Archer New Flyers at Chicago

[BusExpert32]

Of course, there is the fact that 1629 completes Option 2 and the question whether Option 3 kicks in immediately after that. However, it appears that CTA's projection that Option 2 will be completed in Feb. 2008 appears right on.

Also, this hasn't been the best weather to be transporting anything from Minnesota to here.

Well, if deliveries come to a hult again at #1629, then North Park will still have 70-80 4400s along with the already delivered 100 New Flyers 1000s. :D

[rmadisonwi]

Option 3 deliveries should really pick up about two weeks after the end of option 2. I'm told there should be a few minor tweaks, but I don't know all the details of what will be different.

[jesi2282]

Same here. Has anyone seen the Novas with the LED destination signs on any Archer routes? (Since I heard that the LED Novas have made it to Archer, but I may be wrong)

Yesterday I saw 6713 running on the #X49.

[jajuan]

I was at Midway off and on today, and never seen any 1000s there.

You should have at least seen a few from the X54 since Chicago is going Flyer heavy. What time were you at Midway. If you were there before 7 PM it just may be you just missed seeing X54's when you were there. New Flyers are definitely there on this route during the weekdays.

[qwantae]

You should have at least seen a few from the X54 since Chicago is going Flyer heavy. What time were you at Midway. If you were there before 7 PM it just may be you just missed seeing X54's when you were there. New Flyers are definitely there on this route during the weekdays.

Few times that day When I was at Midway about Noon, I've spotted a 5300s on X54, then last time I was there was around 8pm, and It wasn't any bus on X54 there at the time.

Its hard to get used to it for 1000s barely at Midway like Jefferson Park Terminal plus 4400s no longer at Midway because 74th got rid of them and transfered them to 103rd. I love my Novas though but I'll keep an eye out for a New Flyer at Midway today.

[BusHunter]

Option 3 deliveries should really pick up about two weeks after the end of option 2. I'm told there should be a few minor tweaks, but I don't know all the details of what will be different.

Maybe one tweak is the addition of protective shields for the operator. Over the weekend I noticed two NF's with a protective shield now, #1431 and #900. Also I never could understand why after a new bus is delivered it's not turned into a Wow bus (laminated floor) before it even hits the street. It would be at it's cleanest ever.

[BusHunter]

I was at Midway off and on today, and never seen any 1000s there.

There's still Novas at Chicago which would mean there would be a few NF's at Archer. At least #6717 -#6746 is still at Chicago, but probably by next weekend if not sooner the transfer will be complete. I wonder who will get #6400 - #6407 FG or Archer? Archer needs them or else they'll be a shortage over there of about 5 buses. On the other hand if Fg doesn't get them it leaves them about 20 buses short if they swap all Novas at 77th (97) for 6000's (115) at FG.

[qwantae]

Today this past 5PM, At Midway Terminal I've spotted #1016 and 1081 operating X54, then 1080 and 1087 operating #63W, it seem pretty mixed up there with series. How many are Novas left at Chicago and New Flyers at Archer?

[rmadisonwi]

As of last week, there were 37 New Flyers at Archer, and 39 Novas at Chicago.

[qwantae]

As of last week, there were 37 New Flyers at Archer, and 39 Novas at Chicago.

This afternoon, I've caught #6711 with a LED Destination sign operating #54B Cicero at Midway. My first time seeing one with a LED on Archer routes.

[RIPTA42]

RMadison says were up to #1601 although all I can seem to find is up to #1591 on the #146 last night.

1601 was on the 11 yesterday.

[jajuan]

I spotted 6730 northbound on the X49 today as well as an unidentified 67xx southbound also on X49 and while passing California spotted two unidentified 67xx's on the 94, one northbound and the other southbound. The three amber signed Novas I spotted were a distance down from the intersections so they were too far to see the bus numbers but were still close enough to see the route numbers.

[BusHunter]

I spotted 6730 northbound on the X49 today as well as an unidentified 67xx southbound also on X49 and while passing California spotted two unidentified 67xx's on the 94, one northbound and the other southbound. The three amber signed Novas I spotted were a distance down from the intersections so they were too far to see the bus numbers but were still close enough to see the route numbers.

Yeah, the rest of the New Flyers from archer have now been transfered to Chicago. Seen #6732 on the #62, #1113,#1107,#1109 on the #76 and #54 as well as #1096,#1095,#1099 were on BusTracker yesterday on the #20. There are a few stragglers though, I seen #6715 on the #22 yesterday too. Undoubtly one of it's last trips as a Chicago garage bus.

[qwantae]

I seen #6715 on the #22 yesterday too. Undoubtly one of it's last trips as a Chicago garage bus.

Nice to have a Nova operating on #22 Clark.

[qwantae]

1601 was on the 11 yesterday.

I've spotted 1606 Last night on Eastbound Monroe/ Dearborn Downtown on the #14 Jeffery Exp.

[nflyer22]

Now that all Novas are at Archer and vice-versa for the New Flyers, does anyone know where Novas 6400 - 6407 went?

[jesi2282]

6400-6407 were also transfered to Archer.

Yesterday I saw 6402 running on the #49 Western.

[renardo870]

So with Chicago having 1000-1119 and 1330-1429, will there be another equipment switch to have numerical consistency? Kedzie 800-809, 900-909, 1120-1225, 77th 1226-1329, and NP and 103rd having 1430-1600+ mix, I guess there will be more changes this year. 74th is now all 6000 Flixibles, but that should change with them getting the next set of LF buses. either having a mix of 6000 and 1000s or all 1000.

[jesi2282]

Don't forget Chicago also has 1120 and 1121.

[Busjack]

So with Chicago having 1000-1119 and 1330-1429, will there be another equipment switch to have numerical consistency? Kedzie 800-809, 900-909, 1120-1225, 77th 1226-1329, and NP and 103rd having 1430-1600+ mix, I guess there will be more changes this year. 74th is now all 6000 Flixibles, but that should change with them getting the next set of LF buses. either having a mix of 6000 and 1000s or all 1000.

Numeric consistency isn't as important as it once was. I'm sure CTA now has computers to keep track of its assets (and that's how rmadison gets his numbers). In any event, while the Archer <-> Chicago swap can be justified by maintenance savings concerns, a Kedzie to Chicago one of 1100s certainly cannot. Similarly, the way that the Nova swap has gone, Archer will probably be in the middle and FG on both ends (except for the reported low 6400s 7->C->A).

Also, I have weighed in on my opinion of the 74th issue, and it depends on what you define as the "next set." Since the rules continually change, I am sure it will be the "last set," although whether the number still on order (400) or potentially on order (150 articulated hybrids) is enough to get to there remains to be seen.

[trainman8119]

Also, I have weighed in on my opinion of the 74th issue, and it depends on what you define as the "next set." Since the rules continually change, I am sure it will be the "last set," although whether the number still on order (400) or potentially on order (150 articulated hybrids) is enough to get to there remains to be seen.

I have figured out when 74th street will get New Flyers. Given the CTA attitude towards 103, and especially 74th, when all of the new buses have arrived, CTA will do a bus transfer from Chicago Ave to 74th street, putting the 1000 series there. This will allow 74th street to continue to have the oldest buses in the system, and allow for the continued unnecessary moving of buses (for whatever logical or maintenance issue you want to claim exists). So by this formula, figure that 74th street will have New Flyers by December 2009, or even 2010. Maybe someone at Lake street figures that 74th is still 69th street and that the garage is old and ancient and must have equipment that mirrors the old place.

[BusHunter]

I have figured out when 74th street will get New Flyers. Given the CTA attitude towards 103, and especially 74th, when all of the new buses have arrived, CTA will do a bus transfer from Chicago Ave to 74th street, putting the 1000 series there. This will allow 74th street to continue to have the oldest buses in the system, and allow for the continued unnecessary moving of buses (for whatever logical or maintenance issue you want to claim exists). So by this formula, figure that 74th street will have New Flyers by December 2009, or even 2010. Maybe someone at Lake street figures that 74th is still 69th street and that the garage is old and ancient and must have equipment that mirrors the old place.

We're up to #1611 now. It was on the #144 yesterday. That would mean 91 #1000 series buses are at both 103rd and NP. If they are replacing all TMC's at NP with #1000's, they still have a ways to go. (188 TMC's at Np before delivery started, 97 to go) Also with the influx of 74th's #4800's at 103rd that would put them a ways off too, if they are making them 100 percent 40 foot #1000's with 60 or so artics. Don't count on any new garages getting anything new until at least the low #1800's come. Then they'll probably go to Kedzie again, without the #5300's that leaves them only at 70 TMC's to replace. Then they'll go to 77th again and finish them off. 74th would probably be the last garage to get anything now that they have the #6000's. 74th would probably get some #1000's when the hybrid artics come in at 77th, and 103rd, because that will displace a few #1000's over there. Also the hybrids will come at Np to replace the #5800's and maybe displace a couple #1000's too. That's what I think's going to happen.

[Busjack]

I have figured out when 74th street will get New Flyers. Given the CTA attitude towards 103, and especially 74th, when all of the new buses have arrived, CTA will do a bus transfer from Chicago Ave to 74th street, putting the 1000 series there. This will allow 74th street to continue to have the oldest buses in the system, and allow for the continued unnecessary moving of buses (for whatever logical or maintenance issue you want to claim exists). So by this formula, figure that 74th street will have New Flyers by December 2009, or even 2010. Maybe someone at Lake street figures that 74th is still 69th street and that the garage is old and ancient and must have equipment that mirrors the old place.

Two minor quibbles:

• 74th did have the newest buses in 1995, but obviously not now, having received no Novas or New Flyers (and obviously no NABIs, whether one would want them). Archer and Chicago were restocked twice since then (although Archer got the more recent surprise that it was losing the NFs).
  
• Option 4 runs out in Feb. 2009 or thereabouts, so, as said, "whether the number still on order (400) or potentially on order (150 articulated hybrids) is enough to get to there remains to be seen." Or if the articulated hybrids will come as scheduled, as board action has been delayed at least two more months, or the cash for the approximately 85 or so additional buses to complete the retirement of the 1995 ones ever appears.
  

Probably all useless speculation, but fun. I do agree with the thrust of traiman's observation, though.

[sw4400]

NOVA #6400 was on #49 SB this afternoon at about almost 3p. I also saw #6883 heading WB on #152 around the same time. First bus & last bus in the fleet almost crossed paths today!

[Buslover88]

I saw #1085 and #1037 heading WB on #76 Diversey today.