Americanas with black window stripes

[Danielsmusic]

Why is it that the window area on some Americanas were black, while some were white? I know that both the black and white window areas were present on both paint jobs. Links to online pictures:

Red, white & blue scheme with black windows:

http://www.busdrawings.com/Transit/illinoi...ricana/4020.jpg

Red, white & blue scheme with white windows:

http://www.busdrawings.com/Transit/illinoi...ricana/4291.jpg

Two-tone green with white windows:

http://www.busdrawings.com/Transit/illinoi...ricana/4049.jpg

Two-tone green with black windows (at bottom of page):

http://hometown.aol.com/ctapacefan/rosctap1.html

I also see that the tops of some of the MAN front doors were painted black to correspond with the windows (http://www.chicagobus.org/photo/4241). Could someone please explain the white window/black paint jobs?

[jajuan]

Why is it that the window area on some Americanas were black, while some were white? I know that both the black and white window areas were present on both paint jobs. Links to online pictures:

Red, white & blue scheme with black windows:

http://www.busdrawings.com/Transit/illinoi...ricana/4020.jpg

Red, white & blue scheme with white windows:

http://www.busdrawings.com/Transit/illinoi...ricana/4291.jpg

Two-tone green with white windows:

http://www.busdrawings.com/Transit/illinoi...ricana/4049.jpg

Two-tone green with black windows (at bottom of page):

http://hometown.aol.com/ctapacefan/rosctap1.html

I also see that the tops of some of the MAN front doors were painted black to correspond with the windows (http://www.chicagobus.org/photo/4241). Could someone please explain the white window/black paint jobs?

The black window stripes appeared after the paint scheme went to all red, white and blue after the retirement of the fishbowls. I would say it was to keep a uniform appearance for the entire fleet since each new bus model was delivered with black windows. They started out with just painting the windows, but in later years the doors on some got black stripes as well. That's just my guess because the old Flyers kept their white windows

[Danielsmusic]

The black window stripes appeared after the paint scheme went to all red, white and blue after the retirement of the fishbowls. I would say it was to keep a uniform appearance for the entire fleet since each new bus model was delivered with black windows. They started out with just painting the windows, but in later years the doors on some got black stripes as well. That's just my guess because the old Flyers kept their white windows

Yeah, but as shown in the 4th picture link, some of the buses had black windows but were NOT repainted. I also think Seattle's Americanas had the black windows, so I don't think it was solely about the paint job.

[Guest]

Minneapolis Americanas had the entire window ledge and upper area of the bus above the windows completely blacked out as well as the windows tinted.

[Busjack]

Yeah, but as shown in the 4th picture link, some of the buses had black windows but were NOT repainted. I also think Seattle's Americanas had the black windows, so I don't think it was solely about the paint job.

Just because they were green doesn't mean that they weren't repainted at some time.

Also, pace tended to go away from the black masking, starting in the 2085 series (some had it, some didn't). Whether it was a decal that was removed (most of decorations on white pace buses were decals, not paint) or the buses were repainted, I don't know.

On the L cars, decals, including window masking tended to be removed for maintenance reasons. Again, since the cars were stainless steel (not sure about the 2600s, but they are some type of polished metal) paint wouldn't have stuck, anyway. The decals were stripped from the 2600s as they were overhauled by Alstom.

In my opinion, the repainting of the 4000s was pretty sloppy, with, for instance, different styles of numbers put all over the place. You also had the debate with the 4400s, in that some of the numbers were italic, and some slanting backwards. Same with the 5800s in that Bus & Truck used a narrower number font when repainting. I doubt much of any of this is of any operational significance.

[Danielsmusic]

Pace tended to go away from the black masking, starting in the 2085 series (some had it, some didn't). Whether it was a decal that was removed (most of decorations on white pace buses were decals, not paint) or the buses were repainted, I don't know.

Yeah, but CTA moved TOWARDS the black masking on buses, as obvious with all orders placed after the 4000s.

[jajuan]

Yeah, but as shown in the 4th picture link, some of the buses had black windows but were NOT repainted. I also think Seattle's Americanas had the black windows, so I don't think it was solely about the paint job.

True. but if you also look at the caption for the pic, that was the last remaining Americana and bus in the entire fleet for that matter not to be repainted in the new paint scheme. So the fact that this was only bus in revenue service to not be repainted at the time doesn't really take away from what I was saying in my previous post. But it's all speculation anyway. Though the post above about the CTA moving toward the black masking on all models after the Americana lends some credence to my speculation.

[Busjack]

Though the post above about the CTA moving toward the black masking on all models after the Americana lends some credence to my speculation.

And to compound speculation onto speculation, the fact that a fairly good looking green paint job lasted until 1996 indicates that the bus was repainted green before that. Again, just speculation.

[jajuan]

And to compound speculation onto speculation, the fact that a fairly good looking green paint job lasted until 1996 indicates that the bus was repainted green before that. Again, just speculation.

I suppose. Though I believe that bus had always been green during its whole service life up to at least 1996.

[Busjack]

I suppose. Though I believe that bus had always been green during its whole service life up to at least 1996.

It may have always been green, but could have received a new coat of green paint.

[jajuan]

It may have always been green, but could have received a new coat of green paint.

I never disagreed with you on this point. I just found it odd that CTA left this bus alone while all the others got the red white and blue

[wordguy]

I never disagreed with you on this point. I just found it odd that CTA left this bus alone while all the others got the red white and blue

===Actually, I don't believe that 4206 was intentionally singled out. It just happened to be the last one to receive the new livery. A few others also "wore the green", among them 4212, until just a short time before 4206 was repainted.