CHICAGO — Some baseball fans riding the Red Line to Friday’s Cubs vs. White Sox Crosstown Classic at Wrigley Field may have felt like they’d traveled back in time.

That’s because the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) rolled out one of its 1970s vintage railcars Friday morning as part of its Heritage Fleet program, which celebrates and preserves CTA railcars and buses dating back to the early 1900s.

The train in use came from the 2400-series, built by Boeing-Vertol between 1976 and 1978, and features a striking red, white, and blue stripe design—a tribute to the U.S. bicentennial. Inside, commuters could spot reprints of vintage maps and advertisements from the era.

While some riders looked puzzled or curious as the retro train rolled into Red Line stations, others barely noticed—or simply enjoyed the ride.

According to Graham Garfield, manager of the CTA’s Heritage Fleet program, the 2400-series was a key step in the evolution toward the agency’s modern-day railcars.

“This was the beginning of the evolution of our railcars to what you see today,” Garfield explained. “They have DC motors, which is just a different type of propulsion system. We now use a more modern AC-based propulsion system.”

Heritage Fleet: Celebrating Transit History

Garfield said the CTA typically brings out its vintage fleet once or twice a year for special events or simply “for fun.” The trains are also occasionally used in film and television productions.

Still, the older trains come with some challenges—especially their shorter length. During Friday’s ride south from the Howard station to 95th Street, some commuters sprinted along the platform to catch the last car.

“Initially, I was a little irritated because they flew past the platform, and we’re all standing in the shade,” said Edgewater resident Alex Hay, who was headed to the Crosstown game. “But when I saw what kind of train it was — I saw ‘The Spirit of Chicago’ — that kind of piqued my interest.”

Hay reflected on the nostalgia stirred up by the retro train.

“You get to see how the city changes over time,” he said. “Even though you think the ‘L’ has been here forever… over time, the cars change, and it’s kind of subtle. You forget what the old one was until they bring it out.”

More Vintage Rides to Come

Garfield said Friday’s vintage train made just one round trip in the morning. But there’s good news for anyone who missed it: the CTA plans to bring the Heritage Fleet out again for the next Crosstown Classic in July, when the White Sox host the Cubs.

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