Shorter Consists: How to Not Stop Short

As a Ravenswood Branch (Brown Line) motorman, I liked operating 4-car trains more than 8-car trains.

When the Pandemic hit, we ended up with maximum consist (8-car) trains all day and night (6-car on Purple and Green Lines). It's been that way since. 

It sucks!

However, this weekend, the CTA management posted alerts that as of May 31st, consist length would be cut to 4-cars on the weekends (hopefully on the late nights too).

Personally, I think this is good news (although it's not as good as having Two-Person Crews). I have been preaching about this publicly for the past few years. I am not taking credit for it, but it is something that annoys me—and makes me feel better for train operators.

Running 8-car consists all day and night wears out the rail cars mechanically, makes them difficult to clean, invites vagrancy and makes it difficult to clear continuous riders). It's truly a lazy way to manage rail operations at the CTA.

The only downside to switching from 4- to 8-car is that it is easy to space out and stop at the 4-car marker with an 8-car train. If you don't catch yourself before opening the doors, someone in the end car(s) might fall to their death from the train!

Although I am now a Carman (Rail Car Repairer A), I always like to share a simple tip that helped me from "stopping short" to new train operators: A dry-erase marker.  

Prior to departing the terminal, I would confirm my consist number from the run card and write a big 8 on the windshield of the motorcab. Before opening the doors at a station stop, I would point at the 8 on my windshield and point at the 8 berthing sign at the platform. If I had four cars, I would write a big 4. Sometimes I would write the consist number in two or three places on the window. Sometimes I would write it on the sliding sash windows.

When I no longer was operating that train, I would erase the numbers.

I hope this helps. Please feel free to share your tips to keep from stopping short in the comments section.