What Happened to the Old O’Hare ATS?

[@mattburke7151]

I wonder if the Illinois railway museum would be interested in those old train cars

[@MilwaukeeF40C]

Nope. They were asked. Of course they don't want rubber tired robot oddballs.

[@Shinycelebi]

Similar happened here with the Roosevelt Island Tram in NY. The old cars were supposed to be scrapped, and yet when I was walking the island with my GF, she spotted the 2 old ones on the ground in a random lot. Also grafittied over.

[@Thom-TRA]

Ooh, next time I’m in NYC I need to check that out! The Roosevelt Island tram is so cool to me

[@metromaster2010]

Yes. I was about to say the very same thing. Video nicely done

[@metromaster2010]

@Trains Are Awesome Let me know when. If you like, I would be honored to join you on a content shoot

[@mikehathaway2842]

There are several reasons transit agencies keep old equipment like this. They have so little value when scrapped if you have free space for storage, you can keep them till a similar system needs to increase fleet size on an emergency basis. The train may have usable parts and will strip them over time. They could also be kept in reserve in case of disaster. There may be other local agencies that will eventually want some of them. The children's museum may want to strip some of them into play or learning structures, but that expansion or renovation is years off etc...

[@piemadd]

The 332 was my route for about a week while training to become an airplane fueler. It is an incredibly useful route for employees and is decently quick. I remember that first day and seeing them in the window of the bus and going :O

[@ira1ish]

I'm a big transit fan since childhood and really like your vids.

[@Thom-TRA]

Thanks!

[@我只是個路人-s8k]

There are 102 cars of the same model still running around in Taipei, modified to use the Bombardier signaling system along with 202 cars of the new Bombardier model.

[@我只是個路人-s8k]

Taipei was also able to complete the upgrade from the old Matra system to the new bombardier system without major disruptions to the regular service

[@harim9980]

Thom, I remember seeing these trains running pre-2019. In this video, I learned where they keep the retired trains, so interesting! 🤷 keep up the good work 👏!

[@Thom-TRA]

I remember being so surprised the first time I saw them there. Like, they still exist??

[@kathyevans3783]

It is sad to see them abandoned and just sitting there. I remember in Pittsburgh when all the old street cars were decommissioned they were hauled to a field, stacked on top of each other. And set on fire! Then cut up for scrap. It was so sad.

[@Thom-TRA]

That’s a traumatic fate

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

My favorite thing about O'Hare is how it looks on a map of Chicago's borders. The fact that a thin strip of land connects O'Hare Airport to the rest of the city. It sticks out like a sore thumb. And ah yes, expecting it to be open in a few months when it takes a few years...same energy as all of us thinking everything was gonna go back to normal after a few weeks in the beginning of the pandemic. Famous last words. Though it opened in 1993, the plan for it was first revealed in 1982 as part of the O'Hare Development Plan, a plan to expand the airport with a new international terminal (now called Terminal 5), and an expansion of the domestic terminals. The new international terminal, located away from the domestic terminals, necessitated the creation of a people mover. The contract for it was first awarded to Westinghouse Electric (which became the CBS Corporation after buying CBS in 1995; which in turn was acquired by Viacom in 1999), the second lowest bidder, in 1985. After simplifying their initial proposal in response to concerns from City, the contract was re-awarded to French low bidder Matra (which became defunct in 2003).

[@ommy7672]

Thanks Kimmy!

[@dragon32210]

You're Right! Because of you I also took a look and all the buildings in that thin strip have Chicago addresses but across the street, those have Schiller Park addresses

[@cardenasr.2898]

How do you know all this stuff, Supreme Leader? Your spies have been working very efficiently I see

[@derek20la]

​@MaRoFuLaws must vary by state. For example in California, city limits can not cross county lines. Also, City of Los Angeles has the 10 mile long and 0.5 mile wide "shoestring" from South LA down to the port/harbor in San Pedro.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

"And you have to admit, these were kinda cute looking trains" That's true, though imo the cutest trains are hands down the Hong Kong MTR's Disneyland Resort Line and Tokyo's Disney Resort Line monorail. Both of these have Mickey handles and Mickey-shaped windows (though the windows on the Tokyo monorail are more of an oval shaped Mickey), but the Hong Kong train has displayed cases of bronze Disney characters and the Tokyo rolling stock has waves with each monorail being a different color. The Tokyo monorail goes in a loop with four stations, connecting Maihama on JR East (Resort Gateway on the monorail) to the rest of the resort. The Disneyland Resort Line in HK has two stations, Sunny Bay and Disneyland Resort. Sunny Bay has a futuristic gateway look while Disneyland Resort station has Victorian-style architecture. These two have very different designs because it was done to make passengers feel like they are travelling through time between the fantasy world of the Disneyland Resort and the city (the jingles you hear in the train's announcements reflect this too). The line was also the first on the MTR to be automated, the South Island would become the second line eleven years later!

[@Thom-TRA]

I’ve been on both of those! The Hong Kong one once but the Tokyo one many times, sometimes not even to go to the park but just to ride around in it. The stations play Disney music and even the hand straps are Mickey shaped!

[@I_Snort_Drywall]

Yet another excellent video. Keep up the good work.

[@Thom-TRA]

Thank you very much!

[@johnkennedy528]

Thank you for your video. I enjoyed it!

[@Thom-TRA]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@iloveplanes1238]

I've never been to O'hare so i love seeing different parts around O'hare. I go to Midway with the orange line!

[@Thom-TRA]

I work around O’Hare, there’s a whole world around an airport most people don’t see!

[@daveinthewildOG]

Thom is awesome. I actually got excited seeing you got to ride a 7000 at the beginning of the video. 😅

[@Thom-TRA]

I do love a good ride on the 7000s

[@Railfan124]

This is intresting… I never knew these cars existed. I’m not into history about O’hare but this is interesting!

[@Thom-TRA]

Just spending an hour researching the history of the airport would definitely be worth your time, it’s very interesting!

[@robertmartin3490]

One of these should be preserved in a Chicago train museum.

[@Thom-TRA]

I agree

[@KyrilPG]

Greetings from VALandia ! I've got 5 VAL lines in a 1h30 radius from my home. Love them, they're the cute, funky and efficient. Plus, certain types have a "swoosh" sound that is fantastic. O'Hare should repurpose the cabins or sell them to collectors.

[@bryceknowles1380]

I rode those trains when my dad and I went to London

[@jamesvokral4934]

One or two should wind up in a train museum like the Illinois Railway Museum near Rockford, IL

[@BrynnCarey-zr3oq]

Wow I never knew this is where they stored the old trains. Once again an amazing video.

[@Thom-TRA]

Thank you!

[@andrewmelbournetransport]

ur name sums it all up that trains are indeed awesome

[@Thom-TRA]

That’s why I picked it hehe

[@Herowebcomics]

Wow! That is an interesting way to store those things! What an obscure secret!

[@jameskerner7782]

Amtrak's Turbo trains can be found on the Adams maintenance facility in New Jersey. Unfortunately they can only be seen by the being on The Northeast Corridor trains.

[@griffithsgriffiths1529]

ohhhh that bus sound like it's got the engine that in the Mercedes-Benz Citaro which is lovey

[@johnalder6028]

Good find. It's like being an archeologist.

[@Thom-TRA]

Except this is all above the surface! Lol

[@peterpcampbell9485]

Great video... All sorts of nostalgia arisen for my old haunts: Franklin Park, Schiller Park, Irving Park ( road ), rental-cars park(ing), and ATS-cars park(ed). Thanks, Thom, much appreciated... Pete C., in NH

[@Thom-TRA]

We love Chicago: Lincoln Park, Hyde Park, Jefferson Park, Wicker Park, Rogers Park, Humboldt Park, Oak Park, Orland Park, Highland Park…

[@peterpcampbell9485]

@@Thom-TRA Elmwood Park, Forest Park, River-View Park...

[@humanecities]

That’s so interesting that they just left the trains there… Very cool to see them, though!

[@chrisseidl8294]

As a kid in the late 70's/early 80's, that area along Irving Park Road was open land and quite often, people would just pull over to watch planes land at O'hare.

[@Thom-TRA]

Sounds like fun memories :)

[@chrisseidl8294]

@Thom-TRA - Have lots of great memories of growing up near O'hare. Grew up in Oriole Park neighborhood and the Harlem Blue Line station opened in 1983 made it easier as a teenager to get to O"hare, Downtown and to Wrigley Field. And then my first apartment after college in 1991 was in Rosemont (River/Higgins, which has 8 different restaurants on that corner, so I never went hungry).

[@ck4426]

So sad that something that was once so useful is left abandoned to rot. Thank you for finding these train cars once more, we appreciate your efforts!!! They are still awesome but sad.

[@hahapeyan]

These are like the same train used in Taipei MRT Brown line and they are still running

[@austinkub2337]

What's interesting is that one of the old Plane Trains that were used at Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta, GA are partially preserved at a railroad museum north of Atlanta at the Southeastern Railway Museum and are still in their original scheme and everything. So not all ATS's go out to pasture for destruction at least

[@Thom-TRA]

That’s good! I wish they’d preserve one of these

[@roberthansen2008]

I remember writing the 3:32 a few times back in the 1990s. Then I remember writing the thing and helping a friend of mine get out to the one of those facilities so she could look for a job. I rode the 223 a lot when I worked at touhy and Wolf road. I worked at c h i r r United airlines reservation Center.

[@SpectreMk2]

It's interesting indeed that they were not sent back to Europe to be used for spare parts on metro networks that use the VAL technology as well.

[@Thom-TRA]

That would probably be pretty expensive

[@我只是個路人-s8k]

The only other system that uses this variant of VAL is Taipei Metro's brown line

[@plancelot_ae]

@@我只是個路人-s8k You are absolutely correct, but I guess that although the VAL256 have larger cabins than the VAL206 & 208 used in Europe, they must have some commonality on the systems and maybe even on some mechanical components.

[@Winspur1982]

Thanks for finding out the truth, even if the winds of winter turned you into a popsicle! I saw the new Bombardier trains recently and liked how they looked. I am sure the city of Chicago could use these old trains somehow. Could be the beginning of a Graffiti Arts Center or something.

[@blitzcon007]

This is such a Chicago thing to store cars like that.

[@Thom-TRA]

For real though

[@redlinedreamin]

Got the same hat, very cozy when commuting! Never knew that the CDA just dumped old equipment on unused parts of O'Hare Property. Great video as always!

[@thomasmu1879]

Taipei's MRT Brown also use VAL system by Matra in the beginning, 1994, and the system was modified and extended by Bombardier in 2009. Now the Brown line uses both VAL and Bombardier trains on the same track. Similar but different fate.

[@OSCAR85966]

These train are similar to the TaiPei Metro Wenhu Line VAL256 Train. You may check it out

[@paulcastillo1310]

This was cool 😎

[@jstephens2758]

Commercial enterprises sometimes store old equipment because it is still being depreciated for tax purposes. But I can't figure out why a government entity would do that.

[@Thom-TRA]

Ah, I hadn’t considered that!

[@MarkBustos2]

I love the video. These trains should be kept at transit museum just like NY Transit Museum. Maybe have a special trips here there like the MTA does MLB opening day for Yankees and Mets prior to CBTC being activate on 7 Train & other NY Transit Museum itinerary plans.

[@Thom-TRA]

They can’t do special trips because they use a different technology than regular rails. But I agree at least one should be kept at a museum!

[@MarkBustos2]

@@Thom-TRA Hopefully.

[@lindsaymoore7232]

Hey Thom, I like your green CTA cap. Where can I get one? I would like to meet you one day. My name also happens to be Lindsay. Keep up the good work!

[@Thom-TRA]

I got it for my birthday, from the online CTA shop!

[@kingwooffygaming3218]

Great video

[@Thom-TRA]

Thanks!

[@Newberntrains]

Im thinking they probally were wanting to sell em at one point or maybe auction em off

[@areizman]

Yep, Chicago hoped to sell them to another city. Unfortunately, the ATS system used turned out to be a one-off and only one or two other systems in the world that could have used them have so far declined.

[@Newberntrains]

@Allan Reizman yeah i see these being hauled off to the scrap yard. its gonna be stupid expensive to set up a track and system to run them without a complete overhaul of the innards. at that point just buy one from bombardier

[@MilwaukeeF40C]

The construction contractor contacted the two rail museums to ask if they wanted anything. They didn't.

[@Thom-TRA]

That’s weird. I’d want it if I was a museum.

[@MilwaukeeF40C]

Museums have limited space. These obviously can't run anywhere, even building a display track would be a challenge so it would just sit on the ground outside. And then what? We don't even know if they will start getting water leaks. An airport transportation display is getting somewhat outside the mission scopes and doesn't draw visitors. The operating O'Hare system demonstrates what it is better than a dead car would and many people are already familiar with that. In my opinion the technical records would be a better artifact.

[@Thom-TRA]

@@MilwaukeeF40C well we definitely know who we’re giving the negative Nancy award to this Tuesday morning

[@MilwaukeeF40C]

I would fully support an airport historical society. A mover car, vehicles, and at least one airplane would belong there. Needs a tower view of the airfield to do it properly.

[@Thom-TRA]

@@MilwaukeeF40C actually, that’s a great idea. I apologize for my harsh comment earlier. It’s been a bad morning.

[@sweets6865]

The old trains should be turned into tiny homes 🤔

[@Thom-TRA]

That would epic. I’d totally rent one.

[@Trainviking]

It tells a lot how aviation thinks about sustainability. Just let it rust away.

[@chrismontalban5538]

What would be the purpose for a bus stop at a postal processing facility? Perhaps for employees that work there?

[@Thom-TRA]

Yeah, the mail doesn’t sort or deliver itself

[@chrismontalban5538]

@@Thom-TRA

[@atomstarfireproductions8695]

For employees of those facilities. If you don't have a car, there isn't another practical way to get to work in that area.

[@rust_belt_city_enjoyer]

She Ashland on my Avenue till Irving Park road.

[@areizman]

I remember when the ATS was built back in the 1980s. At the time proven North American manufacturers with established operating systems in a Chicago type environment were passed over to go with an unproven French system by Matra. Suspicions proved correct as Matra struggled to complete the system on time and budget. Massive cost cutting was implemented and even after the system opened 2-years late it had to be shut down to be completely rewired. A slow zone around a poorly built crossover delayed trains for over a decade. No wonder the city decided to throw in the towel and completely rebuild the ATS with a manufacturer that knew what they were doing. Alas, those unwanted old cars are doomed to sit forever as canvas for Taggers.

[@Winspur1982]

That's interesting history. So many terrible decisions were made in the 1980s ... but I think we're slowly emerging out of the "Long 80s" in many ways (and I don't think the cars have to sit there forever; it wouldn't cost that much to move all 15 to a site somewhere in Chicago for some other use).

[@robinrussell7965]

I used to live close to the Irving Park station, whatever the line is called now.

[@Thom-TRA]

Union Pacific Northwest and the Blue Line! There is also an Irving Park station on the Brown Line

[@maas1208]

I think I heard the Kennedy portion of the Blue Line temporarily closing due to construction on Kennedy so what will happen to the 2600-series, 3200-series, and the 7000-series cars on the Blue Line? Will they go to the Orange and Brown Lines?

[@Thom-TRA]

It’s not closing I don’t think

[@areizman]

The Forest park/ Eisenhower branch of the Blue Line will be sporadically closing over the next few years to rebuild the roadbed and tracks. This will not effect car storage in the yards. Blue line trains from O'Hare will be turned back at Clinton during these closures. The city also expects a complete shutdown of the Eisenhower segment as the expressway is being rebuilt.

[@nolankaplan6646]

What are they saving them for?

[@Thom-TRA]

I'm guessing this is cheaper than shipping them to get scrapped

[@douglasemerson9017]

Cool CTA cap. How did you get it?

[@Thom-TRA]

CTA store online!

[@douglasemerson9017]

@@Thom-TRA Thank you so much!

[@sjh60633]

Probably will be there for years. I believe there are old Metra cars left out to rot out someplace in Nevada or Arizona.

[@bostonrailfan2427]

difference there: the Metra cars were supposedly sold for use on a railroad which ended up being a scam by the owner to get money from investors…these might still be under lease or warranty so can’t be gotten rid of fully until the contract expires

[@Acidlib]

When I was in Chicago last November/December I flew to ATL in and out of O’hare (supposed to fly out of midway, but it got cancelled after I had already arrived, definitely going through ORD next time) and I never noticed the ATS. Does it only run during the day? I’m wondering if that’s the case, because I left and returned late at night and I remember walking forever to get to the blue line after I got back.

[@areizman]

The ATS has only started running 24/7 recently. It was shut down completely for a few years while the update was being done then opened for daytime running last summer. 24 hour operation returned in time for the 2022 holiday season,

[@Acidlib]

@@areizman oh, that makes sense, I was there approx nov 30 & Dec 2 so that was probably right before they started 24 hr service. Then again that whole trip was a bit of a mess, between flight delays, getting my phone stolen in Savannah, etc., I may have been so stressed that I would have have missed it even there hadn’t been limited service at that point in time.

[@abield9460]

It’s looks like the old cars cam form a trash can pot the in to use.

[@lipsee100]

They do,nt seem to be standing on tracks

[@teecefamilykent]

Brilliant video, sadly the wind ruined some of your narration...

[@Donnie_Tsunami]

you dont know they are talking with the other retirement gang talking about there old service they sometimes have arguements but they are friends and they are enymy's of the new ones btw imm 10 years old and i love your content my mom alway's ask me why do i be on youtube so muchand i explained to her

[@Thom-TRA]

As long as you’re watching my stuff! Make sure to play outside too though. And read books.

[@Donnie_Tsunami]

@@Thom-TRA since its cold i have to wait till summer but i love reaidng books!

[@clentonhenderson9647]

As I was watching the video I was wondering the same thing. Why didn't they scrap the train or at least take to cars to a train or tram museum.

[@Thom-TRA]

Probably too expensive for such a small fleet. You won’t get a big return from the metal.

[@clentonhenderson9647]

@@Thom-TRA yes you're probably right.

[@MilwaukeeF40C]

I'm not sure how much metal is in those things except for the frame. They look like they are built like RVs which junkyards hate taking apart because of low value.

[@atomstarfireproductions8695]

@@MilwaukeeF40C I think scrap companies may be more interested in buying train cars as they have a lot more metal in their frames than RVs. Also, the motors contain a lot of copper.

[@alishamcdonald7316]

0:06

[@bryant07681]

Are you from Chicago? I pass them every day

[@Thom-TRA]

I live here yes

[@bryant07681]

@@Thom-TRA Last time I drive I will check but I believe they painted them Grey all over.

[@RL69231]

Well, Airport property is public as it’s owned by the City of Chicago. 🤷🏽

[@Thom-TRA]

Im sure they still don’t want you walking around there

[@kevanhubbard9673]

You'd think that they would sell them for their scrap value if they leave them there metal thieves will steal them bit by bit.

[@abield9460]

The old cars on the ats are hrefec I rode on them and the ride quality was bad and they sounded bad I hate them.

[@CHEATCODE-gavin]

Fourth. Amazing video man. (Plz pin me lol)

[@Steve-tj9on]

Convert them as shelters? Just a thought.

[@gethighonlife11]

@1:03 Nice skull cap, Thom!

[@Thom-TRA]

It’s a CTA hat!