Thread by @bsmcfadden

Today @matt_weiss_ and I are going to attempt the unofficial @cta 'L' Challenge! The goal is to visit all 145 CTA stations as fast as possible. I'll be documenting the excursion via this Twitter thread, so check back here as we progress through the system! #MBLrun

Due to construction and station closures at Berwyn and Lawrence on the Red line, we will have doors open at 143 stations in the network. This will still qualify under Class A for the record keepers: bmcfadden.me/43DMMxa

We are officially underway at 09:10:00 exactly! Departing from Polk station on Pink Line Run #308, headed outbound towards 54th & Cermak! Scheduled Time: 09:09:30 #MBLrun

smiles all around as we kick off the day! 17 minutes to destination!

Alighted at 54th and Cermak at 09:26:12! Off to the 54B south to Midway!

On board the 54B (run 8165) towards Midway at 9:34:46 after RUNNING for it, only for there to be a driver swap 😭
Officially departed southbound at 9:38:34! #MBLrun

Alighted the 54B at 09:59:48 - because of the driver swap we missed our connection to the Orange line, Loop bound. Waiting our 12 minutes for the next departure. #MBLrun

Back on the move after a slight delay, departing Midway at 10:14:35 on Orange line run 706! Original planned departure of 10:00:00. Next stop, Clark and Lake! #MBLrun

We are happily collecting up our GO points via the @transitapp today too! Me, the ‘Impetuous Trolley’, and Matt ‘Ghost Rider’ the Aerial Tramway are joined by a Steak and Seashell inbound to the Loop!

Alighted from the Orange line at Clark and Lake at 10:47:30, and quickly crossed to the Outer Loop platform to board an outbound Brown line to Kimball, doors closed at 10:50:02!

Arrived at Kimball and off Brown line run #410 at 11:24:36. Now taking a slight detour from the original plan and using the 82 Kimball bus southbound to try and get back on track! Departed Kimball and Lawrence at 11:28:16 on vehicle #1242! #MBLrun

Alighted the 82 south at Kimball and Belmont at 11:39:08. Boarded a northbound Blue line train #207 at 11:49:22, which will put us almost back on schedule!

Arrived O’Hare at 12:18:11, quick potty break and then departed on run #207 at 12:23:44 however, this is a UIC-Halsted terminating train, so we will have to transfer trains at some point. Our originally planned departure was also converted to a UIC train.

spirits remain generally okay as we plan our re-route barreling down the kennedy

re-route in progress because the Blue line did us dirty! Alighted the Blue line at Clark and Lake at 13:10:40 and boarded Green line run #5 to Harlem and Lake at 13:11:49. Phew that transfer was both nice and tight 😉😮‍💨

Alighted the Green line at Harlem and Lake at 13:43:11, and boarded a southbound 307 @PaceSuburbanBus (marking our third @RTA_Chicago transit option) at 13:44:04!

Alighted the southbound 307 at Harlem (Blue line) at 13:50:09, and a short jog to Forest Park Blue line to wait out the next departure O’Hare bound.

Departed Forest Park on Blue line run #108 at 14:09:36, however we only made it one stop before experiencing a loss of door relay mechanical which is holding us at Harlem.

Alighted the Blue line at Clark and Lake at 14:54:20, and officially back on route as we boarded this southbound Green line and departed at 14:59:41. We are approximately 30 minutes behind schedule.

Alighted Green line run #610 at Ashland and 63rd at 15:33:01. We were ghosted by a 63 eastbound bus, so getting creative and going back northbound from Ashland and 63rd for a transfer back southbound at Garfield.

Departed Ashland and 63rd aboard Green line run #13 at 15:40:02. Going 2 stops to Garfield for a Cottage Grove bound train.

Alighted at Garfield from the northbound Green line at 15:50:08. Waiting just a few minutes for the Cottage Grove bound Green line.

Departed on Cottage Grove bound Green line run #15 at 15:54:28. Arriving at Cottage Grove will finish 5 of the 8 rail lines for today.

watching our transfer bus at 63rd and Cottage Grove…weird things happening on @transitapp @transitpartners in regards to the ordering of arrivals 🤷🏻‍♂️ this is the second time today seeing the same thing on Android and iOS

Alighted the Green line at Cottage Grove at 16:01:33 and departed on a westbound 63 bus at 16:03:37. Headed for the Red line!

Alighted the 63 bus at 63rd Red line station at 16:12:39. Departed on southbound Red line run #823 at 16:15:13.

Alighted the Red line at 95th and Dan Ryan at 16:24:47 with a short turn and departing on run #819 northbound from 95th and Dan Ryan at 16:27:21. We are now only 4 minutes behind schedule!

Alighted the Red line (again 😉) at Howard at 17:35:51. This marks the completion of our sixth @cta rail line of the day! Two more to go!

Departed Howard on Yellow line run #595 at 17:43:32, Skokie Bound! #SkokieSwift 🦅

Alighted the Yellow line at Dempster-Skokie at 15:51:45, waited for the Yellow to turn around and re-boarded run #595 back to Howard, departing at 17:58:27!

Alighted the Yellow line at Howard at 18:08:39. One line to go!

To wrap up our trip all around the @cta system, just departed from Howard aboard Purple line run #511 at 18:22:05 Linden bound!

AND THATS A WRAP! We have alighted our final train, the Purple line, at Linden, at 18:34:12 bringing an official end to an incredibly educating, slightly frustrating, fun and a little chaotic trip around Chicago!

On this trip we traversed 145 @cta stations, with an unofficial time of 9h24m24s. I am absolutely thrilled to have completed this feat with @matt_weiss_ who kept my eyes on the prize the entire time, even when we were feeling a bit defeated 💙

Happy faces to be done!

Once we make our way home, I’ll re-compile the route we actually took to ensure we had doors open at every eligible station!

Validation complete, and after checking the math, we actually finished with a time of 9h24m12s! Start time (doors closed) at Polk 09:10:00, and finish time of 18:34:12 (doors opened) at Linden.

Fun Facts from the Journey:
5 Longest Travel Times
1h8m30s - 95th to Howard
46m56s - O’Hare to Clark and Lake
44m44s - Forest Park to Clark and Lake
34m34s - Clark and Lake to Kimball
33m20s - Clark and Lake to Ashland and 63rd

Layovers Over 10 Minutes
19m27s - Pace 307 to Forest Park
14m47s - 54B to Orange
13m26s - Yellow to Purple
10m14s - 82 to Blue

Fare Equivalent (we use monthly passes)
$16 (3 Rail Use, 2 CTA Bus Use, 2 Pace Bus Use, 10 Transfers)