Chicago L 5000 Series (late)

These are N scale 3D printable files for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) 5000 Series articulated rapid transit car — a landmark in Chicago 'L' history as the first new cars purchased for the system since the second batch of 4000 series cars in 1922, ending a 25-year gap in new equipment procurement. Built in 1947 by two manufacturers: Pullman Car Company (cars 5001–5002) and St. Louis Car Company (cars 5003–5004). Designed to fit on a Tomytec TM-TR02 at each end. Available in four decal variants: Mercury Green and Cream, Alpine White and Mint Green, Bicentennial, and Spirit of Chicago.

The 5000 series represented the Chicago 'L' system's first investment in new rolling stock since the early 1920s — a gap that spanned the Great Depression, World War II, and the postwar transition period, during which the system had operated entirely on its aging inherited fleet. The arrival of the 5000 series in 1947 marked the beginning of the CTA's postwar modernization program, introducing articulated construction to the Chicago 'L' — a configuration in which multiple car bodies share common trucks at their junctions, reducing the total number of wheels and providing a smoother ride through the system's tight curves. The split order between Pullman (5001–5002) and St. Louis Car Company (5003–5004) was a common practice of the era, allowing the CTA to evaluate the products of two of America's leading transit car builders simultaneously.

The four decal variants trace the 5000 series through its long service life:

• Mercury Green and Cream — the cars in the CTA's classic Mercury Green and Cream livery, the traditional two-tone scheme in which the 5000 series entered service and which defined the Chicago 'L' aesthetic through much of the postwar era.
• Alpine White and Mint Green — the cars in the CTA's updated Alpine White and Mint Green scheme, applied as the CTA refreshed its fleet livery in later years.
• Bicentennial — the cars in a special Bicentennial livery applied to mark the United States Bicentennial in 1976, one of the most distinctive special paint schemes ever applied to Chicago 'L' equipment.
• Spirit of Chicago — the cars in the CTA's Spirit of Chicago livery, the colorful scheme that became one of the most recognizable CTA passenger car designs of the era.

The Tomytec TM-TR02 motorized chassis at each end provides smooth, reliable N scale operation for the articulated configuration, suitable for the tight curves typical of urban rapid transit layouts.

After purchase, your digital files will be available for immediate direct download from your order confirmation. These files are for Personal Use Only — if you are interested in a commercial license, please contact us.

Decals are shipped separately — please allow some additional time for decal printing and shipping after ordering.