CTA Surface System History presented by the Illinois Railway Museum

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The CTA map index was researched and devised by the late Roy Benedict and Bob Heinlein. Thanks to both these gentlemen, we are able to benefit from the hard work and dedication.

Dates on Pre-CTA maps have been gathered from research of the printed map itself as well as information from experts.

The vast majority of the maps listed below have full scans of the entire map!! As we acquire the few maps that are not currently in our collection, they will also be scanned and posted.


Route Maps


CTA Maps (Public)

  • Part 1 - 1948-1971
  • Part 2 - 1972-1982
  • Part 3 - 1983-1998
  • Part 4 - 1999-2005

  • Part 5 - 2006-2009
  • Part 6 - 2010-2015
  • Part 7 - 2016-2018
  • Part 8 - 2019-Present


    • Pre-CTA Maps

  • Map/Map-type Publications


    • Downtown Maps

  • Late 1970's Downtown Maps


    • Culture Bus Guides

  • Late 1970's Culture Bus Guides


    • Chicago Motor Coach Maps

  • CMC Map/Map-type Publications


    • RTA Maps

  • Click Here for RTA Maps


    • RT Track Maps

  • RT Track Map 08/28/1947 - Pre-Numbering (and pre-CTA)
  • RT Track Map 12/29/1948 - Pre-Numbering
  • RT Track Map 01/01/1949 - Pre-Numbering

  • RT Track Map 12/1949 - No. 1
  • RT Track Map 01/1951 - No. 1a (Temp for Milwaukee-Dearborn Subway training)
  • RT Track Map 03/1951 - No. 2
  • RT Track Map 12/1951 - Rev 3
  • RT Track Map 11/1952 - Rev 4

  • RT Track Map 05/1953 - Rev 5
  • RT Track Map 04/1954 - Rev 6
  • RT Track Map 03/1955 - Rev 7
  • RT Track Map 10/1955 - Rev 8
  • RT Track Map 12/1956 - Rev 9

  • RT Track Map 06/1957 - Rev 10

  • RT Track Map 12/1957 - Rev 11
  • RT Track Map 06/1958 - Rev 12
  • RT Track Map 10/1959 - Rev 13
  • RT Track Map 03/1960 - Rev 14
  • RT Track Map 01/1961 - Rev 15

  • RT Track Map 01/1962 - Rev 16
  • RT Track Map 10/1962 - Rev 17
  • RT Track Map 10/1963 - Rev 18
  • RT Track Map 10/1964 - Rev 19
  • RT Track Map 12/1965 - Rev 20

  • RT Track Map 03/1967 - Rev 21
  • RT Track Map 10/1969 - Rev 22
  • RT Track Map 01/1970 - Rev 23
  • RT Track Map 04/1971 - Rev 24
  • RT Track Map 04/1972 - Rev 25

  • RT Track Map 05/1973 - Rev 26
  • RT Track Map 07/1974 - Rev 27
  • RT Track Map 02/1976 - Rev 28
  • RT Track Map 07/1977 - Rev 29
  • RT Track Map 05/1978 - Rev 30

  • RT Track Map 06/1979 - Rev 31
  • RT Track Map 06/1980 - Rev 32
  • RT Track Map 10/1980 - Rev 33
  • RT Track Map 08/1982 - Rev 34 + Supplemental
  • RT Track Map 03/1984 - Rev 35 + Supplemental

  • RT Track Map 04/1985 - Rev 36
  • RT Track Map 04/1987 - Rev 37
  • RT Track Map 01/1990 - Rev 38
  • RT Track Map 08/1994 - Rev 39 + Supplemental
  • RT Track Map 02/1997 - Rev 40

  • RT Track Map 07/1999 - Rev 41

  • 119 Page Detailed Track Map Book c1950


    • Surface System Maps - Streetcar Track Maps and Bus Routes Maps

  • CSL Streetcar Track Map (CSL Edition #3) - 09/1939
  • CSL Streetcar Track Map (CSL Edition #4) - 12/1941 (Image courtesy Andre Kristopans)
  • CSL Streetcar Track Map (CSL Edition #5) - 12/1942
  • CSL Streetcar Track Map (CSL Edition #7) - 11/1945 (Image courtesy Bob Heinlein)
  • CSL Streetcar Track Map (CSL Edition #8) - 12/1946

  • CTA Streetcar Track Map (CTA Edition #1 - Unnumbered) - 11/1948
  • CTA Streetcar Track Map (CTA Edition #2) - 12/1949
  • CTA Streetcar Track Map (CTA Edition #3) - 12/1950
  • CTA Streetcar Track Map (CTA Edition #4) - 12/1951

  • CTA Boulevard System Map - 12/1952

  • CTA Streetcar Track Map & Bus Route Map (CTA Edition #6) - 02/1954
  • CTA Streetcar Track Map & Bus Route Map (CTA Edition #7) - 12/1956
  • CTA Surface System Bus Route Map (CTA Edition #8) - 01/1960
  • CTA Surface System Bus Route Map (CTA Edition #9) - 02/1964


    • Misc CRT/CSL/CTA Maps

  • Chicago City Railway System Map (Blueprint) - 1910
  • CRT Map of Emergency Contacts - 06/15/1944
  • CTA RT System Map - 12/29/1948
  • CTA Surface System Map (Front) - 02/10/1949
  • CTA Surface System Map (Rear) - 02/10/1949

  • CTA RT System Map - 08/01/1949
  • CTA RT System Map - 05/04/1951
  • CTA RT System Map - 05/20/1957
  • CTA RT System Map - 07/15/1957
  • CTA RT System Map - 12/01/1957

  • CTA Chicago Metro Area Transportation Map - 10/1958
  • CTA RT System Map - 03/18/1959
  • CTA Surface System Map (Blueprint) - 11/11/1961
  • CTA RT System Map - 04/26/1963 v1
  • CTA RT System Map - 04/26/1963 v2

  • CTA RT System Map - c1964
  • CTA RT System Map - 01/1966
  • CTA RT System Map - 01/30/1969
  • CTA RT System Map - 10/06/1969

  • CTA RT System Map - 07/1970
  • CTA RT System Map - 11/1970
  • CTA RT System Map - 05/01/1974
  • CTA RT System Map - 01/17/1977

  • CTA RT System Map - 10/03/1977
  • CTA RT System Map - 03/21/1980
  • CTA RT System Map - 01/25/1982


    • Rapid Transit Yard Maps

  • Rapid Transit Yard Maps


    • Rapid Transit Car Cards

  • Rapid Transit Car Card System Maps


    • Nortran System Maps

  • Nortran System Maps



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