PACE's 1979 Grumman Flxible 870s

[JolietJakeCTA]

I have a question about PACE's 1979 Grumman/Flxible 870 buses (the 8200 series, IIRC), 205 units strong, of which they were initially withdrawn due to cracked frames (an issue that affected almost all the 2,656 total 870s Grumman had built, for all the transit agencies they received orders from, up to 1980) and temporarily replaced, in this case, by 100 retired school buses: when did PACE, as PACE, finally retire them? Right now, I think the RTA 870s were finally withdrawn for the last time when the 1992-93 Orion I's (2200/2300s) were put into service.

This "A" frame problem had hurt New York City the most (its fleet was over 600 units strong out of a theoretical order of 800), for which its last 200 undelivered units were filled in by GMC RTS buses.

~Ben Edge (JolietJakeCTA)

[jesi2282]

The 8200-series Grumman 870's were all retired in 1993, the last of the 8200's were based at West Division and were replaced by the 2200-series Ikarus 416's, which have since been retired as well.

[JolietJakeCTA]

The 8200-series Grumman 870's were all retired in 1993, the last of the 8200's were based at West Division and were replaced by the 2200-series Ikarus 416's, which have since been retired as well.

Thank you very much.

~Ben

[Guest]

Thank you very much.

~Ben

BTW, Do you still want your four fried chickens and a coke?

Or heres a more appropriate question that would fit in this site, How often does the train go by? :)

[jesi2282]

Found this video on YouTube of an 1970s news story about the Grummans being taken out of service, has some shots of RTA Grummans and a CTA New Look.

[JolietJakeCTA]

The lineup of the 1979 Grummans were:

8201 to 8300 - model 45102-8-1, 35 feet long, Detroit Diesel 8V-71N engine

8301 to 8405 - model 53102-8-1, 40 feet long, Detroit Diesel 8V-71N engine

The last Flxible bus PACE ever bought was a model 870 "B" 40102-6T built as a demo bus in 1982, #8406, purchased in 1984 by PACE, 40 feet long, Detroit Diesel 6V-92TA engine, as a replacement for a wrecked 1976 GMC "New Look" T6H-4523A (#8123).

"It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses." - Elwood Jake Blues

~Ben

[jesi2282]

The 2200s were actually built in 1992, the only buses Pace was buying in the late 1980s was the Gillig Phantom and Orion I.

[Guest]

Found this video on YouTube of an 1970s news story about the Grummans being taken out of service, has some shots of RTA Grummans and a CTA New Look.

Wow, nice find Jesi, Thanks a lot!

[Busjack]

Wow, nice find Jesi, Thanks a lot!

I hadn't realized that that many (at least the way it appeared on the video) had been assigned to Nortran at that time.

[Busjack]

The lineup of the 1979 Grummans were:

8201 to 8300 - model 45102-8-1, 35 feet long, Detroit Diesel 8V-71N engine

8301 to 8405 - model 53102-8-1, 40 feet long, Detroit Diesel 8V-71N engine

Bill V. has the 8200s as 53102-8-1, and 8301s up as 53096-8-1. I couldn't tell the difference between a narrow and wide one, but don't remember any shorties. Does any one else (especially since the GMs were 4523s--35 footers)?

[trainman8119]

Bill V. has the 8200s as 53102-8-1, and 8301s up as 53096-8-1. I couldn't tell the difference between a narrow and wide one, but don't remember any shorties. Does any one else (especially since the GMs were 4523s--35 footers)?

I don't think there were any 35 foot Grummans...they were all 40's.

Also, I think only the 8400's were a tad bit wider...I could be wrong, but I think that was the case.

[Guest]

The lineup of the 1979 Grummans were:

8201 to 8300 - model 45102-8-1, 35 feet long, Detroit Diesel 8V-71N engine

8301 to 8405 - model 53102-8-1, 40 feet long, Detroit Diesel 8V-71N engine

The last Flxible bus PACE ever bought was a model 870 "B" 40102-6T built as a demo bus in 1982, #8406, purchased in 1984 by PACE, 40 feet long, Detroit Diesel 6V-92TA engine, as a replacement for a wrecked 1976 GMC "New Look" T6H-4523A (#8123).

"It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses." - Elwood Jake Blues

~Ben

BTW, I falsified my renewal, I put down 1060 w Addison! "1060 W Addison? Thats Wrigley Field!"

Illinois Nazis, I hate Illinois Nazis!

[JolietJakeCTA]

Bill V. has the 8200s as 53102-8-1, and 8301s up as 53096-8-1. I couldn't tell the difference between a narrow and wide one, but don't remember any shorties. Does any one else (especially since the GMs were 4523s--35 footers)?

On OMOT.org, #8201 to 8300 are all 45102-8-1s and #8301 to 8405 are all 53096-8-1s. #8406, a 1983 Flxible Metro "A" 40102-6T, was a demo bus said to be the first with the sliding windows.

~Ben

[Busjack]

On OMOT.org, #8201 to 8300 are all 45102-8-1s and #8301 to 8405 are all 53096-8-1s. #8406, a 1983 Flxible Metro "A" 40102-6T, was a demo bus said to be the first with the sliding windows.

~Ben

There have been other inaccuracies there, such as 9001 series CTA RTSs, whcih were actually Detroit SMART.

[busfan2847]

On OMOT.org, #8201 to 8300 are all 45102-8-1s and #8301 to 8405 are all 53096-8-1s. #8406, a 1983 Flxible Metro "A" 40102-6T, was a demo bus said to be the first with the sliding windows.

~Ben

Looking at a photo of 8237 on Mel Bernero's Pace photos:

( http://s195.photobucket.com/albums/z30/melbernero/Illinois/PACE/?action=view&current=Pace8237Southwest8237.jpg)

It certainly looks like a 40' not a 35' bus. He also has photos of 8304 and 8406 on the site.

Alan

[busfan2847]

Link didn't work! It goes to page 1 of his Pace photographs and the Flxible photos are on page 2.

Looking at a photo of 8237 on Mel Bernero's Pace photos:

( http://s195.photobucket.com/albums/z30/melbernero/Illinois/PACE/?action=view&current=Pace8237Southwest8237.jpg)

It certainly looks like a 40' not a 35' bus. He also has photos of 8304 and 8406 on the site.

Alan

[JolietJakeCTA]

Link didn't work! It goes to page 1 of his Pace photographs and the Flxible photos are on page 2.

Try this link:

Anyway, now I see what you mean by this being 40' long and not 35' long. Looks like OMOT.org made a mistake, and that it should read model 53102-8-1 for units #8201-8300.

~Ben

[MetroShadow]

Try this link:

Anyway, now I see what you mean by this being 40' long and not 35' long. Looks like OMOT.org made a mistake, and that it should read model 53102-8-1 for units #8201-8300.

~Ben

Wait....the 8200's had electronic destination signs?! This is news to me!

[twyztdmynd]

I agree. There were no 35' Grummans in the RTA. In addition, the 8400's had W/C Lifts. 8404 was my favorate. Maybe the 35' bus you are refering to is the Gillig Phantoms.

[Busjack]

Wait....the 8200's had electronic destination signs?! This is news to me!

Apparently Pace did some retrofitting; I also saw some 8000s in Wilmette with them near the end. While the pictures of the museum pieces don't reflect that, his of 8075 does (I remember one with a handwritten roll sign in Hammond).

Obviously the Grummans were better known for the very large roll signs.

[MetroShadow]

Apparently Pace did some retrofitting; I also saw some 8000s in Wilmette with them near the end. While the pictures of the museum pieces don't reflect that, his of 8075 does (I remember one with a handwritten roll sign in Hammond).

Obviously the Grummans were better known for the very large roll signs.

I remember the 8000's with the electronic signs, that's a fact.

[Busjack]

Fox Chicago has done it again. The file footage illustrating the story about running Pace buses on expressway shoulders had white and yellow buses at Rosemont, including a painted Nortran 400, and the newest bus was, you guessed it, a Grumman.

[Guest]

Fox Chicago has done it again. The file footage illustrating the story about running Pace buses on expressway shoulders had white and yellow buses at Rosemont, including a painted Nortran 400, and the newest bus was, you guessed it, a Grumman.

WGN does the same thing they use file footage usually Elgin showing the retired #2500 series ElDorados. And Orion Is from NW.