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

[nflyer22]

That's my thinking as well because 1729 is on the 8 Halsted right now.

Hmm, but then again, 1730 is now on the #9 Ashland right now.

[jajuan]

Hmm, but then again, 1730 is now on the #9 Ashland right now.

Ok. That's still only three buses. It doesn't change my thinking that the 80+ 6000s at Chicago and Kedzie were maneuvered to these two garages to be part of the up to half getting retired. Kedzie and Chicago are set for BRT within a year, meaning they're getting new artics. I don't see them holding on to junk and moving out too many more D40LFs to make room for those artics. One or two loaned or reassigned is not enough to suggest they're going to hold on to buses that need to scrapped.

[BusHunter]

Ok. That's still only three buses. It doesn't change my thinking that the 80+ 6000s at Chicago and Kedzie were maneuvered to these two garages to be part of the up to half getting retired. Kedzie and Chicago are set for BRT within a year, meaning they're getting new artics. I don't see them holding on to junk and moving out too many more D40LFs to make room for those artics. One or two loaned or reassigned is not enough to suggest they're going to hold on to buses that need to scrapped.

Make that four, #6000 is on the #53A right now on Bustracker. I doubt we'll be seeing #1727 on 74th routes anytime soon, it's in the middle of the Titan test on the #124. Maybe that's why #6000 is there. When you think of it if #1700 - #1730 went to 74th it would even out the distribution of #1000's. Kedzie would have around 60 #1100/#1200's and 70 #1600's. 74th would have 60 #1700's and 80 #1100's and #1000's. Chicago would have 60 #1000's and if they lost a few #1300's to 77th they could end up with 60 or 80 there. It sort of makes sense to have 40 #6000's remain at garages heavily stocked with new buses. This way they could be used on a limited basis, while the contract is worked out for future purchases. After all #4000's and #1000's are delivered anyway, there would only be around 80 #6000's left. So what better than to have then be split up at 2 garages so you are not dependent on them so much.

[jajuan]

Make that four, #6000 is on the #53A right now on Bustracker. I doubt we'll be seeing #1727 on 74th routes anytime soon, it's in the middle of the Titan test on the #124. Maybe that's why #6000 is there. When you think of it if #1700 - #1730 went to 74th it would even out the distribution of #1000's. Kedzie would have around 60 #1100/#1200's and 70 #1600's. 74th would have 60 #1700's and 80 #1100's and #1000's. Chicago would have 60 #1000's and if they lost a few #1300's to 77th they could end up with 60 or 80 there. It sort of makes sense to have 40 #6000's remain at garages heavily stocked with new buses. This way they could be used on a limited basis, while the contract is worked out for future purchases. After all #4000's and #1000's are delivered anyway, there would only be around 80 #6000's left. So what better than to have then be split up at 2 garages so you are not dependent on them so much.

That's just it. Chicago and Kedzie are not running them on much of a limited basis. Plenty of them are being used in midday weekday service as well as rush hour along with evenings. So that argument doesn't work already. That's why I say as more 4000s come in, send these to the scrap heap instead of moving out 1000s just to hold on to junk metal.

[BlueBirdLTC40]

1718/1719 were all cleaned up, wheels shined outside the Hyatt today as a "police charter"

[sw4400]

*** Possible Shuffle Alert!!!***

I saw Bus #1350 working Route #11 this afternoon. NP buses start somewhere in the mid to late 1400's.

[Busjack]

Get the run number (and hence sure not a 3 track run)?

[cta 5555]

It was one of our 3 track runs. Out of Chicago.

[dre_cta6221]

hey guys. NF 1902 is operating 111 pullman as i type.

[nflyer22]

hey guys. NF 1902 is operating 111 pullman as i type.

I saw and rode 1906 on #29 State today from Navy Pier to downtown. It's probably really fresh from the factory, since it had that really strong "new car" smell. I forgot to look above the lights to notice for any advertisements. Very clean ride.

[geneking7320]

I saw and rode 1906 on #29 State today from Navy Pier to downtown. It's probably really fresh from the factory, since it had that really strong "new car" smell. I forgot to look above the lights to notice for any advertisements. Very clean ride.

Did you hear the "Taco Bell" tone?

Gene King

[nflyer22]

Did you hear the "Taco Bell" tone?

Gene King

Nope, I don't think so. To be honest, I saw it several days before that Friday when I rode it, so I think it's been here for quite a few days already, maybe even a week or 2, and CTA has had enough time to correct it. Even if they did, it still has quite that car smell. :P

[BusHunter]

Nope, I don't think so. To be honest, I saw it several days before that Friday when I rode it, so I think it's been here for quite a few days already, maybe even a week or 2, and CTA has had enough time to correct it. Even if they did, it still has quite that car smell.

Well #1905 had a smell of it's own on Friday. Like someone had just heeved up their guts. At least the smell was faint. In case you are wondering the highest #1900 I've seen on the street was the #36's #1907 last thursday. It did not have the bell tone. BTW, we might be able to know right away when a new #4000 is placed in service, I'm not sure but I suspect that the Bustracker may be a factory installation on these. If this is true we should see #4007 soon.

[ctaboy]

For the first time(i gasped) I saw it on the 87th route, heading towards Cicero. The number was 1224, yesterday @ 9:11 p.m.

Now i can ride one EVERY weekend.

A long time ago I saw a NABI (7500 Series) running 87 87th ST. going into it the 87th + Western terminal.

[BUSANGEL#1]

A long time ago I saw a NABI (7500 Series) running 87 87th ST. going into it the 87th + Western terminal.

You are right, when 77th had an abundance of NABIs in the beginning, they used them on routes like #87 and #79. 79 didn't work out to well, then Kedzie took most of 77ths artics.

[Tamir4317]

Yesterday, I saw NF #1910 operating on the 29 headed to 95th.

With that said, when will the deliveries to 103rd/North Park end?

[artthouwill]

You are right, when 77th had an abundance of NABIs in the beginning, they used them on routes like #87 and #79. 79 didn't work out to well, then Kedzie took most of 77ths artics.

That's ironic considering 79th is one of the "original" 4routes designated for BRT. I don't understand why it wouldn't have worked out too well on that route.

BTW where is Kedzie putting all of these buses? Note that Kedzie garage is the only garage without an OWL route ( I know the 8 Halsted comes close). It just doesn't appear that they have any room. Are they using the vacant lot behind the garage. Are they parking buses on the street? I even see buses heading to Kedzie garage after the PM route parked along Van Buren between Kedzie and California.

[Busjack]

That's ironic considering 79th is one of the "original" 4routes designated for BRT. I don't understand why it wouldn't have worked out too well on that route.

I don't know if it didn't work out, or just that the buses assigned (roughly about 7686-7725) are now mostly showing up on 156, and 77th retained just enough for 6-Jackson Park Exp. Maybe an equipment shortage issue that will be resolved with the arrival of the 4000s.

However, I didn't think that the mixed operation of 40 and 60 foot buses worked on 79th, given all the bus bunching and the odds that the leader would be the 40 foot one.

Again, it will be interesting to see how BRT works on some of the narrow portions of 79th.

[BusHunter]

Yesterday, I saw NF #1910 operating on the 29 headed to 95th.

With that said, when will the deliveries to 103rd/North Park end?

According to BusAngel #1960 will be the last even to 103rd and #1959 will be the last odd to NP. The garages next to get #1000's are Chicago and 77th. While the next garages sound correct, I don't see NP getting that many more. It was reported on here by Greenstreet that there were 17 #5800's left when we were at #1906. If you do the math replacing buses one for one you get the last bus as being #1937. On the south end at 103rd they were reported to have 23 #4400's left as of #1906. There last bus being around #1950. My question would be what will they do when they approach #1937 and nothing more is needed at NP? Maybe Kedzie could send over a couple more #7500's to even out the bus ratio's between 103rd and NP. Or 103rd could just retire the last few without replacements as a consolidation. I guess we'll have to wait and see. :)

[Busjack]

According to BusAngel #1960 will be the last even to 103rd and #1959 will be the last odd to NP. The garages next to get #1000's are Chicago and 77th. While the next garages sound correct, I don't see NP getting that many more. It was reported on here by Greenstreet that there were 17 #5800's left when we were at #1906. If you do the math replacing buses one for one you get the last bus as being #1937. On the south end at 103rd they were reported to have 23 #4400's left as of #1906. There last bus being around #1950. My question would be what will they do when they approach #1937 and nothing more is needed at NP? Maybe Kedzie could send over a couple more #7500's to even out the bus ratio's between 103rd and NP. Or 103rd could just retire the last few without replacements as a consolidation. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Also, the talk about C getting 1430s and so to retire the 30 or so 5300s you say they still have.

By the way, what is the total at NP now? Before the NF deliveries of Option 2, it was about 160 TMCs, 60 NFs, and 90 NABIs (310 total), but with the shift of routes to Kedzie, the total has to be down, now.

[BusHunter]

Also, the talk about C getting 1430s and so to retire the 30 or so 5300s you say they still have.

By the way, what is the total at NP now? Before the NF deliveries of Option 2, it was about 160 TMCs, 60 NFs, and 90 NABIs (310 total), but with the shift of routes to Kedzie, the total has to be down, now.

C got the #1430's to bring the count down to 33 (that was a little while back) currently they stand at 23 #5300's left. NP's total? well currently there are 81 NABI's, 172 #1000 NF's on the street (about 3 or 4 more new arrivals on top of that at the garage) and 15 #5800's for a total of 268. Kedzie has more they have 289. Surprising to me FG's count has dropped about 20 buses in the last few months to about 255. I can't help but see shortages there. FG keeps dropping novas #6856 was on the #6 yesterday. Also #6457 has went to 77th from Archer in recent days. I guess there trying there best to eliminate what TMC's they have left at 77th. If they waiting for #1000 deliveries they could still be waiting in 2009. If you figure on 5 a week delivered it would take 23 weeks to complete the order!!

[Busjack]

Thanks.

Basically, CTA hasn't officially said anything other than the deliveries of Option 4 would be complete by February. There was also the statement that the 1991s (4400s and 5300s) would be gone by Thanksgiving, supplemented by Carole Brown's statement that buses without Bustracker would be gone around the turn of the year. So I can foresee some shifts, and surmised that the 5800s might be gone before all of the others, but not these series hanging around until June or July (especially with only 23 5300s and 15 5800s left, and with those being the end of the series, they tend to drop even faster, because they are being replaced with supposedly more dependable buses, and, of course, an estimated 8 drop at C with the end of 3 track, and possibly more at a few other garages where routes were beefed up during 3 track).

It appears that NP is down approximately 9 NABIs and 30-33 40 footers after the route transfers to K.

[nflyer22]

Hey everyone, just came back from my 2 day field trip to Hubertus, Wisconsin for a camping trip. Yesterday, as I was headed north that way, I spotted a New Flyer by the Kenosha-Lake Geneva exit of I-94, around the outdoor goods store (forgot the name of it ), and today, as I was headed back home, saw 2 Flyers broken down on the side of the expressway about a 1/2 mile before the "Exit 339: East-West, 1 Mile" sign on the expressway. Didn't get the number of the 1st of the NFs, but for sure, I'm positive the 2nd one was numbered #1916, since it was behind the 1st one, and I easily saw the number on the back of the bus as my school bus approached it. Both New Flyers displayed "Chicago Is My Kind of Town". Comments or questions please don't hesitate, I'll try my best to recall both encounters! :)

[BusHunter]

Hey everyone, just came back from my 2 day field trip to Hubertus, Wisconsin for a camping trip. Yesterday, as I was headed north that way, I spotted a New Flyer by the Kenosha-Lake Geneva exit of I-94, around the outdoor goods store (forgot the name of it ), and today, as I was headed back home, saw 2 Flyers broken down on the side of the expressway about a 1/2 mile before the "Exit 339: East-West, 1 Mile" sign on the expressway. Didn't get the number of the 1st of the NFs, but for sure, I'm positive the 2nd one was numbered #1916, since it was behind the 1st one, and I easily saw the number on the back of the bus as my school bus approached it. Both New Flyers displayed "Chicago Is My Kind of Town". Comments or questions please don't hesitate, I'll try my best to recall both encounters!

Well I'm assuming from your sighting info, they were all 40 footers. They probably were taking a little rest along the side of the road. They have a least a 10 hour drive up from St. Cloud here.

[artthouwill]

Well I'm assuming from your sighting info, they were all 40 footers. They probably were taking a little rest along the side of the road. They have a least a 10 hour drive up from St. Cloud here.

But it would be faster to come via I-90 than come through Milwaukee, even if they used the I-894 bypass., unless the odd # NFs are going that way to go to NP.