new flyer 5800 retirement

[trey824]

why the heck did we retire my babys so early in their life when we still have almost all flx 6000s? i mean the bus shortage is not a good thing so could they have stayed longer?

[Guest]

why the heck did we retire my babys so early in their life when we still have almost all flx 6000s? i mean the bus shortage is not a good thing so could they have stayed longer?

Yeah, this probably wasant a good time to retire some more buses. CTA shouldve made an effort to retain some buses scheduled for retirement. Im sure CTA has buses sitting at South Shops that could be pressed back into service. This also couldve been a good time for CTA to purchase some used buses as well as a temporary patch job.

[MetroShadow]

Yeah, this probably wasant a good time to retire some more buses. CTA shouldve made an effort to retain some buses scheduled for retirement. Im sure CTA has buses sitting at South Shops that could be pressed back into service. This also couldve been a good time for CTA to purchase some used buses as well as a temporary patch job.

Sounds like returning the 4915's would be a good idea

\ or the 7300's for that matter.

[Busjack]

Sounds like returning the 4915's would be a good idea

\ or the 7300's for that matter.

If you can materialize them from molten metal, steel beams, or wherever fiberglass ends up.

[Guest]

Im willing to bet the Flxs and TMCs that are sitting at 92/Ewing could do the the job better than the NABI artics. :)

[BusHunter]

why the heck did we retire my babys so early in their life when we still have almost all flx 6000s? i mean the bus shortage is not a good thing so could they have stayed longer?

Yeah, it's shocking to see a low floor bus retired before a high floor. Especially now with a possibility of removing a second low floor. At least the ironworkers or whoever ends up with a couple won't have to climb stairs now. ( the firemen on #5858 will appreciate it!! )

[MetroShadow]

If you can materialize them from molten metal, steel beams, or wherever fiberglass ends up.

If I had a "home improvement" hard-hat and tool belt on, and if anyone would be willing to do my Master's Thesis, I'd be game =p

-Dave

[jacksone44]

Yeah, this probably wasant a good time to retire some more buses. CTA shouldve made an effort to retain some buses scheduled for retirement. Im sure CTA has buses sitting at South Shops that could be pressed back into service. This also couldve been a good time for CTA to purchase some used buses as well as a temporary patch job.

Could have honestly waited on the 5800's retirement, but can respect that they are 14 years old as of this year. Purchasing used buses...bad idea given the state of the economy and the state of a quarter billion dollar budget deficit.

[dann]

Im willing to bet the Flxs and TMCs that are sitting at 92/Ewing could do the the job better than the NABI artics.

I think a used Hertz shuttle bus can do the job better, based on what I heard about the NABIs.

[Busjack]

I think a used Hertz shuttle bus can do the job better, based on what I heard about the NABIs.

Those are usually Gilligs, so someone could get their wish in the fantasy thread.

[Guest]

Heres a couple of pics took at the CFD academy of the TMC and NF buses.

[jesi2282]

Nice pics, I like the fact that they held on to the 4900, I wasn't sure if they were going to get rid of it when they recived 5858.

[mikeymc77]

Nice pics, I like the fact that they held on to the 4900, I wasn't sure if they were going to get rid of it when they recived 5858.

On the corner of Lasalle and Washington today was another white bus with a route destination sign that read "291 CHGO FIRE". And to my surprise when I looked in expecting to see 5858, instead I saw 5826. So I guess they have more than one

[Guest]

On the corner of Lasalle and Washington today was another white bus with a route destination sign that read "291 CHGO FIRE". And to my surprise when I looked in expecting to see 5858, instead I saw 5826. So I guess they have more than one

I did hear somewhere that there was an additional NF bus in the CFD fleet. But I didnt give it another thought. There are plans to place a "Mass Casualty" bus in service at the CFD. This bus will be primarily used to transport multiple victims to hospitals in the event of a mass casualty incident. I do not know at this point whether this bus will be a retired CTA bus or it will be a brand new bus. It will be interesting see what this vehicle will look like. If I hear anything more Ill post some more info for everyone here.

[Busjack]

... There are plans to place a "Mass Casualty" bus in service at the CFD. This bus will be primarily used to transport multiple victims to hospitals in the event of a mass casualty incident. I do not know at this point whether this bus will be a retired CTA bus or it will be a brand new bus. It will be interesting see what this vehicle will look like. If I hear anything more Ill post some more info for everyone here.

I would think it would be a new vehicle because (1) it is undoubtedly the result of a Homeland Security grant, and (2) it would have to have all sorts of EMT equipment on it. Neither sounds consistent with an old bus, since I can't see spending big money on something that might not be dependable.

I hadn't heard of such a thing, but given reports that, say, 10 ambulances have to be dispatched to a bad accident or fire, seems to make sense. However, I would assume that it wouldn't cover the whole city, given the amount of time it would take to get to some extremities of it.

[Anonymous Guy]

Could have honestly waited on the 5800's retirement, but can respect that they are 14 years old as of this year. Purchasing used buses...bad idea given the state of the economy and the state of a quarter billion dollar budget deficit.

Seattle has some 14 year old Gillig Phantoms in great running shape that should be retiring in mid 2010. You guys did buy our old MAN articulateds (7300 series) as a stopgap, why not some of these?

[Busjack]

Seattle has some 14 year old Gillig Phantoms in great running shape that should be retiring in mid 2010. You guys did buy our old MAN articulateds (7300 series) as a stopgap, why not some of these?

It was a stopgap. Similarly, the Pace Orion Is were a stopgap until CTA got the Optimas. CTA already has about 290 14 year old buses.

CTA has some 6 year old buses for sale. Why doesn't Seattle buy those?:D

[Guest]

Seattle has some 14 year old Gillig Phantoms in great running shape that should be retiring in mid 2010. You guys did buy our old MAN articulateds (7300 series) as a stopgap, why not some of these?

That would be cool to have some Gillig Phantoms operating for CTA. I spent a lot of time riding G.Phantoms when I lived in San Diego. Our railway museum here (IRM) aquired a couple of years ago, one of your old MAN Artic trolley coaches. It is in operating condition.

[Busjack]

That would be cool to have some Gillig Phantoms operating for CTA. I spent a lot of time riding G.Phantoms when I lived in San Diego.

I wasn't that impressed with those in Rochester, and they were suburbans. Sounded like a tractor and rode like the school buses on which they were based. Of course, their Orion Vs weren't much different, and the comparison was to the approximately 130 RTS IIIs they had.

[Guest]

I wasn't that impressed with those in Rochester, and they were suburbans. Sounded like a tractor and rode like the school buses on which they were based. Of course, their Orion Vs weren't much different, and the comparison was to the approximately 130 RTS IIIs they had.

San Diego had three orders for Gilligs. #500,300 and 1200 series. The 500s had the loud 6V92 engine. The 300s and 1200s were more quiet.

[Anonymous Guy]

CTA has some 6 year old buses for sale. Why doesn't Seattle buy those?

Because the acronym "NABI" scares any sensible transit agency

Sad that they plan on retiring 9-12 year old New Flyer D60HFs around 2010, too. Both them and the Gilligs use the more conventional Cummins M11 (later to become Cummins ISM) over the louder Detroit Diesel engines.

If Chicago somehow ended up picking up those D60HFs to close the bus shortage, they'd effectively be picking up the bus we used to replace the MAN articulated buses Chicago purchased.

[jacksone44]

That would be cool to have some Gillig Phantoms operating for CTA. I spent a lot of time riding G.Phantoms when I lived in San Diego. Our railway museum here (IRM) aquired a couple of years ago, one of your old MAN Artic trolley coaches. It is in operating condition.

I spent a lot of time riding Gilligs Phantoms in St. Louis where thats 99% of the fleet. I enjoyed riding these buses, even though im not a fan of high floor buses.

[TMC-RTS-08]

I spent a lot of time riding Gilligs Phantoms in St. Louis where thats 99% of the fleet. I enjoyed riding these buses, even though im not a fan of high floor buses.

I still miss the Neoplan AN440 CNGs that Metro used to run up until this past March, along with their Flx Metros retired years ago. I hate the Gilligs we have and Gilligs period.

[BusExpert32]

Maybe the CTA can purchase some 12-14 year old high floor buses instead of 140 60 foot New Flyers? Since the 60 ft NF is the only bus they can order right now, but more artics aren't needed.

[Busjack]

Maybe the CTA can purchase some 12-14 year old high floor buses instead of 140 60 foot New Flyers? Since the 60 ft NF is the only bus they can order right now, but more artics aren't needed.

Personally, I don't understand this nostalgia, given that CTA has 280 some 14 year old buses, that apparently according to the new CTA procurement page, are still being maintained. There were reasons before to buy second-hand buses:

• In the case of the 7300s, because all but one of the 7100s had fallen apart and they were waiting for the 7500s.

• In the case of the Orion Is, because CTA wanted something narrower and accessible for the U of C routes until the Optimas arrived.

I don't see any similar impetus, including from the Seattle used bus salesperson. The original idea (if you believe Huberman, and there is less reason to do so) is that the hybrid articulateds were to be ordered to provide a way to replace the 14 year old buses. So, if money for the hybrid articulateds is not available, just keep the 14 year old high floor buses you have. cta5555 would be happy.

If there is any indication of a bus shortage (now that the NABIs have been replaced), I haven't heard of it.