East Troy dedicated restored car 4439 in 2022

During Chicago Day, on Aug. 13, 2022, the East Troy Railroad Museum dedicated newly restored Car 4439, which joins two existing former Chicago Elevated cars in East Troy.

Car 4439 served as the first train of the day on Chicago Day and is now a regular member of the East Troy operating fleet. When the car returned after its first run, cake and punch were served in the Depot.

The East Troy Railroad Museum acquired CTA Car 4439 in 2020 and immediately began to restore the car for a return to operating status. The restoration was completed in record time.

Car 4439 was built by the Cincinnati Car Company in 1924 and was retired by the CTA in 1973 after nearly 50 years of service. Eric Zabelny and Paul Averdung led the restoration project, with help from a host of volunteers, including Pete Frorath, Patrick Shepherd, John Larson, Karen Larson, Miles Larson, Kurt Smith, Dustin Robinson, Dale Hansen and Scott Patrick.

Steve Rudolph – one of our volunteers and a member of our Board of Directors – provided the following history for the 4000-series Chicago Elevated Cars.

The 4000s were Chicago’s first steel body elevated cars. The first series of these cars, numbered 4001 through 4250, were built by the Cincinnati

Car Company between 1914 and 1915 and resembled designs appearing at the time in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia.

Car 4439, built by the Cincinnati Car Company in 1924, was part of an order of 205 more advanced second-generation models.

When new, car 4439 had a salmon-colored roof and green body, with burnt orange paint through the window area. Throughout the 1940s and into the early 1950s, the car was painted orange and brown. Finally, from around 1952 until retirement, it was painted cream and green. Car 4439 has been restored in the cream and green color scheme.

Until the early 1950s, the 4000-series cars were used almost exclusively on the North-South/State Street

Subway line (today’s north side Red Line, State Street Subway, and south side Green Line). Car 4439 ran on this line until at least late 1952.

Starting on Sept. 30, 1957, the Evanston Express was equipped entirely with 4000series cars, including car 4439. The car was moved to the Lake Street line for a short time in the early 1960s, but returned to Evanston for good by Nov. 25, 1962.

The car is 48 feet long, has seats for 52 passengers, and weighs 76,800 pounds. Three other museums owned the car after it was retired by the CTA in 1973.