CTA offering vintage Blue Line railcar rides on Sunday from O’Hare International Airport

CHICAGO — Forty years ago, on Sept. 3, 1984, the CTA Blue Line extension to O’Hare International Airport went into service.

Passengers can mark that 40-year anniversary on Sunday by riding one of CTA’s vintage 6000-series railcars from the O’Hare Blue Line station.

The CTA website says riders can take a 15-minute round trip from O’Hare to Rosemont Yard from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday on one of the vintage cars. Regular CTA rail fare ($5 from O’Hare; $2.50 full fare, $1.25 reduced fare) will still apply.

According to the CTA website, the 6000-series railcars are part of CTA’s Heritage Fleet. They were built in the 1950s and retired from regular service at the end of 1992. These cars were among the type of “L” trains that brought CTA riders to and from the airport when the O’Hare extension was completed in 1984. The cars are outfitted with vintage maps and advertisements from the 1980s.

Additionally, CTA says a pair of 2600-series cars — another type of “L” car that provided service to the new O’Hare station in 1984 — will be on display Sunday. Still running in service today on the Blue, Brown and Orange lines, the 2600-series cars were brand-new and in the midst of being built and delivered to CTA when the O’Hare extension opened.

The 2600s on display will be wrapped in their original 1980s “Spirit of Chicago” paint scheme and will also be decorated inside with vintage maps and advertisements from the period. Heritage Fleet staff will be available to answer questions from rail fans about the historic vehicles.

The CTA Heritage Fleet Program is designed to preserve and celebrate the city’s and CTA’s history and is maintained by volunteers. Click HERE to learn more about the 6000-series railcars and the CTA Heritage Fleet.

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