History of Flyer buses (#9800's, #1600's)

[BusHunter]

This is a complete retirement list of flyer buses as I know it. Flyer buses were first received on August 4th, 1983 when they were received at the Beverly garage. All were known to exist until the later 80's. #1614 was never put in service due to the cracks discovered in the frame of that vehicle. Also #9822 was taken out of service from the same issue and had to be ultimatly replaced in 1986 by #9822II. Both vehicles were simply numbered #9822 throughout their service lives. Then around 1996 #9845 and #9889 were retired. But the cuts of 97/98 proved to be the most devastating to the fleet bringing the total active flyer fleet down to 114 buses 17 1600's and 97 9800's. The 114 buses were out of three garages in the post 97/98 era Archer, Forest Glen and 77th. This is that list. First at Archer there was 34 buses they were #9801, #9802, #9803, #9804, #9805, #9807, #9808, #9810, #9813, #9814, #9815, #9816, #9818, #9819, #9824, #9826, #9827, #9828, #9832, #9833, #9835, #9837, #9838, #9839, #9841, #9842, #9846, #9848, #9851, #9853, #9936, #9937, #9938, #9971. The last 4 were shifts from other garages and were only there in 2000-01. At Forest Glen there was 60 buses they were. #1602, #1603, #1604, #1606, #1607, #1608, #1609, #1610, #1611, #1612, #1613, #1616, #1619, #1620, #1621, #1622, #1624, #9850, #9856, #9858, #9865, #9867, #9868, #9869, #9871, #9875, #9876, #9879, #9880, #9881, #9885, #9886, #9890, #9891, #9892, #9893, #9895, #9896, #9897, #9899, #9901, #9903, #9905, #9906, #9907, #9908, #9912, #9913, #9914, #9916, #9921, #9922, #9925, #9927, #9930, #9934, #9935, #9940, #9941, #9942 And finally the last 20 buses at 77th were #9800, #9825, #9829, #9830, #9831, #9843, #9948, #9949, #9957, #9958, #9960, #9961, #9962, #9964, #9966, #9967, #9969, #9970, #9972, #9974 The first 6 in this group were shifted from Archer to 77th in 2000-01. In 2001 the Nova buses brought the final retirement to the flyer buses. First changes were at 77th. Most of their Flyers were shifted to Forest Glen after the first Novas started to arrive on 12/5/2000. Then at Archer the same thing started to occur 4/2001 when they received their first Nova buses. With Forest Glen being tied up with all these buses there started massive retirements because there was only a need for about 60 buses. Most buses received from Archer were lucky if they stuck around for a week or two. Then around 6/11/2001 Americanas were brought in further taking down the fleet. By late June or early July 2001 the Flyer fleet had fallen to about 33 buses with 28 Americanas at the glen. ( I found this list and will post it tomorrow okay) Finally as more Americanas came in Flyer buses left. By 8/27/2001 Fg was down to their final buses. #9832 was sighted by me on this date on the #152 Addison with #1620 following on 9/11/2001 the last time a Flyer bus was in revenue traffic service. A few buses stayed at the fg garage. The last buses on the far north fence at Forest Glen stayed at the garage until the week of 4/12/2002. That week in the night about 9 or 10pm bus wreckers were called in to tow them away to south shops. #9934 and #9897 and #9960 and #9949 was among them. Ironically #9949 and #9960 were sitting at the garage since the end of 2000 and saw barely any service out of Forest Glen. The rest is history.

[New Flyer]

The Flyers were also sent to Limits garage as well, I was working there at the time, that was before they put the new faster engines in them. Snails use to race us down the street.

[Danielsmusic]

The Flyers were also sent to Limits garage as well, I was working there at the time, that was before they put the new faster engines in them. Snails use to race us down the street.

I drove one once on the 135 in 1993. It was slower than my lawn mower.

[Danielsmusic]

This is a complete retirement list of flyer buses as I know it. <snip>

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

[jajuan]

This is a complete retirement list of flyer buses as I know it. <snip>

Also let's not forget that some of the Flyers from the old Limits garage went to Kedzie for a couple of years after Limits was closed.

[Danielsmusic]

Also let's not forget that some of the Flyers from the old Limits garage went to Kedzie for a couple of years after Limits was closed.

Right. I remember the 156 was 80% Flyer at one point.

[jajuan]

Right. I remember the 156 was 80% Flyer at one point.

Yes the old 37 Sedwick/Ogden as well until the 6000s started arriving at Kedzie, and the 37 later became accessible. At that point, Flyers started getting transferred to the Glen and 156 switched to mostly Americana.

[Danielsmusic]

Yes the old 37 Sedwick/Ogden as well until the 6000s started arriving at Kedzie, and the 37 later became accessible. At that point, Flyers started getting transferred to the Glen and 156 switched to mostly Americana.

I remember that, too.

[Busjack]

At that point, Flyers started getting transferred to the Glen and 156 switched to mostly Americana.

Seeing Americanas on 156 hit me as somewhat weird, in that it was a boulevard route, and always used GMCs until the events the rest of you related.

[Danielsmusic]

Seeing Americanas on 156 hit me as somewhat weird, in that it was a boulevard route, and always used GMCs until the events the rest of you related.

It was Americana for a couple years. And what does a boulevard have anything to do with the type of bus assigned to the route?

[jajuan]

It was Americana for a couple years. And what does a boulevard have anything to do with the type of bus assigned to the route?

Right. Jackson is a boulevard and the 126 which operates on that boulevard was operated by Americanas (except weekends) for over a decade. Same for Jeffery Boulevard. The 6 pre LSD restructuring and the 14 operated Americanas through there throughout the 90s. Garfield had Americanas up until 1996. The old 131 and Green line replacement 23 operated them at various times in their history on Washington Boulevard. There are plenty of boulevards which had Americanas at some point so being a boulevard had no bearing of Americanas operating there.

[Busjack]

It was Americana for a couple years. And what does a boulevard have anything to do with the type of bus assigned to the route?

You boys don't go back far enough. Enough said.

[trainman8119]

You boys don't go back far enough. Enough said.

I do, but I am a little short on what you are trying to say here...I am a bit confused. Send me an IM and we can keep it to our old selves. ;)

[BusHunter]

My list is just a retirement list, it's not an assignment list. (just after the 97/98 cuts.) You know in looking back in my records you guys are right I have between 1991- 1994 #9972 - #9849 and #1600 - #1624 at Limits. I think if I'm remembering correctly that was the entire roster at Limits at that time. As far as the lawnmower comment (which made me laugh by the way) nothing is worse than a #5300 with a full load and a hot engine. Rode one once on #81 and it was crawling on startup a turtle could beat him across the street. :o

[Danielsmusic]

Right. Jackson is a boulevard and the 126 which operates on that boulevard was operated by Americanas (except weekends) for over a decade. Same for Jeffery Boulevard. The 6 pre LSD restructuring and the 14 operated Americanas through there throughout the 90s. Garfield had Americanas up until 1996. The old 131 and Green line replacement 23 operated them at various times in their history on Washington Boulevard. There are plenty of boulevards which had Americanas at some point so being a boulevard had no bearing of Americanas operating there.

Your comment doesn't really make sense. The original response said that it was odd to see Americanas on a boulevard route. You're arguing a completely different point.

[jajuan]

Your comment doesn't really make sense. The original response said that it was odd to see Americanas on a boulevard route. You're arguing a completely different point.

No I'm not. If you read a little more closely you'll see I'm agreeing with you and that I'm pointing out other boulevards that had Americanas at some point to show that it's not so odd to have seen them on one. Jackson, Jeffery, Garfield and Washington are boulevards and the routes mentioned did have Americanas operating on them at one point or another, some a bit longer than others.

[Danielsmusic]

No I'm not. If you read a little more closely you'll see I'm agreeing with you and that I'm pointing out other boulevards that had Americanas at some point to show that it's not so odd to have seen them on one. Jackson, Jeffery, Garfield and Washington are boulevards and the routes mentioned did have Americanas operating on them at one point or another, some a bit longer than others.

Very sorry. I didn't see the word "no" in the last sentence, so I was completely baffled by your statement.

[jajuan]

Very sorry. I didn't see the word "no" in the last sentence, so I was completely baffled by your statement.

No problem. I made the same mistake sometimes reading other members' post.

[sw4400]

I thought that the CTA was done with Flyer after the 9800's/1600's in 1983, but it turns out that they were planning for more Flyer D901's in 1985, but ultimately cancelled the order(probably due to the problems with the frames of the other D901A's).

[Busjack]

I thought that the CTA was done with Flyer after the 9800's/1600's in 1983, but it turns out that they were planning for more Flyer D901's in 1985, but ultimately cancelled the order(probably due to the problems with the frames of the other D901A's).

Very strange. However, I wonder about that, as Bill V. reported that the MAN 4000s started arriving about the same time, and I doubt that CTA could drop an order and initiate one with a different manufacturer at the drop of a hat.

On the other hand, if we assume that the person who provided the caption had personal knowledge, it would indicate that in 1985, CTA knew how to cancel an order with a manufacturer with a history of structural defects in its buses, but somehow lost that skill in 2003.

[trainman8119]

From what I remember, the order was actually cancelled as the last of the 9900's were arriving. The CTA told Flyer to deliver what was to become the 1600's and be done with the rest because they were not happy with how Flyer was handling the cracked frame issue (probably a fear after the Flxible RTA mess).

[BusHunter]

Very strange. However, I wonder about that, as Bill V. reported that the MAN 4000s started arriving about the same time, and I doubt that CTA could drop an order and initiate one with a different manufacturer at the drop of a hat.

On the other hand, if we assume that the person who provided the caption had personal knowledge, it would indicate that in 1985, CTA knew how to cancel an order with a manufacturer with a history of structural defects in its buses, but somehow lost that skill in 2003.

#9822II was built I believe in 1986. I believe I have pictures taken from the replacement GM fishbowls that date to 1987. It would seem by the dates I state above the problem was either starting late 1985 or early 1986. This would put it after the June 1985 arrival of #4000's. It seems to me that the #4000's were on there way anyway regardless of the flyer's fate back then. The only way to really know would be to examine the contracts back then, but if so it would have most likely mean't we would've had more Flyer's than MAN standards. Someone's loss is someone else's gain.

[sw4400]

See if this brings back some memories, Flyer D901A fans. The sound of a Flyer in action!!!

This one says it's a 6V71N Detroit paired with a Allison V730 transmission. As far as I know, all the Flyers we had were 6V92TA's, but could some have been 6V71N's in those 174 we had? It sounds like the 1980's all over again in my ears.

[Guest]

See if this brings back some memories, Flyer D901A fans. The sound of a Flyer in action!!!

This one says it's a 6V71N Detroit paired with a Allison V730 transmission. As far as I know, all the Flyers we had were 6V92TA's, but could some have been 6V71N's in those 174 we had? It sounds like the 1980's all over again in my ears.

Sounds so Chicago!!! Thx for posting! I remember when Forest Glen had the (replacement) #9822 for a little while, it had a larger destination sign and Flyer #9844 which was assigned to FG for a good while after the closure of North Ave., all Flyers were consolidated from North Ave. to FG in Sept. 1986. Flyer #9844 was equipped with a Cummins Diesel instead of the standard Detroits. I remember it sounded really cool!

[sw4400]

Flyer #9844 was equipped with a Cummins Diesel instead of the standard Detroits. I remember it sounded really cool!

I think I found a Flyer that'll make you , CTA5750!!! Listen to this clip!!! Engine: Cummins VTB-903 Transmission: Allison V730