no railfanwindow on the cta??

why?

CTA equipment, unlike that of many other systems such as New York, has always had "railfan windows." However, these days it is no longer possible to sit in the "railfan seat" at the front of the train because of the full-width cabs that allow the operator to control the doors on the left side of the train at stations where the platform is on that side.

It is still usually possible to sit in the "railfan seat" at the rear of the train.

MikeF wrote:CTA equipment, unlike that of many other systems such as New York, has always had "railfan windows." However, these days it is no longer possible to sit in the "railfan seat" at the front of the train because of the full-width cabs that allow the operator to control the doors on the left side of the train at stations where the platform is on that side.

It is still usually possible to sit in the "railfan seat" at the rear of the train.

On crowded Brown and Purple line trains in the morning, one can ride in the railfan seats in the front of the train after clearing Fullerton, if the operator is kind enough to close the cab door another 90 degrees in order to open up a little more room. By the time that front area clears out (usually around Quincy/Wells on Brown Line trains), the operator shuts the door and puts those front seats back up in the raised position. I always thank the operator for opening up this spot on crowded trains, as they don't need to open doors on the other side until they get back to Fullerton heading outbound. It only happens some of the time.

I've also occasionally been allowed up front on crowded Brown Line trains after leaving Belmont for the PM rush hour-->again, the left-hand doors aren't needed for a number of stops (not sure how many) so thoughtful operators will open the same door to allow for a few more folks to sit down in comfort. This happens infrequently, however.

JAJ
Daily L rider from Addison on the Brown Line

Sitting in the seat-behind-the-railfan-seat is almost as good. Pre-2600 cars are preferable for this since the front seat is actually facing forward and isn't mounted up against the back of the cab wall. And plus, people seem less inclined to sit there due to the limited leg room.

It sucks on the 2600 and 3200 series though. There's always some indifferent commuter sucking up valuable staring-out-the-window space. :[

that stinks

On 3200 you can lean against the bulkhead at the doors and have a clear view out the railfan window unles manute bol is sitting in the railfan seat.

Guys: How soon do people forget! Back before the days of OPTO,the CTA had - what my uncle(a CTA motorman) called the "nickel" seat - the single seat right opposite the cab next to the front window. there was a two-person traverse seat behind it facing towards the window. three buffs could be readily be accomodated here. On my recent CTA rides, the railfan seat-though nowhere near as good still exists. The CTA before OPTO had arguably the best RFS of all! MACTRAXX

On crowded Brown and Purple line trains in the morning, one can ride in the railfan seats in the front of the train after clearing Fullerton, if the operator is kind enough to close the cab door another 90 degrees in order to open up a little more room. By the time that front area clears out (usually around Quincy/Wells on Brown Line trains), the operator shuts the door and puts those front seats back up in the raised position. I always thank the operator for opening up this spot on crowded trains, as they don't need to open doors on the other side until they get back to Fullerton heading outbound. It only happens some of the time.

Yeah, just like the 01400s in Boston back in the pre-1980 era. IIRC the motorperson would sometimes do the same thing Brown/Purple trains, except that the 01400 cab had no seat, so one would have to stand to get a real-feel view of the front end of an MBTA 01400 Red Liner.

Sitting in the seat-behind-the-railfan-seat is almost as good. Pre-2600 cars are preferable for this since the front seat is actually facing forward and isn't mounted up against the back of the cab wall. And plus, people seem less inclined to sit there due to the limited leg room.

That's exactly as the view out front of an 01800 on the MBTA Boston Red Line, you can still see out front, not right in the cab, but one seat length away, the 01800 cabs are full-width and cannot be "knocked-down" due to the cab access door opening leftward, not rightward.

I've never been to Chicago. It sounds like your subway cabs are built the same as the Long Island RR's new M-7 cars. Depending on the cab door position, it's either a corner-cab or a full-width cab. If it's set up as a corner cab, you can ride in the "left side" of the full cab. Rob ? Is that how it's set up?

That is exactly how the cabs of the Chicago equipment are set up. But, since CTA does not have any two-man crews anymore, the cabs are always used in the full-width configuration these days.