Building a 7000 Series railcar in Chicago is a team effort, bringing together the skills and expertise of employees across CRRC’s South Side facility. From cab assembly and electrical systems to exterior equipment and other specialized areas, each railcar reflects the craftsmanship, dedication and teamwork of the entire production team.
Farrah Brown, I’mesha Gadson and George McGee represent three parts of that team. While each works in a different area of production, they share a commitment to learning, supporting their coworkers and taking pride in building state-of-the-art railcars for Chicago.
Farrah, a member of the Cab Assembly team, believes the employees who thrive at CRRC are willing to learn. “If you’re eager to learn and bring common sense to the job, you can really succeed here,” she said. “There are opportunities to grow every day.”
I’mesha has experienced that commitment to learning firsthand as a member of the Exterior Equipment team. While she expected to develop new technical skills, the depth of training and support exceeded her expectations. “The amount of training we’ve received has been incredible,” I’mesha said. “I never expected this level of instruction and I’ve really appreciated the friendship I’ve built with our trainers. They really want everyone to succeed.”
George, who works in Saloon Electrical, shares that appreciation for the training and workplace culture. “This is a great job,” George said. “The training has been outstanding and I really enjoy coming to work because of the environment and the people I get to work with every day.”
Farrah, I’mesha and George know their individual contributions are part of something much larger. Every cable connected, panel installed and system assembled helps move another 7000 Series railcar closer to carrying CTA riders to work, school, sporting events and destinations throughout Chicago.
That connection to the city is a source of tremendous pride. While the 7000 Series railcars are already serving riders on the Blue Line, all three are looking forward to seeing the railcars operate regularly on the Red Line, bringing the trains they helped build closer to CRRC’s South Side facility and the surrounding community.