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| (1033189) | |
3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA "L" |
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Posted by ChicagoPCCLCars on Wed Feb 2 11:33:36 2011 CTA has kept "L" service running all through the third worst snowstorm in the city's history. The heaviest snow started falling late Tuesday afternoon and continued throught the night. The snow then became a lake effect event after sunrise this morning and presently the last major band of lake snow is blanketing the city. Only the Yellow line service was completely shut down. At the height of the storm Tuesday evening, Howard Street lost interlocking control which forced the CTA to turn Red line trains. Finally a shuttle was set up between Jarvis and Addison. Red line trains ran regular service from Addison south to 95th ST.Commonwealth Edison lost power at several sections, further compounding signal problems. It would be interesting to find out if any of the diesel powered snow throwers were used. Besides door probems and blown circuits, trains are encountering many red over red signals at the numerous unmanned interlockings, mostly crossovers. Several terminals had difficulties with switches that were either frozen or failed to respond. Despite the exposed third rail, there were no "July fireworks" of arcing, thanks probably to anti icing spray and third rail heaters. The storm recorded 70 MPH wind gusts. Blown debris has caused several suspensions on the ground level of the Pink line. The ground level on the Brown line was suspewnded for a time due to power failure to the signal system which also controls the crossing gates. David Harrison |
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Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'' |
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Posted by Jackson Park B Train on Wed Feb 2 13:04:43 2011, in response to 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA "L", posted by ChicagoPCCLCars on Wed Feb 2 11:33:36 2011. given the severity of the storm CTA deserves praise for their efforts. |
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Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'' |
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Posted by ChicagoPCCLCars on Wed Feb 2 13:26:39 2011, in response to Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'', posted by Jackson Park B Train on Wed Feb 2 13:04:43 2011. Monitoring my radio in the comfort of home, top praise goes out to the signal maintainers who had to work at track level on switch machines during the height of the storm.Train operators who were stopped by red over red signals with trips up, had to go down and recycle the trip or else pin it down. They then had to wedge the switch points, then return to their train. Winds were averaging 30 to 40 MPH. David Harrison Update: Power is being restored to the ground level tracks on the Pink line. |
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Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'' |
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Posted by ChicagoPCCLCars on Wed Feb 2 13:43:20 2011, in response to 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA "L", posted by ChicagoPCCLCars on Wed Feb 2 11:33:36 2011. I wondered if the CTA would use their diesel powered snow removers. There's a snow thrower on one end and a rotary broom on the other. Over the radio I'm hearing a request to use equipment on the closed Pink line between 54th AV and Pulaski. The line has been closed for about four hours. Another plan was just going to let the first train slug its way through.Full length trains were run all night on all lines, including those that normally close down between 1 and 4am. This really kept snow drifts from forming. 20.2 and 20.9 was the snow amounts at the two airports for this storm. In fact the sun is now shining at O'Hare but a 250 mile lake snow plume is still smacking the Loop and shoreline with snow. David Harrison |
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Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'' |
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Posted by Jackson Park B Train on Wed Feb 2 14:26:22 2011, in response to Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'', posted by ChicagoPCCLCars on Wed Feb 2 13:43:20 2011. somewhere I have slides of the IC plow sets. They were two powered 1926 cars linked up with plows at the two ends. We found them in the long since abandoned yard near 87th and Commercial back in 89.By then all overnight layups had shifted to Weldon. |
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Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'' |
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Posted by ChicagoPCCLCars on Wed Feb 2 15:05:48 2011, in response to Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'', posted by Jackson Park B Train on Wed Feb 2 14:26:22 2011. When the news media covered the pre storm preparations, they showed pictures of a snow plow mounted on the front of a Pullman 2000 "L" car...cars that have been retired for over a decade, LOL. This was in response to the CTA stating that all cars today have a small plow on their front ends. Plow mounted on the new AC5000 series "L" car.  Plow on a mislabled Pink line 2600 series "L" car. Plus CTA equipment is probably better designed to cope with snow, ice, and cold because that is the norm for our winter operations, not the exception. There is no such thing as shutting down the system because of weather in Chicago David Harrison |
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Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'' |
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Posted by Randyo on Wed Feb 2 16:32:09 2011, in response to Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'', posted by ChicagoPCCLCars on Wed Feb 2 15:05:48 2011. IAWTP. When I was a M/M in 1970, NYCTA Plan 4 was extra service overnight on open areas of the system to keep snow from accumulating and I worked a couple of those trips during one of our storms. I see that CTA lives up to the motto of the city "I will!" when it comes to transportation. |
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Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'' |
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Posted by SelkirkTMO on Wed Feb 2 17:31:08 2011, in response to Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'', posted by ChicagoPCCLCars on Wed Feb 2 15:05:48 2011. But it NEVER snows in NYC! Heh. |
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Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'' |
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Posted by ChicagoPCCLCars on Wed Feb 2 18:43:12 2011, in response to Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'', posted by Randyo on Wed Feb 2 16:32:09 2011. "I Will"...except for North Lake Shore Drive, as you've probably heard on the evening news. The city official who fell on the sword said traffic was moving, slowly, but moving when three accidents happened in rapid fire, including one involving one of those articulated CTA buses that blocked the entire roadway.I was in Danbury, CT last week, sitting out your nor'easter. Motorists who were stranded on the interstates returned the next am to dfind their car towed and $300 -$400 bills for towing and storage. All stranded Chicagoans pick up their cars from four city lots...no charge!!!!! At 18:00, Wednesday, Yellow line is still closed and Pink line still terminates at Pulaski. The Pink line will need crossing gate operators at at least two locations. Metra promises to return five lightly used services by tomorrow. David Harrison |
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Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'' |
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Posted by Jackson Park B Train on Wed Feb 2 18:55:49 2011, in response to Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'', posted by ChicagoPCCLCars on Wed Feb 2 15:05:48 2011. I seem to remember that in the Jan 67 blizzard some of the L was down for a bit. Certainly the buses buried in the drifts on Lake Park Ave weren't going anywhere. The IC was running sporadically, and I lucked into a ride from South Shore to GCS w/ a Tribune truck Sun eve to get a B&O train east. |
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Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'' |
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Posted by Randyo on Wed Feb 2 20:18:26 2011, in response to Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'', posted by ChicagoPCCLCars on Wed Feb 2 18:43:12 2011. Why will the pink need crossing gate operators? Is it because the snow would prevent the automatic actuators from lowering the gates? |
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Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'' |
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Posted by ChicagoPCCLCars on Wed Feb 2 22:37:36 2011, in response to Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'', posted by Randyo on Wed Feb 2 20:18:26 2011. They took the snow fighting whatchamacallit out on the surface Pink line and the snow thrower damaged some coils in the track structure.David Harrispon |
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Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'' |
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Posted by Newkirk Images on Thu Feb 3 07:02:07 2011, in response to 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA "L", posted by ChicagoPCCLCars on Wed Feb 2 11:33:36 2011. Despite the exposed third rail, there were no "July fireworks" of arcing, thanks probably to anti icing spray and third rail heaters.Third rail heaters....that's intriging.....cue us in how it works. Bill Newkirk |
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Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'' |
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Posted by Steve B-8AVEXP on Thu Feb 3 08:13:43 2011, in response to 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA "L", posted by ChicagoPCCLCars on Wed Feb 2 11:33:36 2011. What's the worst snowstorm in Chicago history - the January 1967 blizzard, perhaps? I remember we got belted by that storm in South Bend. |
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Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L''(PHOTOS) |
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Posted by ChicagoPCCLCars on Thu Feb 3 10:58:51 2011, in response to Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'', posted by Newkirk Images on Thu Feb 3 07:02:07 2011.  This is a photo from a wreck at 59th ST JCT a few years back but it shows the metal strip attached to the web of the third rail. The strip is made of aluminum and is there to boost the current carrying capacity. The third rail heater is similiar but found only on inclines and starting stretches proceeding out of station stops. The heater strips are probably 600 v and intended to prevent ice getting a good grip. This photo also shows the ice scraper assembly on the derailed truck.  This trolley block is probably on a Red line 2600 series. The ice scraper assembly is removed as this picture was probably taken during the summer. YOu can easily see the metal strip.  The heaviest trackwork on the CTA has to be on the reverse curves at Harrison ST on the south side Loop connector that carries the Green and Orange lines. The ties are solid one piece rather than the standard tie with a sloped insert on top for super elevation. The curve was tested for 55 MPH but is signaled for 35 MPH max. A good view of the third rail is here too. Another "heavy" installation is on the Red line tracks either side of the Sheridan stop. David Harrison |
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Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'' |
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Posted by ChicagoPCCLCars on Thu Feb 3 11:08:42 2011, in response to Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'', posted by Steve B-8AVEXP on Thu Feb 3 08:13:43 2011. Yes, the 1967 was the worst. This one missed by a mere two inches. How do they measure snow when the wind is blowing the snow at 30 to 40 MPH steadily. The top gusts was 70 MPH. The '67 storm did not have the wind component.David Harrison |
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Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L''(PHOTOS) |
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Posted by Newkirk Images on Thu Feb 3 16:47:32 2011, in response to Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L''(PHOTOS), posted by ChicagoPCCLCars on Thu Feb 3 10:58:51 2011. Thanks for posting the interesting photos.I've seen those aluminum strips on some of our third rails here in NYC. I heard somewhere their purpose was to make the contact rail more energy efficient. Don't know how true that is. Bill Newkrik |
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Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'' |
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Posted by Randyo on Thu Feb 3 17:47:08 2011, in response to Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'', posted by ChicagoPCCLCars on Wed Feb 2 22:37:36 2011. OK, then the actuators were damaged but not by the snow but by work equipment. |
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Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'' |
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Posted by ChicagoPCCLCars on Thu Feb 3 17:54:14 2011, in response to Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'', posted by Randyo on Thu Feb 3 17:47:08 2011. Yes, the broom can be lowered to tie level so crew has to take care and evidently in the snow or in the dark they misjudged. The electronics/wiring needs lab testing for 24 hours so the gates will be worked manually. Man that must be a cold job and the Cicero AV crossing is the busiest on the system, timed also with the stop lights at Cermack & Cicero. I would really have liked to see that snow contraption in action. One former operator said that it derails more than it works but I guess they've gotten more used to it now.Thanks Randyo for your interest in Chicago. I like to keep you guys informed but there seems less and less interest of late. David Harrison |
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Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'' |
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Posted by Steve B-8AVEXP on Fri Feb 4 13:30:38 2011, in response to Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'', posted by ChicagoPCCLCars on Thu Feb 3 11:08:42 2011. IIRC the total snowfall in the 1967 blizzard was 26 inches. |
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Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'' |
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Posted by ChicagoPCCLCars on Fri Feb 4 15:11:53 2011, in response to Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'', posted by Steve B-8AVEXP on Fri Feb 4 13:30:38 2011. Archives: Storm of '67The all-time Chicago record snowfall was set in 1967. Over the course of 35 hours, 23 inches of snow fell on Chicago, clogging streets, shuttering businesses and paralyzing the city for days. Roofs collapsed. Hundreds of stalled vehicles sat helpless in the streets. Dozens died. The 1967 storm, oddly enough, was preceded by a few days of record high temperatures in the Chicago area. On Jan. 24, temperatures hit a balmy 65 degrees, bringing heavy rains. Just two days later, on a Thursday at 5:02 a.m., the snow began falling and didn't stop until almost 4 p.m. the next day. http://www.wqad.com/news/chi-110131-snowstorm-1967-pictures,0,5007269.photogallery So just where did you get your info????? David Harrison |
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Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'' |
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Posted by Kriston Lewis on Fri Feb 4 15:52:03 2011, in response to 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA "L", posted by ChicagoPCCLCars on Wed Feb 2 11:33:36 2011. If CTA can run through the elements, why can't we?Wait, wait, we need a $200k study to tell us. |
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Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'' |
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Posted by Randyo on Fri Feb 4 16:57:56 2011, in response to Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'', posted by ChicagoPCCLCars on Thu Feb 3 17:54:14 2011. Chicago is one of my favorite transit systems even though I don't get out there as much as I'd like. My first visit there was in 1956 at age 11 and although I never rode North Shore, I did make it to Wheaton on C A & E. On the way there, I rode the Garfield Pk el when it was on the surface of VanBuren St and looked down on the Congress Expwy with the rails being laid but at the time, I wasn't aware of what I was actually looking at. I also rode the Howard/Jackson Pk el all the way from Stony Island and although I didn't know what I was looking at I did see a North Shore train near Armitage. |
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Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'' |
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Posted by ChicagoPCCLCars on Fri Feb 4 17:01:25 2011, in response to Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'', posted by Kriston Lewis on Fri Feb 4 15:52:03 2011. Maybe I can borrow that descriptive phrase from a long ago departed nemesis.....let's see....what was it????????Oh yes...ROBUST! Our CTA "L" cars are more robust, LOL. Whatever happended to K-Car? David Harrison |
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Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'' |
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Posted by Jackson Park B Train on Fri Feb 4 17:42:39 2011, in response to Re: 3rd Worst Storm Versus CTA ''L'', posted by Randyo on Fri Feb 4 16:57:56 2011. sounds like we might have been on some of the same trains. I didn't do the CA&E, did do NS. Rode to from Stony many times either sitting in the railfan seat or standing at the RFW starting summer 55 and for many summers thereafter. I did ride the Garfield on the surface. What a treat all that was for a kid from DC where we had only streetcars, no L or subway. Did you ride the IC Electric? |
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