'Skokie Swift' rail line celebrates 50 years

Rides on historic commuter train cars will be part of the Chicago Transit Authority's celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Yellow Line, also known as the Skokie Swift.

The Saturday festivities will be at the Oakton-Skokie station in Skokie.

The event will feature rides on two CTA tran cars built in 1923 by the Cincinnati Car Co. for the Chicago Elevated Railways - a predecessor to the CTA.

The Skokie Swift debuted on April 1964 with service from Dempster St. to Howard St. in Chicago. It was developed as a joint demonstration project between CTA, Skokie and federal officials to show the practicality of linking fast-growing suburbs with central-city rail transit.

The Swift became a permanent part of the CTA "L" system and renamed the Yellow Line in 1993.