Chicago's Unusual Transit Line | CTA Yellow Line "Skokie Swift"

[@LaneThePlane]

The voice announcements, and especially the audio cues/bells aboard the L are weirdly comfort inducing.

[@sabbagels]

That voice is Lee Crooks, he's a Milwaukee-based voice actor and a pretty cool dude. If you look up his name there's a few interviews with him on KZbin.

[@edilee5909]

I agree. Lived in Chicago for 4 years during college and his voice brings back so many memories :)

[@matthewjachtorowycz2455]

Fun fact: the yellow lines original operator ( the Chicago north shore and Milwaukee rr) went farther than Demeter. In fact, it went all the way to Milwaukee, after joining up with the old lakefront route south of Ravinia near Highwood.

[@blue9multimediagroup]

*Dempster

[@jamesf791]

It actually joined up in North Chicago

[@JTR253]

The north shore line went to the loop. Why would it use the Skokie Swift tracks?

[@chrisseidl8294]

In the mid 80's, this line was a good reason that my high school (Notre Dame in Niles) pulled in students from Rogers Park/Howard.

[@kiosk5595]

The Skokie Swift was the first metro I ever rode in my life (the Red line a short second place, and the first underground subway), and to date, the whole CTA is one of my favorite systems ever. And that’s in part because of how fantastic the announcments are

[@GregMacek]

Always fascinated by this line and I'm glad it exists. I really want to see a version of the Yellow Line extend out from Forest Park to Oak Brook Center. Encourage commerce to the mall and hopefully less driving along the Eisenhower! Getting to the FP Transit Center itself is sometimes a bear in rush hour.

[@Razorgeist]

What a neat little line. You know there's something about a winter sunset.

[@briansivley2001]

I've ridden The CTA Yellow Line like a million times being I lived just down the street from Howard Street Station. There's still some people who still call it The Skokie Swift like they do with The Red Line as The Howard Dan Ryan and The Purple Line as The Evanston Shuttle or The Evanston Express during The Morning and Afternoon Rush Hour.

[@travelingadventureswithdan3181]

Thanks for your comment! Yeah, I get the impression that there is still a good amount of people who call it by the old name "Skokie Swift". Interesting to hear that people still do the same with the Red and Purple Lines.

[@carlstclair9920]

Great video Dan , love the Skokie Swift have photographed the Skokie Swift many times love to see the holiday train on this line.

[@Chicagoguy1984]

Same thing like when REAL Chicagoan's say the sears tower is downtown

[@maurycewarner794]

Yeah same, I remember driving past it with my mom and calling it the Yellow Line, and she didn't know what I was talking about. It wasn't until I called it the "Skokie Swift" she understood.

[@whiterose7055]

Ooops, that's me! I've ridden the rapid transit lines since I was a kid back in the 1950's and the Skokie Swift since the late 1960's. I have also lived along the Red Line by Bryn Mawr for 40 years, right outside my living room and dining room. Thanks for the videos.

[@sinewavey]

you're one of the few people I've seen comment on Lee's announcement lines. I think they're fantastic and an iconic part of my daily rides and I love hearing them.

[@lourugani1412]

Rita Rinelli and I were honored to be part of the Fiftieth Anniversary celebration in April of 2014. There's a centennial anniversary of the line itself in 2025!

[@electroscribe]

I rode fast North Shore trains from Dempster to the Loop from 1954-58. They were big heavy (but did I mention fast)?

[@cats0182]

Too bad that between the CTA, State of Illinois, State of Wisconsin, the North Shore Line wasn't saved.

[@felixhekster]

Would love a north shore line, would be cool to see Winnetka, Glencoe etc. connected to the network

[@juelzkellz]

The CNW killed the NSL. It was inevitable.

[@albertcarello619]

Cats01: Back then there were no transit agencies like RTA,METRA, and NICTD to save this line and the Chicago Aurora and Elgin. The South Shore Line is the only survivor thanks to NICTD. The other 2 lines would be running if we had transit agencies back then and would look and sound very much like today's South Shore Line.

[@tbeater1968]

I hope you do a video of a ride on the Red Line from downtown to Howard and the Blue line between downtown and O'Hare soon.

[@eitriclaudelover6088]

I say they should put new stations that ends at Skokie courthouse or old orchard

[@benjyberele]

The cta originally proposed that at least 15 years ago. Fantastic idea, but I don’t count on it ever happening

[@amanifaraj8718]

Wow i love cta!!!!!!!!!!! 2:44

[@kinggadm1234]

Chicago and New York are the best cities for transit buffs

[@parkpoint2099]

👍

[@quincexl1279]

Most definitely.

[@AMTK90200]

Correct

[@Gabrocol]

You should do a Red line review. I love near sokie and have taken the skokie swift and red lines countless of times for commuting and for going to Cubs games

[@josephj.6478]

Do you think you might ride and review Metra sometime?

[@SuperDave30]

After watching this video it gave me a déjà vu and I recognize where this actual CTA Yellow Line of Chicago, I remember seeing this subway rail line from 80’s action and comedy movie called “Running Scared” (1986) actor Gregory Hines and Billy Crystal if watch the movie they leaving from Chicago O’Hare airport they were in high speed chase in taxi cab and limousine actually they hop on CTA yellow line I remember seeing those rail cable wires at first I thought it was Metra line since has electric train as well until I saw subway had electric cables. Now its in the ground. Watching this video I definitely learn.

[@jimmymakmta]

That's what make the CTA so awsome RR crossings on a subway line and also the stops are far apart

[@ghost307]

I liked when I was lucky enough to ride on the 3-car units that were made for this route. I think that there's one at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, IL.

[@Oqweisha]

Those are the 5000s series originally made in 1947 to be the next generation of PCC rapid transit cars, but due to they’re weird 3 car and articulated configuration they weren’t liked very much and bounced around different routes on El until 1964 when the old Skokie Valley Branch of the Chicago North Shore Line was reopened as the Skokie Swift where they eventually found their home until they bid the El farewell on April 4th of 1986

[@AlexCab_49]

Chicago reminds me of those industrial cities in Eastern Europe.

[@parkpoint2099]

huh?

[@AlexCab_49]

@@parkpoint2099 look at videos of cities in Eastern Europe and then Chicago and you'll see the comparison.

[@mr.b3168]

Yeah. Chicago's "suburbs" such as these that the Yellow line pass through, do give that vibe. It's the big apartment blocks from the 50s-80s that give it that vibe. The winter. The power lines.

[@AlexCab_49]

@@mr.b3168 What city does Chicago remind you the most because of it's industrial nature? I'm thinking Kiev/Kyiv or Moscow even.

[@BigRobChicagoPL]

I drive by this line every single day when I commute to University. Crazy to think a day after this was filmed I had my Finance midterm. I still remember this being a not-so-fun winter. Lots of cool info in the video tho!

[@ChinaAl]

Single cars with trolley wires (pantographs) when I was there. Plus the old 5000 articulates. Now 3 stops? OMG

[@BOBXFILES2374a]

I lived in chicagoland from1976-80. Rode C&NW down to Ravenswood. Don't think I ever rode the Skokie Swift. We have 2 miles of light rail in Kansas City,now.

[@billtrepashko2853]

You can do the Metra UP North Route. If I'm correct it's the only US route that has traffic to the left dating back to the CNW

[@akis3556]

They should make it with 4 cars, extend the 2 stations, send it down to the Loop, and combine it with the Pink Line.

[@joshc2650]

You should do a similar video on the purple line from linden to howard i feel like that is an interesting train line

[@somechicagoball]

i have a suggestion to visit Dallas's transit system DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) Idk if u already done it but it if u can do it i would really like that

[@travelingadventureswithdan3181]

Thanks for the suggestion! I've only ever been to DFW Airport, I'll have to come down and check out the city sometime.

[@AMTK90200]

I’d like you to check out Metra’s Union Pacific Northwest Line, as it’s severely underrated.

[@travelingadventureswithdan3181]

Great suggestion! Will definitely try to make it happen!

[@josephpadula2283]

You should have put a system map up as I have no idea what this train does after watching other than not going into town and only being 3 stops. Not from the area…

[@RedStickHistorian]

How much are the monthly CTA passes? I used to get them for $30 back in the 80s.

[@rosarioyeen1371]

$75. They're the lowest they've been since 2009 as the pandemic and resultant rider decrease has forced CTA to try to draw back in customers.

[@RedStickHistorian]

@@rosarioyeen1371 I guess it is still cheaper than paying by the ride. Thanks.

[@sean2015]

@@rosarioyeen1371 you have to wonder how much money the CTA loses from fare evaders. It seems to me like half the passengers on my buses and trains don't pay to board, and CTA staff most of the time seem like they couldn't care less.

[@blue9multimediagroup]

​@@sean2015 would you want to be assaulted by riders over money that's not yours? Not worth it too fight that battle. Better to let police deal with it.

[@sean2015]

@@blue9multimediagroup _Not worth it too fight that battle. Better to let police deal with it._ ...let the police handle it? But I thought we were supposed to defund the police? Yeah, that's what I thought.

[@LogansWorld12]

The yellow line also used budd(1980s cars)

[@locoooo8338]

the second shortest ? what’s the first bc idk any other line that’s shorter .

[@robertcrafton7187]

I was thinking the same ... maybe the Evanston line? Howard to Linden, not the full Evanston Express.

[@sabbagels]

@@robertcrafton7187 Yellow line is 5.03 miles. Purple line from Linden to Howard is only 3.92. According to Google Earth measurements I did. Though on a map the Purple Line definitely looks longer at a quick glance.

[@blue9multimediagroup]

The regular, off-peak Purple is shorter. Only from Linden to Howard. Rush hours weekdays, it extends to the Loop

[@joshuafajardo5697]

The Yellow Line should rebuild all their Ⓜ️

[@Jackyliu009]

Rockaway Park Shuttle, Staten Island Railway

[@cats0182]

Rockaway Park Shuttle-my old stamping ground. Remember when the LIRR was still there. Remember when the Rockaway Park LIne opened-rode the 1st train.

[@thedona.r.kbnoah7334]

I'm scared to get on the CTA in Chicago ⚠️👀 the criminals are On Sneaky 👤

[@chicago-l9125]

Understood. But so far, the Yellow, Brown and Purple lines appear to be relatively safe.

[@thedona.r.kbnoah7334]

@@chicago-l9125 😂🤣😂🤣

[@blue9multimediagroup]

Criminals aren't only on Transit. They are also on regular streets as well. Please get out of that mentality. That's childish.

[@cats0182]

@@blue9multimediagroup NO!!!! Being foolhardy is childish. Criminals ARE everywhere. But, if you have to use transit in any major city, you're vulnerable to being in a tunnel or train underground with no way to get out if you have to. Subways in NYC are a disaster.