The Breakdown Thread

[Busjack]

2 hours ago, Sam92 said:

I think we're required to prioritize domestic merchants first so if they pulled out that disqualifies them probably 

Definitely if it involves federal funding.

[Erin Mishkin Jr.]

#4064 broke down Hyde Park/54th on the 6

[Master58]

On 5/1/2026 at 5:47 AM, Erin Mishkin Jr. said:

#4306 is broken down at Washington/jefferson and had a service van there getting work done on it.

#4177 broke down on Lake Shore drive expres nb around 4300 south, bus is now being driven south on cottage grove. 4177 has been nothing but constant breakdowns and issues in the year of 2026.

 

7 hours ago, Erin Mishkin Jr. said:

#4064 broke down Hyde Park/54th on the 6

 

On 5/3/2026 at 8:41 AM, Erin Mishkin Jr. said:

#4180 has broke down at 103rd & Bensley headed northbound on the J14 two days in a row 😬😬

On 5/4/2026 at 5:20 PM, EasyMoney said:

4182 Broke down on the 26 at 87 and commercial southbound 

103rd artic's must be cursed lol 

[Erin Mishkin Jr.]

#4191 breakdown Hyde Park & 56th sb in front of the museum of science and industry

[Busjack]

15 hours ago, Master58 said:

 

 

103rd artic's must be cursed lol 

...or don't have maintenance adequate for their age.

[Master58]

2 hours ago, Busjack said:

...or don't have maintenance adequate for their age.

I know that.  

[Javi75]

19 hours ago, Master58 said:

 

 

103rd artic's must be cursed lol 

From riding the 6, 26 & J14 over the years, 103rd tends to operate their buses like race cars. That garage has the fastest drivers compared to other garages, like NP drivers drive on the right two lanes of Lakeshore Drive whereas 103rd will be in the far left lane flooring the gas pedal. They definitely speed with their artics even going down local  streets & drive really fast through turns and even tight turns. Would driving a bus super fast & aggressive wear a bus down? 

[artthouwill]

8 minutes ago, Javi75 said:

From riding the 6, 26 & J14 over the years, 103rd tends to operate their buses like race cars. That garage has the fastest drivers compared to other garages, like NP drivers drive on the right two lanes of Lakeshore Drive whereas 103rd will be in the far left lane flooring the gas pedal. They definitely speed with their artics even going down local  streets & drive really fast through turns and even tight turns. Would driving a bus super fast & aggressive wear a bus down? 

In fairness to 103rd drivers,  the 6 and the 28 enter LSD from the left at 47th and all of the express routes exit left near Columbus.   It's easier to stay left than to be in the right lanes and trying to merge left with traffic that doesn't want to let you in.  Going SB, the right lanes by Soldier Field get backed up with traffic going to the Stevenson,  so it's quicker to get to the left and bypass that.  

However,  the streets in 103rd territory are brutal.   Even the far south side routes are taking a beating on 95th, Michigan  Ave, and other streets.   Even 77th and 74th routes aren't exempt from the bad streets. 

 

[Busjack]

..

8 minutes ago, artthouwill said:

However,  the streets in 103rd territory are brutal.   Even the far south side routes are taking a beating on 95th, Michigan  Ave, and other streets.   Even 77th and 74th routes aren't exempt from the bad streets. 

 

But the artics don't go there. The issue would primarily be Jeffrey,  South Shore, and  Commercial, with parts of Hyde Park,  Stony Island,  and Van Vlissigan.

[artthouwill]

26 minutes ago, Busjack said:

..

But the artics don't go there. The issue would primarily be Jeffrey,  South Shore, and  Commercial, with parts of Hyde Park,  Stony Island,  and Van Vlissigan.

The artics do some school trippers from Corliss.  Also artics are used on the 169.   Also, South Shore Drive between 71st and 79th is in absolute terrible condition.   I haven't been on Jeffery lately ut I wonder if they've fixed Stony Island between 57th and 65th.  Maybe they did because of the Obama Presidential Center,  but historically it was not in good condition.   

[EasyMoney]

1 hour ago, Busjack said:

..

But the artics don't go there. The issue would primarily be Jeffrey,  South Shore, and  Commercial, with parts of Hyde Park,  Stony Island,  and Van Vlissigan.

Jeffery from 95th through 71st going in both directions is in terrible condition they fixed Jeffery from 82nd to 79th they paved new concrete recently but otherwise esle that street is terrible potholes are so huge

[EasyMoney]

2 hours ago, Javi75 said:

From riding the 6, 26 & J14 over the years, 103rd tends to operate their buses like race cars. That garage has the fastest drivers compared to other garages, like NP drivers drive on the right two lanes of Lakeshore Drive whereas 103rd will be in the far left lane flooring the gas pedal. They definitely speed with their artics even going down local  streets & drive really fast through turns and even tight turns. Would driving a bus super fast & aggressive wear a bus down? 

From being operator from both garages that is true but north park streets are in way better condition than 103rd streets 

[Erin Mishkin Jr.]

It’s not just 103rd…

#4001 broke down at Damen and 33rd this morning on the 50 (Kedzie school tripper)

#4079 broke down at Barry/Sheridan this morning on the 134

[EasyMoney]

4326 Broke down on the 14 at 79 & Jeffery Northbound 

[EasyMoney]

4108 or 06 Broke down on the 14 at 67 and Jeffery southbound 

[dailycommuter62]

Any artics sitting around in seattle that cta can buy right now? 🤣

[Erin Mishkin Jr.]

1 hour ago, EasyMoney said:

4108 or 06 Broke down on the 14 at 67 and Jeffery southbound 

It looks like 4108 was used to replace 4309 which was sent back into the gerage. Then they moved 4108 over to the 26 and cancelled a unavailable run.

[Erin Mishkin Jr.]

This isn’t a breakdown but earlier I spotted 4067 being driven by a vested 992

[EasyMoney]

2 hours ago, Erin Mishkin Jr. said:

It looks like 4108 was used to replace 4309 which was sent back into the gerage. Then they moved 4108 over to the 26 and cancelled an unavailable run.

I was on the j14 headed southbound and seen another operator with bus 4108 pulled over with the hazards on with the back open she told me the bus broke down 

[Erin Mishkin Jr.]

3 minutes ago, EasyMoney said:

I was on the j14 headed southbound and seen another operator with bus 4108 pulled over with the hazards on with the back open she told me the bus broke down 

Oh Yeah that means they fixed It on the street and brought it back in service

[Bus1517]

#1982 broke down on the 72 just today according to someone on discord 

[Erin Mishkin Jr.]

16 minutes ago, Bus1517 said:

#1982 broke down on the 72 just today according to someone on discord 

based on what i'm seeing, looks like no relief driver at pulaski

[Erin Mishkin Jr.]

Defective #4109 is getting pulled in by a mechanic with lots of smoke coming out of the exhaust - bus sounds bad on the outside too

[Erin Mishkin Jr.]

#4029 was broken down on chicago & rush with a loud popping noise coming from the engine and the bus was towed away by a tow truck.

[Busjack]

1 hour ago, Erin Mishkin Jr. said:

#4029 was broken down on chicago & rush with a loud popping noise coming from the engine and the bus was towed away by a tow truck...

Especially if it was running biodiesel, why put popcorn in the fuel tank?