[CTA5750]

Anyone able to get any shots at Archer Garage? Is there anything to worth snapping photos of?

[qwantae]

CTA5750, on 07 February 2010 - 02:36 PM, said:

Anyone able to get any shots at Archer Garage? Is there anything to worth snapping photos of?

I'll snap the photos on the part where the Street cars used to be at. I want to get there by Tuesday or Wednesday myself and of course get a picture of my 6000s there which is funny for them being there since they never been on Archer Runs before. But I'm glad that 6000s are being saved there (not retired permanetly yet) and because I do feel in my spirit that things will be back to normal soon.

[pudgym29]

Here are some of the last photos I took of Flxible buses.
"-121" & "-123" are from Sunday, 31 January.
"-126" & "-129" are from Thursday, 4 February.

[Busjack]

As I mentioned elsewhere, there are still 9 in the FG north lot.

[jajuan]

Busjack, on 07 February 2010 - 11:24 PM, said:

As I mentioned elsewhere, there are still 9 in the FG north lot.

Perhaps they didn't they just make it to Archer for storage yet because FG did have the opportunity to use them yesterday which wouldn't have been out of the ordinary but didn't do so.

[chitowndude84]

New guy here,I'm a Chicago and San Francisco/Bay area bus fan.Since I grew up in both GREAT cities

Anyways kinda weird on Tuesday night I drove around FG garage and noticed 4-5 flx 6000's on the back lot the one that STILL has a TMC 4900 parked in it. 2 or 3 of the buses where ON and idling ?? It was late evening,To dark to get fleet #'s

And last night I went by again and they where shut off and hiding behind a Nova

Just to note,I guess not ALL 6000's have gone to archer for storage ??

[Busjack]

chitowndude84, on 11 February 2010 - 02:29 AM, said:

Anyways kinda weird on Tuesday night I drove around FG garage and noticed 4-5 flx 6000's on the back lot the one that STILL has a TMC 4900 parked in it. 2 or 3 of the buses where ON and idling ?? It was late evening,To dark to get fleet #'s

And last night I went by again and they where shut off and hiding behind a Nova

Just to note,I guess not ALL 6000's have gone to archer for storage ??

Basically what I noted on Sunday, except they weren't running. If there were 4-5, that means that 4-5 were moved since then.

4901 is undoubtedly a work bus.

[cta_44499_FG]

Busjack, on 11 February 2010 - 08:15 AM, said:

Basically what I noted on Sunday, except they weren't running. If there were 4-5, that means that 4-5 were moved since then.

4901 is undoubtedly a work bus.

4901 has been in that same spot for over a year and hasn't moved since. So who knows...

[ibebobo]

I saw a 4900 at O'hare Tuesday morning

[BusHunter]

chitowndude84, on 11 February 2010 - 02:29 AM, said:

New guy here,I'm a Chicago and San Francisco/Bay area bus fan.Since I grew up in both GREAT cities

Anyways kinda weird on Tuesday night I drove around FG garage and noticed 4-5 flx 6000's on the back lot the one that STILL has a TMC 4900 parked in it. 2 or 3 of the buses where ON and idling ?? It was late evening,To dark to get fleet #'s

And last night I went by again and they where shut off and hiding behind a Nova

Just to note,I guess not ALL 6000's have gone to archer for storage ??

Most of those on the back fence probably can't make the trip to Archer on there own. Most of those buses are usually waiting on parts to repair them. I remember when the #9900's were long gone some of the last buses were towed out of those same spots to South Shops. These could end up the same way if the #6000's don't return.

[chitowndude84]

BusHunter, on 11 February 2010 - 05:00 PM, said:

Most of those on the back fence probably can't make the trip to Archer on there own. Most of those buses are usually waiting on parts to repair them. I remember when the #9900's were long gone some of the last buses were towed out of those same spots to South Shops. These could end up the same way if the #6000's don't return.

hmm makes sense.


Funny you bring up the old flyers,Man I remember living near Milwaukee/Devon 10 years ago,RIGHT in front of the Imlay terminal and got to see LOTS of bus action....270 pace,Niles free bus,CTA and once a orion 2300 series on a layover or reroute ? And on a rare occasion,I do remember seeing a 1600/9000 Flyer on a Joy ride ?? or "Maintenance test" around 1-2 am in that terminal,Around early 2001 LOL ahh memories

[BusHunter]

chitowndude84, on 11 February 2010 - 11:55 PM, said:

hmm makes sense.


Funny you bring up the old flyers,Man I remember living near Milwaukee/Devon 10 years ago,RIGHT in front of the Imlay terminal and got to see LOTS of bus action....270 pace,Niles free bus,CTA and once a orion 2300 series on a layover or reroute ? And on a rare occasion,I do remember seeing a 1600/9000 Flyer on a Joy ride ?? or "Maintenance test" around 1-2 am in that terminal,Around early 2001 LOL ahh memories

It was really cool in the early 90's before the #5400's arrived. There were quite a few Flyers at FG. They also had #9974 which had the black window frames and digital destination. Before there final retirement #9974 came back to Fg for a couple weeks. Those were good times.

[rotjohns]

Well well well. How many people expected this coming? A bus shortage has resulted in 6 Flxibles returning to service coming out of 103rd street garage? I'm sure there are several factors to this, but I wonder if the number of bus accidents played a part among them?

[sw4400]

rotjohns, on 04 July 2010 - 10:44 AM, said:

Well well well. How many people expected this coming? A bus shortage has resulted in 6 Flxibles returning to service coming out of 103rd street garage? I'm sure there are several factors to this, but I wonder if the number of bus accidents played a part among them?

They might only be for cooling buses for the Taste of Chicago and the Fireworks tonight. Anyone going there tonight check these locations:

-Foster Beach Parking Lot
-Wilson/Simonds Drive Parking Lot
-Montrose/Simonds Drive Parking Lot
-East 63rd St.
-South Stony Island
-LaRibida Hospital
-Museum of Science and Industry Parking Lot
-East 54th St. at the Lakefront

These are the areas where the CTA cooling buses will be located.

As Kevin said in his report, they activated them on July 2nd. Since they've been sitting without being ran since February 6th(Approx. 5 months), the CTA probably had to do some considerable work on Saturday to get them running for today:

-Add Diesel, Oil and any other necessary fluids
-Check and change(if necessary) rotors, brake shoes, and the air brake system in general
-Change the fuel filters(if they're clogged, the bus will run very rough, or not even start)
-Air/Replace the tires
-Test the Wheelchair Lifts, and fix if needed
-Drive them around the lot or a short distance from Archer, so the transmission will work properly after sitting for a while.

[jajuan]

rotjohns, on 04 July 2010 - 04:44 PM, said:

Well well well. How many people expected this coming? A bus shortage has resulted in 6 Flxibles returning to service coming out of 103rd street garage? I'm sure there are several factors to this, but I wonder if the number of bus accidents played a part among them?

I can see sw's explanation since I can't see these buses running that well for revenue passenger service after jst sitting with no kind of maintenance for five months . Also there wouldn't be a shortage at 103rd (if they are to be used on the road) if so many buses from there weren't transferred two weekends ago to Kedzie, NP and the other garages that took in buses previously assigned to 103rd.

[sw4400]

While on the #11 yesterday afternoon several cars away from the NB Irving Park stop, I spotted a New Flyer heading south on Damen, followed by a Flxible(it had the new circular logo). I couldn't tell if it had passengers or not, nor it's number from my distance, but from what I could barely see, and I might be wrong about this, it might've said 61xx.

Anyone seen a 61xx rolling around???

[BusExpert32]

Will the Flxibles be in revenue service next week?

[qwantae]

BusExpert32, on 10 July 2010 - 09:48 AM, said:

Will the Flxibles be in revenue service next week?

I assuming that they probably went back to Archer Garage after the 4th. It's ashame that I never get to see them on the 4th because I was out of town. I'm praying that the services will be restore soon and 6000s will return to service.

[BusExpert32]

qwantae, on 10 July 2010 - 07:43 PM, said:

I assuming that they probably went back to Archer Garage after the 4th. It's ashame that I never get to see them on the 4th because I was out of town. I'm praying that the services will be restore soon and 6000s will return to service.

I don't think they were used on July 4th. They probably needed a week for maintenence on the buses to keep them running again.

[BusExpert32]

Do the Flxibles at 103rd have bustracker?