And the next garage to get New Flyers is...

[BusHunter]

Not all of 74th's 1700s went to 77th. 1739 is on the X9 today. Also 1731 is on the 9 and 1741 is on the 44. Basically the upper 1740s and a number of the 1750s are at 77th. In general it was the 1700s that kept having Clever Devices issues and weren't showing up properly on Bustracker that went to 77th.

There are #1730's - #1750's in all ranges at 77th. The basic rule of thumb is if you see it on 74th's routes on Bustracker it is there. If you don't see it, it is most probable that it's at 77th. Buses i've seen at 77th include #1732, #1733, #1743, #1745, #1749, #1750, #1753, #1754, #1759 and #1760. #1311 is also still at 77th. So #1312 - #1329 are at 74th.

[artthouwill]

Possible. Another thing to consider though is that their original intent before the BRT announcement was to help alleviate the pressure on some of the busiest of routes that do not serve Lake Shore Drive. So that still does not automatically translate to garages that have arctics in place right now. As for the 66, just because it is designated for BRT does not mean it's going to be moved to Kedzie since Kedzie has artics. There are other busy routes at Chicago besides that has numerous crowded buses as well as a bunching problem. The 72 North Ave comes to mind right off the bat. 76 Diversey is also a pretty busy route at times, especially as you get closer to Sheridan and the lakefront area on that route. Your last statement about consolidation doesn't jibe with your assertion that the DE60LFs will like go to the garages that have artics right away. If the consolidation plan goes further into effect, why would CTA management steer the artic hybrids to the NABI garages right away outside of the talked about work on the some of the NABIs? If that's part of your argument I'll agree with you. If not, I still say it can equally be one of the four garages with the BRT test routes with no consideration of where the NABIs are and their numbers. There are enough artic heavy routes at the NABI garages for the moment while there are highly traveled routes elsewhere that could used some help.

Of the 4 garages slated for these new buses, only Chicago Avenue does not have NABI artics. Because of the condition of some of the NABIs, it only makes sense that 103rd (1st), Kedzie (2nd), or 77th (3rd) would be ideal to receive the New Flyer artics while repairs can be made to those NABIs. Yes the intent of the new artics would be to serve heavy non-Lake Shore routes, but since the BRT technology hasn't been installed yet (on the buses or the named streets), let the buses still be used. If it weren't for the fact that these buses were earmarked for "BRT", I would say put the new buses on the Lake Shore routes and use the NABIs on the 79th, Halsted, and Chicago Ave routes.

I picked 103rd first because it has the oldest and most beat up of the NABIs

[jajuan]

Of the 4 garages slated for these new buses, only Chicago Avenue does not have NABI artics. Because of the condition of some of the NABIs, it only makes sense that 103rd (1st), Kedzie (2nd), or 77th (3rd) would be ideal to receive the New Flyer artics while repairs can be made to those NABIs. Yes the intent of the new artics would be to serve heavy non-Lake Shore routes, but since the BRT technology hasn't been installed yet (on the buses or the named streets), let the buses still be used. If it weren't for the fact that these buses were earmarked for "BRT", I would say put the new buses on the Lake Shore routes and use the NABIs on the 79th, Halsted, and Chicago Ave routes.

I picked 103rd first because it has the oldest and most beat up of the NABIs

That's the only point I'm making. With BRT a year away, if the hybrid artics are to be used at the NABI garages right away, it's to allow work on the NABIs to bring them up to the standards they should have been when they were first sent to CTA. One modification I would probably suggest is swap some NABIs from North Park with one of these other three NABI garages say 77th, and use hybrid artics to temporarily replace the NABIs that go to North Park. This makes some sense to me because even though 103rd's NABIs are older, I would submit that North Park's NABIs are more problem prone than at all the other garages even with the mileage and maintenance 20 for 20 swap with Kedzie. As for using the NABIs on the BRT routes instead and using the 600s on Lake Shore Drive, we already know that's not the CTA's intent. Plus if that were the case, BRT could possibly have been conceived, studied and implemented already since buses would already be here for it. Let's just let them work out whatever studies they need to do and implement what they have planned instead of looking for ways to change it before it's even gotten off the ground because we have some wish to see the new artics used elsewhere. We pretty much know they're going to be used on the 14. That should be good enough for fans who want to see hybrid artics on Lake Shore.

[Busjack]

As for using the NABIs on the BRT routes instead and using the 600s on Lake Shore Drive, we already know that's not the CTA's intent. Plus if that were the case, BRT could possibly have been conceived, studied and implemented already since buses would already be here for it.

Exactly. The federal grant includes about $39 million to purchase hybrid articulated buses for BRT. The feds won't allow a demonstration that does not conform to the conditions of the grant. Hence, no NABIs on BRT routes.

But, as previously noted, that doesn't necessarily prevent swapping route 14 NABIs out, since Jeffery is a BRT route. Maybe, after the shuffle, some NABIs go back to 3 or 4.

And, as I have noted frequently before, we now don't know if the BRT buses are part of the first 150 or the RFP for up to 900 more. All of this is very mysterious.

[renardo870]

Thanks jajuan. Since the routes selected for BRT are 8 Halsted, 14 Jeffery Express, 66 Chicago and 79 79th for now, we can guess its Kedzie, 103rd, Chicago and 77th for the 1st 163 artics( 150 plus an additional 13). Thats an avg of 40-41 buses per garage. I guess Chicago could be in line for artics since the have busy routes out of there esp Madison, Chicago , Pulaski, Cicero, North, Fullerton, Diversey, Division and a few of the Oglivie/Union Expresses.

As far as the RFP for up to 900 atrtics, that would be a lot of artics or 'big bends' as i like to call them, (circa MAN 7000 7100 and 7300 series) in the city. With 8 garages spread out, i hope the will rebuild/replace 77th, Archer, Forest Glen, and North Park by then. We can't keep abusing buses outside during the winter before they start the 1st run of the day. Im sure they can expand 103rd, 74th and Chicago for a little more than 250 buses. Kedzie, they need another block to store additional buses. I can see artics on Western, Ashland, Pulaski, Belmont, Garfield, So Halsted 8A/108, Lawrence, So Pulaski, Milwaukee and other heavy non Lake Shore routes.

[qwantae]

But, as previously noted, that doesn't necessarily prevent swapping route 14 NABIs out, since Jeffery is a BRT route. Maybe, after the shuffle, some NABIs go back to 3 or 4.

Plus they might as well shuffle some of them to Chicago Ave for Routes 20, 66, and 72.

[Busjack]

Plus they might as well shuffle some of them to Chicago Ave for Routes 20, 66, and 72.

66 is a BRT route.

[BusExpert32]

NF #1791 out of North Park was working the Blue Line Shuttle between Jefferson Park and Montrose earlier today.

[BlueBirdLTC40]

1806 EB Kennedy near Irving Park road this early evening...

[BusExpert32]

NF #1797 on the 22 Clark today.

[Buslover88]

I spotted 1793 yesterday on #22 Clark at Randolph and Dearborn.

[Guest]

Hello all, just back from Guatemala this morning, got some pics of Guatemala buses, will post later, I can tell everyone here that BRT is big there. But to our main subject, how many 1800s have been spotted so far?

[MVTArider]

Hello all, just back from Guatemala this morning, got some pics of Guatemala buses, will post later, I can tell everyone here that BRT is big there. But to our main subject, how many 1800s have been spotted so far?

Welcome back, hope you had a good time. From what I can tell two 1800's so far 1806 and 1814. Wonder when the 600's will come in? Only 215 more of the 1000's left to deliver anyways.

[Guest ctafan630]

Welcome back, hope you had a good time. From what I can tell two 1800's so far 1806 and 1814. Wonder when the 600's will come in? Only 215 more of the 1000's left to deliver anyways.

What is the last expected bus number for the 1000 series? Based on the last sentence above the 1000 series will stretch in to the 2000's.

[jajuan]

What is the last expected bus number for the 1000 series? Based on the last sentence above the 1000 series will stretch in to the 2000's.

The last bus expected in the entire series is 2029.

[MVTArider]

The last bus expected in the entire series is 2029.

I'm curious, were there any dropped #'s in the 1000 series? I know Pace doesn't do 13's and I have heard of other systems dropping or renumbering #'s 420, 666, and 911.

[Busjack]

I'm curious, were there any dropped #'s in the 1000 series? I know Pace doesn't do 13's and I have heard of other systems dropping or renumbering #'s 420, 666, and 911.

CTA generally doesn't drop numbers.

However, CTA is more likely to separate series than Pace is. For instance, in the late 50s, early 60s, 8000s were several small series, ie. 8000-8149, 8200-8349, even though there apparently wasn't any difference between the old look propanes. Resulted in about 100 fewer buses than what was assumed by the casual observer. There was also the strange break between 9800-9974 and 1600-1624, which were essentially the same (Flyer 900Ds), except, supposedly, the seating arrangement was different.

On the L, there is always the question whether salvaged the halves of two car sets get a new set of consecutive numbers, depending on whether there is room at the end of the series.

[Buslover88]

I'm curious, were there any dropped #'s in the 1000 series? I know Pace doesn't do 13's and I have heard of other systems dropping or renumbering #'s 420, 666, and 911.

I don't think (and hope) that's happened, but it might have as I haven't seen #1001 or #1003 yet.

[michaeldavio]

Saw 1802 on the 119 yesterday.

[jajuan]

I'm curious, were there any dropped #'s in the 1000 series? I know Pace doesn't do 13's and I have heard of other systems dropping or renumbering #'s 420, 666, and 911.

No there have been no numbers dropped in the 1000 series thus far. There was concern that 1631 and 1666 were late in being delivered because there were few sightings of them. They are however in service at Kedzie Garage. 1420 is in service at Chicago garage. If the simultaneous deliveries to North Park and 103rd St. Garages go up to 100 buses each, then 1911 should be a North Park bus. (North Park has gotten odd-numbered buses in its first and current New Flyer deliveries with 103rd getting even numbers.) CTA doesn't carry out superstitious actions in bus numbers as Pace does with not having any of its buses have a number with the final numbers being 13. As for 1001 and 1003, I do believe I remember seeing them show up on Bus Tracker not too long ago if I'm not mistaken.

[Guest]

CTA generally doesn't drop numbers.

However, CTA is more likely to separate series than Pace is. For instance, in the late 50s, early 60s, 8000s were several small series, ie. 8000-8149, 8200-8349, even though there apparently wasn't any difference between the old look propanes. Resulted in about 100 fewer buses than what was assumed by the casual observer. There was also the strange break between 9800-9974 and 1600-1624, which were essentially the same (Flyer 900Ds), except, supposedly, the seating arrangement was different.

On the L, there is always the question whether salvaged the halves of two car sets get a new set of consecutive numbers, depending on whether there is room at the end of the series.

I know there was one D901 Flyer of the 1600 series that was never delivered, I believe it was #1614. As for the seating arrangement, the 98/9900s had 2 by 2 double seating and could seat 50 passengers while the entire Flyer 1600 fleet seated only 43 due to 2 and 1 seating which subsequently could accomodate more standees as well. I also know there was a Flyer D901 delivered to CTA that was never given a fleet number. I remember it sat for a while at a yard on Washington just west of downtown.

[jajuan]

I know there was one Flyer 1600 that was never delivered, I think it was either #1614 or #1616. I think it was "14".

You're right. There was a Flyer d901 never delivered. It was 1614. That was the only instance that I know of there was a skip in number in a series. It wasn't for any silly reason is the last two digits in the vehicle number being 13 as with Pace where there are no buses xx13, or there being an x420, x666, or x911 in the sequence with a particular series.

[Guest]

You're right. There was a Flyer d901 never delivered. It was 1614. That was the only instance that I know of there was a skip in number in a series. It wasn't for any silly reason is the last two digits in the vehicle number being 13 as with Pace where there are no buses xx13, or there being an x420, x666, or x911 in the sequence with a particular series.

So in the 2400/6600 NABIs there is no 2420, 6613 or 6666?

[MVTArider]

Thanks Guys I was just wondering about that. Sorry it went OT there. I think its more common in Canada to drop #'s 420 and 666 but I remember someone dropped 911 so it wouldn't be confused with the phone number. I know here I think i've seen a 420 and we have a route 420 as well. I have not seen a 666 bus here yet and we don't have a route 666 or 13. While I think its silly to drop #'s because of superstition I can understand why if people won't ride routes or buses with those #'s Although I bet the average rider who wouldn't know a New Flyer from a Radio Flyer wagon probably doesn't even notice the bus #.

BTW in case anyone is wondering why 420 would be dropped it has something to do with the drug culture and supporting a plant of some sort. From what I have read its common to see in some cities '420' marked on bus seats and such.

[Buslover88]

No there have been no numbers dropped in the 1000 series thus far. There was concern that 1631 and 1666 were late in being delivered because there were few sightings of them.

I can second that one because I saw it on #82 Kimball-Homan one day not too long ago.

As for 1001 and 1003, I do believe I remember seeing them show up on Bus Tracker not too long ago if I'm not mistaken.

I think I saw #1001 on the tracker not too long ago myself but i'm not too sure. Anyway, my point before was that sightings of these buses must really be rare.