What's left for #5300 Flxibles

[Buslover88]

Only 16 FLX 5300s left at Chicago -- 5362, 5445, 5448, 5449, 5520, 5571, 5574, 5596, 5618, 5643, 5652, 5680, 5687, 5696, 5709, and 5766

So this means #5744 is retired?

[greenstreet]

So this means #5744 is retired?

According to the CTA assignment sheet, 5744 was retired from Chicago in November.

[MetroShadow]

There was a 5600 while I was driving on the west side that broke down (I want to say it was North Avenue) last night...so we can possibly scratch one more off

[Buslover88]

According to the CTA assignment sheet, 5744 was retired from Chicago in November.

That wasn't some news I was looking very much forward to. I just rode 5744 on #76 back in October. I will miss that bus.

[mikeymc77]

That may be the last photo of 5601 in service.

It seems that bus is done for.

The number of active 5300s right now is higher than the number of active 4400s.

Yup. 5601 is now out back along with 5559. Just went by there at 3PM

[geneking7320]

:) Last night I rode a 5300 [sorry I can't remember the actual vehicle number] on #70 Division westbound from Clark to Ashland. I felt as though the bus could have gone faster than it was being driven.

That is, it seemed as though it still had some life left in it.

Gene King

[Guest]

Last night I rode a 5300 [sorry I can't remember the actual vehicle number] on #70 Division westbound from Clark to Ashland. I felt as though the bus could have gone faster than it was being driven.

That is, it seemed as though it still had some life left in it.

Gene King

Could it have been #5362 ? I saw it at Central and Division yesterday.

[BusHunter]

November's update takes us to 23 left. Chicago now has #5347, #5362, #5445, #5448, #5449, #5492, #5520, #5559, #5571, #5574, #5596, #5601, #5618, #5643, #5645, #5652, #5662, #5680, #5687, #5696, #5709, #5744 and #5766, Retired are #5462, #5478, #5491, #5529, #5555, #5578, #5682, #5702 and #5769. Update: As of December 5th we were down to 16 #5300's left Chicago now has #5362, #5445, #5448, #5449, #5520, #5571, #5574, #5596, #5618, #5643, #5652, #5680, #5687, #5696, #5709 and #5766. Retired are #5347, #5492, #5559, #5601, #5645, #5662 and #5744.

December's update takes us to 13 left. Chicago now has #5362, #5445, #5448, #5449, #5520, #5574, #5596, #5618, #5643, #5652, #5680, #5696 and #5766. Retired are #5571, #5687 and #5709.

[Busjack]

December's update takes us to 13 left. Chicago now has #5362, #5445, #5448, #5449, #5520, #5574, #5596, #5618, #5643, #5652, #5680, #5696 and #5766. Retired are #5571, #5687 and #5709.

Now. since you said that 8 were needed for 3 track bus runs, which we assume will end with the 12/28 pick....

[sw4400]

December's update takes us to 13 left. Chicago now has #5362, #5445, #5448, #5449, #5520, #5574, #5596, #5618, #5643, #5652, #5680, #5696 and #5766. Retired are #5571, #5687 and #5709.

Let's do a lottery here.... out of the remaining 12 here, which one do you think will be the very last Flxible 5300-Series bus to be retired? BTW, there is no jackpot or prize, just something fun to do during the Flxibles' last days.

My pick:.... 5520

[Busjack]

Let's do a lottery here.... out of the remaining 12 here, which one do you think will be the very last Flxible 5300-Series bus to be retired? BTW, there is no jackpot or prize, just something fun to do during the Flxibles' last days.

My pick:.... 5520

I'm not betting, because I expect next Monday a message that they are all off the roster. It is sort of like the pregnancy/birth date pool where I bet that the fetus was going to stay where he was. Can't win. :wub:

[BusHunter]

Now. since you said that 8 were needed for 3 track bus runs, which we assume will end with the 12/28 pick....

With the announcement of three track now being back to normal operation as of last saturday, I don't think there would really be a need for the 8 runs now. I'm sort of surprised there are still 13 left. According to roster info, 103rd has transferred #1438 - #1462 evens to Chicago. (13 buses) And Chicago has transferred #6082 and #6196 - #6193 to Fg. That would still give them a 7 bus surplus. They could be just setting up for this week being the end of #5300's. According to press releases they should be around for only 10 days more maximum anyway.

[BusExpert32]

With the announcement of three track now being back to normal operation as of last saturday, I don't think there would really be a need for the 8 runs now. I'm sort of surprised there are still 13 left. According to roster info, 103rd has transferred #1440 - #1462 evens to Chicago. (12 buses) And Chicago has transferred #6082 and #6196 - #6193 to Fg. That would still give them a 7 bus surplus. They could be just setting up for this week being the end of #5300's. According to press releases they should be around for only 10 days more maximum anyway.

Any reason why 103rd Garage is holding on to NF #1438 after two series of bus swaps to Chicago?

[Buslover88]

December's update takes us to 13 left. Chicago now has #5362, #5445, #5448, #5449, #5520, #5574, #5596, #5618, #5643, #5652, #5680, #5696 and #5766. Retired are #5571, #5687 and #5709.

Wow. There are only 13 of these buses left. Good to see #5362, #5448, #5520, #5574, #5596, #5618 and #5766 are still around. Farewell to #5571, #5687 and #5709. I'll miss you three buses!

Let's do a lottery here.... out of the remaining 12 here, which one do you think will be the very last Flxible 5300-Series bus to be retired? BTW, there is no jackpot or prize, just something fun to do during the Flxibles' last days.

My pick:.... 5520

My pick, personally, is #5574.

[Guest]

Let's do a lottery here.... out of the remaining 12 here, which one do you think will be the very last Flxible 5300-Series bus to be retired? BTW, there is no jackpot or prize, just something fun to do during the Flxibles' last days.

My pick:.... 5520

Ill say 5449! Simply because 5449 sounds like a number that could be a last bus! Yeah right, whatever!!

You cant pick a bus thats been picked!

[cta 5555]

From what i been told friday will be the last day. But know know with all our flyers dead. I just hope i drive one one last time this week. :(

[BusHunter]

Any reason why 103rd Garage is holding on to NF #1438 after two series of bus swaps to Chicago?

my mistake, #1438 was also transferred to Chicago.

[cta_44499_FG]

From what i been told friday will be the last day. But know know with all our flyers dead. I just hope i drive one one last time this week.

The clock is ticking pretty fast on these busses. It's a shame. I still remember riding 5555 several times on the 77 Belmont when these busses were at Forest Glen while still a student at Forest Glen. One time me and two other friends scouted out and searched for Flxibles and we were able to catch 5746 on the 50 Damen (back in its days at Kedzie). Awesome bus to ride...

We are soon living in a "boxed" society (eg. New Flyers).

All good things come to an end...one day.

[sw4400]

OT

To all the chicagobus.org members... I wish all of you a Merry Christmas!!!

-sw4400

[Buslover88]

OT

To all the chicagobus.org members... I wish all of you a Merry Christmas!!!

-sw4400

Merry Christmas to you too, sw4400!

[Guest]

I want to wish a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2009 to all my fellow ChicagoBus.org members as well as your families.

[pudgym29]

December's update takes us to 13 left. Chicago now has #5362, #5445, #5448, #5449, #5520, #5574, #5596, #5618, #5643, #5652, #5680, #5696 and #5766. Retired are #5571, #5687 and #5709.

Let's do a lottery here.... out of the remaining 12 here, which one do you think will be the very last Flxible 5300-Series bus to be retired? BTW, there is no jackpot or prize, just something fun to do during the Flxibles' last days.

My pick:.... 5520

I am going to speculate that it will be #5448. The reasoning being that it will make its last run on #54 Cicero, which is 4800 W.

[BusExpert32]

It is very likely that the last of the 5300s and 5800s will be retired simultaneuosly (just like the 4400s); therefore, we should just expect a message one of these days saying that they're all gone, instead of a message saying that only one is left on the active roster.

[jajuan]

It is very likely that the last of the 5300s and 5800s will be retired simultaneuosly (just like the 4400s); therefore, we should just expect a message one of these days saying that they're all gone, instead of a message saying that only one is left on the active roster.

Yeah I'm expecting to see that message this weekend or Monday.

[pudgym29]

I'm thinking wickedly here. Do you think there is a chance that, an afternoon pull-out from Chicago for the #132 Goose Island Express route might discover that there aren't any working New Flyers available; and he has to drive a 5300?