NABI Artics at Forest Glen....

[Guest]

Hello all,

I went by Forest Glen tonight and I saw three NABI artics parked for the night in the south yard at the Glen. NABI Artics #7661, 7678, 7682 are the buses stored at FG. The buses can easily be seen from the east entrance along Elston Ave. These buses are probably being used for training for the New Flyer artics that are coming. When the Novas came online back in 2002 we had #6712 and #6758 for a couple of weeks for training. I dont think the artics at FG are being stored for use on the weekend Blue Line shuttle, very interesting to see this. I didnt see any other artics there, just the three I listed. Someone might see an artic on an FG route tomorrow. Ill keep tabs on this and find out more from the operators.

[nflyer22]

Hello all,

I went by Forest Glen tonight and I saw three NABI artics parked for the night in the south yard at the Glen. NABI Artics #7661, 7678, 7682 are the buses stored at FG. The buses can easily be seen from the east entrance along Elston Ave. These buses are probably being used for training in preparation for the New Flyer artics that are coming. When the Novas came online back in 2002 we had #6712 and #6758 for a couple of weeks for training. I dont think the artics at FG are being stored for use on the weekend Blue Line shuttle, very interesting to see this. I didnt see any other artics there, just the three I listed. Someone might see an artic on an FG route tomorrow. Ill keep tabs on this and find out more from the operators.

Hey, just wondering, why are some of the Flyer Artics going to Forest Glen? Wouldn't they go to 103rd, 77th, Chicago, and Kedzie for the upcoming BRT routes? I'm not saying Forest Glen shouldn't get any, just wondering why FG is getting them.

[Guest]

Hey, just wondering, why are some of the Flyer Artics going to Forest Glen? Wouldn't they go to 103rd, 77th, Chicago, and Kedzie for the upcoming BRT routes? I'm not saying Forest Glen shouldn't get any, just wondering why FG is getting them.

I dont know if FG is getting them, but to see three artics parked at FG makes me wonder what are they being used for. Usually when a newer model bus is on loan to another garage, its usually for training so that operators get familiar with them and then they get signed off by Instruction dept. Like I stated earlier when the Novas began to arrive in 02, we had two Novas on loan for a couple of weeks until all FG operators were checked out on them. My first Nova was #6758 on Route 54A. I went by FG a little while ago and I didnt see the NABIs there.

[Busjack]

I had previously suggested that Belmont was a top 10 route, and hence it would make sense to put articulateds there. There might also be something about making Addison full time FG, or needing more capacity there than the few school runs. Lawrence might need a bigger bus. As usual, Ron hasn't checked in with me first.

However, I can understand others view that FG would be the last place, as many of its routes (especially NW of Jeff Park) barely justify Optimas.

[BusHunter]

Hello all,

I went by Forest Glen tonight and I saw three NABI artics parked for the night in the south yard at the Glen. NABI Artics #7661, 7678, 7682 are the buses stored at FG. The buses can easily be seen from the east entrance along Elston Ave. These buses are probably being used for training for the New Flyer artics that are coming. When the Novas came online back in 2002 we had #6712 and #6758 for a couple of weeks for training. I dont think the artics at FG are being stored for use on the weekend Blue Line shuttle, very interesting to see this. I didnt see any other artics there, just the three I listed. Someone might see an artic on an FG route tomorrow. Ill keep tabs on this and find out more from the operators.

Interesting sighting cta5750, those buses are all Kedzie garage buses so that rules them out for the blue line shuttle. You might be right those are training buses. I think Busjack could be right too when he says they could be used for Addison. Np's buses have to go pretty far out of the LSD corridor, with the traffic so heavy at 4:00 P.M. they often have a hard time getting back to LSD from school runs and such. Sometimes conditions are so bad they deadhead from the west end of Addison east. It would be a pretty good solution to run some if not all out of FG for all these Cubs games and the school runs too. Also those could be used for the blue line shuttle as FG pullouts. It's a long drive from NP to Cumberland Blue line.

[Guest]

Interesting sighting cta5750, those buses are all Kedzie garage buses so that rules them out for the blue line shuttle. You might be right those are training buses. I think Busjack could be right too when he says they could be used for Addison. Np's buses have to go pretty far out of the LSD corridor, with the traffic so heavy at 4:00 P.M. they often have a hard time getting back to LSD from school runs and such. Sometimes conditions are so bad they deadhead from the west end of Addison east. It would be a pretty good solution to run some if not all out of FG for all these Cubs games and the school runs too. Also those could be used for the blue line shuttle as FG pullouts. It's a long drive from NP to Cumberland Blue line.

The only other issue is that let say some artics do get assigned to FG, there remains the problem of storage because FG is the smallest garage in the system. There really is no room for artics unless some 40 footers are kicked out. FG is squeezing whatever room they can get from that small facility. If some artics do go to FG they would have to rethink the way the vehicles are stored. Currently the present day and night storage plan would not be adequate for artics to operate there. An entirely new storage layout would have to be implemented. Ill try to find out more from the operators there, Ill pay a visit.

[trainman8119]

The only other issue is that let say some artics do get assigned to FG, there remains the problem of storage because FG is the smallest garage in the system. There really is no room for artics unless some 40 footers are kicked out. FG is squeezing whatever room they can get from that small facility. If some artics do go to FG they would have to rethink the way the vehicles are stored. Currently the present day and night storage plan would not be adequate for artics to operate there. An entirely new storage layout would have to be implemented. Ill try to find out more from the operators there, Ill pay a visit.

I have been by there when the buses are parked along Elston in a line arrangement east to west as opposed to against the fence as they are now. I don't know if that allows more to be parked there or not, but it is a possibe way of adding room to cramped quarters.

[Guest]

I have been by there when the buses are parked along Elston in a line arrangement east to west as opposed to against the fence as they are now. I don't know if that allows more to be parked there or not, but it is a possibe way of adding room to cramped quarters.

I remember years ago when my dad first started working at FG after he left North Ave. in 1986, FGs bus parking layout was different than what it is now. At that time the vaults were located at the west entrance to the north side of the yard off of Armstrong ave. It was relocated I believe around 1988 or 1989 were it currently sits now. The south yard at the time, all buses faced south.

[BusHunter]

#7682 was on the #148 last night. It is no longer at FG. Just thought you'd like to know.