	Building the Chicago Loop in HO Last updated : April 14, 2007
	Introduction
CONCEPT: This is a 3 level, modular, HO model train layout representing the downtown business district of Chicago during the 50’s, 60's and 70’s. The base layout is 4’-0” by 6’-6” plus an extension to Roosevelt Road. It contains subways trains, streetcars, elevated trains, interurbans, cars, buses and lots of people		UPDATE: The elevated structure, between 14th Street and Roosevelt Road Station, has been completed. The CTA tracks have been added below the elevated structure for static display of trains. Roosevelt Road has been detailed with vehicles. Two more background buildings have been added including the Roosevelt Hotel. The Congress Street Station platform and Harrison Curve is being constructed. Five new photos have been added.

Subway


5-50’s slow to a stop in the State St. Subway	The longest subway platform in the world


6000’s pass in the subway	2200’s in Dearborn St. Subway


4000’s pass in the subway	Turnstiles at entrance to subway


5001 leaves the Washington St. Station	4000’s pass worktrain in the subway


4000 arrives at Monroe St. Station	4000’s round curve in the subway

Street Level


Tiger striped Pre-War PCC	Rush Hour Traffic

Elevated


Early morning on the Loop	North Shore Silverliner


Pedestrian crossover beyond	2200's arriving at L station


Overall view of curve and station	Liner awaits a run to Milwaukee


North Shore train negotiates curve	Electroliner at Adams and Wabash


CTA railgrinder train S-371, S-1 and S-372 below elevated North Shore layover tracks	“A” Lake Street Train


5001 and Open Gate Cars	The North Shore “Eastern Limited”


North Shore trains at Roosevelt Road with middle track inspection pit	CRT 5001 traverses Loop


Electroliner negotiates a crossover to reach the northbound platform at Roosevelt Road	Layover tracks south of Roosevelt Road Station with CTA train below. Can you see how the mirror doubles the number of equipment?

Track Plans


Subway Level	Street Level


Elevated Level	Cross Section

Equipment Roster

Company	Number/Series	Quantity	Description	Manufacturer
			El Cars
CRT	123 & 126	2	Open Gate Cars, originally South Side Rapid Transit	MTS
CRT	240	1	Open Gate Car, freelanced	Kitbashed
CRT	5000	1	3 car articulated with trolley poles	MTS
CTA	5-50	4	Single unit cars without trolley poles white metal	MTS
CTA	24	1	Single unit car with pan poles white metal	MTS
CTA	5-50	1	Single unit car with trolley poles brass	MTS
CTA	2200	4	Stainless Steel Budd Cars	MTS
CTA	2858-2927	2	Met cars	Bronze Key
CTA	4001-4250	4	Baldies	Scratchbuilt
CTA	4251-4455	9	Plushies with trolley poles	Q Car
CTA	6001-6130	2	Paired cars using former PCC equipment	MTS
CTA	6201-6470	2	Paired cars using former PCC equipment	Carworks
CTA	6671-6720	2	Paired cars using former PCC equipment	MTS
CTA	S-1	1	RailGrinder	MTS
CTA	S-331	1	Flatcar	Kitbashed
CTA	S-359 S-360	2	Workmotors ex-Baldies	Kitbashed
CTA	S-371 S-372	2	Workmotors ex-Plushies	Kitbashed
		41
			Streetcars
CSL	146	1	Old Pullman	Fairfield
CSL	1780	1	169 Car	Fairfield
CSL	2753	1	Matchbox	Fairfield
CSL	3136	1	169 Car	Fairfield
CSL	4009	1	Pre-War PCC Blue Goose	Carworks
CTA		1	Post-War PCC	Carworks
CTA	4025	1	PCC	Bachmann
CTA	7003	1	PCC Green Hornet	Soho
CSL	N202	1	Differential Dump	MTS
		9

			Interurbans
CA&E	20	1	Wooden Coach	Soho
CA&E	303 and 308	2	Wooden Coaches	Midwest
CA&E	311 and 315	2	Wooden Coaches	Midwest
CA&E	425, 428, 431 and 434	4	Steel Coaches	Chicagoland
CA&E	456	1	Steel Coach	Hanks
CNS&M	251	1	Combine	Suydam
CNS&M	254	1	Combine	Suydam
CNS&M	410	1	Rebuilt Observation	Walthers
CNS&M	420	1	Observation	Midwest
CNS&M	717	1	Coach	Suydam
CNS&M	738	1	Coach	Suydam
CNS&M	749	1	Coach	Suydam
CNS&M		1	Coach	Suydam
CNS&M		1	Coach	Suydam
CNS&M	801-802	1	Electroliner	Nickle Plate
		20

		70	Total

Links

Graham Garfield's Chicago L Website	Tim Moran's CNS&M HO Layout
NYC Subway	Milwaukee Traction Layouts
Joe Frank's NYC Model Transit System	Sean Hunnicutt's CTA Layout in N Scale
NYC Model Transit Association	David Harrison’s Acela Express
New York City Subway Station	Phil O’Keefe’s CSL Models
NYC Subway Layout	Peter F‘s Commuter Railroad
Phil’s El/Subway & Rapid Transit Trains	Paul Kupersmith’s Transit Modeling Page
Subway Graffiti	Micro Layouts
Model Subtalk	Small Layout Scrapbook
NorthShoreLine	East Penn Traction Club
Fred Miller's HO Trolley Modules	South Shore O Gauge Layout
Bryan Persing's Subways	The Train Show
Larry's North Shore Line	Vic's Elevated Layout