7900-series Nova LFS - Updates

[garmon757]

That sorta goes back (at least 10 years).

Figures. I mostly see the "Have a Safe &" "Happy Holidays" back then when I was growing up.

[geneking7320]

#7910's destination sign indicated "CHICAGO IS" "MY KIND OF TOWN" while operating #79 this morning.

Monday afternoon around 5:30 or so I saw 79XX laying over at 35th and Michigan (likely a #1) displaying the same message.

[Busjack]

That's what I've been told also about the SEPTA buses. As far as CTA, #7909 must have came with #7908, but in order to stop delivery wouldn't they have to reject a bus to make it official? This is why I'm interested to see if #7908's still here or not.

There is conditional acceptance in the specs, which apparently is what lead to the NABI mess.

However, you still haven't refuted the provision in the spec that a CTA inspector in the plant has to release the bus for delivery and to authorize the $146,000 payment 30 days after that invoice, and, as Kevin has pointed out, you have provided only speculation about your angst about the condition of the buses. At least with the NABIs there were the members of the secret cult of the roster saying that some buses were put on long term hold before 7542 split, but your rosters, whatever the source, don't reflect that, and some buses are on the street.

[BusHunter]

There is conditional acceptance in the specs, which apparently is what lead to the NABI mess.

However, you still haven't refuted the provision in the spec that a CTA inspector in the plant has to release the bus for delivery and to authorize the $146,000 payment 30 days after that invoice, and, as Kevin has pointed out, you have provided only speculation about your angst about the condition of the buses. At least with the NABIs there were the members of the secret cult of the roster saying that some buses were put on long term hold before 7542 split, but your rosters, whatever the source, don't reflect that, and some buses are on the street.

Yeah, but the Nabi's were in a departing stage not acceptance. I can only imagine the warranties ran out on those and being a high maintenance bus with problems were being mothballed. My whole take on #7542 was that it was a convenient way to say the fleet was unusable and justified the storing of buses.

As far as the inspection process at Novabus with a CTA hired inspector, we don't know the depth of the inspection, is the bus being driven around the plant or is it just a looking over. Novabus should be inspecting it's own buses, but of course they may pass on a few things as it's like me selling you a used car. This happens in alot of places especially with first year model parts. The best test is a use test and they are not going to get that at the plant.

[jajuan]

#7910's destination sign indicated "CHICAGO IS" "MY KIND OF TOWN" while operating #79 this morning.

You caught the message's tail end first. The actual message is "MY KIND OF TOWN" <flip> "CHICAGO IS". It's not only the CTA motto, but also the title of the song of the same name that's been sung and made famous by the late Frank Sinatra, who recorded it in several versions and first sang it in the 1964 movie Robin and the 7 Hoods starring Sinatra and several other members of the original Rat Pack. The message has not only been shown on destination signs of CTA buses with electronic signs going back at least 10 years, but it was also a part of the roller curtains on CTA buses delivered prior to the Americanas going back at least since the 1970s if I'm not mistaken probably around the time the roller curtains with Helvetica font became standard.

[jajuan]

Won't get into the latest conversation about perceived 7900 series delays because Kevin already locked the thread once a few days ago when the discussion went into unconfirmed speculations about Nova.

[Busjack]

Yeah, but the Nabi's were in a departing stage not acceptance. I can only imagine the warranties ran out on those and being a high maintenance bus with problems were being mothballed. My whole take on #7542 was that it was a convenient way to say the fleet was unusable and justified the storing of buses.

As far as the inspection process at Novabus with a CTA hired inspector, we don't know the depth of the inspection, is the bus being driven around the plant or is it just a looking over. Novabus should be inspecting it's own buses, but of course they may pass on a few things as it's like me selling you a used car. This happens in alot of places especially with first year model parts. The best test is a use test and they are not going to get that at the plant.

You seem to be living in a fantasy world.

All the articles going back to 2005 (like this one) were that NABI was not paid the last $15 or so million because the buses were only "conditionally accepted," notwithstanding that they apparently failed the mandatory Altoona test. That's about 4 years before 7542 split.

And whatever happens in the plant, it is the CTA inspector's call whether the bus is ready for shipment in the sense that it meets specifications. It isn't yours.

If you are going to persist in this, take a trip to Plattsburgh, and then report on your own personal knowledge (and I also assume identity).

UPDATE: Or get the message jajuan tried to convey above.

[Busjack]

You caught the message's tail end first. The actual message is "MY KIND OF TOWN" <flip> "CHICAGO IS".

True, but the only way one could tell it if is interspersed with other messages, which it usually isn't.

Sort of similar to whether Pace 250 is Evanston/Davis CTA, or Davis CTA/Evanston. Now, if they would stick a "GO SOX!!!" in there, we would know.

[jajuan]

True, but the only way one could tell it if is interspersed with other messages, which it usually isn't.

Sort of similar to whether Pace 250 is Evanston/Davis CTA, or Davis CTA/Evanston. Now, if they would stick a "GO SOX!!!" in there, we would know.

True. One would have to be familiar with the phrasing or be old enough to remember seeing it as on the old roller signs for buses acquired before the Americanas to catch how the message was intended to be read from the flips on an electronic destination sign

[garmon757]

You caught the message's tail end first. The actual message is "MY KIND OF TOWN" <flip> "CHICAGO IS". It's not only the CTA motto, but also the title of the song of the same name that's been sung and made famous by the late Frank Sinatra, who recorded it in several versions and first sang it in the 1964 movie Robin and the 7 Hoods starring Sinatra and several other members of the original Rat Pack. The message has not only been shown on destination signs of CTA buses with electronic signs going back at least 10 years, but it was also a part of the roller curtains on CTA buses delivered prior to the Americanas going back at least since the 1970s if I'm not mistaken probably around the time the roller curtains with Helvetica font became standard.

What a genius!!! :lol:

[garmon757]

Alright folks, we have new one in service. #7917 currently on #24.

[Mr.cta85]

Alright folks, we have new one in service. #7917 currently on #24.

Awesome!!

[jajuan]

What a genius!!!

Well the movie reference I had to look up because I couldn't remember the movie title, but the other stuff came from memory.

The song, I've heard Mr. Sinatra sing on TV in different versions. And when it comes to the old roller curtains, I remember those not only from the 9800s, but I remember also as a little kid (my childhood was during the later half of the 1970s and during the 1980s) seeing the old Flxible 3700s and the FIshbowls with the reading displayed on their rollers when out of service and making a deadhead back to the garage.

By the way, good job spotting 7917.

[ctrabs74]

True. One would have to be familiar with the phrasing or be old enough to remember seeing it as on the old roller signs for buses acquired before the Americanas to catch how the message was intended to be read from the flips on an electronic destination sign

If that's being used as a PR sign with a route/destination pairing or even "NOT IN SERVICE", then the phrasing would be noticeable, correct?

[Busjack]

If that's being used as a PR sign with a route/destination pairing or even "NOT IN SERVICE", then the phrasing would be noticeable, correct?

True, but it is usually used by itself.

Similar was the "New Bus with 61 Seats" sign, which scrolled laterally, and supposedly was seen long after the NABIs (to which it referred) were gone.

[jajuan]

If that's being used as a PR sign with a route/destination pairing or even "NOT IN SERVICE", then the phrasing would be noticeable, correct?

It's not that the phrasing isn't noticeable. Just noting that when Garmon noticed it flashing on the bus that he saw it displayed, he saw the last part first and giving him how it's actually supposed to be read along with some of the background before since he's a little young, his having been born during the 1990s, to know its connection to Sinatra and it's meaning to the city and in the case of transit, the CTA.

[garmon757]

Well the movie reference I had to look up because I couldn't remember the movie title, but the other stuff came from memory.

The song, I've heard Mr. Sinatra sing on TV in different versions. And when it comes to the old roller curtains, I remember those not only from the 9800s, but I remember also as a little kid (my childhood was during the later half of the 1970s and during the 1980s) seeing the old Flxible 3700s and the FIshbowls with the reading displayed on their rollers when out of service and making a deadhead back to the garage.

By the way, good job spotting 7917.

Well at least it indeed brought some history with cta. Thanks man.

[andrethebusman]

You caught the message's tail end first. The actual message is "MY KIND OF TOWN" <flip> "CHICAGO IS". It's not only the CTA motto, but also the title of the song of the same name that's been sung and made famous by the late Frank Sinatra, who recorded it in several versions and first sang it in the 1964 movie Robin and the 7 Hoods starring Sinatra and several other members of the original Rat Pack. The message has not only been shown on destination signs of CTA buses with electronic signs going back at least 10 years, but it was also a part of the roller curtains on CTA buses delivered prior to the Americanas going back at least since the 1970s if I'm not mistaken probably around the time the roller curtains with Helvetica font became standard.

Actually the roller curtains got "cta the Spirit of Chicago" reading about 1979

[jajuan]

Actually the roller curtains got "cta the Spirit of Chicago" reading about 1979

You are right. For some reason my memory merged old CTA and WGN memories. WGN had old promo commercials with clips from around the city, one of which was a Fishbowl displaying the Spirit of Chicago roller readings zipping past and I happened to be thinking of both simultaneously because the promo clips had the Sinatra song playing in the background.

[BusMaster]

7901 Spotted on the 1 NB at cermak

[BusHunter]

Well well #7908 just showed up on the #2 with #7917.

[Kimball401]

I'm on board 7900 sb on the 2 @58th and Cottage Grove . As for my first ride aboard a 7900 it's more like the Mercedes Benz of Cta lol but its a cool ride .

Going to south shops to bus spot again later tonight lol

[Kimball401]

Well well #7908 just showed up on the #2 with #7917.

It was lol now it's deadheading at 60th/cottage to the south shops

[BusHunter]

I got some pictures of it too. #7917 so far has evaded my camera. Ha ha!! Got #7917 at 55th.

[BusHunter]

I got some pictures of it too. #7917 so far has evaded my camera. Ha ha!! Got #7917 at 55th.

OK this is what I have. I would have had a frontal shot of both buses but #7908 didn't really come out good and #7917 snuck up on me. I did encounter a few hiccups with the buses. The bell cord on the left side is totally not working on #7917 and the rear doors of #7908 took a long time to close. I actually have #7908 recorded and might put that up on YouTube. Strange I don't know if it was being held open intentionally or not. It stayed open for about 15-20 seconds.