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

[Busjack]

12 hours ago, pokemonprime said:

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

I only mentioned them because you mentioned paratransit, but from the pictures some Flxibles were used for that purpose, too.

The bus you pictured looks like the Flxibles, above, but doesn't have the vents next to the headsign. Might just be a CTA modification, like the Frankenbus.

[pokemonprime]

8 hours ago, YoungBusLover said:

#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.  

 

what a crying shame, I was worried that was the answer.

[Erin Mishkin Jr.]

It looks like 3091 appears to still be in this pile.

[Bus1883]

On 2/18/2025 at 11:07 PM, Erin Mishkin Jr. said:

Forest Glen looks all good

North Park corrections: 4362 should be listed with the rest of the D60LFR’s, it’s active. 4132 should not be listed as it’s permanently retired. 4141 shouldn’t be listed as it was OOS since 2023. I don’t know if I’d count 4146 because I just saw it at south fence the other day and its farebox has been taken out. 1180 is listed twice at North Park and 103rd, it’s only supposed to be listed under 103rd. 1724 is listed twice at North Park and Kedzie, 1724 should only be listed under Kedzie. 8765 has not entered service yet so it should not be under North Park.

 

Chicago corrections: 8011 is only listed at Chicago and it should be listed under 74th which it isn’t. 8120 appears to be permanently retired and 8144 is defintely retired from service. 8185-8186 are listed twice when it should only be listed under 74th.

8552 is not listed at all and it’s active out of Chicago. 8589 is listed at Chicago but it’s at Kedzie, you listed 8589 twice. More buses at Chicago you didn’t list: 8607, 8608, 8611.

8655 is at 77th, 8660 was burnt the other day, 8669 is at 77th. 8665 and 8669 are listed twice both at Chicago at 77th.

8650 and 8672 are at south shops with repairs tbd. 8690 is missing from Chicago garage list but it’s there.8775 and 8776 are both at Chicago garage but is missing from your list, and you added “8876” rather than “8776”.

is 1923 permanently retired? I’m going to see with a drone later this month above SS if I can find it.

Kedzie corrections: 8275 and 8277 should not be listed under Kedzie, 8289 is absent from your roster, 8323 is also absent from your roster.

4075 is not active and was last seen at Chicago garage in 2022, that shouldn’t be under Kedzie.4088 is absent from your roster as it’s active.4092 is in the boneyard next to 1757 which is retired so it’s status is unknown. 4127 is at SS but should be at North Park once it’s returned, 4126 is at NP. you listed “41267”.

1115 is at 74th not Kedzie. 1166 is at Kedzie which is absent from your roster.1835 is Also absent from your Kedzie roster.

74th corrections: Add 8011, remove 8023. I don’t know about 1027 it last tracked on 2/13 out of 103rd but I agree it should be 74th.1369 & 1384 are missing. 1517 is retired and should not be on the list. 1557 should not be on the list it is Forest Glen. 

77th corrections: 8398 is 77th, 8464 is at 103rd not 77th, 1220 is at 103rd not 77th, 1225 is at 77th, 1233 is at 77th, 1241 1242 1243 1244 1246 are all at 77th, if 1272 is retired that does not belong on the list, 1305 and 1331 should not belong on the list.

103rd corrections: 8404 is missing, 8329 was not active since 2023 and remains a mystery with 1495 and 8068(accident), 4309 is active, 4022 technically should be on its way to North Park, 4310 is south fence, 1105 is missing.

I don’t think 8120 is retired. It’s put on LTH along with 7955 and 8327

[Erin Mishkin Jr.]

1 hour ago, Bus1883 said:

I don’t think 8120 is retired. It’s put on LTH along with 7955 and 8327

same can be said about 8190 which has been in the boneyard since 2023

[Mr.NewFlyer1279]

5 hours ago, Erin Mishkin Jr. said:

same can be said about 8190 which has been in the boneyard since 2023

#8068 has been parted out on the interior, #8327 is most likely mechanically retired. 

@YoungBusLover knows more 

[Erin Mishkin Jr.]

7 hours ago, Mr.NewFlyer1279 said:

#8068 has been parted out on the interior, #8327 is most likely mechanically retired. 

@YoungBusLover knows more 

So here is where 8068 was after all these years