MCTS 400'ss and 4100's quickly disappearing

[Archon]

The 4100's and 4000's are disappearing very fast. As something goes wrong with them they are taken Out of Service.

At KK there are currently 12 left working 4019, 4027, 4028, 4032,4040, 4044, 4064, 4073, 4107, 4133, 4138.

There are a unknown number at FD Station that will probably end up being shipped to KK.

[Nabinut]

Given that, what is the highest 5100 series LFR in service?

[rmadisonwi]

I saw a 4100 in service yesterday on the 10, and a couple of 5100s on the 90.

[CURRENTZ_09]

DAMN!!!!!!!!!!! that is crazy i guess the 4000-4100 series was aging badly, the new 5100 series have been seen and using routes that go out the fond du lac station. Recent routes where they ran on was route 35, 79, 45, 30 and 31 so its nice to see the new buses finally getting there spin on milwaukee streets, but it is sad to see another piece of history bite the dust, but i must say from the apperance on the 4000-4100 series they were aging badly and the 4300-4400 series isnt aging any better

[Busjack]

Does this make MCTS all New Flyer, except that the flat faced ones are on the way out and the LFRs are on the way in?

[rmadisonwi]

If you exclude the Gillig low floors operated by MCTS for Ozaukee County, they have been all New Flyer since 2004, when the last of the Orion Vs were retired.

The last order of buses was received in early 2006, and most of their fleet is under 10 years old (they had been receiving a few dozen buses per year from 2000 to 2006), so to say that the "flat faced" buses are on their way out is a bit of an overstatement.

In fact, the only buses over 10 years old are the 14-year-old 4000-4100 series buses (the 30-foot 4200s were parked some time ago), so nothing else has even reached the FTA's minimum retirement age yet, and, unlike CTA with their NABI experience, there has been nothing that would justify an early retirement of any of any of their current fleet.

While it will be somewhat sad to see yet more Series 50-powered buses retired (Detroit Diesel transit bus engines are becoming rarer and rarer), there's nothing remarkable about these buses that makes their retirement significant in any way.

They were Milwaukee's first low-floor buses, but, on the outside, they look exactly the same as any of the others in the fleet (except for the destination signs, which aren't LED).

It's not like the retirement of the Orion Vs, which were the last high-floor buses, and ran well up to the end, or like the retirement of the Neoplans (the last non-air conditioned buses), which ran like crap until the end. Certainly not as special as the retirement in 2001 of the last of the fishbowl buses, the last of which gave Milwaukee 35 years of service (delivered in 1966, prior to MCTS's creation).

Ten years ago, MCTS had four, five or six manufacturers represented in the fleet: New Flyer, Orion, Neoplan, GM, Crown-Ikarus, and Gillig (I can't remember specifically whether the C-I artics and the Gillig Spirits were retired in 2000 or in 1999, or even a bit earlier). In 1996, you had the same six manufacturers represented, but a few extra models of buses (GM RTS, and the older Neoplans...not familiar with the model name, but they were the 3300 series in MCTS's roster, which, as I understand only one or two other systems ever bought).

Now, you have basically one type of bus, the D40LF (okay, so maybe you count the D30LF as well). The D40LFR is a D40LF with a facelift. I will say, though, having seen them in person up close a couple of times now, they do look pretty good. Haven't ridden one yet, but I'm sure I'll get a chance to at some point in the near future.

When the LFR design was first introduced, I thought it was ugly (some of the different door designs tested on the first few buses reminded me too much of the ugly RTS doors on CTAs 4400s). However, with the right paint scheme, the design has grown on me a bit.

[mkebusfan88]

Saw bus 4004 being towed out of Milwaukee on I-94 out by Brookfield today. Kinda sad after 14 years I guess. Wonder where its heading?

[ChicagoNova]

I know this might be talking about another city in Wisconsin, but I also saw a New Flyer D40LF in Madison, Wisconsin.

[mkebusfan88]

Yeah Madison has 76 (800-875) of their own New Flyer D40LF's. I believe they are 2001 models

[chitowndude84]

FYI,

I was on I-40 in New Mexico last weekend, And I noticed a brand new GILLIG was heading east-bound showing a "Madison County Transit"paint sheme.Since I live in the bay area now,I guess ill be seeing allot of GILLIG's lol

[rmadisonwi]

Who is Madison County Transit?

Madison, WI, is in Dane County.

[Archon]

Given that, what is the highest 5100 series LFR in service?

5169

[Archon]

Who is Madison County Transit?

Madison, WI, is in Dane County.

It is called Madison Metro and are owned by the City of Madison. They do service in Madison and surrounding cities that pay for the service.

The New flyer Buses in 2001 was a order that MCTS and Madison Metro did together. After that they only have been buying Gillic.

and last Monday I saw a Orion Madison Metro bus they still are using them on School Runs They are HF type

[rmadisonwi]

I know who Madison Metro is. I'm curious about the "Madison County Transit" referenced in a prior post.

[TMC-RTS-08]

Who is Madison County Transit?

Madison, WI, is in Dane County.

I think he is referring to Madison County, Illinois, Madison County Transit (MCT) that serves part of the St. Louis area. They're expecting to get new buses later this year, I guess what he saw was for MCT.

http://www.mct.org/

Its sad that MCT decided to buy Gilligs to replace their 1997 New Flyer D40LFs. :(

[Archon]

UPDATE ALL 5100's are in service now from 5100-5189. The order is now complete