I would like to thank you once again for the safe and punctual rides with the CTA subway! I visited Chicago around the 4th of july and i felt save at all times (lots of cameras) and i only saw clean stations!!! Thanks to all of the CTA employees who work day in, day out to serve our customers at the highest level!!! :-)
I honestly think some of the former stations that were closed in 1948 should be brought back, like Dodge, East Prairie, and Main Street. Maybe if the Old Orchard extension ever gets built...
@@combineadvisor572 Sure the Skokie Swift would lose its "swiftness", but I think the stations would bring new riders who currently have to drive or take a bus to get to a station.
If/when service is restored out to the Old Orchard area (I would certainly hope that it would be with a provision to allow easy extension farther on north!), I agree. Also, with the capacity upgrades that are now under construction at the Clark interlocking (Brown Line branch), those trains could be extended to the Loop elevated just like with the existing Brown Line trains.
I know this might sound weird, but your brief video brought tears to my eyes. A little background: When we moved to this country from the UK in 1973, we had a short stay in Rogers Park. But in 1975 we moved to Skokie, my dear sweet American hometown. Your video triggered flashbacks of my childhood and teenage years (70's-80's). All the familiar street crossings and landmarks I remember are still there. The only thing that's new to me is that Oakton station! But all those streets were my stomping grounds. Well, at least everything from McCormick Blvd all the way to Dempster. (The areas East of McCormick were kinda shady back then.) Got back from the military and visited here and there in the 90's, but haven't seen any of it since 2001. Thank you very much for helping me pull out some old memories from the back of my noggin. :)
Congratulations for the initiative in making official cab-ride videos available for the public (NYCTA please take note). However in the case of this film I'm of the opinion that at least a token mention should have been made about the fact that the Yellow Line was once the route taken by Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee interurban electric trains between Chicago and Milwaukee, especially the fabled "Electroliners"
I was imagining I was riding a modern Chicago, North Shore and Milwaukee interurban as the train left Howard Street! But alas the catenary was gone, and so were the tracks beyond Skokie. Enjoyed the video. It's too bad the CTA hadn't kept more trackage past Skokie.
I was discussing this a while back with some other North Shore fans who mutually agreed that had the CMNS been able to hold on for a couple of more years (they quit in 1963), they would likely have been taken over by a public agency of some sort and may well be still running in its entirety today. My best guess is that they would still be using overhead catenary wire from Howard to downtown Milwaukee, but with pantographs instead of the manually operated trolley poles that the North Shore used.
Yellow (along with part of Purple and part of Pink) line fells most like regular railroad, not city transit or subway - running on ground level or embankment, not on ramps or underground, isolated and "at backyard", not right between buildings like many other lines. Its very impressive how much variety CTA have.
Actually, until 1948 when it was called the Niles Center/ Skokie 'L' it usually ran ONE car trains, even in the Rush Hour, because the area did not start to really get built up until after 1950
The Howard street station kind of acts as a yard for both the red line and the yellow line. Making the red line go past it seems like extra work for red line trains when they go out of service (or being put into service)
Makes sense on paper, but ridership demand on the Yellow Line does not even come close to the Red line or even the Evanston branch, so thru service makes no sense. However, if the area around Skokie gets built up a rush hour thru service might become viable (most likely via the loop).
They were always small, even in the days of Niles Center/ Skokie 'L'. The original Dempster Street Station, however, is the Starbucks Coffee Shop. It was moved from next to the tracks in the late 90's/ early 2000's.
They used to have overhead catenary west of the Skokie shops until 2004, leftover from the North Shore Line days. They converted that part to third rail to allow for more equipment to work on that section of the line.
they always seem to have the best weather for these videos. i love it. (Well I LOVE CTA too, of course). How come the cta tracks are always clickity clack?
I don't think it would take too much for Oakton-Skokie to handle 8 cars (it won't happen, particularly with the line abruptly ending as soon as it meets other lines, but by the looks of it, the footprint is large enough).
Just rode the Skokie swift for the first time today. If you want a really fast L ride, I suggest taking this.
I would like to thank you once again for the safe and punctual rides with the CTA subway! I visited Chicago around the 4th of july and i felt save at all times (lots of cameras) and i only saw clean stations!!! Thanks to all of the CTA employees who work day in, day out to serve our customers at the highest level!!! :-)
I honestly think some of the former stations that were closed in 1948 should be brought back, like Dodge, East Prairie, and Main Street. Maybe if the Old Orchard extension ever gets built...
Karen Page i would like that
@@combineadvisor572 Sure the Skokie Swift would lose its "swiftness", but I think the stations would bring new riders who currently have to drive or take a bus to get to a station.
Karen Page true
I agree 100 percent
If/when service is restored out to the Old Orchard area (I would certainly hope that it would be with a provision to allow easy extension farther on north!), I agree. Also, with the capacity upgrades that are now under construction at the Clark interlocking (Brown Line branch), those trains could be extended to the Loop elevated just like with the existing Brown Line trains.
Compared to the other lines, the Yellow line feels more like an express line.
I imagine this brief line holds the CTA record for MOST Grade crossings.
You know i never really thought about that. i think you are right.
Pink 9
Brown 6
Purple 2
The Skokie Swift has 7, but the Pink Line has 9 in revenue, and an additional one at 54th, just beyond 54th/Cermak
I know this might sound weird, but your brief video brought tears to my eyes. A little background: When we moved to this country from the UK in 1973, we had a short stay in Rogers Park. But in 1975 we moved to Skokie, my dear sweet American hometown. Your video triggered flashbacks of my childhood and teenage years (70's-80's). All the familiar street crossings and landmarks I remember are still there. The only thing that's new to me is that Oakton station! But all those streets were my stomping grounds. Well, at least everything from McCormick Blvd all the way to Dempster. (The areas East of McCormick were kinda shady back then.) Got back from the military and visited here and there in the 90's, but haven't seen any of it since 2001. Thank you very much for helping me pull out some old memories from the back of my noggin. :)
Congratulations for the initiative in making official cab-ride videos available for the public (NYCTA please take note). However in the case of this film I'm of the opinion that at least a token mention should have been made about the fact that the Yellow Line was once the route taken by Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee interurban electric trains between Chicago and Milwaukee, especially the fabled "Electroliners"
I was imagining I was riding a modern Chicago, North Shore and Milwaukee interurban as the train left Howard Street! But alas the catenary was gone, and so were the tracks beyond Skokie. Enjoyed the video. It's too bad the CTA hadn't kept more trackage past Skokie.
I was discussing this a while back with some other North Shore fans who mutually agreed that had the CMNS been able to hold on for a couple of more years (they quit in 1963), they would likely have been taken over by a public agency of some sort and may well be still running in its entirety today.
My best guess is that they would still be using overhead catenary wire from Howard to downtown Milwaukee, but with pantographs instead of the manually operated trolley poles that the North Shore used.
@@mgk920 They were suffering big time, they did well to hold out to 1963 (though ending service in the middle of a weekday was weak.
@@F40PH-2CAT Couldn't the CNW bought out the NSL?
To all the people saying Oakton is long because it can hold 4 cars,
every other lines' stops can hold like 7 cars
Many can handle 8 cars (I think some may even be able to handle 10), but yes, your point stands.
@@sonicboy678 yeah after I looked into this, I realized. I should know this because I take the brown line almost every day.
Oakton will hold about 5 cars, not long enough for 8
@@MrDgon23 I don't know why you're telling me this.
ty for sharing this. i love this ride. just done it this am. for like 4th or 5th time and I love skokie
Yellow (along with part of Purple and part of Pink) line fells most like regular railroad, not city transit or subway - running on ground level or embankment, not on ramps or underground, isolated and "at backyard", not right between buildings like many other lines. Its very impressive how much variety CTA have.
Nice short line. Thanks for filming.
Short line. It's more like a shuttle ride than a full train ride. BTW you all run you trains fast in Chicago compared to my hometown of NYC.
I love skokie
Oakton apparently can do 4 cars
Sometimes the yellow line has 4 car trains.
2 cars will be “out of service” when there are 4 cars
Alex The mta and r179,r211 fan,weather fan wait what!?
Actually, until 1948 when it was called the Niles Center/ Skokie 'L' it usually ran ONE car trains, even in the Rush Hour, because the area did not start to really get built up until after 1950
Just curious- why is an additional line necessary for 2 stops? Why not just extend the Red Line to Skokie?
The Howard street station kind of acts as a yard for both the red line and the yellow line. Making the red line go past it seems like extra work for red line trains when they go out of service (or being put into service)
@@DaLatinKnight i see! Thank you!
@@seatripreports also it would take longer to get to 95th this line is perfect the way that it is
Makes sense on paper, but ridership demand on the Yellow Line does not even come close to the Red line or even the Evanston branch, so thru service makes no sense. However, if the area around Skokie gets built up a rush hour thru service might become viable (most likely via the loop).
The red line’s trains are too long for the yellow line.
I Have Been On The Yellow Line With My Dad In 2020
And I Have Been On This Line To Oakton - Skokie With My Mom This Year On My Birthday
Nice!!! What are the tracks that briefly parallel the Swift?
The stops are tiny lol
They were always small, even in the days of Niles Center/ Skokie 'L'. The original Dempster Street Station, however, is the Starbucks Coffee Shop. It was moved from next to the tracks in the late 90's/ early 2000's.
Am I imagining it or did this line used to have overhead power instead of third-rail?
It used to have overhead wires
They used to have overhead catenary west of the Skokie shops until 2004, leftover from the North Shore Line days. They converted that part to third rail to allow for more equipment to work on that section of the line.
It used to have overhead
Yeah guys exactly
Yes, and you can still see the cars that were equipped with the overhead equipment on the roof.
how can you keep ballast that clean
Did the CTA get rid of all the overhead electricity supply wires on the Yellow(SKOKIE SWIFT) route?
Yes
Странно, вроде станции не в голом поле располагались...неужели ими не так много людей пользовалось? А то метро рядом, а станций нет уже на них...
Does anyone know how the old north shore interurban ran past dempster?
100 years old
Just curious if you’re the cta! 4:18
What is the top speed
Just 55
Well not anymore, it’s down to 35
On yellow line it was reduced to 35 mph
I can done ride the L without leaving my house.
Compare to New York City subway Chicago subway are fast and cleaner!!
they always seem to have the best weather for these videos. i love it. (Well I LOVE CTA too, of course). How come the cta tracks are always clickity clack?
Skokie Swift
🎉
Oakden so long that it could fit 4 cars
I don't think it would take too much for Oakton-Skokie to handle 8 cars (it won't happen, particularly with the line abruptly ending as soon as it meets other lines, but by the looks of it, the footprint is large enough).
I heard recently this is the most safest train line in Chicago
In the rich 'burbs, only 2 stops... Yeah it's not southern end of green line or red line.
@@midwestaarron 3 stops now, and yea I know what you sayin I live right by the 51st green stop 😂😂
Almost got robbed once. It was on a very crowded day tho.
Thats one long boring stop
Didn't ask.