Visit to the Junkyard

[mikeymc77]

Went by Perry Ave scrapyard yesterday, cruised around and looked at all the scrap as well as the rows of NABIs. Couple of interesting things I observed was TMC #4687 still sitting there and Flxible #5454 also. I guess there are a couple still there and not off in the shredder in the sky. The old #3300 series Flxible which was converted into a paratransit bus was there with a "DO NOT SCRAP" written on it. 2 GMC fishbowls that were once work buses, one of them still had its fleet number on the back (9476). A MAN artic which looked like #7139 but the number was worn very badly. And last, the most interesting sight of the day was the front half of NABI #7542, I couldnt help but wonder where the other half was?????? :unsure:

[sw4400]

Wasn't #7542 the bus that developed the major crack at the articulation joint, prompting the ending of service for these buses? Did you happen to see any Flyer D901's sitting around in the junkyard? I really wish this junkyard was somplace where you would feel more safer at to take pictures. I don't drive and 95th/Ewing is probably not the best place to be walking to.

[mikeymc77]

Im pretty sure that #7542 was the bus in question, but the Flyers were all out of there. They had 3 there before that were retired work buses but have been gone for some time now

[Busjack]

Wasn't #7542 the bus that developed the major crack at the articulation joint, prompting the ending of service for these buses?

That's what the NABI press release said.

I don't drive and 95th/Ewing is probably not the best place to be walking to.

He said Perry Ave.

Probably the thread should have been captioned "Dead Lot."

[sw4400]

He said Perry Ave.

Whether it's 77th/Perry or 95th/Ewing, the point here is these "Junkyards" are on the far South Side of Chicago, and aren't the best places to be traveling on foot.

[busfan4022]

Whether it's 77th/Perry or 95th/Ewing, the point here is these "Junkyards" are on the far South Side of Chicago, and aren't the best places to be traveling on foot.

Why are you so scared?

[TMC-RTS-08]

I rode the 95E route on a 1991 TMC RTS-08 to there (when CTA still ran those). I got off at 92nd St and Buffalo Ave and walked by the scrap yard to see the scrapped TMCs. I couldn't get in to see more of them, but I was able to take pics of what I could from outside the fence.

That area for me is okay during the day, sure there are people who look intimidating, but I just kept cool and ignored them. I certainly wouldn't want to be around there at night though.

[New Flyer]

Whats wrong with the people over their. I'm sure their no more intimidating than the people are where you live.

[MRCTA]

That's what the NABI press release said.

He said Perry Ave.

Probably the thread should have been captioned "Dead Lot."

I live over by that way(77th Street CTA Barn)even though I'm on 81st & Perry

[Guest]

I rode the 95E route on a 1991 TMC RTS-08 to there (when CTA still ran those). I got off at 92nd St and Buffalo Ave and walked by the scrap yard to see the scrapped TMCs. I couldn't get in to see more of them, but I was able to take pics of what I could from outside the fence.

That area for me is okay during the day, sure there are people who look intimidating, but I just kept cool and ignored them. I certainly wouldn't want to be around there at night though.

Whenever I make a trip down there to 95th/Ewing, I always have my car right there where I can get in if I have to make a fast bolt! I look at my surroundings and I dont stay there long. I just get what I can see get a few pics and then leave.

[sw4400]

Why are you so scared?

It's the neighborhoods that you'd be in/around just to get some photos. I'm not saying the entire South Side is all bad neighborhoods, but there are pockets of bad neighborhoods scattered throughout. When I see stories of shootings or stabbings on the news, a lot of times the street name is preceded by a S. or it'll be some 5 digit address(e.g: 11577 S. Any St.)

[Busjack]

Let me put it this way. I used to check out 77th when it was the drop off point of something new. Apparently the last time was almost exactly 6 years ago, when they had 7504 and 7721 next to each other, and someone here disputed what I saw there, but I see won't go there himself. Fine.

I also more recently went to South Holland to see what is new there. While there have been deliveries, Pace 834 has kept us adequately informed.

On the other hand, unlike some of you, I don't have any interest in junk. So, there isn't any reason for me to scope out 77th.

I do have an interest in transit authorities wasting taxpayer money, in this case, "conditionally accepting" NABIs when they knew that they did not pass mandatory Altoona testing and then had other manufacturing process deficiencies. In this case, I assume, but don't have proof, that the back of 7542 is in some litigation lockbox.

Given that Andre said that there was some number of NABIs out in the elements at 77th and 103rd, it would be helpful if there is someone on this forum who works at either of those locations who can confirm whether NABI ever made good on its 22 month old press release to inspect and repair those buses?

That would actually prove something.

[Guest DevalDragon]

I drive by 77th and 103rd just to see what's new - and to break up the monotony of driving the Tri-State to and from work. I have yet to see a NABI move - they all appear to be parked in the same place they have been since I've started doing my "drive-bys" in October. Then again, I have not counted all 225 of them, and they are not lined up sequentially.

I do know they are parked outdoors and they have been for quite some time judging by the faded paint and tire rot. I don't know if they have been started to keep the engines is operable condition, but I would find that doubtful.

NABI has attempted to inspect and repair the buses, but CTA has refused to allow NABI access to the buses. NABI has acted in good faith to inspect and repair the buses, but CTA has not allowed NABI to complete the work.

This is a CTA fan site, so I'm expecting to hear that CTA is right, NABI is wrong, etc, but that's what I know.

Let me put it this way. I used to check out 77th when it was the drop off point of something new. Apparently the last time was almost exactly 6 years ago, when they had 7504 and 7721 next to each other, and someone here disputed what I saw there, but I see won't go there himself. Fine.

I also more recently went to South Holland to see what is new there. While there have been deliveries, Pace 834 has kept us adequately informed.

On the other hand, unlike some of you, I don't have any interest in junk. So, there isn't any reason for me to scope out 77th.

I do have an interest in transit authorities wasting taxpayer money, in this case, "conditionally accepting" NABIs when they knew that they did not pass mandatory Altoona testing and then had other manufacturing process deficiencies. In this case, I assume, but don't have proof, that the back of 7542 is in some litigation lockbox.

Given that Andre said that there was some number of NABIs out in the elements at 77th and 103rd, it would be helpful if there is someone on this forum who works at either of those locations who can confirm whether NABI ever made good on its 22 month old press release to inspect and repair those buses?

That would actually prove something.

[Busjack]

NABI has attempted to inspect and repair the buses, but CTA has refused to allow NABI access to the buses. NABI has acted in good faith to inspect and repair the buses, but CTA has not allowed NABI to complete the work.

This is a CTA fan site, so I'm expecting to hear that CTA is right, NABI is wrong, etc, but that's what I know.

On the assertion in the first paragraph, I have asked you before for a link at any time after the press release.* So far, you have not provided it. Furthermore, by saying that you have driven by and seen nothing move, and that apparently you use this route to drive to work elsewhere somewhere on the Tri State,** that would negate that (1) you have any inside information, and (2) that NABI has done anything.

So, I am still looking for "someone on this forum who works at either of those locations who can confirm whether NABI ever made good on its 22 month old press release to inspect and repair those buses?"

___________________

*It seems like all you do is ape the release. Give us something that shows you have additional information.

**Unless you have a very long commute, you don't work in Anniston, Ala., either.

[Guest DevalDragon]

You don't know who I am and what I do - just like I don't know who you are or what you do.

But to answer your question, I do have the misfortune of working in Anniston, Alabama on occasion. If you've ever been there, you'll know why I phrase it that way.

I just report what I know and what I can without getting people in trouble...if you've ever dealt with product issues like this before, you know it's not a simple process.

**Unless you have a very long commute, you don't work in Anniston, Ala., either.

[Busjack]

I just report what I know and what I can without getting people in trouble...if you've ever dealt with product issues like this before, you know it's not a simple process.

Then I suppose that you don't have to ask this forum what the status of the lawsuit is, nor complain about it being in the courts. You shouldn't be surprised with what you see when you drive past 77.

This is a CTA fan site, so I'm expecting to hear that CTA is right, NABI is wrong, etc, but that's what I know.

If you look back about two years into my posts, you'll see that I am not a fan of CTA, especially about the Kruesi Administration "conditionally accepting" product with issues they knew about in 2005, and, if they had due diligence, would have known about in 2003.Again, if you look back at jajuan's and my posts of about then, it is pretty clear that buses 0217 and 0217A, if they passed the required bus testing, did it with a D-.

So. if you are working for someone associated with a hedge fund that is stuck with a bankrupt Hungarian company, you can tell them how to avoid product problems and lawsuits in the future. No product is perfect, but one shouldn't have been selling one with that kind of report. And, CTA should have read the report and told whatever iteration of NABI to fix the process before accepting the first bus---not after maybe 140.

But, it is only $100 million or so million of Illinois and federal taxpayers' money, so I'm sure everyone lets everyone else off the hook.

I'll still reiterate my question to the people at 77th or 103rd.

[Guest DevalDragon]

Meh - I just ask questions like you do - hoping to get answers. And, unlike you, I actually drive past places and report what I see and occasionally post pictures because I'm sure there are some people that are interested. And I'll continue to drive by 77th and 103rd, take photos, ask questions and tell people what I know and/or have found out about the situation.

You just seem to be on a vendetta against NABI for reasons unknown - this 60-LFW 'incident' has turned into quite a debacle, but the world is not going to stop just because of it.

At the end of the day, NABI still builds buses and CTA still moves people. And neither of us can argue that.

Then I suppose that you don't have to ask this forum what the status of the lawsuit is, nor complain about it being in the courts. You shouldn't be surprised with what you see when you drive past 77.

If you look back about two years into my posts, you'll see that I am not a fan of CTA, especially about the Kruesi Administration "conditionally accepting" product with issues they knew about in 2005, and, if they had due diligence, would have known about in 2003.Again, if you look back at jajuan's and my posts of about then, it is pretty clear that buses 0217 and 0217A, if they passed the required bus testing, did it with a D-.

So. if you are working for someone associated with a hedge fund that is stuck with a bankrupt Hungarian company, you can tell them how to avoid product problems and lawsuits in the future. No product is perfect, but one shouldn't have been selling one with that kind of report. And, CTA should have read the report and told whatever iteration of NABI to fix the process before accepting the first bus---not after maybe 140.

But, it is only $100 million or so million of Illinois and federal taxpayers' money, so I'm sure everyone lets everyone else off the hook.

I'll still reiterate my question to the people at 77th or 103rd.

[Busjack]

You just seem to be on a vendetta against NABI for reasons unknown - this 60-LFW 'incident' has turned into quite a debacle, but the world is not going to stop just because of it.

Apparently, you didn't read my preceding post, which you quoted, which said that as a taxpayer, there is something wrong about throwing away $100 million of taxpayer money.

I guess that if you are an Illinois taxpayer, you have no objection to the sales and income tax hikes and increase in license plate stickers, part of which is paying 30 year Illinois First bonds used to purchase something that at least CTA can't use.

On the other hand, you have shown a blind eye to this terrible waste. You try to keep that for "reasons unknown," but since you imply an affiliation with NABI, but don't want to go into it, fine.

Let's just say that it isn't normal for 226 comparatively new buses to be sitting in the yards gathering rust and tire rot.

[mikeymc77]

I dont know if there is another thread for this, but I was by Perry Ave this afternoon. With the new grocery store opening you can go behind there and view some wrecks. There are a couple of New Flyers in bad shape #1482 and #1711. There are a few Novas back there as well, I know #6832 and #6568 are trashed. Two of the others that have been reported #6726 and #6738 are back there too but #6726 has a primer new front. #6610 is also back there, and its missing its entire front. Could they possibly be returning that bus back into service with 6610 attatched to 6726? All of the scrap #6000 Flxibles that had been sitting amongst the NABIs are all gone

[sw4400]

I dont know if there is another thread for this, but I was by Perry Ave this afternoon. With the new grocery store opening you can go behind there and view some wrecks. There are a couple of New Flyers in bad shape #1482 and #1711. There are a few Novas back there as well, I know #6832 and #6568 are trashed. Two of the others that have been reported #6726 and #6738 are back there too but #6726 has a primer new front. #6610 is also back there, and its missing its entire front. Could they possibly be returning that bus back into service with 6610 attatched to 6726? All of the scrap #6000 Flxibles that had been sitting amongst the NABIs are all gone

Ok, reviewing the numbers you saw...

#6726 and #6738 have been retired for some time, although #6726 having a primer new front might mean that this bus may return to service someday, unless they initially were going to repair it, then decided not to. #6610 has been off the roster. But #1482 and #1711 are retired??? Do you by chance have photos of these wrecks?

[mikeymc77]

No pics, sorry. 1482 had its rear facing the fence, but you can see major damage on the front. 1711 had its front visible and was obviously in a hard front end crash. The windshield was smashed as well as most of the lower front end. As for the Novas, I remember seeing four of the five buses mentioned on a retired list. The front of 6568 was facing the fence an d was a mess. 6832 was facing the opposite way, but considering the bus was in a fatal incident I believe the damage was severe. 6726 and 6738 didnt see any major damage to the front so I dont know the reasons these buses are there. 6610 looked nearly stripped, thats why I was thinking that the bus with the primer front was going to be fixed and put back into service. One last thing if anyone does know of the incidents which put these buses here I'd like to know. I am aware of 6832 being wrecked on Milwaukee Ave and 6568 was wrecked on Archer and Pulaski

[Busjack]

But #1482 and #1711 are retired??? Do you by chance have photos of these wrecks?

This isn't news to you, as here you had picked them up from the Google map. At least above provides the answer to one. 1482 was the one that looked like it had its front sliced off at an angle.

[mikeymc77]

I'm nearly positive that the bus that crashed into the school was #1431 and that bus wasnt as damaged as bad and was hit door side. From what I seen yesterday 1482 is nearly missing the entire drivers side front

[trainman8119]

I'm nearly positive that the bus that crashed into the school was #1431 and that bus wasnt as damaged as bad and was hit door side.

You are correct on this:

[sw4400]

This isn't news to you, as here you had picked them up from the Google map. At least above provides the answer to one. 1482 was the one that looked like it had its front sliced off at an angle.

1482 does look like a big part is missing in the link. I can't make out the one to the left to it, even at max. zoom, but it looks like 1174.