What's left for #5300 Flxibles

[geneking7320]

Hi Folks;

I am in Louisville,KY until 8/31/2008 on a short vacation.

TARC has some 40ft Flx Metros in operation which look [and sound] like CTA's 6000 series.

The front door is the same as the original Grumman 870 (accordian type). I will try to get a few pics and post when I get home.

Gene

[Busjack]

Hi Folks;

I am in Louisville,KY until 8/31/2008 on a short vacation.

TARC has some 40ft Flx Metros in operation which look [and sound] like CTA's 6000 series.

The front door is the same as the original Grumman 870 (accordian type). I will try to get a few pics and post when I get home.

Gene

I always found it interesting that the Ky transit authorities had backward names, like TARC.

More notable was the Transit Autority of Northern Kentucky (Covington area), with had tank in large letters on its buses. Maybe drivers would get out of the way.

[geneking7320]

I always found it interesting that the Ky transit authorities had backward names, like TARC.

More notable was the Transit Autority of Northern Kentucky (Covington area), with had tank in large letters on its buses. Maybe drivers would get out of the way.

I remember seeing a story about TANK in the old Bus World magazine years back.

TARC has a few of those "fake trolleys" and I asked the driver if they had many of the Flx Metros around.

He told me they have quite a few. I'll be here until Sunday so I hope to get a few more pics.

They also have Gillig low floors (including some hybrids).

Gene

[geneking7320]

Hi All;

I just put 4 TARC Flx Metro pics on Flickr.

Gene :)

[Busjack]

Hi All;

I just put 4 TARC Flx Metro pics on Flickr.

Gene

Could you provide a link? TARC provides 1193 search results, while tarc +bus or tarc + flx comes up with nothing.

[geneking7320]

Could you provide a link? TARC provides 1193 search results, while tarc +bus or tarc + flx comes up with nothing.

TARCBUS

I hope I didn't goof up but that should do it!

[Whippersnapper]

TARCBUS

I hope I didn't goof up but that should do it!

Most 870s and Metros had doors like that; Chicago is the only place that I have seen Metros that don't have those doors.

[michaeldavio]

I believe I saw bus 5429 being towed southbond on I94 today.

[MVTArider]

TARCBUS

I hope I didn't goof up but that should do it!

Nice pics I wonder, did the bi-fold doors on the Flx's have something to do with reflecting on the bi-fold doors of streetcars and buses gone by? Sort of like fake woodgrain interiors on a lot of '90 - '95 buses I have seen. I wonder if anyone still does bi-fold... I remember some Gillig Phantom fleet somewhere had them for rear doors.

[qwantae]

Most 870s and Metros had doors like that; Chicago is the only place that I have seen Metros that don't have those doors.

And I would like to know why Chicago ones doesnt have those doors? Because I like the other ones better, not Chicagos but I still love them (6000s/5300s)

[BusHunter]

July's update brings the total down to 77 left. At 103rd there are now 29 left they are #5347, #5362, #5402, #5434, #5436, #5442, #5445, #5448, #5449, #5454, #5457, #5511, #5529, #5541, #5610, #5618, #5622, #5624, #5625, #5629, #5632, #5636, #5643, #5645, #5646, #5652, #5662 and #5717. Retired are #5409, #5425, #5427, #5437, #5444, #5446, #5450 and #5734. At Chicago there are 48 left they are #5381, #5407, #5417, #5439, #5460, #5462, #5464, #5471, #5472, #5476,#5478, #5485, #5490 - #5493, #5520, #5528, #5544, #5553, #5555, #5559, #5560, #5569, #5571, #5574, #5575, #5578, #5588, #5596, #5600 - #5602, #5607, #5682, #5684, #5687, #5688, #5689, #5696, #5702, #5709, #5710, #5742 - #5744, #5766 and #5769. Retired are #5413, #5414, #5467, #5533, #5534 and #5579.

September's update brings the total to 46 left. Chicago now has #5347, #5362, #5402, #5407, #5434, #5442, #5445, #5449, #5462, #5464, #5478, #5490 - #5492, #5511, #5520, #5529, #5555, #5559, #5560, #5571, #5574, #5575, #5578, #5596, #5601, #5602, #5607, #5618, #5625, #5643, #5645, #5646, #5652, #5662, #5680, #5682, #5687, #5696, #5702, #5709, #5710, #5743, #5744, #5766 and #5769. retired in the last two months are #5381, #5417, #5436, #5454, #5457, #5460, #5471, #5472, #5476, #5485, #5493, #5528, #5531, #5541, #5544, #5553, #5569, #5588, #5600, #5610, #5622, #5624, #5629, #5632, #5636, #5664, #5684, #5688, #5689, #5717 and #5742. All #5300's are now gone from 103rd garage.

[nflyer22]

September's update brings the total to 46 left. Chicago now has #5347, #5362, #5402, #5407, #5434, #5442, #5445, #5449, #5462, #5464, #5478, #5490 - #5492, #5511, #5520, #5529, #5555, #5559, #5560, #5571, #5574, #5575, #5578, #5596, #5601, #5602, #5607, #5618, #5625, #5643, #5645, #5646, #5652, #5662, #5680, #5682, #5687, #5696, #5702, #5709, #5710, #5743, #5744, #5766 and #5769. retired in the last two months are #5381, #5417, #5436, #5454, #5457, #5460, #5471, #5472, #5476, #5485, #5493, #5528, #5531, #5541, #5544, #5553, #5569, #5588, #5600, #5610, #5622, #5624, #5629, #5632, #5636, #5664, #5684, #5688, #5689, #5717 and #5742. All #5300's are now gone from 103rd garage.

Wow, sad to hear 5742 is gone; better ride some of the remaining 46 next Friday when I have a day off, seeing how they don't run as often on weekends. :(

[Whippersnapper]

I probably rode 5588 on its last run on the 70. Later that night I saw it broken down westbound on Division.

[Guest]

And I would like to know why Chicago ones doesnt have those doors? Because I like the other ones better, not Chicagos but I still love them (6000s/5300s)

Well thats CTA for ya, they always have to be different. Almost every bus model theyve ordered was different than other cities.

[qwantae]

Well thats CTA for ya, they always have to be different. Almost every bus model theyve ordered was different than other cities.

Yeah is just like I love those real RTSes with both doors slides open and closes.

[MVTArider]

And I would like to know why Chicago ones doesnt have those doors? Because I like the other ones better, not Chicagos but I still love them (6000s/5300s)

Yeah is just like I love those real RTSes with both doors slides open and closes.

I wonder, could the doors on the Flx's and the RTS's being different have anything to do with an RFP requirement or a CTA regulation? <_<

[Busjack]

I wonder, could the doors on the Flx's and the RTS's being different have anything to do with an RFP requirement or a CTA regulation?

On the RTSs, that was a result of the FTA upholding CTA's contention that the lift had to be in the front. That resulted in the development of the RTS-08. RTSs with the slide doors that had lifts before that usually had them at the rear. The front door was real narrow and the rear one real wide.

The Flxs don't seem to have an explanation, as it appears from sites such as Bus Explorer that the accordion front doors were continued on other systems' accessible models made after 1990. Thus, one assumes it was CTA specs. When you buy 800, I guess you get what you want.

[mikeymc77]

:( Any current update on what is left? They supposedly will be gone by Thanksgiving. Its probably a far-fetched idea, but would someone have any knowledge when the final call or last run would be?

[jajuan]

Any current update on what is left? They supposedly will be gone by Thanksgiving. Its probably a far-fetched idea, but would someone have any knowledge when the final call or last run would be?

You're right it's a far fetched idea. I don't think even the CTA can say for sure exactly when the last run will be. It's not something that's solidly set in stone, hence the phrase 'retired by Thanksgiving.' It could be the beginning of next month for all we know considering there are two series being retired for sure with the 1000-series D40LFs being currently in delivery as well as one being retired and another partially retired pending the start of DE60LFs, which are two months late now. Remember the 5300s should have been gone last year. Things are now on fast track though given that the 4400s were originally set to be gone by next year.

[Buslover88]

retired in the last two months are #5381, #5476, #5493, #5569

And I had seen those buses in the last two to three months operating routes like #76 Diversey or #65 Grand. Shows how time flies by.

Any current update on what is left?

From the last count, there were 46 left. Probably fewer then that by now.

[ibebobo]

And I had seen those buses in the last two to three months operating routes like #76 Diversey or #65 Grand. Shows how time flies by.

From the last count, there were 46 left. Probably fewer then that by now.

What do they do with these that are still running? Is there an auction or do they just sell them for scrap?

[cta 5555]

U can add 5434,5407 and 5710 to that list. I drove 5434 last tues and wed it was out back.

[Buslover88]

What do they do with these that are still running? Is there an auction or do they just sell them for scrap?

To be honest, I have no idea because I don't know hardly anything about scrap in general.

U can add 5434,5407 and 5710 to that list.

To the retirement list, right?

[jajuan]

What do they do with these that are still running? Is there an auction or do they just sell them for scrap?

CTA's retired buses either get scrapped, used as work buses by CTA maintenance personnel, or in the case of those that have managed to make it to the Bus and Rail Museum have their drive shafts removed to render them inoperable before being placed on display. A picture of MAN 4255 was posted a while ago showing it being used as a workbus at the Skokie Shops. A few TMC 4900s, Flyer 9800s, GMC fishbowls, and old Flxibles from the 1960s have also been used as work buses. There is also a former 4900 being used by the Chicago Police Department and a Fishbowl that was given to the Fire Department some years ago.

[greenstreet]

Five more 5300s added to the retirement list - 5361, 5407, 5434, 5625 and 5646

Now there are only 33 left assigned to Chicago.