wordguy

Douglass Park has been taken over this weekend by RiotFest. The Kedzie artics are probably being used to fill extra runs on the 94 related to the event.

I can't be sure one way or another about #8383. However, it looks as if #8379 is still ghosting. A couple of weeks ago, I spotted #8379 in revenue service on Belmont. As of now, that bus has never appeared on Maths22's tracker.

Maybe so, BH, but I'm just thinking about the next few months or so, until/whenever the 8450s start appearing. Also, I'm wondering if a bus's age will make much difference regarding its retirement. The entire fleet of 40-foot NFs is between 13 and 16 years old. The first units to leave the roster might be the ones with the most downtime, the highest mileage, or structural issues, rather than the oldest.

I'm not so sure that the New Flyers are going to be disappearing from FG just yet. Assuming that the higher-numbered 8350s now at FG migrate south to 103rd, FG would likely receive a few of 103rd's New Flyers in return. So once everything's in place, I'm guessing that FG will have a net loss of a few New Flyers, but not many.

I think that Mr.cta85 might be right. The higher-numbered 8350s may be at FG temporarily until driver training at 103rd is finished. Other garages probably needed buses in order to bulk up their fleets: 77th Street for launching service on the X4, and 103rd and NP for school runs. Because FG drivers have already been trained for the 8350s, the temporary assignment of the higher numbers would seem to make sense so that FG's NFs could be freed up for reassignment..

I can't help wondering if the size of the roof-mounted AC unit affects its efficiency. The units on the 7900s appear to be much smaller than the ones on the 6400s.

I think the old Novas have already been scattered in numerical clusters, with the lowest numbers south and the highest ones north. Over the past couple months, I remember Shannon posting videos of the old Novas being stored at a few of the garages, including his home depot, Kedzie. The lowest numbered one were at 103rd, high 67s at Kedzie, and low 68s at Chicago Ave. Policeman may the right; they may be used for school runs once the Chicago Public Schools reopen. It seems to make sense.

In general, buses that migrate in numerical blocks are likely to be reassignments rather than loaners. I wouldn't be surprised if more 1550s from 74th start showing up at FG.

RJL is right per the CTA tracker.

True. The Brown Line currently operates 2600s and 3200s in mixed train-sets. The 2600s aren't restricted to being belly cars.

I think a lot depends on the outcome of this election. The Democratic House Caucus's Covid relief bill, known as the HEROES Act, contained major funding for transit. If Biden wins and the Senate flips, there may be a chance that the HEROES Act could be revived. Assuming that ridership rebounds closer to pre-pandemic levels, maybe many of the cuts could be avoided.

MrNF1051 is right. Several rush hour runs between Kimball and LakeShore operate as pull-outs or pull-ins from K.

It's not unusual for units released from the South Shops to fill PM rush hour runs at 77th. Let's see where they appear tomorrow. But still, old Novas on the 52A and 53A: That seems a little weird.

It looks as if NP picked up at least four units this week: 1379 & 1380 from 77th (1379 is operating on the 97 as I type), and 1381 & 1382 from FG (I spotted 1382 on the 36 the other day). Because the numbers are clustered, I'm assuming they're not loaners.

Being familiar with operations at 77th, you'd know much better than I would, YBL. (Ex-operator here, '69 to '76; FG and later NP.) Your explanation seems to make sense.