CTA Surface System History presented by the Illinois Railway Museum

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The original numbering system used here for the Chicago transfers was devised by the late Don Liberko, who worked extensively on cataloging the different styles. Upon further study and input from transit historians Andre Kristopans and Bruce Moffat, it has been decided to reindex the transfer styles based on changes to the main front plate. These will be reflected in different main numbers. Different overprint plates (mainly changes in date/serial number colors) will be noted by a sub-version letter.

We are continuously working with Andre and Bruce to nail down more accurate dates for these styles. Currently they are our best estimates. Once more solid dates are established, we will update those here.

We have also broken out intercompany transfers into their own section and will shortly be removing rapid transit transfers from the main "styles" page and putting them into their own section.

All the above work is ongoing and we are in the process of making these changes. Once they are complete, we will denote it here. Thanks for your patience while we go through this transition period to give you more accurate information.


Transfers by Type


Chicago

  • Transfers/Passes/Tickets with Bulletins - Part 1 (1895-1899)
  • Transfers/Passes/Tickets with Bulletins - Part 2 (1900-1904)
  • Transfers/Passes/Tickets with Bulletins - Part 3 (1905-1918)

  • Part 1 - Pre Clock Face - Before 1932
  • Part 2 - Clock Face - Chicago Surface Lines (1932-1947)
  • Part 3 - Individual Routes - Chicago Transit Authority (1947-1973)
  • Part 4 - Universal Transfers - Chicago Transit Authority (1974 - 1986)
  • Part 5 - Garage Transfers - Chicago Transit Authority (1986 - 1996)

  • Intercompany Transfers


    • Chicago Other

  • Rapid Transit Transfers
  • Century of Progress Transfers - 1933 & 1934
  • Chicago Motor Coach Transfers
  • ID Checks, 'L' to Subway, Subway to 'L', and Other Misc Route Transfers

  • Cartoon Back Transfers from the 60s
  • Transfer Overprint Test Sheet c1973
  • Transfer Overprint Test Sheet Back c1973
  • Evanston Transfers (Tear-offs only for now)


    • Transfer History

    Compiled by Andre Kristopans
  • Regular Issue Transfer History
  • 'L' Transfer History (Revised 11/14/2023)
  • "Big Zone" Transfer History
  • Intercompany Transfer History


    • Suburban and Nearby Cities

  • American Coach
  • Bluebird
  • Calumet Street Railway
  • Chicago & Calumet
  • City of Elgin

  • Elgin & Belvidere
  • Elgin City Lines
  • Evanston Bus Co.
  • Galesburg-Abingdon
  • Galesburg Electric

  • Gary Railway
  • Illinois Power
  • Illinois Terminal
  • Joliet City Lines
  • Kankakee Motor Coach

  • Leyden Motor Coach
  • Lincoln Municipal Street Railway
  • Milwaukee Rapid Transit
  • Milwaukee & Suburban Transit
  • NORTRAN

  • Peoples Traction
  • Peoria Transit
  • Rockford & Belvidere
  • Rockford & Interurban Ry
  • Rockford Lines

  • Rockford Transit
  • RTA
  • St. Louis & Belleville
  • TMER&T
  • United Motor Coach

  • Waukegan City (NSL)
  • West Towns
  • Wilbus


    • Transfer Reference Manuals


  • CSL - September 1932 (28.3 mb)
  • CSL - September 1932 (Smaller File - 12.4 mb)

  • CSL - February 1934 (25.4 mb)

  • CRT & CSL - September 1935 (20 mb)
  • CRT & CSL - March 1936 (11.7 mb)

  • CRT & CSL - July 1937 (22.2 mb)
  • CRT & CWT - January 1938 (4.0 mb)

  • CTA - February 1960 (18.2 mb)

  • CTA - December 1962 - Part 1 (10.1 mb)
  • CTA - December 1962 - Part 2 (8.9 mb)

  • CTA - April 1966 - Part 1 (11.7 mb)
  • CTA - April 1966 - Part 2 (9.7 mb)

  • CTA - October 1969 - Part 1 (11 mb)
  • CTA - October 1969 - Part 2 (9.4 mb)

  • CTA - May 1973 - Part 1 (10.7 mb)
  • CTA - May 1973 - Part 2 (9.5 mb)

  • CTA - July 01, 1977 (15.7 mb)


    • Passes


    Chicago

  • Chicago Rapid Transit Weekly Passes (1937-1942) & Quarterly Passes (1932-1938)
  • Chicago Transit Authority Weekly Passes (1951-1952)
  • Chicago Transit Authority Employee Passes (1947-1954)
  • 14 Day & Monthly Passes (1985-1988)


    • Tickets


    Chicago Rapid Transit

  • Chicago Rapid Transit One Fare Ticket - Date Unknown
  • Misc Early CTA Tickets



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