being a daily commuter rider (2x per day), the Blue Line train almost never travels at the speed shown on this video from the loop to Forest Park...also,the video doesn't capture the whiplash the passengers feel from being jostled in the cars or the usual smell of urine! Cant wait for the CTA to spend some money of replacing the west leg of the Blue Line and upgrading the train cars!
Already in the works!!
IDOT has to come up with a plan to fix 290 thru Oak Park first.
IDOT already has a plan/design for the highway re-alignment through the Oak Park "pinch points"...they are waiting for the next round of funding to complete the next design phase. Additionally, the CTA needs to insist on an express line for the west leg. CAP THE IKE!
Fred Brandstrader Why though? The Forrest Park Branch has very low ridership. The stations are already too far apart as it is.
The point is that room needs to be provided for a set of tracks that can accomodate express runs...to/from downtown out west....ridership will increase if the transit is more accommodating.
AlRIGHT that was long ago!!
Well this is how I’m getting to high school
May I download this video?
great video, pity that whistle ruined it a bit
The Blue doesn’t run the new 5K cars. Sadly. Wish they’d would.
Do O’Hare to Uic Halsted and Jefferson park
So there’s two stations with the name western.
I believe there are actually 3 stations on Western Avenue (3 different lines). Western Avenue is a long North/South stretch.
There is 2 on the blue line and also 1 on the orange line and 1 on the pink line. 4 all together
The Blue Line stops at Harlem Avenue twice. In fact, it had additional Pulaski Road, Cicero Avenue, Kedzive Avenue, Western Avenue, California Avenue and Damen Avenue stops prior to 2006 when the Douglas Branch was operated as a branch of the Blue Line rather than as the Pink Line.
There’s a stop on the brown line called western
Western is one of the longest Streets anywhere 😂
Its confusing sometimes cause you'll hear western and freak out cause you think its the western you want but its not and you'll already have gotten off 🤦♂️
veo que aqui en Argentina manejamos mas rapido en autopistas y eso que en general usamos motores mas pequeños que en ESTADOS UNIDOS!!!
its kind of sad that cars on the highway are flying by the train. isnt the point of a public transit to be more efficient? i feel sorry for the driver if he had to to go bathroom and had to hold it in for 2hrs.
The fact that its slower than traffic cant be good for ridership.
You spend the time you save driving finding a place to park, & then you pay for it.
What would make you think it's supposed to be faster than cars? Cars don't stop to pick passengers up every few minutes.
Cta love 😍 family
Cars are faster. ???
35:21 my enemy dentist
Damn it ppl the sooner we start listening the sooner we can ride CTA without social distancing!!
#stayhome #socialdistancing #staystrong #bendthecurve
Please note that this video is from last year, before Covid.
Hello
Too many slow zones!
Hipsters @ 37:15
This line need to be refurbished badly stations and track it sounds horrible and looks horrible , expect nothing less from outwest
Chicago trains are really slow
I ride it everyday the only part that the slowest is the Forest park branch
SQUIRRELPASK
47:00 extremely spoiled brat girl 👧
1:29:08 pulling into forest park