7900-series Nova LFS - Updates

[Busjack]

No one's insulting your intelligence. I'm looking at what actually went to FG and other garages as a whole over the course of almost 25 years, and the evidence suggests that FG has been treated no different from any of the other garages, especially when you consider for example 74th at one point had to contend with all Flx 6000s, all of which were at or past retirement age, for several months at one point and would not have gotten any NFs if not for so many 6000s dying and staying out for maintenance and affecting 74th's ability to keep enough buses in service. 74th originally wasn't going to get further NFs beyond that initial 30, but it did get an additional 80 in late 2008 through Kedzie and Chicago sending 40 NFs each for 80 6000s split evenly between Kedzie and Chicago....

Essentially 69th/74th was always the step child, probably not up to date until it received the 9000s (~1976, although it got 7500s in 1973), and the last to receive 6000s. Various excuses were given, such as that they had to convert it from propane to diesel, and since 69th still had the narrow streetcar garage doors, they supposedly couldn't cycle a lift inside the barn. But, as I noted earlier, da Mare pulled the bait and switch by having the unveiling at 74th, but the new buses at least start out at 77th. But, let's see what the distribution is next year.

FG has its own unique characteristics, including outdoor storage, leading to swapping buses to get preheaters in 2001. However, essentially FG dumped all of its junk on K in return for getting K's 6000s. Then while the usual pattern was that a garage would have 5300s and 6400s (C, A, and 77 after a swap with 103), FG had the lowest average age when it got the 6400s, while, arguably, Kedzie should have received them.

The only new development is that FG didn't get much of anything new since 2002 and 77th dumped its 6400s on it and 74th.

Again, we'll see the distribution, but the 6400s with green signs (6708 and below) should be off the roster by the end of 2015. That raises the question about the additional 150 buses still not resolved.

[garmon757]

Better shot of #7955

[garmon757]

Shots of #7915, #7926, #7934, and #7955 (was being inspected by Prevost Mobile Service for Nova Bus)

[BusHunter]

Shots of #7915, #7926, #7934, and #7955 (was being inspected by Prevost Mobile Service for Nova Bus)

well it looks like we're finally getting on the right track with these deliveries. But I'm surprised 77th seems to keep holding on to extra NF's. I would have thought some garage would have gained a few by now.

[garmon757]

well it looks like we're finally getting on the right track with these deliveries. But I'm surprised 77th seems to keep holding on to extra NF's. I would have thought some garage would have gained a few by now.

Forest Glen???

[BusHunter]

Forest Glen???

or 74th or chicago. Both places are getting eaten up with these old buses. 74th has been getting some help though with a few borrowed buses.

BTW #7932 is on the #2, 20 minutes outside downtown.

[garmon757]

or 74th or chicago. Both places are getting eaten up with these old buses. 74th has been getting some help though with a few borrowed buses.

BTW #7932 is on the #2, 20 minutes outside downtown.

#7928 should be cleared to begin service this week.

[jajuan]

well it looks like we're finally getting on the right track with these deliveries. But I'm surprised 77th seems to keep holding on to extra NF's. I would have thought some garage would have gained a few by now.

They may be holding on to them until more 7900s are here now that deliveries have gotten back on track. We gotta remember they did just lose all their artics again over the weekend. That detail has to be a part of the calculation.

[jajuan]

And Garmon, you have really been on top of spotting new deliveries man. I'm still impressed that CTA actually let the amber rear turn signals remain a part of the finished product.

[ajm522]

#7928 should be cleared to begin service this week.

Yeah it got released on the street right now.

[BusHunter]

Yeah it got released on the street right now.

yeah it was on the #1. I don't think it's coming back out today. #7928 is a ghost bus on it's second trip. It's #7900's leader

[BusHunter]

yeah it was on the #1. I don't think it's coming back out today. #7928 is a ghost bus on it's second trip. It's #7900's leader

update on #7928 it's still out here !!!

[garmon757]

And Garmon, you have really been on top of spotting new deliveries man. I'm still impressed that CTA actually let the amber rear turn signals remain a part of the finished product.

Thanks. I think that's the first time in almost 30 years (M.A.N. Americanas) that we have a consistent fleet with yellow/amber rear turn signals. I'm not counting the "what the hell is this" Orions that transitioned to cta.

[andrethebusman]

As a historical note: 69th only had four bus series new: 5500 Flxibles, 7200 Macks, 8700 Flxibles, 9000 series GM's. 77th probably had the most new: 2700 Brills, 5000 Twins, 5500-5800-5900-8200-8400 Flxibles, 3300 Flxibles, 3730 Flxibles, 1000-7400-9600 GM's, 4400 TMC's. 7100 Artics, 7500 Artics. 500 Optimas. Being main shop probably helped. Not sure what was new where in CSL days, but you can assume since 77th had most south side routes before Beverly opened, most 400-series CSL's probably started at 77th.

[jajuan]

As a historical note: 69th only had four bus series new: 5500 Flxibles, 7200 Macks, 8700 Flxibles, 9000 series GM's. 77th probably had the most new: 2700 Brills, 5000 Twins, 5500-5800-5900-8200-8400 Flxibles, 3300 Flxibles, 3730 Flxibles, 1000-7400-9600 GM's, 4400 TMC's. 7100 Artics, 7500 Artics. 500 Optimas. Being main shop probably helped. Not sure what was new where in CSL days, but you can assume since 77th had most south side routes before Beverly opened, most 400-series CSL's probably started at 77th.

77th also had most of the 4000 MAN Americanas that would make their way down to 103rd in 1988 upon that garage's opening and getting a lot of routes that were run by 77th. If any one has memories of Americanas on the 1, 2, 3, and 4 for example, that's the reason why.

[jajuan]

Thanks. I think that's the first time in almost 30 years (M.A.N. Americanas) that we have a consistent fleet with yellow/amber rear turn signals. I'm not counting the "what the hell is this" Orions that transitioned to cta.

Actually CTA's Americanas had red turn signals as well. The only irregularity of any of the Americanas' rear turn signals is that a few were fitted with round signals like those of the other bus models that were in service at the time.

[Busjack]

As a historical note: 69th only had four bus series new: 5500 Flxibles, 7200 Macks, 8700 Flxibles, 9000 series GM's. 77th probably had the most new: 2700 Brills, 5000 Twins, 5500-5800-5900-8200-8400 Flxibles, 3300 Flxibles, 3730 Flxibles, 1000-7400-9600 GM's, 4400 TMC's. 7100 Artics, 7500 Artics. 500 Optimas. Being main shop probably helped. Not sure what was new where in CSL days, but you can assume since 77th had most south side routes before Beverly opened, most 400-series CSL's probably started at 77th.

Also, approximately 7547-766? in 1973 but those got split between NP and 77th when the 9000s arrived.

[Busjack]

77th also had most of the 4000 MAN Americanas that would make their way down to 103rd in 1988 upon that garage's opening and getting a lot of routes that were run by 77th. If any one has memories of Americanas on the 1, 2, 3, and 4 for example, that's the reason why.

Remembering seeing them on 87th at one point, but just visiting Chicago at that point, and scrambled my head when it appeared that the only ones of that generation were Flyer 9800s, but at the time I wasn't aware of the swap when 103rd opened.

[garmon757]

Actually CTA's Americanas had red turn signals as well. The only irregularity of any of the Americanas' rear turn signals is that a few were fitted with round signals like those of the other bus models that were in service at the time.

Wow, you're right about the round signals.

[BusHunter]

picture of #7928

[artthouwill]

As a historical note: 69th only had four bus series new: 5500 Flxibles, 7200 Macks, 8700 Flxibles, 9000 series GM's. 77th probably had the most new: 2700 Brills, 5000 Twins, 5500-5800-5900-8200-8400 Flxibles, 3300 Flxibles, 3730 Flxibles, 1000-7400-9600 GM's, 4400 TMC's. 7100 Artics, 7500 Artics. 500 Optimas. Being main shop probably helped. Not sure what was new where in CSL days, but you can assume since 77th had most south side routes before Beverly opened, most 400-series CSL's probably started at 77th.

If you mean they were the first to receive those series, then I would say you are correct.

As for 77th, I don't think they were the first to get 9600s (NP?), but they got the last set (9759-9799). They id wind up swapping that set with NP(9655- 9689) for awhile, then lost all of the 9600s. If I am not mistaken, some of the early 9600s were renumbered for use in Evanston.

Based on that, I wonder how long 77th will be able to hang on to the 7900s. It wouldn't surprise me if, by the end of the deliveries, 74th, C, and FG wound up with all of the 7900s.

[jajuan]

Wow, you're right about the round signals.

I think Kedzie had one such Americana and NP had at least two. Another oddity was the maintenance crews crossed the wiring in the tail lights such that the inner ones served as the turn signal instead of the outer ones as was the standard setup for that model.

If you mean they were the first to receive those series, then I would say you are correct.

As for 77th, I don't think they were the first to get 9600s (NP?), but they got the last set (9759-9799). They id wind up swapping that set with NP(9655- 9689) for awhile, then lost all of the 9600s. If I am not mistaken, some of the early 9600s were renumbered for use in Evanston.

Based on that, I wonder how long 77th will be able to hang on to the 7900s. It wouldn't surprise me if, by the end of the deliveries, 74th, C, and FG wound up with all of the 7900s.

You have a point. They gave up the highest numbered GM Fishbowls. They gave up their Americanas for good. They gave up 9800s. They gave up a majority of their 6000s. They gave up 4400s on several occasions. They gave up their 6400s albeit at the tailend of that model's service (either partially or entirely depending on if the 150 option is exercised) to CTA. So it's very possible they could give up their 7900s.

[Busjack]

...

You have a point. They gave up the highest numbered GM Fishbowls. They gave up their Americanas for good. They gave up 9800s. They gave up a majority of their 6000s. They gave up 4400s on several occasions. They gave up their 6400s albeit at the tailend of that model's service (either partially or entirely depending on if the 150 option is exercised) to CTA. So it's very possible they could give up their 7900s.

Most of these were given up at the tail end, or in the case of the 6000s, when receiving something newer. Usually it was because of a mileage runup. Maybe the only converse was trading 6000s for 5300s from 103rd to run the latter into the ground, preliminary to getting 6400s.

Here, any speculation about giving up the 7900s would not fall in those categories. The only thing that would be analogous was Archer giving up NF 1000s for 6400s, and apparently that was some sort of maintenance consolidation program by Huberman.

Of course, we wouldn't have a "more bus moves" thread if allocations were fixed or made any sense.

[BusHunter]

Damn #7934 is out there already on the #1!!!

[garmon757]

Damn #7934 is out there already on the #1!!!

Well hell, it was equipped with it's license plates but damn that was quick!

I forgot to mention that #7955's destination sign and gps were being programmed and inspected. It may be in service around next week.