Chicago49xxx Posted September 14, 2008 Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 Hey all im a fairly new operator out of Chicago ave and on my way out of the garage i saw 5 to 10 6000s pulling in i spoke to the oprerators so i guess we had a trade with 74th for some of our flyers i dunno if its temp or not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted September 14, 2008 Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 Both Chicago and Kedzie are getting 6000s from 74th this weekend in exchange for New Flyers. Each garage is trading 40 buses, which will net 74th a total of 110 New Flyers when you count their existing 30. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicago49xxx Posted September 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 Both Chicago and Kedzie are getting 6000s from 74th this weekend in exchange for New Flyers. Each garage is trading 40 buses, which will net 74th a total of 110 New Flyers when you count their existing 30. Oh Ok Makes me wonder what are they going to do with the remaining 5300s we have personally id would rather have them trade some 13 or 14s instead of the 10s but it would be nice to drive a 6000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T8H5307A Posted September 14, 2008 Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 Yes, that is what I did this afternoon. I took 2 Flyers down to 74th (1117 & 1109) and brought 2 Flxibles back (6053 & 6055). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CircleSeven Posted September 14, 2008 Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 I'm more than happy that the 6000s is back at Kedzie, first time in more than two years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicago49xxx Posted September 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 I'm more than happy that the 6000s is back at Kedzie, first time in more than two years. A lot of operators are not to happy about getting these 6000s they feel that there junk but they have to be in better shape than the 5300s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jajuan Posted September 14, 2008 Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 I'm more than happy that the 6000s is back at Kedzie, first time in more than two years. It's been suggested these are possible placeholders for DE60LFs, which is in fact a possibility because Kedzie and Chicago are to get these new arctics in prep for BRT service, and their arrival has been delayed given they should have started coming last month. I'll go with this theory because Kedzie got rid of all its junk buses and Chicago was coming close to it, and it makes no sense to bring in slightly younger junk after this for any other reason. Long story short, be prepared for the possibility that your celebration is very temporary (at best a few months) once DE60LFs finally do begin arriving. CTA management may be airheaded at times, but in this money crunch, don't look for DE60LFs to displace anymore NFs than has already been done this weekend when the much more expensive to maintain 6000s make more sense to be swapped out and replaced instead. With the light being shined back on CTA finances and spending, it's very unlikely buses that cost a heck of a lot to be maintained and kept in service will be kept around for too long after even more new buses start coming in again. These hard economic times won't allow it. They'd be under more pressure than ever to push the 6000s right back out at Kedzie and Chicago once the DE60LF delivery start gets back on track. Remember Americanas at FG were temporary placeholders when Nova deliveries there were delayed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 14, 2008 Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 Oh Ok Makes me wonder what are they going to do with the remaining 5300s we have personally id would rather have them trade some 13 or 14s instead of the 10s but it would be nice to drive a 6000 Believe me when you get to drive one of those 6000s youre going to be surprised at how nice they operate, a lot nicer than the 5300s, I loved driving them. The 6000s were my preferred bus at FG. My 7 years (1997-2005) at CTA I spent more time driving the 4000 MANs and the 6000 Flxibles than any other bus in the fleet at that time. They have this sharp, tough, menacing look to them. The overall look of the bus is impressive, for me its the Alcoa truck rims that make the look of the bus and the sound of both the Cummins and DD engines. I love seeing when three or four 6000s on a particular route line up end to end which is kinda rare to see. The # 9 Ashland is probably the best route to see this action. Occasionally I work at the firehouse on 44th/Ashland, I enjoy spending my down time outside watching 6000s flying by all day, the NB bus stops right in front of the firehouse. The Flxible 6000 series is the coolest bus in the CTA fleet if not all of Chicago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kendo26 Posted September 14, 2008 Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 I guess that explains why I saw 1123 on the 44 Saturday afternoon :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwantae Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 I'm more than happy that the 6000s is back at Kedzie, first time in more than two years. I guess Kedzie drivers misses driving high floors buses and I don't blame them. I am happy too that 6000s are back but I really miss 4400s there. No wonder yesterday midnight, I spotted #1151 working N9 Ashland pulling in 95th Red Line and this morning I spotted #1167 at Cottage Grove 63rd (Green Line) working 63 63rd. And two days ago, I seen #1089-1091 going southbound on Dan Ryan Expressway pass Garfield Blvd. I see that now 6000s are also at Chicago for their first time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 I guess Kedzie drivers misses driving high floors buses and I don't blame them.At least for Kedzie, since they got the lowest number 6000s, that's the third time those buses have been there. Started at 77th, a few went to 74th, then to Kedzie, to FG, to Kedzie to 74th, and to Kedzie. Theoretically, they could have kept them there the last time, and started 74th at 1690. Thus, as previously indicated, the only possible rational explanation was BusTracker. Of course, trainman is having a good chuckle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 With the light being shined back on CTA finances and spending...Yes, that is what I did this afternoon. I took 2 Flyers down to 74th (1117 & 1109) and brought 2 Flxibles back (6053 & 6055).On further reflection of the point I made above, what did it cost to shuttle the 160 buses around? I'm sure T8H and his fellow drivers didn't donate their off or sick day to do it, just so that some high floor fans riding routes 38 and 148 can be satisfied. Good planning would have been what I suggested in the prior post--let Kedzie keep the low 6000s and start 74th with 1690. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trainman8119 Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 Of course, trainman is having a good chuckle. Uh, yup !!!! That and the fact I am losing my hair from all of the head scratching I am doing these days. :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T8H5307A Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 I'm sure T8H and his fellow drivers didn't donate their off or sick day to do it, just so that some high floor fans riding routes 38 and 148 can be satisfied. You're exactly correct. I didn't donate my time, certainly got paid for it, although it was my day off! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jajuan Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 On further reflection of the point I made above, what did it cost to shuttle the 160 buses around? I'm sure T8H and his fellow drivers didn't donate their off or sick day to do it, just so that some high floor fans riding routes 38 and 148 can be satisfied. Good planning would have been what I suggested in the prior post--let Kedzie keep the low 6000s and start 74th with 1690. I was thinking a similar thought. If these 6000s were just going to wind right back up at Kedzie, they should have stayed in the first place. Maybe once the DE60LFs do start arriving, their next home will be the scrap heap. I don't see displacing anymore D40LFs just to hold on to junk. And sorry to busfans on the 38, no 6000s in service right now. There is one, 6008, on the 12 though. There's also one, 6019, on the 52. The only other route I can think of the might try is 82 and maybe 151 Kedzie trips, since they're not on Bustracker yet and I'm not out near either today to see if they have 6000s. All the other Kedzie bustracker routes in service are all NFs at the moment. Don't get your hopes up too high for 148 this afternoon. If patterns hold from 9/02 through Friday, those trips will be all NABIs just as they had been in the pm rush before summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 And sorry to busfans on the 38, no 6000s in service right now. There is one, 6008, on the 12 though.I was reflecting what showed up this morning, about 8 a.m., when the 148s were all 6000s, and mostly on 38. Maybe, they are primarily being used during the rush hour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 Each garage is trading 40 buses,...Based on Bus Tracker, and assuming no holes, the range appears to be 1082 to 1161 to 74th. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jajuan Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 Well this weekend swap has brought a return of 6000s to the downtown area. Busjack had his observation of quite a number of them on the 148 this morning around the 8 am hour. There are also some in service on the 20 and X20. On the 74th front, I see that X9 is favored with more NFs than the 9 local route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buslover88 Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 Well this weekend swap has brought a return of 6000s to the downtown area. Busjack had his observation of quite a number of them on the 148 this morning around the 8 am hour. There are also some in service on the 20 and X20. On the 74th front, I see that X9 is favored with more NFs than the 9 local route. I saw about three on #53 Pulaski this morning before 7 this morning, but forgot the numbers. I also saw one on #76 Diversey, but unfortunely, I couldn't see the number from where it was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nflyer22 Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 Well this weekend swap has brought a return of 6000s to the downtown area. Busjack had his observation of quite a number of them on the 148 this morning around the 8 am hour. There are also some in service on the 20 and X20. On the 74th front, I see that X9 is favored with more NFs than the 9 local route. I saw 6020 early this morning on the #145 at around 7:20 AM when I was going to school. At 1st glance I thought it was weird that it was at Kedzie on the #145, until it hit me that it was one that was swapped for from 74th. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jajuan Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 I saw 6020 early this morning on the #145 at around 7:20 AM when I was going to school. At 1st glance I thought it was weird that it was at Kedzie on the #145, until it hit me that it was one that was swapped for from 74th. Was it NB or SB? If NB, it may have ended up being one of those Busjack observed through Bustracker on the 148 this morning. From the looks of it, it does seem Kedzie is restricting the 40 6000s it got to rush hour use. 6023 went into service on the 12 at about 2 pm and now it's on a westbound pullin trip to Kedzie. Has anyone observed any on any of the Kedzie routes not on Bustracker besides nflyer22's morning sighting on the 145? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jajuan Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 I see 6017 found its way onto the 8 Halsted today among all those NFs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buslover88 Posted September 16, 2008 Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 The only other route I can think of the might try is 82 You're right. I saw 6000 operating #82 Kimball-Homan northbound around 3pm today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nflyer22 Posted September 16, 2008 Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 Was it NB or SB? If NB, it may have ended up being one of those Busjack observed through Bustracker on the 148 this morning. From the looks of it, it does seem Kedzie is restricting the 40 6000s it got to rush hour use. 6023 went into service on the 12 at about 2 pm and now it's on a westbound pullin trip to Kedzie. Has anyone observed any on any of the Kedzie routes not on Bustracker besides nflyer22's morning sighting on the 145? It was beginning a northbound trip, I saw it when I was on 6879 on the #24 Wentworth. (It was going eastbound on Harrison when I saw it at Clark/Harrison.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArcherRider Posted September 16, 2008 Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 I just check bustracker and see #8 Halsted using #6001 and #6039 among the NF bus on that route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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