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

[nflyer22]

It was under the advertizing. When i saw it it was new and had no advertizing on it yet. It could have been taken care of though. I'm sure 103rd took care of it after bringing it up on a public site that gets a lot of hits from people in the transit industry. BTW, Last weekend #1849 was on the blue line shuttle and #1847 was on the #36 with a graffiti problem of it's own ( white paint across the entire back window on the right side).

Saw 1853 today in downtown around 4:00 PM at State and Jackson operating #36 Broadway.

[jajuan]

I rode 1767 on the 147 last night. It was one of three NFs serving 147 at the time. The other two were 1431 and 1507. I spotted 1847 on the 22 Clark this morning. I wondered if anything in the 1850s was around yet and got the answer to my question from the previous post.

[Guest]

I rode 1767 on the 147 last night. It was one of three NFs serving 147 at the time. The other two were 1431 and 1507. I spotted 1847 on the 22 Clark this morning. I wondered if anything in the 1850s was around yet and got the answer to my question from the previous post.

Im sure some new buses are arrivng here today, 1860s? Were almost to the end.

[BlueBirdLTC40]

1863 EB on 90 near Devon tolls this morning....

[Guest]

Does anyone know if the engine in NF #1681 is different than the rest of the fleet. I saw it this morning on the 16/18 and it sounds noticably different than the rest of the fleet. Can anyone share some light on this? It sounded like the Cummins L10s similar to the Flxible 5745-64 series.

[artthouwill]

I wonder how long NP and 103rd will continue to receive the NFs. Will they go up to 1959? What garage will get the last 70 NFs? When will the NF artics start arriving? Whenever they do, I expect to see some more bus shuffling.

Also on the 4 Cottage Grove I saw bus 1276, but the interior lighting was like that of the buses 1630 and above, with the blue tint. Will all of the NFs eventually get this. I found it out since 77th gave back to 74th its 1700 numbered NFs.

[BusHunter]

#1857 was on the #22 yesterday. I don't think the #600's are coming for a while based on #6000's heading to Chicago and Kedzie and #1000's heading to 74th. My best guess is the beginning of next year or at the conclusion of the #1000 deliveries scheduled for February. Also the Np and 103rd deliveries should stop around #1950, (both garages only need about 96 more) but with a little consolidation thrown in I would expect around #1940 to be it. That would leave about 90 to go most likely to 77th. They would be slightly short of full consolidation of 40 footers over there, but they would probably receive a few #6000's or get #600's whatever comes first.

[jajuan]

#1857 was on the #22 yesterday. I don't think the #600's are coming for a while based on #6000's heading to Chicago and Kedzie and #1000's heading to 74th. My best guess is the beginning of next year or at the conclusion of the #1000 deliveries scheduled for February. Also the Np and 103rd deliveries should stop around #1950, (both garages only need about 96 more) but with a little consolidation thrown in I would expect around #1940 to be it. That would leave about 90 to go most likely to 77th. They would be slightly short of full consolidation of 40 footers over there, but they would probably receive a few #6000's or get #600's whatever comes first.

Yes it does look like the time of arrival of the NF artics is up in the air at the moment. When they do start arriving, I see them more likely replacing the 6000s now based at Chicago and Kedzie than any large scale shifting around. One thing it seems some of us are forgetting is that part of the 6000-series fleet is supposed to be set for retirement upon deliveries of the NF artics. Swaps are still possible elsewhere, but I still see these Kedzie and Chicago 6000s as placeholders.

[renardo870]

Yes it does look like the time of arrival of the NF artics is up in the air at the moment. When do do start arriving, I see them more likely replacing the 6000s now based at Chicago and Kedzie than any large scale shifting around. One thing it seems some of us are forgetting is that part of the 6000-series fleet is supposed to be set for retirement upon deliveries of the NF artics. Swaps are still possible elsewhere, but I still see these Kedzie and Chicago 6000s as placeholders.

Are the 600 series on schedule or are they late? Since they were scheduled in Aug 08. If they're late, will there be any penalty buses added to the order or is this just another CTA hold up? I think its an order for 163 so far. ( 150 buses plus 13 additional buses that was funded by a Durbin grant). With the BRT presentations going, these new artics will go to Kedzie, 103rd, 77th and Chicago... should be cool since artics were last used out of Chicago during Green Line Reconstruction.

[Kevin]

Are the 600 series on schedule or are they late? Since they were scheduled in Aug 08. If they're late, will there be any penalty buses added to the order or is this just another CTA hold up? I think its an order for 163 so far. ( 150 buses plus 13 additional buses that was funded by a Durbin grant). With the BRT presentations going, these new artics will go to Kedzie, 103rd, 77th and Chicago... should be cool since artics were last used out of Chicago during Green Line Reconstruction.

Unveiling of the 4000-series (note the change in the final series number) will occur in the very near future.

[Busjack]

Unveiling of the 4000-series (note the change in the final series number) ....

See, I told you. Especially with the "up to 900" to be added.

Also, note that post about other assumptions we have that are put in doubt.

[jajuan]

Unveiling of the 4000-series (note the change in the final series number) will occur in the very near future.

So they decided to reuse the Americanas old series numbers. So that shoots down using 7xxx as some busfans thought should happen because artics' series numbers in Chicago have been four digits beginning with a seven, and it also shoots down using a three digit number as was the apparent original plan and as other busfans felt it should be because the buses in question are hybrids. Well it's probably a safe bet that 103rd will get more artics for BRT than the other three garages in the pilot because it has two routes, 14 and 15, operating along a pilot corridor, while the other three have one each.

[renardo870]

Unveiling of the 4000-series (note the change in the final series number) will occur in the very near future.

Thanks Kevin. So will the 163 initial buses be part of the larger 900 buses or is thatgoing to be a separate set? Wow 4000s have risen from the dead and we have some 4400 left..What a reincarnation!!!

[Busjack]

Thanks Kevin. So will the 163 initial buses be part of the larger 900 buses or is thatgoing to be a separate set? Wow 4000s have risen from the dead and we have some 4400 left..What a reincarnation!!!

To throw in more speculation:

If you have the hybrid artics starting at 4000 and the new L cars at 5000, and you have the leased 150 plus up to 900 more, the 4000 series of numbers isn't big enough. Even more so if the business in the response to Proposer 1 with regard to the specifications for the further 900 indicates that CTA is getting some things on the Seattle assignment that it doesn't want in its order, or vice versa. Thus, would that order start at 4200, or would the buses be enough alike that they would be in the same series (such as 1630 and up being somewhat different than what preceded it, but not enough to break the series)?

Since the references to the lease still refer to 150 buses (i.e. see this Traxis release), might this be an indication that the BRT buses are separate (because of the separate branding requirement in the letter of intent with the feds) and would be a different series (such as 8000s), thus eliminating the conflict with the L cars?

Or is that potential conflict something to be considered in 2013 or whatever, when and if CTA decides to exercise the final option?

I'm just ruminating and not expecting answers.

BTW, for those possibly interested in a sidelight, Traxis is part of Cerberus, and its apparent main brand is North American Bus Industries Financial Services. However, I suppose that the way the credit markets are today, you get or invest your money where you can.

[BusHunter]

I am a bit confused about something I just read in the ctatattler. It says that Huberman just seen the new BRT's and they have 3 large doors. That they will be implemented as BRT's next summer. Was there a modification made so that the buses now have three doors? CTA's presentation only shows two. Story can be found at www.ctatattler.com/2008/09/bus-rapid-trans.html

[geneking7320]

So they decided to reuse the Americanas old series numbers. So that shoots down using 7xxx as some busfans thought should happen because artics' series numbers in Chicago have been four digits beginning with a seven, and it also shoots down using a three digit number as was the apparent original plan and as other busfans felt it should be because the buses in question are hybrids. Well it's probably a safe bet that 103rd will get more artics for BRT than the other three garages in the pilot because it has two routes, 14 and 15, operating along a pilot corridor, while the other three have one each.

Ahem. Some of us old timers might remember that before the Americanas got the 4000 series numbers there were some former Chicago Rapid Transit cars which had them.

Seriously though, it seems that CTA recycles numbers among all it's revenue vehicles. Before CTA numbered some of its L cars in the 3000's it had Flxible New Looks in that series.

Gene

[BusHunter]

Ahem. Some of us old timers might remember that before the Americanas got the 4000 series numbers there were some former Chicago Rapid Transit cars which had them.

Seriously though, it seems that CTA recycles numbers among all it's revenue vehicles. Before CTA numbered some of its L cars in the 3000's it had Flxible New Looks in that series.

Gene

#1864 was on the X28 yesterday.

[Guest]

Just arrived in Rockford. On the way out here I spotted New Flyer #1876 at the Schaumburg/I-90 interchange. About twenty minutes later I spotted #1877 near Route 47.

[BusHunter]

Just arrived in Rockford. On the way out here I spotted New Flyer #1876 at the Schaumburg/I-90 interchange. About twenty minutes later I spotted #1877 near Route 47.

#1865 and #1859 were on the Blue line shuttle this weekend. This was the first week that a mix of buses were used from Kedzie, Chicago, NP and FG. It was weird to see #1717 and #1729 so far over on the NW side. Sounds like were 2 (if you count deliveries)or 3 weeks ( If you count in service) from being in the #1900's.

[geneking7320]

:) This morning I rode NF 1870 on route 29 State. It had that "new" smell that has been referred to here.

I heard a strange tone on the bus and haven't seen it mentioned on this forum. I don't think the driver new what it was. The sound was intermittent (as opposed to a buzzer) and it was louder than the stop signal.I wonder what that was about...

Gene King

[BusHunter]

This morning I rode NF 1870 on route 29 State. It had that "new" smell that has been referred to here.

I heard a strange tone on the bus and haven't seen it mentioned on this forum. I don't think the driver new what it was. The sound was intermittent (as opposed to a buzzer) and it was louder than the stop signal.I wonder what that was about...

Gene King

I've noted that sound on this forum. ( I think somewhere in the 54 pages of this topic) It's like a church bell sound. It sounds very close to the bell sound in a Taco Bell commercial but deeper. I've ridden a few buses with this sound. It is tripped when someone pulls the cord to request a stop. It only appears on brand new buses in their first day of service. ( Congrats Gene King you were one of the first riders on this bus!! )It seems to be a factory setting of some kind from NF. Now I also remember when the Clever Devices equipment was new, you would pull the cord and the PA system would announced stop requested. This was removed shortly afterwards, but on PACE equipment you can still hear this. This shows that options can be changed so that there are different announcement systems.

[geneking7320]

I've noted that sound on this forum. ( I think somewhere in the 54 pages of this topic) It's like a church bell sound. It sounds very close to the bell sound in a Taco Bell commercial but deeper. I've ridden a few buses with this sound. It is tripped when someone pulls the cord to request a stop. It only appears on brand new buses in their first day of service. ( Congrats Gene King you were one of the first riders on this bus!! )It seems to be a factory setting of some kind from NF. Now I also remember when the Clever Devices equipment was new, you would pull the cord and the PA system would announced stop requested. This was removed shortly afterwards, but on PACE equipment you can still hear this. This shows that options can be changed so that there are different announcement systems.

It did sound like the Taco Bell chime.

I think the regular stop signal sound was still present and the "Taco Bell" chime sounded frequently with no

pulling of the cord or the signal button. The driver sounded as though she didn't know what caused it.

Gene

[geneking7320]

I must be living right.

This evening I boarded NF #1860 on 112 Vincennes/111 at the 95th/Dan Ryan terminal and it smelled like #1870 [new car smell].

No Taco Bell tone on this bus though.

Gene

[Guest ctafan630]

Gene,

Be lucky the new buses did not have the new Taco Bell smell to go along with the Taco Bell tone.

[Busjack]

Gene,

Be lucky the new buses did not have the new Taco Bell smell to go along with the Taco Bell tone.

The Taco Bell site includes the tone if you mouse over the bell. Is that what it was?

However, I would worry more about the smell after leaving Taco Bell than entering it, especially after the "ForthMeal."