Chicago L 6000 Series

These are N scale 3D printable files for the Chicago Transit Authority 6000 Series — the workhorse of the Chicago 'L' for over four decades and one of the most iconic rapid transit cars in American urban history. Designed to fit on a Tomytec TM-04/TM-20 mechanism.

The 6000 Series was introduced in 1950 as the CTA's first postwar rapid transit car, built by the St. Louis Car Company and representing a dramatic modernization of the Chicago elevated system. With their distinctive rounded ends, large windows, and smooth stainless steel and painted exteriors, the 6000s replaced the aging wooden and early steel cars that had rattled through Chicago's neighborhoods since the 1890s. Over 570 cars were eventually built across multiple orders, making the 6000 Series the backbone of the CTA fleet through the 1950s, 1960s, and into the 1970s.

The six livery options in this set capture the full visual history of the 6000 Series across its service life:

• Early Mercury Green and Cream — the original postwar CTA livery, elegant and optimistic, reflecting the transit modernization boom of the early 1950s.
• Late Mercury Green and Cream — the refined version of the classic scheme as it evolved through the late 1950s and 1960s.
• High Performance — the bold experimental livery applied to cars selected for the CTA's high-performance service trials.
• Alpine White and Mint Green — the fresh, clean scheme introduced as the CTA modernized its image in the late 1960s.
• Bicentennial — the patriotic red, white, and blue scheme applied to select cars in honor of the United States Bicentennial in 1976, one of the most distinctive and beloved special liveries in CTA history.
• Spirit of Chicago — the celebratory scheme marking Chicago's civic pride, applied in the final years of the 6000 Series' service life before retirement.

The last 6000 Series cars were retired in 1992, ending over 40 years of continuous service on the Chicago 'L'. Today they are remembered with deep affection by generations of Chicagoans who rode them to work, school, and Wrigley Field.

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.

Please allow a few weeks for 3D printing and shipping. Decals are shipped separately — please allow some additional time for decal printing and shipping after ordering.