charlieb Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 Does anyone know if I can take a tour of one of the CTA bus garages? I am a fourth grader who will be visiting Chicago in April and I consider myself to be a bus expert/fan. Thank you- Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 +Does anyone know if I can take a tour of one of the CTA bus garages? I am a fourth grader who will be visiting Chicago in April and I consider myself to be a bus expert/fan. Thank you- Charlie Well Charlie hope you enjoy your visit when you arrive. I worked for the CTA years ago, one thing I would advise you to do is have mom or dad contact the CTA before your visit. Dont let them take it upon themselves to show up at a garage without prior notice. Or maybe you can meet one of the CTA workers on this website who may be willing to give you a tour of a facility. Do you have any idea where you will be staying while in Chicago? Some useful information I can give you, CTA has eight bus garages throughout the city. Two on the north side of Chicago and the rest are located on the west and south sides of the city. The two northside garages Forest Glen and North Park are actually not too far apart from one another. Do you have a favorite bus? I can tell you where to find the various bus types in the CTA fleet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlieb Posted March 25, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 I like the oldest CTA buses like the TMC RTS bus and the 5800 series - new flyer. My mom is going to contact CTA to set something up. Thanks for sending me the information. charile :rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 26, 2009 Report Share Posted March 26, 2009 I like the oldest CTA buses like the TMC RTS bus and the 5800 series - new flyer. My mom is going to contact CTA to set something up. Thanks for sending me the information. charile Unfortunately both the TMC RTS and New Flyer #5800s were recently retired. There is new fleet of New Flyer D40LF and D60LF low floor artics numbered in the #1000 and #4000 series. We also have twenty New Flyer diesel/electric hybrid buses in the #800/900 series. If you like the high floor models the only buses of that design remaining in the CTA fleet are the Flxible Metro #6000 series. The entire fleet is almost all low floor now. Good Luck! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonytavell Posted March 26, 2009 Report Share Posted March 26, 2009 Does anyone know if I can take a tour of one of the CTA bus garages? I am a fourth grader who will be visiting Chicago in April and I consider myself to be a bus expert/fan. Thank you- CharlieMy name is Jireh, and I'm a 7th grader, every since I was a little boy, I used to love CTA Buses, so by the time I got to the 3rd/4th grade, I studied all of the CTA bus routes, and now I know all of the bus fleets and the bus garages/assignments. I not a driver yet, but I would be honored to answer any of your questons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted March 26, 2009 Report Share Posted March 26, 2009 Well, there are two ways of looking at it:A "former mechanic" said there was no security.Another poster said his son was arrested for taking pictures across the street from a CTA yard entrance.The answer is somewhere in the middle. All garages and yards are posted "Private Property--No Trespassing" (even though they are taxpayer property), and the doors of the new garages are generally closed. Basically, though, don't expect them to let unaccompanied children into areas where buses are being moved. The only one where you can get any type of view is Forest Glen, if you are outside the fence. Archer might have some bay doors open. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted March 26, 2009 Report Share Posted March 26, 2009 Another poster said his son was arrested for taking pictures across the street from a CTA yard entrance. That story was falsified. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted March 26, 2009 Report Share Posted March 26, 2009 That story was falsified. Thanks for clarifying that. I think point one also was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIPTA42 Posted March 26, 2009 Report Share Posted March 26, 2009 The answer is somewhere in the middle. And the answer varies. I've had security try to chase me away from the sidewalk outside a garage, and I've had other guards invite me onto the property (one even told me where to walk to avoid the cameras). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cta_44499_FG Posted March 26, 2009 Report Share Posted March 26, 2009 That story was falsified. And hence is now why he is banned from this site....I didn't say that out loud did I? ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jajuan Posted March 26, 2009 Report Share Posted March 26, 2009 Well, there are two ways of looking at it:A "former mechanic" said there was no security.Another poster said his son was arrested for taking pictures across the street from a CTA yard entrance.The answer is somewhere in the middle. All garages and yards are posted "Private Property--No Trespassing" (even though they are taxpayer property), and the doors of the new garages are generally closed. Basically, though, don't expect them to let unaccompanied children into areas where buses are being moved. The only one where you can get any type of view is Forest Glen, if you are outside the fence. Archer might have some bay doors open. Kedzie garage also tends to have at least one or two bay doors open. In rush hour, sometimes three are sometimes seen open. Evenings and weekends I generally will see one of the northernmost bay doors open and either a middle door or a door on at the south end along Kedzie open. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T8H5307A Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 And hence is now why he is banned from this site....I didn't say that out loud did I? I believe you did! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MVTArider Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 Hope you can get a tour of a garage and have a good time Charlie. Hey, maybe if you ask they'll let you take an NABI bus home for a souvenir, just kidding of course Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonytavell Posted March 30, 2009 Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 Well, there are two ways of looking at it:A "former mechanic" said there was no security.Another poster said his son was arrested for taking pictures across the street from a CTA yard entrance.The answer is somewhere in the middle. All garages and yards are posted "Private Property--No Trespassing" (even though they are taxpayer property), and the doors of the new garages are generally closed. Basically, though, don't expect them to let unaccompanied children into areas where buses are being moved. The only one where you can get any type of view is Forest Glen, if you are outside the fence. Archer might have some bay doors open.kedzie,archer,and 77th has there buses parked outside sometimes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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