#2944

6000-series (CTA)

🇺🇸 United States ·built by St. Louis Car Company· from 1950· Chicago transit car

2 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. CTA 6523: Chuck Zeiler· CC BY-SA 2.0
2. CTA Ravenswood L train approaching Belmont Ave. station on outer of 4-track mainline on April 9, 1966 (25819548461): Roger Puta· Public domain

what is it?

The 6000-series was a series of "L" cars built between 1950 and 1959 by the St. Louis Car Company for the Chicago Transit Authority. A total of 720 cars were produced, and remained in operation on the "L" until 1992.

who runs it

Chicago Transit Authority Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority

base stats

speed 80 km/htop speed
power 164 kWpower output
weight 18.9 tin working order
seats 47passengers
built 720made in total

Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.

fun facts

First built 76 years ago, in 1950.
Weighs about as much as 3 African elephants (~6 t each).
14.6 m long: about 3 cars parked nose to tail.
Served for 42 years (1950–1992).

multiple unit: A self-propelled train: motors are spread under the passenger cars, so no separate locomotive.

spec sheet

built: 1950
in service from: 1950
retired: 1992
status: retired
number built: 720
kind: multiple unit
traction: electric
origin: 🇺🇸 United States
builders: St. Louis Car Company
operators: Chicago Transit Authority, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
top speed: 80 km/h
power: 164 kW
gauge: 1,435 mm standard gauge
length: 14.6 m
weight: 18.9 t
capacity: 47 passengers

From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.

Sources: Wikidata Q16205146, Wikipedia: 6000-series (CTA) (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.