CTA Surface System History presented by the Illinois Railway Museum
The numbering system was devised by the late Don Liberko, who worked extensively on cataloging the different styles. It has been enhanced to include newer versions and versions not included in his cataloging.
We are currently working with transfer experts to verify/correct/populate transfer style dates. Currently they are our best estimates. Once solid dates are established (and new styles discovered), the style numbers may change to reflect the correct chronology. As part of that effort, Andre Kristopans has provided several of these dates as well as lists of plate numbers that were used on transfers. Here are the links to the lists that correspond to the transfers on this page:
CLICK HERE for the 1953-1955 list
CLICK HERE for the 1955-1962 list
CLICK HERE for the 1963-1973 list
Transfers by Type
Part 3 - Individual Routes - Chicago Transit Authority (1947-1973)
Style 9 - 11/08/1947
First CTA form, used former CSL to CRT form on white paper with 1/2 circle added and footer reworded, replaced former white surface to surface and blue Surface to 'L' transfers. CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (77 + 1) Style 9 transfers in the Museum's collection
Style 10a - 02/1948 or 03/1948
Revised CTA form, footer in all caps and reworded replacing "Lines" with "Division", also route combinations changed to reduce number of forms, blue date and serial number. CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (45 + 3) Style 10a transfers in the Museum's collection
Style 10b - c1949
Same as 10a except for red date and serial number. CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (53) Style 10b transfers in the Museum's collection
Style 11 - 10/01/1951 or 11/1951
"SEE OTHER SIDE" at bottom. CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (42) Style 11 transfers in the Museum's collection
Style 12 - 06/01/1952
"T" and "20" added horizontally.CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (1 + 20) Style 12 transfers in the Museum's collection
Style 13a - 08/1952
"T" and "20" added vertically. CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (42) Style 13a transfers in the Museum's collection
Style 13b - 03/1953
Same as 13a except for blue date and serial number.CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (42) Style 13b transfers in the Museum's collection
Style 14a - 05/11/1953-07/08/1953
New clock.CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (43) Style 14a transfers in the Museum's collection
Style 14b - 07/08/1953
Same style as 14a with revamped routes. CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (61) Style 14b transfers in the Museum's collection
Style 15a - 12/1953
"E" and "D" changed to "E" and "S". CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (22) Style 15a transfers in the Museum's collection
Style 15b - c03/25/1954
Same as 15a but with red date and serial number. CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (83) Style 15b transfers in the Museum's collection
Style 16 - c12/1954
"T" and "20" changed to "T" and "C". CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (64) Style 16 transfers in the Museum's collection
Style 17a - 08/25/1955 (Sundays 07/17/1955)
Clock and "S" changed to red, RT changed to dots, Humboldt Park branch removed. "T" and "C" repositioned. CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (87 + 1) Style 17a transfers in the Museum's collection
Style 17b - c02/1957
Same as 17a but with blue date and serial number. CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (84) Style 17b transfers in the Museum's collection
Style 17c - 11/22/1958
Same as 17a & 17b but with green date and serial number. CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (36 + 1) Style 17c transfers in the Museum's collection
Style 18a - 10/28/1959
"Chicago Transit Authority" under serial number, Kenwood and Stock Yards branches removed, downtown RT detail added. CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (71) Style 18a transfers in the Museum's collection
Style 18b - 12/03/1960
Same as 18a with blue date and serial number. CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (80) Style 18b transfers in the Museum's collection
Style 19a - c12/1960
3 lines of writing at bottom of front. CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (81) Style 19a transfers in the Museum's collection
Style 19b - cLate 1961
Same as 19a with red date and serial number. CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (10) Style 19b transfers in the Museum's collection
Style 19c - c1962
Same as 19b with "T" and "C" ground off base plate. CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (1) Style 19c transfer in the Museum's collection
Style 20a - 12/27/1962
"S" replaced by "Other", all directions in circles, red date and serial number. CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (123 + 7) Style 20a transfers in the Museum's collection
Style 20b - c1968
Same as 20a but with blue date and serial numbers. CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (93) Style 20b transfers in the Museum's collection
Style 21a - c1969
Skokie, Dan Ryan and Kennedy routes added to map, blue date and serial number. This sub style had two different backs. First it had the "cartoon" backs. That version was short lived and the cartoons were replaced by the transfer rules. CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (97) Style 21a transfers in the Museum's collection
Style 21b - Date Unknown
Same as 21a except for red date and serial number and change in rules format on back. CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (4) Style 21b transfers in the Museum's collection
Style 21c - c1971
Same as 21b with blue date and serial number. CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (81) Style 21c transfers in the Museum's collection
Style 22a - 02/03/1972
South Chicago and Ogden slashed shortened on map. CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (20) Style 23a transfers in the Museum's collection
Style 22b - 04/24/1972-01/06/1974
Same as 22a with red date and serial number. CLICK HERE for hi-res images of all (96) Style 22b transfers in the Museum's collection
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