CTA Ride the Rails: Blue Line to O'Hare in Real Time

[@davidfreesefan23]

On a visit to Chicago in 2002 (when I was nine), we stayed at a hotel in Rosemont and rode this into the city, right down the Kennedy. I remember being fascinated by the whole idea of a train running right down the middle of a freeway.

[@1234ー-c4v]

Double tree?

[@lawrencekeesler7369]

First time I've "ridden" a CTA line that moved faster than parallel vehicular traffic! Rode this line many times in the '60s.

[@lawrencekeesler7369]

Happy to hear it, Natalie!

[@PaulyM856]

***** Hahahahahahahahahah

[@luislaplume8261]

When it sill had the original stations with wooden platforms and platform lights and wooden stairways to the streets, on the outside of the tunnel. This part of the line opened in 1895.

[@Solitaryman70]

That’s impossible. 😂, this was the Old Congress/Douglas line….it didn’t exist in the 60’s. Only the A AND B trains and the Skokie Swift existed in the 60’s. This old Congress/Douglas line only circled the Loop, it never left downtown until the Congress Expressway was extended which is now the Eisenhower Expressway.

[@crapper1]

#CTA you have made all us L train fans very happy with these ride the rail series

[@genhirsi76]

leafygreentree y

[@genhirsi76]

leafygreentree k

[@philipallisonbiggs9190]

Q q

[@danielmarshall4050]

john leininger On

[@fbernard08]

Love the clickety-clack of the rail tires!

[@NYCentralSpotter1070]

32:00 - That's an old provision from an abandoned plan to have the Lake Street 'L' buried below ground. Those are dead-end tubes with no tracks laid down in them.

[@packr72]

Kendra Marybeth Davenport And the two unused portals by Halsted were for the Lake Street line to be diverted to the Congress line and enter a new subway.

[@gro_skunk]

Thank you for this I was very curious what that was/used to be.

[@christophercancel934]

I love how the underground stations are super clean, BETTER THAN OURS HERE IN NEW YORK that's for sure.

[@luislaplume8261]

As a New Yorker who grew up there, I will take your word for it!

[@KEYBEATZ]

They appear very clean, more clean than New York, and even Boston

[@christophercancel934]

@@KEYBEATZ I'm a New Yorker and I strongly agree.

[@dubreil07]

And whose the blame for that?

[@christophercancel934]

@@dubreil07 MTA of course. They should have vacuum trains. Not hard to build.

[@heyjude9895_]

Love the blue line. Stayed in wicker park just a skip away from damen and now I’m determined to move to Chicago in the future

[@glenswanson4929]

Something about the train passing the cars on the road is so satisfying to watch

[@AlychneAbscissa]

I remember when this was the Congress/Douglass-Milwaukee line. My Grandpa lived near the Ravenswood line(Brown line). I was too young to know the names of the other lines.

[@laurencegray4720]

Thank you for putting this video on KZbin.

[@samuelevans1201]

From an authentic true Chicagoan, this surely is Magnificent!!! Sure does remind me of back home.

[@Blueocean800]

Thank you CTA for all your beautiful videos. Every evening l watch a video, because l really like it. I have become a fan of CTA. Greetings from the Netherlands.👍

[@OnTheRun167]

Great vids! All that's missing are the audio announcements. "This is Addison. Doors closing!"

[@Trainbrain1949]

At 46:31 we pass my boyhood home. It is on the left side with the white porch railing. The house was so close when playing a record (remember those?) the needle would skip. I am still part owner of it as my brother still lives there.

[@Userius1]

+Trainbrain1949 Damn that whole elevated stretch from California through Damen has some of the nastiest ghetto crap I've ever seen.

[@joserodrigo5595]

Trainbrain1949 lmao not a good idea to put the location of your house

[@OnkelJajusBahn]

Really interresting train ride. I really loved the part where it runs above the city streets. Those are truly the most interresting train rides you could ever have. Also when looking at the speed, and the station distance, it seems a little bit like a suburban rail for a European like me. But I really love Chicago and the elevated tracks with it's fantastic views. Thanks for creating all those cab rides.

[@Anonymouslikemydad]

Pace Buses are suburban. The blue line a suburban train because Forest Park. Same for Yellow line in Skokie

[@Blueocean800]

That,s a very nice ride, on the blue line. I like to watch it. I always like to see when the subway enters the tunnel. As a metro driver you have the best view. How nice that we can watch this way. CTA my thanks for this. Kind regards from the Netherlands.👍

[@sanderny]

Your videos are awesome, felt like I was really riding the train, put a lot of effort into making this video perfect, much respect!!

[@cammydupont143]

The tunnel starts between California and Logan Square stations and the tunnel ends between Belmont and Addison stations

[@milesdevlon]

I watch this line pass my house every night, what makes it much cooler is the new being blue lights"finally" on this line.

[@davidsmith4567]

Great video. I really enjoyed it. And I appreciate that it's real time, with no distracting zooms or pans. Thanks for posting!

[@alvarovaldovinos6836]

I live now in Berlin, Germany but I grew up in Avondale and Addison was my station.

[@matthewpittmann7073]

God bless those signal maintainers in the winter.

[@lucasgodwin9557]

"why is the train so slow" because workers are working on it! You see people in vests every couple miles. It's not usually this slow. You can get from the loop to ohare in like 45 minutes... Which would be a 25 minute drive by car, so overall it's not that bad.

[@DOLRED]

Speaking of railroads, at 1:49, on the left overpass there is a CSX Plaque mounted in plain sight for all to see from the expressway. For perhaps 50 years+ the first round plaque mounted there showed the B&O Railroad with the picture of the US Capitol Dome (The B&O Herald). Millions must have seen it as I did time and again. The B&O sign was removed only in the last decade (?), even though the B&O Railroad passed out of existence many years ago. And on this trip, the EL passes over the "Extinct" St Paul Tracks at 42:40 even though the Right of Way still remains in view at the location. At 55:51, the Chicago North Western shield is still mounted on the overpass (To the right). The CN&W has been history for 20 years. Quite a trip for a rail buff!!

[@HayleyKiyokoLineBMT]

this is great video, CTA. I never went to chi-town. but I'm a true & always new yorker

[@TheSodastar]

Tuve el placer de visitar Chicago, y aborde el cta desde Jackson hasta O'hare, muy buen vídeo.

[@warrenposternack8392]

Superb movie!!!

[@mildridj3423]

When I lived there I used to love to hop on the El on my off days and ride out to O'Hare. It has changed a lot in twenty-one years.

[@robertcoleman4861]

Hello from down under[sydney australia] wonderful video wonderful series cheers bob.

[@CSullivanmeerkatmandude]

I hear a buzzing sound from the train cab. It sounds like the Alerter. The Alerter tells the engineer that they are driving too quickly in the area of the track. The train will automatically stop the train. If the engineer presses the Alerter button in the cab of the train quickly. The train will keep ongoing.

[@joemaldonado3]

well done. I like the transfer points.

[@Roy-x2l]

This and the New York City trains the only trains I have ever ridden on

[@luislaplume8261]

I never knew the Chicago rapid transit trains had a British type steam train whistle! Us New Yorkers have an air horn on our subway trains.

[@catazat]

It's actually an electronic beep, but it does sound nice

[@jimcolleran1804]

I have added this video to the playlist 'long cab rides'. I have reviewed hundreds of cab ride videos and added the ones I think are the best.

[@bobaj85]

I love the train videos

[@KarenCorsello]

This is so cool! I wish I would have known about it earlier! Well done!

[@mcdonnelldouglasmd-1184]

My mother would take the Blue line when sbe used to work at Chicago O'hare Intl. Airport.

[@sirenlover100]

I took the Blue line from the train station to O'Hare. Me and my family went to Germany. Compared to the trains in Germany, the Blue line was like an earthquake (it rocked quite a bit). I was surprised.

[@DanTheCaptain]

tornadosirenlover100 Public transportation in USA and Canada is very poor compared to most of Europe and Eastern Asia.

[@SpeedyHarmonie]

Where do you live in Germany now?

[@Tyler380]

And I love that some wonderful person or company covered that horrible graffiti.. Its a pleasure to watch now...

[@cp-285end7]

42:41 why is there like some kind of walk way under the train rail tracks, it like streches between the buildings, though i like the walk way, seems abandoned and a cool place to hang out, by the way i live in chicago and im suprised that i have not been in that part of chicago, i probably passed that street knowin it was another cta train line intersecting under the blue line, gotta go take a look there, seems nice and i like the video, keep up the good work👍👍👌

[@starchedownon84s]

CP-285 E N D to me it looks like a old railroad right of way, possibly a now defunct freight line

[@allisonking3266]

The 606

[@yolandadunbar1399]

OMG I love your train videos It is so COOL

[@natep3536]

So do I I love train and busses

[@ElijahEversole]

My first train ride was the Long Island railroad outside of New York City in Hempstead to New York City. Most of the train rides I've had there have been CTA rides. Train rides are a neat experience. Passing by all the people in the cars and such

[@roberthuron9160]

I am a member of CERA,and have some of the history of Chicago els, and there is much unmentioned side lights that could be brought out! For instance, the only 4 track elevated outside of New York is on the former North Western el,and that was also used by the late,great North Shore line! And the Chicago,Aurora and Elgin,ran on the West Side! The CTA has a great historical collection, and could put together a really amazing look back,along with track maps(for orientation) to put it's name in lights! Just a suggestion!

[@hobog]

10:45 seems aggravating how passengers have to walk a kilometer to leave stations like this! why couldn't these platforms be centered under one overpass?

[@Ass_Burgers_Syndrome]

It seems like the exits/entrances were an afterthought. Nothing worse than seeing your train pull in and you leg it all the way down only to see it pull out because the entrance was 3 light years from the platforms.

[@danielsmith8111]

Alan Xenos In new York there are usually 2 exits one at a major street and another on a side street near. At major station they may have an exit on every corner.

[@anonymike8280]

@@ilnyaqualan The longer answer is that the West Side of Chicago has become depopulated, and there is no reason to change anything now. Look at the ward maps from years ago and today and you can see what has happened. Only the North Side really has the population density to support mass transit, and the rest of the city is the beneficiary of that fact. The Dan Ryan has good ridership, but only the Howard Street line has a ridership approaching that of even the less used parts of the New York system. Over generations of time, development has clustered around the L lines and they are still highly functional and necessary. But ridership and residential patterns have changed.

[@gatorhunter1]

Cool video. Keep 'em coming CTA!

[@georgiy80]

Its crazy how Jackson and Monroe is just one station. Love train systems like this, wish we have at least one line here in Kansas city

[@timosha21]

this is fantastic!!!!

[@aeoliankid1]

Very good video! Realistic, a fine job of filming. No zoom! But why is this train so slow? On the elevated portion, it seems to be a 10 mph track, with short spurts of 30 mph. I can see slowdowns due to signals, and trackworkers, but the train seems to slow down and stop for no apparent reason. Along the ROW median between Addison and O'Hare, why does the train slow down for no visible reason? I see no signals or slow order flags. I assume this is a 60 or 55 MPH track. The CTA ROW, stations, and trains look a good deal cleaner than those in NYC. Keep up the good videos!

[@Ass_Burgers_Syndrome]

I noticed the same thing about the trains slowing down and speeding up for no apparent reason while I was watching the Brown Line video too. Weird for me to see being a former driver on London Underground, if we slowed down like that it was for signals, posted speed restrictions or track workers. Another weird thing is to see red AND green lights on the same signal post. On UK trains it would be Red only (stop at this one), or green with a yellow repeater(prepare to stop at next one), or 2 greens (this and next signal clear)

[@genann_1441]

The Brown Line is slow because of the old tracks, The Blue Line is slow because it has the oldest cars.

[@packr72]

aeoliankid Slow zones. The Forrest park branch needs a rebuild to replace track, ballast, and update signals.

[@packr72]

TheNomadReturns _ Not really, they can still do 55mph.

[@irtbmtind89]

The CTA uses a simplified version of the route signalling system used in most of the Western US, where each signal head controls a different route. Signals with two lights at the same time are really just two signal heads condensed onto one, Permissive/Stop is clear onto the normal route, Stop/Permissive is clear onto the reverse or diverging. 100% of the system is covered by automatic train control so there's no need for any repeaters and the signals don't really need to convey anything more than stop or proceed.

[@dcseymour93]

I'm amazed at how fast these trains seem to be going on wooden rail ties. Anyone know if there's been any effort to replace the wooden ties with cement ones?

[@deanebuckingham7241]

+Donovan Seymour So if you look at most of the ROW, it's plastic ties. I'm 99% sure.

[@SpeedyHarmonie]

Please, don't laugh, but I want to come to Chicago only to drive a little bit in all lines. Every line from Start-station to End-station. Who wants to come with me?

[@yesfandavidb]

Nothing to laugh about. I used to meet my friend downtown on my last day of vacation after he was done with work, and we would ride at least 1 line from downtown to one terminus then to the other end.

[@waxinggibbous2974]

Me, but I have motion sickness...might as well bring some ginger ale....

[@Stoic-ds4so]

I want to do this in Norway so bad!! Have you seen the views as they go through the snowy mountains? Absolutely breathtaking 💯 kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXyTeZmDpspgnc0

[@CoopyKat]

I've done exactly that before --- i advise you to do it -- it's a LOT of fun! I like exploring the different lines....and I've done this in other cities besides Chicago!

[@kmvstudios9072]

Hell yeah!

[@onurkpolat7296]

Dear CTA would you consider putting the name of the neighborhoods, in paranthesis under the station name. It would be much more orientating for non-Chicago people. Thank you so much :)

[@Dirtymane1]

This was pretty exciting when i first starting operating ... but it got really old really fast though! LoL

[@fernandafelixschwarzbeck1120]

Awesome!!! THANKS!

[@rockisland4506]

lol I love the CTA horns

[@namesomega3694]

The train stations there look so much cleaner compared here in NY. No disrespect to graffiti tho 👌

[@parrot0051]

As it SHOULD BE !!!

[@dankhank8569]

Yo fr New York and Philly there's graffiti everywhere.

[@skyraiderjet]

Cubs Fan That’s not true New Yorkers are friendly too

[@Marvilloso]

cTa needs to open the kostner side back up and have it like on Harlem as a exit

[@jacobisworld9516]

24:39 The Underground Subway.

[@BG2007]

How were you able to put the camera on the train🤔??

[@CTAConnections]

GoPro suction cup mount.

[@dgproductions4686]

The amount of stations bundled together, though... 😝

[@sjtom57]

Wow, the days are long gone when you could set your clock to when a train went by.

[@Aidanblox]

may i ask why almost the entire line is either highway or subway but barely elevated

[@mic1240]

CTA has trains at grade level, underground and elevated. The start of this one (in suburbs btw, not city until past Austin Blvd.) goes down the Eisenhower expressway (built in 1950s where used to be neighborhoods). Once downtown is subway before heading NW to ORD airport). Some of the other trains are elevated more, some in their entirety of route), most mix. Regardless of where goes, called the L (are also electric train lines, America’s last interurban and commuter (locomotive powered) trains in city, suburbs and to Wisconsin and Indiana (besides Amtrak)

[@kmvstudios9072]

1:20:26, love the shot of that plane

[@midwestcountry314stl2]

They need this in Houston

[@jreid2171]

They should Houston would benefit greatly if the expand there line

[@feb196940]

some area looked as it was going 80mph

[@shotgunchris]

The Chicago Metro looks so much cleaner and modern than New York Metro.

[@jayo1212]

@32:00 Anyone know about what that is for? I mean, obviously it's a provision for a yet-to-be-built line, but what line was it?

[@baseballfan-bi8fe]

It probably went to another station who knows

[@canaljkt]

sounds are nice greetings from portugal :P

[@lavelljones3694]

i would really like for someone to do driving videos like this

[@ThatCodeBlue]

Check out freewayjim

[@genhirsi76]

Lavell Jones y

[@parrot0051]

Couldn't they have the station below the over pass why the long way to the stations ?

[@jenniferpesquera1783]

I think I was with my friends and I saw the cta blue line and that's leads to Rosemont and All-State area upon 294.

[@labartsmedia4403]

I can see the Bedroom window where My son grew up on the right at 39:36....

[@dangelohartley5977]

You should do bus videos similar to this but the full route in real time.

[@yesfandavidb]

Do you know how many bus lines there are?

[@Nvideofilmsproductions]

There already there

[@natep3536]

Why did they close California and kostner in the south?????...

[@yesfandavidb]

They did that 45 years ago. Not sure as to why

[@chumpy500]

population in west chicago dropped gradually over time. dont know why

[@Nvideofilmsproductions]

Dude to low ridership

[@ElijahEversole]

I love the Sears Tower or whatever it's called now it looks like someone's flipping a giant bird in the air

[@alderusdmc]

Someone dub in the onboard announcements!

[@firesonic1010]

Why is it that on some sections if track, the train goes painfully slow? And why is it that the train pauses and stops in the middle of the track at some points?

[@sfeckete]

+firebrony101 my guess is that it has something to do with spacing the trains; i.e. perhaps there's traffic up ahead that requires other trains to sometimes stop or slow down. Another possibility might be that some sections of track are not safe over a certain speed.

[@firesonic1010]

Oh. Ok

[@ConnorWeekly]

+firebrony101 Towards the beginning of the video you could hear an alarm type of sound and see the train gradually slow down, it was for construction workers near the track. Second, the tracks could be crowded with objects closely around them so they have to slow down. ( Live in Chicago )

[@firesonic1010]

Thank you for the info!. And for the record, Im a Chicagoan myself

[@fbernard08]

+Steve Feckete My guess would be both of the reasons you stated....with the headways very frequent, I can imagine the trains get backed up quite often. As for the safety, with those old, wooden rail ties I'm sure speeds at certain segments are pretty limited!

[@santiagocano2093]

The blue line train goes from O'hare to Forest Park / Desplaines.

[@RazielKainus]

nice video, although some outdoor sections make me cringe a lot, those super-slow speeds on bridges/viaducts that look like they are about to snap in a second if you go too fast :D ... I mean, damn, look at Vienna, I dunno? those viaducts are solid and as a result the trains can fly over those pretty much :)

[@london5876]

Can anyone tell me why there’s 2 stations called Harlem

[@slechtajames53]

Because the train hits Harlem going east, and then hits it again heading up to Oh are.

[@Detroitbossqueen]

London it’s actually 2 named western and they hit the west and the nw

[@theloniouskey]

Because most of the CTA stops are street names, "Harlem" is Harlem Ave. And there's 3 stations, the Green Line has a Harlem/Lake station. Both Blue Line Harlem stations are like a 30 minute drive from each other.

[@andersonchapaz5036]

I just saw the blue like a crash into a escalator

[@tech83studio38]

WELCOME ABOARD BLUE RUN 136! HARLEM IS NEXT! IN THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL DOORS OPEN ON THE LEFT AT HARLEM !

[@DnD_Robb404]

Standing passengers, please do not lean against the doors.

[@gswarriors1439]

19:21 that's my stop.

[@cammydupont143]

Tunnel of UIC Halsted to Division

[@nancyoffenhiser4916]

I want to know how the trackworkers Don't get electrocuted..How?!

[@chumpy500]

Nancy Offenhiser they never touch any rails

[@Solitaryman70]

1:11:49 , Flatbed Semi hauling Steel Beams with no Flags on his load 😲, and has an escort, how the State Troopers didn’t catch that 🤔??? Very DANGEROUS.

[@ElijahEversole]

When I was a kid we flew to Chicago. We stayed at a hotel in downtown Chicago. I saw my first episode of Monty Python's flying circus on there local PBS station. When I came home to Cincinnati I watched Monty Python's flying circus on channel 48 Cincinnati Ohio. Actually I live in Northern Kentucky. A couple of years later I would watch Monty Python on channel 54 out of Covington Kentucky.

[@paulwilliams73]

I would like to go from "Harlem"(3:19) to "Harlem"(1:10) well I see USA is struggling to name stations Ok it one street but how is a person that don't know the area know which one, logically one would be i.e. Harlem north and the other Harlem south

[@MrSpecify9]

Paul Williams It's the same street, just really long

[@sammyjean5131]

Umm, it’s one very long street running vertical and the blue line crosses twice leading to two Harlem stations. You should do a little research before making ignorant comments.

[@andrewtesta5944]

Paul Williams is a moron!!

[@vucub_caquix]

I live on that Harlem street. exactly in between the two blue line stops

[@2251230]

tbh..blue line is fine...just unlucky yesterday bc it didnt go to the ohare terminal like it suppose to.

[@101southsideboy]

how fast do the trains go

[@TheChicagoL]

Most trains have the capability to reach 70 mph. However, the ATC (Automatic Train Control) restricts the speed to 55 mph for most stretches of right of way.

[@drdewott9154]

THE MAN WHO FOUND A WAY TO SELL AIIIIIR haha AND BECAME A ZILLIONAIRE!!!

[@seatripreports]

O'Hare?? Lmao

[@ElijahEversole]

I just got a glimpse of the Sears building flipping us all off

[@坂口平作]

O'Hare国際空港到着後に、お世話になる路線ですね。

[@CSullivanmeerkatmandude]

Rosemont Convention Center.

[@jacksugden8190]

Another most enjoyable cad ride. Interesting how there were closed stations, seemingly in the middle of Knowhere, when clearly they once served a local a community, I was amazed again at those long ramps as long as the platforms on all the lines to those massive long platforms, with no provision for lifts for the disabled, and the lack of signals on tracks out in the open. Were all the cta lines automatically driven?.

[@watson4905]

looks like you could pretty much walk between Jackson, Monroe and Washington

[@DanTheCaptain]

Why is Jackson-Monroe-Washington one big station? Also why are all the stations that are in the middle of the highway not placed under the under passes. These seem like really odd and poor planning and designing choices. I wouldn't want to walk that far just to get to the platform. Great video though!

[@TCMECH79]

They were built to be accessible

[@TCMECH79]

Jackson, Monroe and Washington were built to mirror their state street counterparts

[@theloniouskey]

Most likely for convenience. Go there during rush hour on a weekday and you'll see why, lol. Those stations are directly under downtown Chicago and a LOT of people are going to and from work and college

[@oforid2227]

Between Harlem and Racine the rails need upgrading and UIC Halstead

[@walterescot5914]

Rail Fan show..!

[@macman3175]

DOORS CLOSING ! LOL

[@nazimuddinchicago]

I went under the blue line bridge at west armitage avenue one day.