Photos: The 8 Most Insane Bids From CTA's Sad Auction

By Chuck Sudo in News on Dec 18, 2013 8:50PM

#22 Clark Street/#36 Broadway Avenue bus sign: $250

Loyola Red Line Station sign: $175.51

Signal Crossing with no stand: $700

Fare transfer punch: $45

11" x 48" Station map sign: $225

Handicap seat - one leg side mount Manufactured by American Seating 35" x 20" x 38": $240

Vintage Intel computer with tape backup: $145

Bus stop: $405. What's insane about this bid is the bus stop shown is not the one the winning bidder will receive.

Chicago Transit Authority's sad auction of old junk "Chicago history" ended at 10 a.m. this morning and we knew there would be outlandish bids for bus stop signs that college students normally climb poles to steal. We had no idea someone would bid upwards of $250 for a sign.

That wasn't the only wild bid we noticed. A set of four rail car springs sold for $30 while a full pallet of springs sold for only a dollar more. The glamour items (such as they are)—the two 2200 series rail cars—sold for $13,150 and $10,000.01, respectively.

We went through the lots and put together a list of eight items that received what we call "insane" bids. That means they either went for more than we thought or received bids at all.