2200-series (CTA)
| Industry | Railcar manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Founded | January 1, 1912 |
| Headquarters | Philadelphia , United States |
The 2200-series consisted of 150 rail cars constructed for Chicago's "L" system by the Budd Company in Philadelphia during 1969–1970. These vehicles operated under the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) for 44 years before being retired in August 2013. By October 2015, the majority had been dismantled, with only five units preserved.
As the second iteration within CTA’s High Performance Family of railcars, the 2200-series serviced major lines such as Lake/Dan Ryan, Howard/Englewood, and West-Northwest. Between 1993 and 2013, they predominantly ran on the Blue Line alongside the 2600-series, and briefly appeared on the Pink Line from 2006 until 2008.
History
Following transit expansions along the Dan Ryan and Kennedy Expressways beginning in 1967, Chicago commissioned Budd Company to supply 150 new railcars. This initiative involved collaboration with the Chicago Transit Authority and architectural firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM), which influenced station design aesthetics. The 2200-series introduced unpainted fluted stainless steel exteriors that reflected SOM’s modernist design principles and established a fresh visual identity for CTA’s fleet.
Service history
Manufactured by Philadelphia’s Budd Company, the 2200-series cars—numbered 2201 through 2350—were delivered to CTA in 1969–1970 ahead of the Dan Ryan branch opening (now part of the southern Red Line). A total of 150 units were ordered. Unique in the 2000s for their inward-opening blinker doors, these cars featured narrower doorways that were not wheelchair accessible. To meet requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 2200-series cars operating on the Blue Line were paired with 2600-series married pairs, generally positioned as intermediate cars in eight-car trains.
The series was notable for its fluted, unpainted stainless steel sides—a signature design element until superseded by the 3200-series. Following accident repairs in the 1970s, cars 2307 and 2316 were renumbered as 2351 and 2352. Cars 2289 and 2290 were withdrawn after sustaining damage during the 1977 Chicago Loop derailment. Between 1990 and 1992, the fleet underwent refurbishment by the New York Rail Car Corporation to prolong operational life.
Retirement
The phase-out process started in October 2010 and was completed by August 2013, culminating in final ceremonial runs on the Blue Line with eight remaining cars. Of the initial fleet of 150, 144 remained active into the new millennium. A dedicated farewell event occurred on August 25, 2013. While most units were scrapped between January 2012 and April 2014, several have been preserved or repurposed:
- 2238: owned by Lacuna 2150 and operated through MODEST Skate Shop.
- 2243-2244: maintained in operational condition at the Illinois Railway Museum.
- 2273-2274: currently stored on CTA property awaiting preservation efforts.
- 2347: transformed into a mobile bar trailer; originally planned as a shop for Jungle Jim's International Market but sold in 2018 to Goose Island Brewery.
- 2348: converted into a lounge area at Google’s Chicago campus.
Additionally, cars numbered 2231, 2232, and 2275 have been repurposed by the U.S. government for training exercises at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. Car 2257 is utilized for training at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center. Car 2318 reportedly was sold to UNICOR. Furthermore, cars 2258 and 2320 have served as props in film productions; their present whereabouts remain unknown.