Trains #PolarVortex

I had no idea railroads have their own answers to any potential hazards of extreme winter weather on the rails. I never knew that here in Chicago Metra our commuter rail system could literally set the rails on fire at certain points.

The vid below is courtesy of the BBC. [VIDEO]

Just as easily as it's best to de-ice an aircraft so that it could perform properly in cold winter weather rails especially needs to be "de-iced" to be able to perform properly in the winter time.

If you see fire along Metra tracks during the winter, don't panic. The Chicago area’s commuter rail service is fighting the cold with fire to keep switches working, and help with track repairs.

Winter weather can cause snow and ice to clog switches, which control which rail trains run on. Clogged switches can bring trains to a halt until the blockage is cleared.

To combat the problem, Metra uses a gas-fed system that runs adjacent to the rail, generating heat in areas where switches are supposed to make contact. This system is used in normal winter weather, not just extreme cold , explained spokesman Michael Gillis. The system is turned on when the temperature is between 40 and 32 and stays on when it’s below 32.

 Extreme cold weather can cause steel to contract, causing breaks, said Metra spokeswoman Meg Thomas-Reile. While Metra uses continuously welded rail on most of the system, there are some locations near switches and some crossings where the rail is bolted together. Those areas are the most vulnerable to separating in frigid temperatures, although breaks can happen anywhere along the line.

Here's a graphic with regards to how Metra fights ice on their rails from Chicago Tribune Graphics

If you see fire along Metra tracks today, then don't panic.

It's how the Chicago area’s commuter rail service keeps switches working during the #PolarVortex freeze: https://t.co/rvb5iTBSTT via @marywizchicago #ilwx pic.twitter.com/YA08K0fWOd

— Tribune Graphics (@ChiTribGraphics) January 30, 2019

I'm glad that for now we're out of the woods as far as the polar vortex and just remember next month will represent the start of spring. Warmer weather will be around the corner before we know it!

BTW, for an encore here's a video courtesy of Virtual Railfan showing something like what you see from the BBC. This time however in Deshler, Ohio [VIDEO]

New Virtual Railfan webcam on YouTube

[VIDEO] This is a demo live webcam of San Juan Capistrano, California in Orange County which will remain up temporarily unless there is a sponsor for it. I wonder what it takes to sponsor these cams, for the live cam in Flagstaff, Arizona which you can see here it's sponsored by the City of Flagstaff. Webcams from Virtual Railfan shown on their YouTube channel have chat feeds which you're free to participate if you follow their moderation policies.

The San Juan Capistrano depot does see Metrolink & Amtrak Surfliner trains stop at that station daily. For the most part those trains are what you'll see stop at this station on the cam. So no long distance routes if you will, this stop is basically a commuter rail stop. Metrolink is Los Angeles' commuter rail service akin to Chicago's Metra.

BTW, there is something of a connection to Metrolink from my last trip by Amtrak in 2016. Our Southwest Chief train from Chicago was running behind to the point where our conductor announced that all smoking stops were cancelled. He wanted to beat a Metrolink train into LA Union Station because it would result in delays of up to two hours. If we were behind that train we'd have to stop when that train stops to making their regular runs. We did ultimately beat that Metrolink and made it into LA on time. Good planning by the conductor on this one.

CBS Chicago: Why Are CTA's Train Lines Color-Coded?

Whew! A lot of linking although if you don't feeling like checking the links just check out the video above as it will tell you all that you need to know about the significance of the color coding of CTA's L lines

[VIDEO] I'm a fan of Graham Garfield's Chicago-L.org. This site has been a must visit since I attended community college in downtown Chicago. The L had become a daily routine at that point and now I had the time to find a site about the history of Chicago's L-trains in a computer lab. Of course looking up information on CTA trains instead of actually doing class work.

Tuesday we marked a milestone on February 20, 1993 the Chicago Transit Authority coded their train lines with a color. Before 1993 lines were known by their geographical designations. For example the Red Line used to be Englewood-Jackson Park-Howard then changed to Dan Ryan-Howard in 1993 which is the current Red Line. Another designation for CTA trains were direction for example the Red Line would've also been known as the North-South line.

Now the Dan Ryan is the train I would take every day and takes its designation from the fact that the route runs within the middle of the Dan Ryan Expressway. It's a line I've known most of my life back in the 1980s and early 90s it was designated the West-South line when it was connected with another geographically designated line, Lake. Of course as happens with change Dan Ryan becomes linked with the Howard line, so thus Lake instead gets connected with the Englewood-Jackson Park (aka Cottage Grove today) to become the current CTA Green Line.

Another interesting case the Blue Line was known as the West-Northwest route. And like the Green Line at one point has three lines also designated with geographic names Congress-Douglas-O'Hare connected through downtown in a subway - just like the Red Line incidentally. Anyway by 2006 the Douglas became the Pink Line which on later maps became known as the Cermak route which is routed into the Loop elevated tracks through the Paulina connector. This was as opposed to the connection through downtown to O'Hare.

Ah you notice a pattern here? When I say geographic what does this actually mean? It could mean a neighborhood, it could mean a street, it could also mean a park, or an airport. I suppose whatever is nearby.

For example, I could surmise that the Douglas line was named for a west side park known as Douglas Park (though it also runs along Cermak Road hence the Cermak line designation). The Congress line which actually runs in the middle of the Eisenhower expressway was named for the street that leads into the Ike - well the Ike used to be known as the Congress expressway. One upon a time the O'Hare line was know as the Milwaukee branch because that branch used to run along Milwaukee Avenue. Also the Jackson Park line used to run all the way to the edge of Jackson Park, however, over the years the line got contracted until the eastern terminal of the Green Line became Cottage Grove.

Through Chicago-L.org I see an evolution of the CTA L system. It continues to evolve as I hope the Red Line is extended south from 95/Dan Ryan station to go further south into Roseland. There are some lines I wish CTA had the foresight to continue. On the other hand it can be on it's best days the best way to see Chicago, and of course there are times where it's not so great!

Detroit gets a light rail line

[VIDEO] If I were to pay a visit to the great American city of Detroit - a place I visited in 2009 - I would find a light rail line.

Detroit is a city that at it's peak had over a million people has fallen on hard times and now is somewhere around have a million people. That city had significantly depopulated over the last 40 or so years.

It's a city that needs some good news, perhaps this light rail line is it, however, is it viable. Investment in public transit is never a bad thing, but it can be if it receives little use by the community it serves. And if a public transit line such as this Q-Line isn't used by the community then there can be little growth from it.

Either way, I wish I could get up there to ride those rails for free. It's only free through July 1st. When the system starts collecting fares how much will people support it.

So today a series of CTA rail cars are being retired

The Boeing-Vertol made 2400 series are being retired today. Often cars such as these were what made our some of my trips to downtown Chicago with my mother when I was younger. If you got to the front car you could literally hear them whistle down the tracks.

The pic above I had found on instagram and posted to the account for The Sixth Ward. And what's exciting is that these cars have been repainted in the livery probably what was used back in the 1970s and way before CTA decided to just go bare metal on their cars.

Well unfortunately I missed out on the retirement of these cars and it seems they're not letting passengers ride on them for one last time. While I've only seen a pic of them online I did see a train of these cars rolling by on my way home tonight.

The last time they did a public retirement was for the Budd made 2200 series cars. These cars were available for the public to ride before retirement. These cars have what are called blinker doors.

If I may explain the blinker doors are what I would call bus-style doors. The doors would close inward like they would on most city buses. These were the most eyecatching features for me especially since most of the time on the L I would board a train with typically sliding doors.

Before I knew the term blinkers I only referred to this as bus-style. And on CTA these were common at least before the recently trend to make public transit handicap accessible. In fact the 2200 series were the last CTA rail vehicles with blinkers and others had been retired much earlier.

Regardless it just means the CTA is entering the 21st century especially with the new 5000-series cars that have much more advanced amenities. And yet again CTA does plan on ordering a new series of cars.

ALSO you know what this means the next old cars to be retired are CTA's Budd made 2600 series. Before CTA got rid of conductors on all trains these cars had nifty controls where insted of some time of level to pull to open/close doors was a matter of pushing a button. For the most part conductors stood near the rear of the car away from where-ever the motorman cab was.

Since CTA did away with conductors basically trains are OPTO - one person train operation. One person drives the train and that same person insures that the doors are opened for passengers. So the 2200, 2400, and 2600 series were refitted for that purpose and also for these refits that means I couldn't sit at the front of the train anymore as I had as a child.

I forgot about the 3200 series which primarily ran on the brown and orange lines of the CTA. You may have also seen them on the Skokie swift but it seems that line uses a variety of cars during its operations. Either way they were made with OPTO in mind, however, these are the last cars CTA ordered in the 20th century. Soon their time for retirement will come as well.

BTW, YES the airplane manufacturer Boeing did build trains once upon a time. They even made some light-rail equipment used in Boston & San Francisco over the years. However it's safe to say they got out of that business.

Have you ever been to Chicago and took the L?

[VIDEO] I've been an L rider all my life. Spent many a Saturday in my youth riding to downtown with my mother when she used to work at a bank downtown. Now I spend a lot of time on the CTA getting to school or work or just getting out of the house for a few hours.

Today I have a tourist piece for you. Strangely enough I'm starting with the yellow line aka Skokie Swift. Skokie is an adjacent suburb of Chicago and the CTA does have L service which travels to nearby suburbs such as Skokie, Evanston, Cicero, Oak Park & Forest Park.

Either way I realised that I've traveled on almost everyline of the CTA L system. Only recently - that is within the last 10 or so years my travels have taken me to all of the CTA's colored lines.

When I attended community college in downtown Chicago I traveled the blue line to O'Hare, Forest Park and 54/Cermak. Now the 54/Cermak branch is part of the pink line as a result of service changes. I also took the train from Ashland/63 and Cottage Grove to get downtown via the green line. Also I traveled the red line from 95th all the way to Howard and changed to the purple from Howard to get to Linden. Finally I took the orange from downtown to Midway and back.

Since then I've taken the pink line with some video that needs to be digitized in the future. Also for the first time I took the brown line all the way to Kimball and took the green line to it's west side terminal at Harlem Avenue. Since I've started working I've taken the yellow line on two occasions mainly to get up to Old Orchard mall and that means I'd have to take the bus from the Skokie stop.

I forgot to note the quirk of the purple line. While the purple is a local service within Evanston when it stops at Howard it becomes an express during rush hour with no stops until Belmont. When I worked briefly in Evanston to make up some time I took the express train to get to work there.

Needless to say there have been many interesting adventures on CTA as you can sometimes tell if you follow me on twitter. If only I had such a tool during the pre-twitter/social media days.

There's more videos of other CTA routes via their YouTube page.

CTA "shell game"

This is what happens when I don't stay on top of the CTA Tattler. In this case the blogger here didn't play this game and immediately contacted the motorman. He's a blogger and he WILL report you!

For the most part I say nothing. Gambling is illegal anyway and other solicitation activities on CTA property. They will pick the wrong car or the wrong day and get caught. I'm definitely surprised they haven't be assaulted themselves by someone who took exception to the hustling. Especially after losing a large sum of cash.

BTW, I ran into this last week leaving 95th Street. The train just pulled from the station and he already got started. Found some people who were willing although someone was part of the shell game even if he didn't use the board. Regardless I try not to get pulled into that because I have no interest in playing.

Crain's: New private bus service targets CTA riders

It seems things go full circle. A bus service in Chicago is seeking to attract public transit riders. And you know the service they offer and their delivery seems very decent. Who can beat free wifi, comfortable seats, a guaranteed ride, no crowding, and express service. For such services you have to pay more than a standard transit fare, but if you want to take the stress out of your commute wouldn't it be worth it.

Besides I also consider that in the past public transit was privately operated and not under the financing of public agencies. When the L was built over a century ago along with the creation of many streetcar and bus routes they provided a necessary service for a growing city to get people to where they need to go. Now, perhaps it's great that options are now being developed to get people to where they need to go with all the necessary amenities.

Reason.tv: The Glorious Rebirth of Bus Travel & Why the Gov't May Ruin it Again

[VIDEO] Reason takes a look at the bus industry and how government interference helped hasten its decline after the 2nd World War. Today the industry is making a comeback as it appears curbside bus service - especially for intercity travel - is allowing more people to take the bus.

When I attended school in Atlanta, my mode of transit was mainly Greyhound. I can see how curbside service could be attractive as it costs money to maintain stations and terminals. In the meanwhile with such services such as Megabus all you need is a bus, possibly a garage, and then a place for the bus to pick-up or drop-off passengers. Also I forgot about labor, the buses can't drive themselves.

Another thing reason correctly notes, in the years I've taken the bus even before the Morehouse College years Greyhound has changed. They repainted their buses, made changes to their terminals, they've even added amenities to their buses with places to charge mobile devices and free wi-fi. Also it helps that you don't have to go to the terminal to pick up a ticket you can even print it off at home. For the context of this video, Greyhound owns some of the bus services popular in NYC's Chinatown.

I have to think, this video portrays starting a bus transit service as being particularly easy back in the past. Just buy a vehicle and start picking up people and yes I realize it's not entirely that simple as well you have to let people know you're in business to start. All the same this could go for a number of industries.

How did it happen that government comes in and sets all these rules for what they expect businesses to do? How is it for anyone who wants to operate intercity bus services that companies must have a permit? Even then how is it government decides that cracks in the frame of a bus is a huge issue while an organization represented bus companies have acknowledged that these cracks aren't a serious safety issue?

There are a lot of questions to be asked for sure. It makes me want to support the strictest definition of laissez-faire.

On Tuesday, took a stroll near the United Center

Near Madison/Paulina

A day before the Stanley Cup Final series commenced between the Chicago Black Hawks and Boston Bruins, I decided to go by the United Center (UC). I took a number of photos on my phone near there and posted them to my instagram (@levois).

I was under the Paulina Connector that routes CTA Pink Line trains towards the Loop via Lake Street. Until recently it was a rarely used piece of antiquated rapid transit infrastructure until it was again commissioned into revenue service. It was once part of services once provided by the Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad.

There are some redevelopment plans by the primary tenants of the UC - who just so happen to be not only the owners of the Chicago Black Hawks, but the Bulls as well - which cause me to want to consider this piece of infrastructure under the Paulina Connector. There ought to be an L stop right here and CTA has been adding stops on the system recently a stop was added along the Lake Street Branch and one up on the Skokie Swift branch.

Currently you'd have to take a bus directly here for any events there. You'd probably could take a train and then switch for a bus that will take you here or otherwise be prepared for lots of walking. Back when the Paulina Connector was a much busier route there was a station there at Madison.

So if the need to redevelop this area with not only a training facility for the Chicago Bulls, but also a entertainment complex to contain retail and dining perhaps an L stop here wouldn't be a bad bet. There are no plans currently to do so, but let's hope that in light of these new plans CTA will fast track a future station here.

My first #picstitch

Wednesday afternoon, I explored the intersection of 63rd/Halsted. This excursion made easier by the Red Line reconstruction where I could take a shuttle bus to Garfield and then change for a train there. I could either go north from Garfield or head west into Englewood.

Over at my other blog you see this intersection at various points in it's heyday. Here's another picture of a time when it was a destination of choice for many on this part of time. Alas within the last 40 or so years this intersection has seen hard times and is still looking for something to bring it back.

The top left and bottom right corners are of Kennedy-King College, one of the Chicago City Colleges. Perhaps this is one way to revive this intesection and with an L rolling along I have always envised that this area could be as busy as the Loop where another city college is located Harold Washington College. Although granted if it were to ever happen this area as a long way to go!

BTW, check out this page on the L stop adjacent to this intersection at Halsted.

My experience on the Red Line service changes

This is the first week of the Red Line South reconstruction project. The normal trains I take to run back to the south side has been shut down for major infrastructure work and that forces many people to have to take shuttlebuses to catch a train. That is the same train that would take you downtown through the State Street subway.

You see the current alignment of the Red Line for the next 5 months almost mimicks a former alignment. Red Line trains from Howard go onto the Green Line tracks to Ashland/63 in the Englewood neighborhood. Before 1993 that was the alignment but then the Red Line South (aka Dan Ryan branch) now connects with Howard when before 1993 it used to connect with the Lake branch and remained on L tracks.

It's been a bit of a treat but still the reconstruction is a bit of an inconvenience, but at least there are some expected benefits. Trains should run faster than they had been because of deterioration tracks, ties, and ballast so all of those components are to be replaced. In addition to that they have to fix drainage, electrical and communication lines as well. Also other stations on the branch will be handicapped accessible and it's also expected to make it much easier to extend the Red Line further south in the city.

At current because the infrastructure wasn't in the best condition and it required constant care it was best to do it right and shut it down for a brief period and just get it all done. Of course what that means is that it won't be necessary to continue to delay passengers to keep doing this necessary work and most of them such as myself have somewhere they need to be at a certain time.

One thing I will say so far is that the shuttlebuses are making good time. If you are riding anytime between 4 AM to 1 AM there are express shuttles that will take you directly to your particular Red Line stop from 69th to 95th. After 1 AM you take a local shuttle which makes all the Red Line stops which takes longer and at that point in the wee hours of the morning I just want to go home!

In any event making a connection whether from shuttlebus to the train or from train to shuttlebus should be nothing less than a breeze. But I hope by October things will be back to normal with a new and improved Dan Ryan Red Line with travel times greatly improved!

Mayor Emanuel and CTA Launch Train Tracker

I think they changes they recently unveiled for the train tracker I have used frequently since it was created close to two years ago are quite nifty. Alas by Sunday, I will have to be concerned about the fact that they will shut down the Red Line South. Then again because of some of the changes that they're making should help with the frustration of the commute.

A drive along 63rd - from Englewood to Woodlawn

Originally posted to The Sixth Ward on January 4, 2012 

[VIDEO] The vid above is from one of my long time YouTube favorites, artistmac. He takes a drive along 63rd Street  from Morgan Street all the way to Stony Island an sure to note how the individual neighborhoods once grew along that corridor.  63rd & Halsted was once a bustling commercial district in Englewood and then the area around 63rd & Cottage Grove was also a bustling commercial area in Woodlawn. Both areas are now mostly vacant lots although some redevelopment has occured in those areas.

In fact on East 63rd just past the Cottage Grove terminal of the CTA Green Line some single family homes have been built. Artistmac didn't want to get into the politics on the video of how the Green Line abruptly ended at Cottage Grove when it used to terminate as far east as Stony Island. Sometimes I wonder if cutting the L beyond its current terminus was a huge blunder!

On West 63rd, Kennedy-King College was built within the former 63rd/Halsted business district and is still waiting for even more development. While it seems more likely Woodlawn could be redeveloped given the fact that the University of Chicago is slowly but surely expanding south beyond the Midway Plaisance, time can only tell for Englewood.

Artistmac does provide one omnimous conclusion: "Unless those middle-class residents can be enticed to come back to Woodlawn, Bronzeville and Englewood, I doubt those neighborhoods, or any of Chicago's declining neighborhoods, can be brought back to life."

Tribune: CTA, Pace will share new fare card, beginning next summer

As a regular CTA rider, I should be upset that they're already about to get rid of the Chicago Card already. Though there shouldn't be many complaints on that end from because all I never had to pay for them myself! Although it's probably way past time for RTA agencies (CTA, Metra, & Pace) to start getting on the same page as far as fare media:

Starting next summer CTA and Pace riders will have the option to pay fares with credit and debit cards as well as a new smart card system called Ventra, transit officials announced Thursday.

New Ventra tickets will be used for single-ride and 1-day passes. Customers will be able to load their Ventra cards with various amounts, as well as using them for 30-day and 7-day passes. The value on the cards can be replenished, similar to current CTA smart cards.

CTA and Pace riders will also have the option to use personal debit and credit cards equipped with a microchip.

The process is intended to be more convenient and speed up boarding, particularly on buses.

Passengers will tap their contactless payment card against the fare reader. It's similar to the CTA Chicago Card and Chicago Card Plus smart cards that have been in use for years.

In 2014, all CTA and Pace fare media, including the Chicago Card and Chicago Card Plus, will be replaced with Ventra.

Customers will eventually be able to use mobile phones to pay transit fares.

Like I said, it's a long time in coming. If I wanted to travel on Metra in addition to CTA & Pace there shouldn't be much difference in my ability to pay. Especially if I have a farecard from a sister agency. They'll work those details out I'm sure!

Chatham from the Red Line

Sometimes on the train I snap photos on my iPhone. Post them either to my Twitter or instagram. For today a pic of Chicago's Chatham neighborhood along the Dan Ryan expressway. Chatham has historically been a bastion of Chicago's Black middle-class.

A green subway entrance

Over the old Washington/Madison subway entrance staircase. As seen below in March or April this was nothing but dry grass and mud. As of yesterday in the pic above freshly planted with grass.

Speaking of the L...

[VIDEO] The big news this week in the Chicago Transit Authority is that the Dan Ryan portion or "Red Line South" of the CTA Red Line from approximately Cermak-Chinatown to 95th Street will be shut down for an overhaul for approximately 5 months starting in May 2013. That means CTA will set up express bus routes and passengers may want to consider some other commuting options.

This post will show a video from our local CBS affiliate about why this is necessary and how bad a shape the Dan Ryan line is. Though basically we also learned that just shutting that line down would be cheaper and certainly a bit faster than keeping it open and trying to work around the trains in service. It's expected to be a win in doing it this way.

Time will tell although unfortunately I will be affected. Does anyone have an auto they want to sell?

Schmdit: 120 years ago: Chicago's first 'L'

Roosevelt L stop CTA Green/Orange Lines!

John R. Schmidt's Chicago history blog at Chicago Public Radio gives us a history lesson. On June 6th, 1892 Chicago instituted it's first elevated rail service. A precursor to some of the adventures I often tweet about and usually chronicles of what happens on the train at a certain point during the day.

Anyway it arrived just in time for the 1893 Columbian Exposition to be held on the south side at Jackson Park the line only went from Congress Parkway to 39th Street and was eventually extended to Jackson Park in time for that event.

The funny part of this post:

It took a while for some people to get used to the "L." A teacher at Haven School complained that the noise of the trains made it difficult to conduct class. Others didn’t like the smoke from the coal-burning locomotives. Apartment-dwellers now had to keep their shades down in they wanted any privacy—young women were warned to be careful of roving Peeping Toms.

In 1892 and probably like most rapid transit around the world at that time, the first trains were pulled by steam locomotives although now most rapid transit trains are run by electricity mainly by third rail. Incidentally when it came out that the CTA may rebuild the north side branch of the CTA Red Line they noted all the bridges up there were built with steam locomotives in mind. So there is a benefit although we realize it after the fact now!

Aside from Schmidt's blog I would like to share with you some pages from Chicago-L.org which features items related to Chicago's L system!

• Green Line: SouthSide Elevated - the stretch from roughly Roosevelt to about 39th street was the original 1892 route and was rehabbed last in 1996.
• The Original "L" Companies: The South Side Elevated - this was especially noted on the homepage of Chicago-L.org as they pay homage to the 120th anniversary of L service in Chicago!

CTA remembers 9/11

Took this photo last night at Roosevelt shown on the screen that not only has advertisements and news updates, but also shows train arrival and departure information.

Snapped this shot on the train today stickers on the side of Red Line trains to commemorate 9/11/2001.

The Chicago Transit Authority is remembering this day and I do remember after the events took place at New York City's WTC I was on the L that day keeping an eye on the Sears (now Willis) Tower. It was quite disconcerting, but certainly now I create this parallel.