Chicago for a Weekend: Any Ideas?

[Scrabbleship]

I will be in Chicago from this coming Friday afternoon to next Sunday evening and I'm trying to plan a healthy amount of transit fanning while also playing tourist. I know that between the L, the assorted Metra lines, and the South Shore there is a load of rail stuff to do but what are some best bets? I'll be taking most of the Hiawatha (I'm flying into Milwaukee) in and I'm riding the entire Cap Limited to head home.

I know I want to try to ride the entire L system and at least get a few Metra rides in (I'll be staying near the Oak Park stations on the Green Line and the UP-W Metra line which will help). How much could I humanly do in a weekend? What are my odds of getting a Flxible on the bus side? LFS? Is going to Hyde Park my best bet for an Opus? Any suggestions?

[WMATAGMOAGH]

Doing the entire system in that time might be a tough task, especially if you also want to ride Metra.  Not sure about the bus situation, but you can use it to link up rail lines.  For example, you can take a bus from Kimball over to Jefferson Park (I think) on the Blue Line and then do the O'Hare branch.  Not sure you want to try that technique in every part of the city.

Let me know if you want more specific suggestions on which L lines to check out if you don't do them all.  I've only been on the Milwaukee District-North (as far as Deerfield on Metra itself, and also on the Empire Builder its entire length) and Union Pacific-North (as far as Highland Park).  The UP-N is interesting since it operates left handed for some reason that is beyond me, I'd suggest going to Europe, not Chicago, if you want to ride left hand operated trains.

[Scrabbleship]

Doing the entire system in that time might be a tough task, especially if you also want to ride Metra.  Not sure about the bus situation, but you can use it to link up rail lines.  For example, you can take a bus from Kimball over to Jefferson Park (I think) on the Blue Line and then do the O'Hare branch.  Not sure you want to try that technique in every part of the city.

Let me know if you want more specific suggestions on which L lines to check out if you don't do them all.  I've only been on the Milwaukee District-North (as far as Deerfield on Metra itself, and also on the Empire Builder its entire length) and Union Pacific-North (as far as Highland Park).  The UP-N is interesting since it operates left handed for some reason that is beyond me, I'd suggest going to Europe, not Chicago, if you want to ride left hand operated trains.

I don't know if I want to do all of the L in one fell swoop. I'm thinking of doing half Friday (mainly to get the Purple Line express) and the balance over the weekend. I should try to find a CTA map somewhere though I do know there's a website somewhere that had Pace route connections between Metra lines.

I think I might be fine with a few quickie Metra rides. Their new gallery cars can't be that different from VRE's, can they?

[WMATAGMOAGH]

The Purple Line express looks far better on paper than it is in reality IMHO.  I covered the system this way (though my dates might be off):

Summer 2000, I was in CHicago for a weekend and only rode the Orange Line to/from Midway and around the Loop

Summer 2004 (this may have been over 2 days):  Evanston/Linden, Skokie, Kimball, O'Hare, 95th/Dan Ryan

Summer 2007 Day 1: Ashland/63rd, Cottage Grove

Summer 2007 Day 2: Harlem/Lake, 54/Cermak, Forest Park

I don't know if I rode the "new" Gallery cars or not, but the gallery cars I've been on with Metra and Caltrain seem quite similar to each other in my opinion.  Never been on VRE.

Don't miss out on the more "normal" attractions in Chicago.  I highly recommend the Science and Industry Museum (you can take the 10 or 6 to get there, the 10 stops right at the museum entrance but the 6 used to run MAN Artics, I don't know what is on there these days).  I've also been to the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and Chicago Art Institute.  It is also fun to walk around Millenium Park and Navy Pier.

[Scrabbleship]

The Purple Line express looks far better on paper than it is in reality IMHO.  I covered the system this way (though my dates might be off):

Summer 2000, I was in CHicago for a weekend and only rode the Orange Line to/from Midway and around the Loop

Summer 2004 (this may have been over 2 days):  Evanston/Linden, Skokie, Kimball, O'Hare, 95th/Dan Ryan

Summer 2007 Day 1: Ashland/63rd, Cottage Grove

Summer 2007 Day 2: Harlem/Lake, 54/Cermak, Forest Park

I don't know if I rode the "new" Gallery cars or not, but the gallery cars I've been on with Metra and Caltrain seem quite similar to each other in my opinion.  Never been on VRE.

Don't miss out on the more "normal" attractions in Chicago.  I highly recommend the Science and Industry Museum (you can take the 10 or 6 to get there, the 10 stops right at the museum entrance but the 6 used to run MAN Artics, I don't know what is on there these days).  I've also been to the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and Chicago Art Institute.  It is also fun to walk around Millenium Park and Navy Pier.

MSI and Millennium Park/Navy Pier are on my list, as is a tour of Wrigley Field (Cubs are in San Diego) and probably a White Sox game (Pittsburgh's in town for interleague play). If I could mortgage my soul, I'd so get tickets to Game 3 of the Red Wings/Blackhawks series.

I might use Friday afternoon/evening to railfan part of the L, and use Saturday/Sunday to do the rest. Odds are I might go back if I get a good deal and leave the balance for another time. I get into Union at 2:30 Friday afternoon so once I get my bags to the hotel I'll have some time to play around with.

[rideonrulez]

Where can I start about the CTA, Purple Line is recommended though a few "slow zones" exist, Do the Blue line to O'hare on the weekday as they have part of that line closed on weekends for track work. Do the rest of the "L" on the weekend so you don't miss the weekday only stuff. Flxible's you will have no problem finding them on the weekday but on on the weekend the #77 Belmont is your best place to find one. You can also ride the Opus on some of the routes in Jefferson Park on the northside if you want to ride those POS.

Metra, you have to figure out what lines you want to ride first as there are 4 different stations in downtown for the various 12 lines. Don't forget South Shore Electric too.

Tourist attractions, Navy Pier, Millenium Park is great, Wrigley Field you better buy your tickets now if you want to go to a game there. Better off with a White Sox game as there are usually tickets available. Blackhawks playoff games are probably sold out. Not afraid of heights? Sears Tower!

[WMATAGMOAGH]

How could I forget Sears Tower?  I hear the Hancock Tower also has a good view, but I've never been up there.

Wrigley is an amazing ball park, although the tickets are very expensive.  I'm not a huge fan of Comiskey and to be honest, I don't know anyone who is, including White Sox fans.

Chris, they finished Three Track on the Red/Brown/Purple lines, right?  Between that and the slow zones, the Purple Line express was very slow last time I recall riding it (though I may have not been on it during three track, I don't remember right now and my notes aren't here).

[rideonrulez]

Chris, they finished Three Track on the Red/Brown/Purple lines, right?  Between that and the slow zones, the Purple Line express was very slow last time I recall riding it (though I may have not been on it during three track, I don't remember right now and my notes aren't here).

The 3 track project is done.

[WMAveteran]

I definitely recommend a round-trip on the South Shore.  It's amazing!  Not only do you get really fast running through parkland along the Lake but you also get old time interurban street running through Michigan City. It's a real blast from the past in the 21st Century - plus it's electric!  If you have the opportunity as a tourist you must see one of the best railroad museums in the world in Union IL.   It's called the Illinois Railroad Museum and it has tons and tons of well preserved (and running) rail equipment including one of the perfectly restored North Shore Electroliners.  You will need a car because it is about 30-50 miles ( as I recall) north of O'Hare Airport.

[Scrabbleship]

Round trip on the South Shore might not work due to time. I still kind of want to see the Sox while I'm in town but a Sox/Pirates matchup sounds so compelling  . IRM is a no-go.
I'm wondering how things are on the bus distribution end. I really want to get a ride or two on the DE60LF's and some LFS's would be nice. It's a shame the RTS-WFD's, old D40LF's, and 60LFW's were retired so recently...

[rideonrulez]

I really want to get a ride or two on the DE60LF's and some LFS's would be nice.

They won't be hard to find that's for sure....

[Scrabbleship]

A weekend's worth of observations:

The L = AMAZING!! Never mind that an 8-car CTA train = not even a 6 car WMATA train, but the views, the uniqueness, the history, and the way the station rehabs are coming out are a must see if you haven't seen it already. I'm glad that I came while the 2200's (and their cool blinker doors) and the 2400's (which lost their soul with the removal of the Bicentennial colors) are around since the 5000's seem like they're going to suck. I did only end up doing like 60% of the system though.

I know state boundaries, the lack of a central RTA-like figure, and differences in host railroads (UP/BNSF/etc. vs. Amtrak and CSX), but if the DC area ended up with a system half as good as Metra I'd be a happy man. There seem to be too many stations though which can get annoying (and that doesn't go into the infamous stretches on the Metra Electric mainline or the Rock Island district).

Seeing how the CTA purchased 1,030 D40LF's in which the only differences are in the interior (they changed the type of seats, then went from florescent to LED lighting)  made me feel lucky that WMATA switches up their specs with New Flyer.

The brand new DE60LF's are nice (caught one on the 147 and rode it up all the way to Howard from Millennium Park), but they have this problem of squeaking VERY loudly on turns. Is this common with low-floor artics or might CTA have another round of artic drama?

I was lucky to get a Flx ride. I like their weird window setup (sliding and pop-open), I don't like their slide-glide front doors. Still highly recommended as any Flx is.

Riding LFS's once again made me realize that someone in the DC area should be operating those buses once Nova's Plattsburgh plant settles in and gets the hang of things.

If WMATA wants to speed up things with Smartrip, they couldn't do much worse than the "express lane" setup that the CTA has done on their assortment of New Flyers. Or by doing something a la ChicagoCard Plus that CTA set up years ago but WMATA drags out.

Pace's 40LFW's are comfy though I love the irony that while the Pace end of the RTA is one of NABI's better customers, the CTA might end up being the end of them after the 60LFW fiasco.

Milwaukee Airport needs real buses, not rickety cutaways. At the same time, what little I saw of MCTS's D40LF's made me realize that their interiors look a lot like old school Ride On.

And a little travel tip: don't leave your credit card in the little folder they give you at restaurants . I'm definitely going back and if I do leave the DC area, Chicago's on the short list!!

[WayneNYC]

CTA is indeed an awesome system.  CTA's 48 feet long cars is a downside of an old 'skool subway system with lots of tight turns.  You'll find much of the same on other old systems like NYCTA (IRT or A Division), MBTA, SEPTA and even PATH.  Looking at newer subway systems like WMATA, MARTA, Baltimore MTA, Tren Urbano, Metro-Dade and others, one can appreciate the pros of newer technology, like non-curved stations, no support columns on platforms, 75 foot long subway cars etc.  My last time in Chitown, I felt like I was back home in NYC.  Can't wait to visit again in just two weeks:-)

Also, since I'm a big fan of New Flyer's classic style, CTA, MBTA, MTA Maryland and SEPTA bus fleets are awesome IMO.  I like the LFR, but that LFA thing is barely acceptable to me.  I think those goofy wheel covers makes it even worse.  I hope at some point WMATA finds that them to much to maintain and removes them.  Better yet, I hope they can find their way back to some non-LFA new Flyers.

[Scrabbleship]

Wayne, I didn't mention that your trip there a while back was one of the tipping points for me!!
If you're there, stop by Stanley's near the Racine station on the Blue Line...they'll remember me, trust me

[rideonrulez]

A weekend's worth of observations:

Seeing how the CTA purchased 1,030 D40LF's in which the only differences are in the interior (they changed the type of seats, then went from florescent to LED lighting)  made me feel lucky that WMATA switches up their specs with New Flyer.

Actually there are some differences to the D40LF's at CTA. 1000-1629 have Cummins ISM/ZF; 1630-1929 have Cummins ISL/ZF and 1930-2029 have Cummins ISL/Allison.