4300/4330-series DE60LF/D60LF - Updates

[BusHunter]

Since I'm keeping track of what #4300 buses are where and when, I'm sharing a list with the community. These are the dates the buses went in service along with there debut route with a few delivery dates thrown in. (last updated 11/20/14)

#4300 original bus assignments are as follows:

103rd Garage

#4300 - #4320, #4322 - #4332, #4334, #4335, #4337 - #4339, #4348, #4350 - #4353, #4357, #4359, #4361 - #4363, #4369, #4390, #4391, #4393, #4395 - #4399 (57 total)

Kedzie Garage

#4321, #4333, #4336, #4340 - #4344, #4346, #4347, #4355, #4356, #4358, #4360, #4364 (15 total)

77th Garage

#4345, #4349, #4354, #4365 - #4368, #4370 - #4389, #4392, #4394 (29 total)

Date buses went into service and on what route (in chronological order)

1. #4303 12/17/12 on #X28 - arrived at 77th 11/7/12
2. #4307 12/19/12 on #J14 - arrived 11/27/12 at 77th
3. #4306 12/19/12 on #J14
4. #4308 12/19/12 on #6 - arrived 11/27/12 at 77th
5. #4304 12/19/12 on #6
6. #4309 12/19/12 on #6 - arrived 11/27/12 at 77th
7. #4312 12/21/12 on #6 - transferred to 103rd 12/20/12
8. #4311 12/21/12 on #6 - transferred to 103rd 12/20/12
9. #4314 12/21/12 on #6 - transferred to 103rd 12/20/12

10. #4315 12/21/12 on #6 - transferred to 103rd 12/20/12
11. #4333 12/21/12 on #J14 - transferred to 103rd 12/19/12, now assigned to Kedzie; retired 11/18/14 due to bus fire
12. #4313 12/22/12 on #6 - transferred to 103rd 12/20/12 (was out of service until 5/3/13)
13. #4310 12/28/12 on #6
14. #4316 12/28/12 on #J14 - transferred to 103rd 12/20/12
15. #4318 1/1/13 on #29 - received at 77th 12/27/12
16. #4319 1/3/13 on #6 - received at 77th 12/27/12
17. #4317 1/3/13 on #J14 - received at 77th 12/27/12
18. #4300 1/11/13 on #J14 - arrived 11/27/12 at 77th
19. #4336 1/14/13 on #J14 - arrived at 103rd 1/12/13, now assigned to Kedzie
20. #4324 1/14/13 on #J14 - arrived at 103rd 1/12/13
21. #4328 1/15/13 on #6

22. #4330 1/18/13 on #6
23. #4331 1/18/13 on #26
24. #4327 1/18/13 on #6
25. #4302 1/22/13 on #6
26. #4325 1/24/13 on #J14
27. #4338 1/26/13 on #6
28. #4329 1/28/13 on #6
29. #4321 1/23/13 on #156
30. #4305 2/7/13 on #26
31. #4342 2/8/13 on #156
32. #4334 2/8/13 on #6
33. #4301 2/8/13 on #6 - arrived at 77th 11/7/12
34. #4323 2/8/13 on #6

35. #4344 2/8/13 on #62

36. #4347 2/8/13 on #125

37. #4339 2/8/13 on #J14

38 #4340 2/12/13 on #156

39. #4341 2/12/13 on #156

40. #4320 2/13/13 on #6

41. #4337 2/13/13 at 103rd, put in service 2/15/13

42. #4351 arrived at 77th 2/8/13, put in service at 103rd 2/14/13

43. #4350 arrived at 77th 2/8/13, put into service 2/14/12 on #6

44. #4348 2/14/12 on #6

45. #4335 2/14/12 on #J14

46. #4352 arrived at 77th 2/8/13, put into service 2/15/13 on #6

47. #4326 2/16/13 on #6

48. #4343 2/20/13 on #66 (kedzie garage)

49. #4355 2/22/13 on #151 shortliner

50. #4353 2/27/13 on #J14

51. #4357 2/28/13 on #6

52. #4359 2/28/13 on #6

53. #4360 3/4/13 on #156

54. #4356 3/4/13 on #134

55. #4346 3/5/13 on #156

56. #4358 3/9/13 on #151 shortliner

57. #4362 3/9/13 on #6

58. #4363 3/11/13 on #6

59. #4361 3/12/13 on #26

60. #4364 3/12/13 on #143

61. #4349 3/18/13 on #4, arrived at South Shops 2/27/13

62. #4365 3/18/13 on #4 arrived at South Shops 3/7/13

63. #4368 3/18/13 on #4 arrived at South Shops 3/7/13

64. #4322 3/19/13 on #79 arrived at South Shops 2/27/13

65. #4367 3/19/13 on #79 arrived at South Shops 3/7/13

66. #4354 3/19/13 on #4 arrived at South Shops 2/27/13

67. #4332 3/19/13 on #79

68. #4366 3/19/13 on #79, arrived at South Shops 3/7/13

69. #4371 3/26/13 on #79, arrived at South Shops 3/15/13

70. #4376 3/27/13 on #4, arrived at South Shops 3/22/13

71. #4373 3/29/13 on #79, arrived at South Shops 3/22/13

72. #4374 4/2/13 on #4, arrived at South Shops 3/22/13

73. #4377 4/4/13 on #79

74. #4378 4/8/13 on #4

75. #4381 4/9/13 on #4, arrived at South Shops 3/28/13

76. #4382 4/9/13 on #4, arrived at South Shops 3/28/13

77. #4379 4/9/13 on #79

78. #4383 4/9/13 on #79, spotted at South Shops 4/5/13

79. #4375 4/9/13 on #79

80. #4345 4/11/13 on #79

81. #4372 4/12/13 on #79, delivered to South Shops 3/15/13

82. #4380 4/12/13 on #4, arrived at South Shops 3/28/13

83. #4384 4/16/13 on #79

84. #4385 4/16/13 on #79

85. #4386 4/17/13 on #79

86. #4370 4/23/13 on #79, arrived at South shops 3/15/13

87. #4389 4/23/13 on #79

88. #4392 5/3/13 on #79

89. #4387 5/6/13 on #4

90. #4390 5/6/13 on #26, spotted at South Shops 4/27/13

91. #4394 5/7/13 on #14

92. #4388 5/9/13 on #79

93. #4391 5/9/13 on #6

94. #4393 5/11/13 on #6

95. #4369 5/18/13 on #6

96. #4398 5/18/13 on #6

97. #4396 5/19/13 on #R95

98. #4399 5/22/13 on #6, spotted at South Shops 5/16/13

99. #4397 5/22/13 on #6

100. #4395 5/27/13 on #6

All #4300's are now in service.

[RJL6000]

Of the buses numbered up to 4338, this leaves 4301, 4305, 4320, 4322, 4323, 4326, 4330, 4332, 4334, 4335 and 4337 not yet in service (along with 4313 if the roster is to be believed).

[BusHunter]

Of the buses numbered up to 4338, this leaves 4301, 4305, 4320, 4322, 4323, 4326, 4330, 4332, 4334, 4335 and 4337 not yet in service (along with 4313 if the roster is to be believed).

#4301 should be around at 77th, don't know why it's not in service.

[See Tea Eh]

One possible reason the buses aren't in service now is that there isn't really a pressing need to put them into service right away. In a couple months, you'll have a huge need for these buses for various rail replacement shuttles (Brown Line/Wells Street Bridge, then Red Line). Afterwards, they'll be used as part of the Nova retirement. Right now, the fleet is sufficient for existing service. If you put them all into service right now, you'll have a few dozen extra buses during a period of low demand. Hence, they're not in a hurry to press them into service.

One could suggest it makes sense to put the new buses into service, and give the 3-4 year old (has it been that long already?) DE60LFs a little breather and freshen them up a bit, but there could be just as good of reasons for not doing that, as well.

[Busjack]

One possible reason the buses aren't in service now is that there isn't really a pressing need to put them into service right away. ,,

But you previously said that if you are short buses you use short buses.

Hence the logical result would be to put some 4300s on 77 routes and send some Novas back to FG.

[See Tea Eh]

But you previously said that if you are short buses you use short buses.

Hence the logical result would be to put some 4300s on 77 routes and send some Novas back to FG.

That was more of a joke statement/play on words than anything else.

But it's not to say that they necessarily are always paying full attention to what they're doing. I recall noting, back in the day, buses incorrectly assigned on weekends when there were plenty of buses in the garage. Even on weekdays, when the Optimas were fairly new, I'd find them on rush hour downtown routes. Later, I'd check the data and find that 40-foot buses had been assigned to runs that were scheduled with 30-footers.

It also appears that they're running many 40-foot buses on U of C routes. Right now, only 4 of the 8 buses on the 171/172 are 30-footers.

You don't need to put additional artics into service in order to fix current allocations of buses already in service.

[RJL6000]

But you previously said that if you are short buses you use short buses.

Hence the logical result would be to put some 4300s on 77 routes and send some Novas back to FG.

That would have thrown the average age between garages' fleets even more unbalanced than it currently is. A more logical result would be for 77th to send additional 1000-series New Flyer 40-footers along with a few Novas to FG if 77th gets any 4300s in service on its routes.

[Busjack]

That would have thrown the average age between garages' fleets even more unbalanced than it currently is. A more logical result would be for 77th to send additional 1000-series New Flyer 40-footers along with a few Novas to FG if 77th gets any 4300s in service on its routes.

I don't think the average age makes much difference (it might have in 1995 or 2002, but certainly didn't in 2007), especially when 300 Nova Buses with 4One seats are going to show up.

But, in any event, to the extent that the short of buses meant anything, CTA apparently isn't short of buses this afternoon. But if FG is short, CTA should send it something.

[New Flyer]

4301, and 4305 still on the fence at 77th along with the upper 30s and all the 40s.

[RJL6000]

A rare sighting of a 4300 on a Kedzie route outside of weekday rush periods:

Remember 4321? It is on the #12 this Sunday afternoon.

[ChicagoNova]

A rare sighting of a 4300 on a Kedzie route outside of weekday rush periods:

Remember 4321? It is on the #12 this Sunday afternoon.

On the #12 Roosevelt.

[RJL6000]

As of today, 4301, 4323 and 4334 (in addition to the currently listed 4305) were all on the #6 (a 103rd route) this morning. The only equipment moves between garages involving 4300s were buses 4333 and 4336, which were transferred from 103rd to Kedzie a week ago.

Also, Kedzie got an additional 4300: 4342, which was on the #156 this morning.

[jajuan]

As of today, 4301, 4323 and 4334 (in addition to the currently listed 4305) were all on the #6 (a 103rd route) this morning. The only equipment moves between garages involving 4300s were buses 4333 and 4336, which were transferred from 103rd to Kedzie a week ago.

Also, Kedzie got an additional 4300: 4342, which was on the #156 this morning.

I saw that one also. If I had to make a guess of what the clean diesels sound like, I would say a cross between one of the hybrid artics and one of the NFs from the 1630-1929 range.

[RJL6000]

Over the next couple of months, Kedzie is expected to lose the remainder of its 4050s and some of its 4040s and even some 4030s to North Park (which is already loaded with artics - and IMHO North Park doesn't need any more artics) with the expected assignment of many (if not all) of the 4300s still sitting at 77th to Kedzie.

[BusHunter]

Over the next couple of months, Kedzie is expected to lose the remainder of its 4050s and some of its 4040s and even some 4030s to North Park (which is already loaded with artics - and IMHO North Park doesn't need any more artics) with the expected assignment of many (if not all) of the 4300s still sitting at 77th to Kedzie.

List updated. Seems weird they would want to send new buses over #4321 to 103rd instead of Kedzie, unless those will be going to Kedzie later. We all know how CTA likes to transfer things around. From what you state above sounds like NP will be getting the #4370's, 80's, 90's when the time comes. Looks like maybe 77th could get the overflow #4000's from NP, if they get any at all.

[jajuan]

Over the next couple of months, Kedzie is expected to lose the remainder of its 4050s and some of its 4040s and even some 4030s to North Park (which is already loaded with artics - and IMHO North Park doesn't need any more artics) with the expected assignment of many (if not all) of the 4300s still sitting at 77th to Kedzie.

I give up with trying to figure out what the folks in charge of bus assignments are smoking for them to keep thinking they can keep stacking all these artics at North Park when it has well past enough artics to cover its artic routes.

[Busjack]

I give up with trying to figure out what the folks in charge of bus assignments are smoking...

Maybe if they sold that at the Taj CTA rather than farecards, CTA could make a profit. Must be powerful stuff to cause those kinds of delusions.

[RJL6000]

Another sighting of two new 4300s at Kedzie:

4344 is working a school day run on the #62. 4347 is on the #125 this afternoon.

[jajuan]

Maybe if they sold that at the Taj CTA rather than farecards, CTA could make a profit. Must be powerful stuff to cause those kinds of delusions.

or at the very least made decisions that made sense.

[RJL6000]

Due to the forthcoming Chicago Auto Show beginning tomorrow, expect many of the artics (both 4000- and 4300-series) to be used on special downtown-to-McCormick-Place express shuttles. In addition, during the next two weekends expect a couple of the runs on the #21 Cermak to be operated with artics.

[cta5658]

Now #4339 is on the #J14

[New Flyer]

4350,4352 on the fence at 77th

[jajuan]

Now #4339 is on the #J14

Which suggests they're still assigning them a bit out of sequence or they have less solid garage assignments as 4321, 4333, 4336, 4338, 4342, 4344 and 4347 are at Kedzie per BusTracker and physical sightings with everything else confirmed in service being seen assigned to 103rd (or at least seen working 103rd routes given Bushunter listing reported sightings of 4301, 4323 and 4334 on the 6 on Thursday, February 8 the same day that 4342, 4344 and 4347 were spotted on Kedzie routes or runs). 4333 and 4336 has previously been assigned to 103rd before winding up at Kedzie, while 4321 has been the only hybrid out of the 4300s so far to be assigned to Kedzie as far as I've seen physically and gathered from other members' reports on the forum.

[BusHunter]

Which suggests they're still assigning them a bit out of sequence or they have less solid garage assignments as 4321, 4333, 4336, 4338, 4342, 4344 and 4347 are at Kedzie per BusTracker and physical sightings with everything else confirmed in service being seen assigned to 103rd (or at least seen working 103rd routes given Bushunter listing reported sightings of 4301, 4323 and 4334 on the 6 on Thursday, February 8 the same day that 4342, 4344 and 4347 were spotted on Kedzie routes or runs). 4333 and 4336 has previously been assigned to 103rd before winding up at Kedzie, while 4321 has been the only hybrid out of the 4300s so far to be assigned to Kedzie as far as I've seen physically and gathered from other members' reports on the forum.

When the dust settles, it looks like it will be a three garage delivery. First 30-33 103rd, second 30-33 Kedzie, last 30-33 NP. I expect Kedzie to end up with the #4330's, and below #4330 will be at 103rd. They must just be borrowing a few higher buses now at 103rd because they don't yet have all the #4300 - #4329 buses yet.

[artthouwill]

When the dust settles, it looks like it will be a three garage delivery. First 30-33 103rd, second 30-33 Kedzie, last 30-33 NP. I expect Kedzie to end up with the #4330's, and below #4330 will be at 103rd. They must just be borrowing a few higher buses now at 103rd because they don't yet have all the #4300 - #4329 buses yet.

We've speculated for a long time that 77th would eventually see artics based on the Red Line Dan Ryan reconstruction coming up this May. Your post suggests that 103rd would at the very least be part of the bus shuttles equation as well. Perhaps K and P will ship out their 40 ft buses to 77th, but it appears that CTA brass doesn't think that 77th has any need for artics at all (no Lakefront Express routes).