CTA Bus Garage Rosters

[Busjack]

12 hours ago, pokemonprime said:

I also saw this incredibly battered work bus near 77th & Perry, inbetween a shipping container and a D40LF (1953). Does anyone know it's number/history?

It's a 1960s era Flxible. I don't know why a 60-year-old hulk would still be around.

[pokemonprime]

Thanks for the info. My only guess as to why it's still around is either it's being used for storage, or it's just in an awkward space to get the heavy duty wrecker into. Will probably stay where it is until the price of scrap steel spikes again. 

[pokemonprime]

Sorry for the double reply; looking on the CPTDB wiki, it notes that 130 & 131 were converted to work busses after they were retired from paratransit service, and that 131 has been preserved by the CTA. Would that make this 130? None of the other 60s Flxibles are noted as having become work buses.

EDIT: I originally said 131 was preserved "as part of the heritage fleet". I misread the page, it's 301 that's in the heritage fleet, not 131. Don't try and delineate fleet numbers right after you wake up, whoops.

[YoungBusLover]

52 minutes ago, pokemonprime said:

Sorry for the double reply; looking on the CPTDB wiki, it notes that 130 & 131 were converted to work busses after they were retired from paratransit service, and that 131 has been preserved by the CTA as part of it's heritage fleet. Would that make this 130? None of the other 60s Flxibles are noted as having become work buses.

In 2025 you still have TMCs, Man Americana's, Flxibles, Fishbowls and 2nd Gen LFS still awaiting scrap. 

[pokemonprime]

Yes, that was a major part of what drew me to stopping by here, though sadly the most interesting buses are hidden away and not visible from the street. I'm guessing your photos were taken with a drone? I was thinking of the exact same thing, probably the best shots you can get unless you're an employee there. I'm still happy with seeing the Speedlines LFS and the Flxible work bus, though.

Are there still fishbowls there after the two former work buses were towed to Sims for scrap in January?

 

[Busjack]

10 hours ago, pokemonprime said:

Sorry for the double reply; looking on the CPTDB wiki, it notes that 130 & 131 were converted to work busses after they were retired from paratransit service, and that 131 has been preserved by the CTA. Would that make this 130? None of the other 60s Flxibles are noted as having become work buses.

There's a discussion in this thread of Superior and Carpenter buses that were used as paratransits; 150-169 became Pace 7150-7369 according to Chicago Transit and Railfan.

I compared the picture you originally posted to CTA 3177 at IRM, and while there are similarities, there are also differences. But IRM's pictures of a Carpenter indicate it isn't one of those.

[Erin Mishkin Jr.]

Based on the pictures sent and what was out, here is what I noticed appears to be missing and have unknown location:

1879, 1653, 1657, and 1760, went missing about 2 weeks ago.

1791's current location is unknown, it is not in the boneyard based on pictures sent and it is not in the Forest Glen yard.

4375 is not in any of these pictures and remains a mystery where it is. This makes me wonder if 8068 even exists still.

Some missing DE60LF's that are not at South Shops, active at their garages, or in the boneyard include: 4207, 4183, 4146, 4143, 4135, 4103, 4084, 4051, 4038, 4023, and 4019. Also missing is 4356.

Has 8660 gone to repair?

4188 and 4193 apparently appear to be coming to service soon? Absolutely no idea. Also it's interesting that 4072 is in a space with other retired buses, I wonder if that's done? It was pretty rusty on the outside the last time I ever saw it in service.

 

Update: Also wanted to mention if 1159 and 1218 are permanently retired or if work might be done on them

[pokemonprime]

25 minutes ago, Busjack said:

There's a discussion in this thread of Superior and Carpenter buses that were used as paratransits; 150-169 became Pace 7150-7369 according to Chicago Transit and Railfan.

I compared the picture you originally posted to CTA 3177 at IRM, and while there are similarities, there are also differences. But IRM's pictures of a Carpenter indicate it isn't one of those.

I'm not quite sure what relevance the Carpeneters and Superiors have here, but they are neat to learn about.

Just some more notes on what led me to thinking this was at one point CTA 130; CPTDB Wiki notes the following;
"CTA 130-131 , Flxible F2D6V-351-1 built 1966, ex-3365, 3398, refitted with lifts for paratransit service, converted to work buses after paratransit was contracted out, 131 preserved by CTA"

Now, two photos from Chicago Railfan and Bob Hussey, showing 131 in paratransit livery in 2000 and 2005 make me believe it was never carved into a work bus like the one I saw was. If it was, it would have to be after 2005, which would be very odd considering it's age and the number of newer retired buses the CTA could have used instead. So the unlucky unit to be fully converted would have to be 130. 

Now the question for me is, where's 131? It was clearly restored and well kept as late as 2005, but today it's nowhere to be seen, as CTA only lists 3 buses (301, 8499, 3706) as part of it's heritage fleet.

 

[Bus1883]

10 hours ago, YoungBusLover said:

In 2025 you still have TMCs, Man Americana's, Flxibles, Fishbowls and 2nd Gen LFS still awaiting scrap. 

905 should be gone already. That bus has rotted the most nearly out of all

[YoungBusLover]

3 hours ago, pokemonprime said:

I'm not quite sure what relevance the Carpeneters and Superiors have here, but they are neat to learn about.

Just some more notes on what led me to thinking this was at one point CTA 130; CPTDB Wiki notes the following;
"CTA 130-131 , Flxible F2D6V-351-1 built 1966, ex-3365, 3398, refitted with lifts for paratransit service, converted to work buses after paratransit was contracted out, 131 preserved by CTA"

Now, two photos from Chicago Railfan and Bob Hussey, showing 131 in paratransit livery in 2000 and 2005 make me believe it was never carved into a work bus like the one I saw was. If it was, it would have to be after 2005, which would be very odd considering it's age and the number of newer retired buses the CTA could have used instead. So the unlucky unit to be fully converted would have to be 130. 

Now the question for me is, where's 131? It was clearly restored and well kept as late as 2005, but today it's nowhere to be seen, as CTA only lists 3 buses (301, 8499, 3706) as part of it's heritage fleet.

 

#131 was ultimately at SS for many years dating back to the mid 2000's. I'm not sure if it was ever preserved after 2005. It was pretty much a hunk of scrap metal by the early 2010s.  

[YoungBusLover]

4 hours ago, Bus1883 said:

905 should be gone already. That bus has rotted the most nearly out of all

In due time it will be hauled off. 

[dailycommuter62]

Looking at irm's archive theres BW57 ex-3449 a 35ft flxible retired 1978 and BW85 ex-3722 retired 1991 a regular 40ft that apparently are still on cta property