CTA at IRM

[Busjack]

1 hour ago, andrethebusman said:

The purpose of preservation is to save an example of something that is no longer around. What is wrong with saving a South Shore NS car? In a few years they will all be gone. Why not keep one around? The time will come when the last CTA 5000's will be facing the s rapper. Would you oppose saving a set because you "saw them in service"?

 

I didn't say I was opposed to saving one. I said I didn't get off on it. As far as riding a 2200 or 2400 in a museum, it isn't any different than having ridden one 3 years ago, or essentially riding a 2600 or 3200 now. And by the time comes for the 5000s,* none of us will be around, and it is more likely that any of us will come up with the $10 billion to take Elon Musk's spaceship to Mars than ride a 5000 in a museum.

*2054?, and note the consensus that it was now too early to discuss a 3200 for 2026, which is how @Rhys Pate started this discussion.

[BusHunter]

13 minutes ago, Busjack said:

I didn't say I was opposed to saving one. I said I didn't get off on it. As far as riding a 2200 or 2400 in a museum, it isn't any different than having ridden one 3 years ago, or essentially riding a 2600 or 3200 now. And by the time comes for the 5000s,* none of us will be around, and it is more likely that any of us will come up with the $10 billion to take Elon Musk's spaceship to Mars than ride a 5000 in a museum.

*2054?, and note the consensus that it was now too early to discuss a 3200 for 2026, which is how @Rhys Pate started this discussion.

How would they run an AC propelled train anyway at a museum? I don't know the way cta goes through equipment they might be replaced in 35-40 years, what's that 2048. I might be still around myself, I'd be 73. People like Garmon would only be in their 50's!! It's probably these chinese csr's I won't see in a museum!! But you never know we thought the NABI's would still be around, didn't we.   

[Busjack]

14 minutes ago, BusHunter said:

How would they run an AC propelled train anyway at a museum?

The 5000s still pick up DC from the third rail and invert it to AC in the car borne equipment. However, that essentially gets down to that since a museum set up like IRM with people roaming the grounds can't safely have a third rail, a phony trolley pole would have to be installed to get any of the modern L cars running. Maybe the 5000s have the additional problem that one would have to kill the electronics in the cab signals, too, but I don't know.

[BusHunter]

4 minutes ago, Busjack said:

The 5000s still pick up DC from the third rail and invert it to AC in the car borne equipment. However, that essentially gets down to that since a museum set up like IRM with people roaming the grounds can't safely have a third rail, a phony trolley pole would have to be installed to get any of the modern L cars moving. Maybe the 5000s have the additional problem that one would have to kill the electronics in the cab signals, too, but I don't know.

Yeah but didn't cta upgrade all their 3rd rails before they showed up. You are right about the cab signals but they probably don't use atc anyway so why would you need them? Seems their atc is a walkie talkie!!

[Busjack]

6 minutes ago, BusHunter said:

But you never know we thought the NABI's would still be around, didn't we.   

Given @pace2322's constant statements "the NABIs are junk" and "the only good NABI is on the scrap line" (and those were the Pace ones), no. Heck, one of them theoretically could have been saved as the only operational 60LFWs ever manufactured,but obviously no one was interested in that. Similarly, I don't get off on the call to ride the last of the Orion VIs.

Basically, the only reason any buses around were saved was guys like 2322 and 5750 and others at CHBM, which folded. 2322 hasn't been around here to say what he did with his Orion I.

[BusHunter]

2 minutes ago, Busjack said:

Given @pace2322's constant statements "the NABIs are junk" and "the only good NABI is on the scrap line" (and those were the Pace ones), no. Heck, one of them theoretically could have been saved as the only operational 60LFWs ever manufactured,but obviously no one was interested in that. Similarly, I don't get off on the call to ride the last of the Orion VIs.

Basically, the only reason any buses around were saved was guys like 2322 and 5750 and others at CHBM, which folded. 2322 hasn't been around here to say what he did with his Orion I.

They'd (#7500's) probably be too scary to use at a museum anyway. With the problems they had they just be inviting litigators incorporated into their front yard!! Those buses were tainted goods and tainted goods you dispose of, sorry to say even if it is a one of a kind. 

[Pace831]

Here are some pictures from the 1st Annual Bus Day at IRM yesterday, October 1.

Seattle MAN Articulated 4020:

Seattle Twin 633:

Dayton Flyer 925:

Seattle Gillig 4123:

Chicago Motor Coach 605:

Janesville RTS 412:

CTA Marmon-Herrington 9553:

Visiting privately owned buses:

Other miscellaneous photos:

 

[BusHunter]

That looks interesting. Thanks for sharing. I've never rode an electic bus with the overhead wires in my life. I didnt know they had a bus with an amber destination . Thats getting in the 2000's era. 

[Busjack]

1 hour ago, Pace831 said:

Visiting privately owned buses:

We now know where @pace2322's bus (8723) is.

29 minutes ago, BusHunter said:

. I've never rode an electic bus with the overhead wires in my life.

As depicted by the Marmon-Herrington, that's about all that operated in your neighborhood (53, 54, 77, 78, 80) until 1973 (81 and 85 were killed about when Jefferson Park opened). For instance, I remember a wedding reception somewhere around Irving Park and Austin, and had to ride a trolley bus back to the Blue Line.

Basically, it was like riding a bus that sounded like an L car.

BTW, while the light poles on Elston were recently replaced, the rusty steel poles on Armstrong were obviously for trolley bus wires.

[Busjack]

2 hours ago, Pace831 said:

Dayton Flyer 925

I forgot that my sister lived near a Dayton trolley bus route (about all  city service was trolley bus in the early 80s), and they sure messed up radio reception.

That type of bus was also prevalent in Cambridge, MA (also had doors on the left side to deal with the Harvard Station terminal).

The orange bus is from Milwaukee.

[geneking7320]

On 10/2/2016 at 9:16 PM, Busjack said:

I forgot that my sister lived near a Dayton trolley bus route (about all  city service was trolley bus in the early 80s), and they sure messed up radio reception.

That type of bus was also prevalent in Cambridge, MA (also had doors on the left side to deal with the Harvard Station terminal).

The orange bus is from Milwaukee.

Back in 2007 I visited Boston and rode the #71 from the Harvard Station terminal (see below):

The low floor Neoplan sounded somewhat like a manual transmission car in reverse.

Edited October 4, 2016 by geneking7320
include a word I omitted

[Busjack]

1 hour ago, geneking7320 said:

The low floor Neoplan

I forgot what replaced the Flyers. Thanks.

CPTDB indicates that Dayton replaced theirs with ETi/Skoda, but more recently acquired something on a Gillig BRT body.

[BusHunter]

Was out at IRM today. Wow the place is evolving with so many new restorations, and the upcoming build of the new main street which sounds pretty exciting in its own right. I'm amazed they actually want to build a theater/media center. I hope they plan to incorporate the libraries of Chicago transit on site. (From Marengo and the other place) That would be awesome, because there is probably a ton of info people are missing. I cant help but wonder what is a main street without an ice cream parlor.

I got to see the china car which was interesting but not as interesting as the lantern collection and the collection of photos of former chicago railway hubs. Wow those were some nice structures. It makes the great hall pale in comparison. See the media sometimes is just as important as the actual railcars. 

I rode #2243-44. They were smoother than when they were on the cta. Didn't see #2433-34 anywhere. Was also looking for #6125-26 which was mia. I wonder do cars leave the property for restoration work? Was checking out some of the details of the place. I swear those railroad gates at the front look like they are from the swift. Was checking out the Santa Fe sign. I cant believe the hq were here in chicago as they were known more as a sw operator. 

Was looking on Facebook and saw they got a AEM-7. Very interesting. I didn't see it though. It can go with the GG-1. Now they need some Amtrak passenger cars. 

Couldn't leave without checking out the buses. #8715 looks good looks like it needs suspension work. #9799 needs suspension work too. The back of the bus is roped off I guess the floor is weak? Checked out #3177 with its av plates. They looked like they removed the light bar from the interior. No way they could have had backlit signs. I think those are circa 1970s. Couldn't help but notice the deck lid of a 300 inside 3177. Theres new tires in there too. #605 looks rough on the outside but it sounds like it's mechanically sound according to the net. I heard you guys got it runable. 

I saw the electroliner busted up into 3 segments. Looks like they are resting on borrowed trucks.  Lots to see and do. I took a bunch of photos. Maybe i can upload them if i have time. 

[r-schauer]

21 hours ago, BusHunter said:

I rode #2243-44. They were smoother than when they were on the cta. Didn't see #2433-34 anywhere. Was also looking for #6125-26 which was mia. I wonder do cars leave the property for restoration work? Was checking out some of the details of the place. I swear those railroad gates at the front look like they are from the swift. Was checking out the Santa Fe sign. I cant believe the hq were here in chicago as they were known more as a sw operator. 

Was looking on Facebook and saw they got a AEM-7. Very interesting. I didn't see it though. It can go with the GG-1. Now they need some Amtrak passenger cars. 

Couldn't leave without checking out the buses. #8715 looks good looks like it needs suspension work. #9799 needs suspension work too. The back of the bus is roped off I guess the floor is weak? Checked out #3177 with its av plates. They looked like they removed the light bar from the interior. No way they could have had backlit signs. I think those are circa 1970s. Couldn't help but notice the deck lid of a 300 inside 3177. Theres new tires in there too. #605 looks rough on the outside but it sounds like it's mechanically sound according to the net. I heard you guys got it runable. 

I saw the electroliner busted up into 3 segments. Looks like they are resting on borrowed trucks.  Lots to see and do. I took a bunch of photos. Maybe i can upload them if i have time. 

I was the motorman on the 2200s, except later in the day I let my conductor run some trips.  Too bad I didn't get a chance to put a face with the name!  

The 2400s are on display in Barn 6, track 64, a couple of cars back from the front of the barn.  The 6100s aren't on public display and haven't been in a few years; we needed the space in the display barns for operable cars.  They are back in Barn 13.  Cars don't generally leave for restoration, because we have pretty good facilities for doing it onsite.

The AEM-7 is having a broken windshield replaced (vandals broke it while in transit),  When we took the windshield out, we found some steel rot, so we're taking care of that right away before it goes outside.  (The steel around the other windshields is in better shape.)  But it means we have to get a little of the right color paint to touch it up, so that's being done.  It's stored inside until the work is done, but it will go on display where the Santa Fe F-M terminal switcher is now in Yard 5, right on the end where everyone takes photos.  It may later get displayed next to the GG-1; that's already been talked about.  We'll see.

The buses are OK; 8715 doesn't need anything with the suspension, it just needs to get moved off of the gravel pad it's on.  The tires have sunk in.  9799 has air suspension and it's not raised, so it's squatting, and sunk in.  I don't know why the back is roped off- I don't know of any trouble with the floor.  We had it open for tours a while ago, maybe it had to do with that.  605 runs pretty well.  All of these buses that are outside are going into the new garage when it's built, and that should be sooner rather that later.  Fundraising is very close to being able to build it.

The Electroliner is in 4 pieces- 3 of them are in Barn 7, and an end section that's getting lots of interior work is in Barn 4.  They are on shop trucks because the trucks and motors were rebuilt, and it will be reassembled within the next month or so.  In fact we had a crane and rigging contractor out today to determine what's going to be needed for the job.

Richard

 

[BusHunter]

Hmm did you have a blue shirt on? I saw two operators on my trip. One took it outbound and the blue shirt guy took it in. It is true the cta uniform man did the later trips which I took a flyby of. 

As far as the buses they could have sunk in the ground. I thought maybe they just needed some more air in the tires cause they were sagging. 

Thanks for the info. 

[r-schauer]

8 hours ago, BusHunter said:

Hmm did you have a blue shirt on? I saw two operators on my trip. One took it outbound and the blue shirt guy took it in. It is true the cta uniform man did the later trips which I took a flyby of. 

Yes, I had the blue IRM shirt and hat, and my conductor had the CTA uniform.

Richard

 

[BusHunter]

7 hours ago, r-schauer said:

Yes, I had the blue IRM shirt and hat, and my conductor had the CTA uniform.

Richard

 

You look younger than what I imagine. At least I know what you look like. If you can remember what might have been the first trip, when you came into the first car, and you had a discussion with the uniformed guy. I was sitting right there. I think he asked you how was the heat? 

[BusHunter]

Here's a few pics I'll upload more tomorrow. The interior pics without the wheels are of 8715 the ones with the wheels are 3177.  

I got pics of the electroliner on shop trucks, 2243-44, some pccs, 141 the west towns streetcar., I'll go into more detail tomorrow.