Marcus Chen
The CTA, or Chicago Transit Authority, has had a long and complex history with its L structure and paint schemes. The CTA introduced A/B skip-stop service in the past, where trains and stations were designated as either A or B, with AB indicating heavy usage. This service debuted in 1948 and proved effective in reducing travel times. However, by the 1990s, the skip-stop system was only used during rush hours, and the CTA began phasing it out. In 1993, the southern branches of the West-South and North-South Lines were restructured, creating the current Red and Green Lines. The Green Line, in particular, has undergone extensive changes and was even shut down for a four-year reconstruction project starting in 1994.
Now, to address the question of when the CTA painted the L structure green, it's important to understand that the CTA has experimented with various paint schemes over the years. The use of the term L predates the opening of the first line in 1892, and by 1893, it was painted on the elevated structure at stations. While there is limited information about the specific timing, it appears that different lines had their rolling stock painted in varying shades of green, including Pullman Green, Mercury Green, and mint green below the belt with alpine white above. The CTA conducts tests and experiments before finalizing a paint scheme, and some stations on the Green Line have exteriors painted with green trim, maintaining the Green Line theme.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date the CTA painted the L structure green | 1993 |
| Reason for the color-coding system | To conform with the new Green Line |
| Previous color | Pullman Green, a dark shade of green |
| Other colors used by CTA | Mercury Green, Croydon Cream, Swamp Holly Orange, Mint Green, Alpine White, Tuscan Red |
| CTA's largest reconstruction project | Red Line South reconstruction project |
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What You'll Learn
The CTA's Green Line is one of Chicago's oldest rapid transit lines
The Green Line's routing united the two oldest segments of Chicago's "L"-Subway rail network. On October 17, 1943, the Englewood and Jackson Park services were rerouted through the State Street subway to alleviate congestion on the Union Loop Elevated. In 1993, the Englewood and Jackson Park elevated lines were linked with the Lake Street line, forming the Green Line.
The CTA has experimented with various paint schemes for its "L" cars over the years. The Northwestern, Metropolitan, and South Side lines painted their rolling stock Pullman Green, a dark shade associated with Pullman Sleeping Cars. An exception was the Lake Street line, which used Tuscan Red for its original cars. In the 1950s, CTA buses were known as the "green limousine" or "big green," featuring various shades of green until the late 1980s.
The CTA considered the appearance of its cars, and in 1964, a two-tone scheme of mint green below and alpine white above, including the roof, became dominant for about two decades. However, the introduction of the Dan Ryan Line cars, which did not require protective enamel, shifted away from paint schemes, opting for natural stainless steel.
In 1976, a bicentennial scheme was applied to selective cars to commemorate the country's 200th birthday, but it was eventually removed. The CTA continued to explore different designs, including the Mercury Green, Croydon Cream, and Swamp Holly Orange scheme, which was first applied experimentally to "L" cars.
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The CTA's Mercury Green, Croydon Cream, and Swamp Holly Orange paint scheme
The colours were always separated by a dark green line of paint. Some people thought that the thin line was black, but it is a very dark shade of green, not unlike the Green shown on the Atlantic City Brilliner. The scheme is remarkably similar to the classic combination of Mercury Green, Croydon Cream, and Swamp Holly Orange that Surface Lines picked for the 600 postwar PCCs.
The CTA likes all of its fleet to look the same, so they had to start repainting everything when new cars arrived from Pullman Standard in 1964. The scheme was simple: Mint green below the belt and alpine white above, including the roof. The two-tone scheme carried through the front in the same proportions. A CTA herald topped off the sides, under the destination sign. This scheme became the dominant scheme on the "L" for about two decades.
The CTA has considered a new paint scheme for its "L" cars, and a number of tests and experiments are done before a satisfactory look is achieved. Sometimes out-of-service cars are used as guinea pigs, and sometimes in-service cars get temporary, one-of-a-kind paint jobs. Many of these liveries never see the light of day, but others become well-known schemes.
The term "L" was used on printed materials and painted on the elevated structure at stations by 1893, the year after the first line opened in 1892. It was likely a marketing tool or a way to differentiate Chicago from NYC.
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The CTA's Mint Green and Alpine White two-tone paint scheme
The CTA "L" train cars have had many different paint schemes over the years. The CTA likes all of its fleet to look the same, so they often have to start repainting everything when a new paint scheme is introduced. One notable paint scheme was the Mint Green and Alpine White two-tone paint scheme. This scheme was introduced in 1964 and became the dominant scheme on the "L" for about two decades. The scheme was simple: mint green below the belt and alpine white above, including the roof, with a CTA herald under the destination sign.
Prior to the introduction of this scheme, the CTA experimented with various paint schemes, including the Mercury Green, Croyden Cream, and Swamp Holly Orange scheme, which was applied to wooden cars 1812 and 1814. The Northwestern, Metropolitan, and South Side lines also painted their rolling stock Pullman Green, a dark shade of green standard on Pullman Sleeping Cars, while the Lake Street line liveried their original cars in Tuscan Red with gold or white lettering, numbering, and details.
The CTA has also made efforts to preserve the historical appearance of some stations, such as the historic station houses on the Green Line, which have been beautifully reconstructed while maintaining the Green Line's colour theme. The Green Line is the only CTA line that stays elevated above street level from start to finish and has undergone extensive changes, including a four-year reconstruction project in 1994.
The CTA has also made improvements to stations, such as the $23 million renovation of the Chicago/State subway station in 1999, which added 10,000 square feet of additional space and made the station ADA compliant. The CTA has also implemented new technologies, such as the ATSS signs, which displayed countdown times for departing and arriving trains, and LCD digital screens installed in 2009 to display train arrival times.
The CTA has faced challenges, including incidents where operators overrode automatic train stops, such as the 1977 collision at Wabash and Lake, and the 2014 O'Hare station train crash. However, they have also implemented successful initiatives, such as the A/B skip-stop service, which reduced travel times by a third when it debuted in 1948, and ongoing projects like the Slow Zone Elimination Project, which aims to restore track work to optimal conditions.
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The CTA's Pullman Green paint scheme
Prior to 1900, Pullman cars were painted a rich, thick chocolate brown, created using raw and burnt umber. This colour was chosen because it was a stylish colour used to paint carriages, and it was also less expensive than other pigments. However, the umber pigments soaked up oil, requiring frequent re-varnishing, and were difficult to work with.
In the late 19th century, the Pullman colour began to evolve into a greener shade, with the addition of chrome green and some black to darken it. By the end of 1877, locomotives were still being painted dark green, and this colour continued to be used until at least 1905.
Over time, Pullman may have used different shades of green, as they had seven different suppliers of paint, each trying to match a single colour at a cheaper price. However, it is unlikely that Pullman supplied different paints to shops in different parts of the country, as all the varieties would have required different stock numbers.
The CTA's use of Pullman Green on its "L" cars dates back to the early days of the Chicago rapid transit system. The term "L", which refers to the elevated structure of the trains, was first used in printed materials and painted on the elevated structure at stations by 1893, just a year after the first line opened. While the CTA has considered various paint schemes for its "L" cars over the years, the Pullman Green colour has remained a iconic part of Chicago's transit history.
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The CTA's Green Line reconstruction project
In 1992, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) announced plans to shut down the Lake Street 'L', now known as the Green Line, due to budgetary constraints. This decision was met with resistance from residents, who formed the Lake Street 'L' Coalition to advocate for the line's preservation. Following extensive negotiations, the line was shut down for reconstruction in January 1994, marking the beginning of the CTA's Green Line reconstruction project. This project aimed to address the deteriorating quality of service and infrastructure, with a focus on revitalising the elevated structure and constructing new stations.
Another key component of the reconstruction project was the integration of the Jackson Park Line into the Green Line. This line, previously known as the Dan Ryan Line, formed the new Green Line in conjunction with the Englewood and Jackson Park elevated lines. The Green Line's colour-coding system was updated, and new destination roller signs and route maps were introduced to reflect these changes.
Amid broader funding challenges, the CTA initiated a $25 million reconstruction project for the Green Line's Austin station on the West Side in March 2025. This project focused on improving accessibility for all passengers, including those with disabilities, by installing a new elevator and escalator, constructing an ADA-compliant ramp, extending the platform, and reconstructing stairs. The main entrance of the station was closed for construction starting in June 2025, with an expected completion date in spring 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
The CTA has used green in its paint schemes since the 1930s. The Northwestern, Metropolitan and South Side lines all painted their rolling stock Pullman Green, a dark shade of green that was standard for Pullman Sleeping Cars.
The Green Line is one of the oldest rapid transit lines in Chicago and the only CTA line that stays elevated above street level from start to finish.
The Green Line was in an extreme state of disrepair and was shut down in 1994 for a four-year reconstruction project. The reconstruction included new foundations for the elevated structure, repairs to the steelwork, a new signalling system, and a total reconstruction of almost all stations.
The reconstruction has been a success, with the line now among the fastest and most modern of the CTA system. However, the line being closed for three years took a huge bite out of ridership, which has yet to recover.
