Ever hop on a CTA train or bus only to find out it's going express... to 1923?
If not, you might finally have a chance. The CTA announced this week that it will be rolling out its new "Heritage Fleet," which consists of throwback buses and train cars from the 20s, 60s and 70s. The idea is to preserve some of the Chicago's old trains and buses and to commemorate the history behind the city's public transit system.
Currently, the vintage fleet consists of two 4000-series rail cars from 1923, an eight-car train of 2400-series rail cars that date back to 1976 and three buses from the 1960s.
The program is being funded from revenue generated by CTAgifts.com (you know, that site where you can purchase overpriced CTA-themed knickknacks), meaning that it's not tapping into the huge chunk of cash the city is obligated to put toward its awfully mismanaged pension funds.
The trains and buses will hit the tracks and roads, respectively, later this year as part of the CTA's charter program and a series of yet-to-be-announced public events, according to DNAinfo. So if you hop onto a funky looking train or bus, take a second to acknowledge how awesome and historic the CTA is (with the exception of the occasional mind-numbing delays).
Photographs courtesy CTA