CTA 2004 NABI Articulated LF bus(60-LFW) #7646 (RETIRED)

[knightclassic1]

I don't miss these junks at all. They were the worst ever since they were brand new.

[jirehmartin]

I wanted to hear the engine withut the AC. :(

[baul104]

@jirehmartin: Sorry, you're way too late for this one. This is the ONLY video footage on board that I have. ALL NABI 60-LFW units are retired.

[metroktransit]

I rode these NABI's my first time in April & Sept. 2006 & July 2007. These buses rode messed up & blew out a lot of black smoke. They broke down a lot. This is a cool video.

[baul104]

@metroktransit: Thanks! Sadly, you won't be able to see anymore NABI 60-LFWs at Chicago...

[Transit159]

this bus is already retired?

[baul104]

@Transit159: Yes, this bus has been retired due to structual problems with its articulated joints.

[Transit159]

@baul104 so did they get scraped or another transit got them?

[baul104]

@Transit159: They were either sent back to NABI or they were scrapped. Even if they were sent back to NABI, they would still be scrapped.

[Transit159]

@baul104 would of been nice if OCTA had saved these

[baul104]

@Transit159: Sorry, but these are the only buses available on YouTube. Plus, these buses were replaced with the 2008-2009 New Flyer DE60LF Hybrid Articulated buses.

[Transit159]

@baul104 would of been nice if OCTA had saved these buses

do you have any other videos of these buses

[qwandiddy]

@baul104 So far, most of them still sitting at few CTA garages abandoned, half of them already been scrapped.

[knightclassic1]

@Transit159 There are still plenty of them still sitting at 77th and 103rd yard, some of them already beat up about to be ready for scrap. NABI Corporation at Alabama didn't want anything to do with these crappy buses.

[theladiesman0607]

How I miss this great bus engine sound. :(

[baul104]

@theladiesman0607: Same here... I've only ridden on it once...

[Jabbajawz4life]

oh well they were re-called! NEW FLYERS RULE!

[newflyer12]

these should of had cummins m11

[baul104]

LOL! No way! If they had, then these buses could've been built since the mid-90's.

[fargeek]

Wow we only have the 40lfws in AZ I

[910364]

Sounds Like a Scania K270UA or K310UA artic we have here in Australia All Our buses in Austarlia Have the Air con unit on top of bus and engine rear mounted. Strange that a bus only 6yrs to be retired We Have A Prototype Merc O305g o-bahn bus a bus which can be driven on a special track at high speeds or normal road that has been in service since 1982 and not going to be retired until 2011. We also have Man artics that are around 22-23 years and most probably won't be retired till the 27 yrs

[baul104]

Wow! I didn't know your articulated buses in your hometown of Australia were used for a long time. The reason why this bus of CTA Chicago was retired in 2009because of structual problems with its articulated joint. They were replaced with the 2008-2009's New Flyer DE60LF Hybrod Articulated buses. The ways in the U.S. are different than in Australia.

[qwandiddy]

@910364 Hey, Does your city in Australia still has Renault PR100s??  I love their buses.

[910364]

@qwandiddy

Canberra and Perth Stlll Have PR100 and PR180 Adelaide never had Renaults only Mercs, MAN Volvo and now shitty Scanias

[ea90744]

One thing u gotta understand about the 60LFW. It was a new model for NABI to introduce. CTA was in a hurry to retire the MAN artics. They got these new buses. They were plauged with problems that shouldve been covered by warranty...added the severe winter conditions of the region. Hopefully CTA has learned a lesson. When experimenting with an product, start off small. Identify problems and have it fixed via warranty. If you like the company + support, order more w/ mods from last order.

[baul104]

Agreed. They should've done an experiement test run for at least one up to six months before deciding whether to purchase these 60-LFW buses or not. They could've just kept at least two of MAN Articulated buses in service until the DE60LF Hybrid Articulated buses came into service. And yes, thats the lesson CTA will never forget.

[qwandiddy]

@baul104 I agree, I always loved their MAN Articulated bus better than these. If Detroit would've still have their 1989 Neoplan Artics then they probably could've sold them to CTA too. NABI Artics was started having bunch of problems while brand new, I saw most of these broke down more than MAN Americana buses in 2004. lol

[suidrac]

heh, as if CTA wasn't going through enough financial problems. I loved those old super fast man artics (which were mainly used for express busses). I missed the manual rolling marquee sign. I remember seeing some that were different colored from CTA's normal fleet. tan and white I believe for a brief while. I think they were from Seattle werent they? The 08-09 ones they have now look like trains. ^_^

[knightclassic1]

@suidrac Apparently, the CTA's New Flyer Artics aren't that safe buses during the winter, just like majority of New Flyers, I would refuse to drive them on express routes on a blizzard weather after what happened 1-2 years ago when one got in a accident, lose control got in a ditch while working #6 Jackson Park Express.

[qwandiddy]

@ea90744 In my opinion, MAN Artics, especailly Ex- Seattles 7300s were Better than this crappy NABI, I'm glad that they're gone.

R.I.P NABI 7500s.

[mmZo6]

At least this one sounds good

[jirehmartin]

It would sound good if the damn air conditioner was was on !

[s88Limitedbus]

The NABI 60LFW were worst buses built ever,even tho this bus sounnds good,they were worst bus built ever.

These buses will never return to service.

NABI discontinued the 60LFW model last year in 2008 due to poor sales and porblems with CTA's one.

I wonder if NABI is going out of bisnuess after CTA's NABI Artic issue.

NABI

[ea90744]

@s88Limitedbus - NABI isnt going anywhere. They are still making money and busy making buses for NJT, LACMTA, and other small orders nationwide.

[8v71buses]

I live the way the A/C fan sounds on a NABI bus. Sounds more powerful than the A/C fans on a New Flyer bus. Besides I like NABI buses better

[fargeek]

yeah me to plus the air conditioning unit is on top so therefore that wall in the back actually makes the bus a bit quieter

[WMATAvids]

Hmm. Our NABI BRT CNG Buses sound just like this but when the AC is on. But the BRT's are CNG so they have a CNG engine but are you sure this bus does not have Alison B400R?

[baul104]

When I've first rode the NABI Articulated bus back in May of 2008, I thought it has the Allison World B400R transmission but a few of the users told me that this bus has the ZF ECOMAT-2 6HP-602C automatic.

[s88Limitedbus]

after the NABIs had issues and they had to all be pulled from service,from what i know they will be retire permeantly.

Also CTA will most likely NEVER buy NABIs (not even Optima Bus and Bluebird) ever again.

CTA has since been devoted to New Flyer.

[TheAlaska123]

1 some of those buses still run as chater and crap 2 they only 10 years old3 they arint retired los nagles and newyork has some

[baul104]

Folks, before commenting, I just want to inform you that ALL CTA's NABI Articulated buses have been withdrawn from the service due to structural problems.

[jirehmartin]

instead of all of them, why can't they just take the one that did have the problem.

[baul104]

Sorry, but all of the NABI Articulated buses were withdrawn for safety reasons.

[juan833cheer]

I guess the DE60 low-floors will be the permanent articulated buses for the Chicago Transit Authority I guess that NABI low-floor artics weren't safe in the 1st place.

[MBTAguy]

The NABIs are plain junk. The MBTA is having similar issues with its 40-LFWs, although none of the issues are severe enough to pull the entire fleet out of service. The fleet is actually being overhauled right now after only 5 years in service. If the MBTA had ordered 60-LFWs, I'm sure they'd be out of service right now, just as CTA's are. Luckily, they went with Neoplan for 60 foot buses which are holding up very well.

[Busmaniban]

This bus does have a S50!!

[richardflint07]

It;s the ZF Ecomat-2 HP-602C.

[baul104]

I know. MetroLinerXLZ mentioned it to me a few months ago.

[ClassicTVMan81]

ZF Ecomat II 6HP-602. Current version sold is the Ecomat IV 6HP-604.

[rdj0690]

The A/C is really throwin' off the sound!

That SHOULD be a ISL 330hp w/ allison... with LOTS of extra pump noise! lol!

BUT

The nearest NABI artics in SF Bay Area are SamTrans: 436 High Floor buses 100-151. The have the ISC/330hp and an Allison trans.

What other city has NABI LowFloor artics?

[metroktransit]

That bus has a ZF transmission

[magicsitck9916]

No it doesn not... This bus sounds exactly the same as our 0100 series gillig advantages here in Fort Lauderdale with Cummins ISL paired with a Allison B400R.

[metroktransit]

You got to hear it with the AC off.

[baul104]

Actually, this bus does have the ZF ECOMAT 2HP-602C automatic transmission.

[baul104]

To magicstick9916: This bus does have the ZF transmission.

[baul104]

Yes it does. I've done a research about it and this NABI Articulated bus does have the ZF Ecomat-2 6HP-602C automatic transmission.

[jirehmartin]

i love this bus !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[baul104]

I like this bus too! My city doesn't have NABI 60ft Articulated LF bus, but they used to have the 1989 Neoplan AN-460s #8900-8913, but all of them were retired in either 2001 or 2002. Oh, and I was visiting Chicago for the second time in 7 years.

[richardflint07]

It's a Detroit Diesel Series 50 DDEC Engine. and a Allison B-500R.

[baul104]

That's what I was thinking. Thanks!

[MetroLinerXLZ]

Actually, the bus has Cummins ISL engine and ZF 5HP-602 transmission. It sounds like an S50 with the A/C on.

[baul104]

This bus does have the Series 50 engine because when you listen to the engine outside of this bus, it truely is the Series 50 engine.

[MetroLinerXLZ]

The CTA hasn't touched Detroit Diesel since delivery of the 5800-series New Flyers and 6000-series Flxibles. Since then Cummins has been CTA's main choice, as noticed in the NovaBus LFS's (which have Cummins ISC).

Again, the NABI's have Cummins ISL. If you're looking for the Detroit Diesel S50 in a NABI, you'll need to roam around in PACE Suburban Bus territory.

[venom2nd]

I did the research on these coaches. the powertrain according to chicagobus{.}org is DD50/ZF combo

[s88Limitedbus]

CTA's artics have S50 EGR metroliner XLZ,you don't know anythinbg.

CTA's NABI Artic engine is S50EGR,just to correct you.

[baul104]

Sorry for the very late reply, but I've did some research online about it and they do have the Series 50 EGR engine; unforunately, this bus has been scrapped.

[coreyprkr2005]

thats also the same for GRTC, they havent fucked wit DD since the 500/700s Gillig Low Floors came in back in 2000/2001.

[richardflint07]

SO i was wrong about the guess. okay. then it is the HP- Ecomat 2 HP-602C. The Same Powertrain Used on the New Flyer Vikings in Houston Harris County.

[richardflint07]

Nice Detroit Engine. I Like the Sound of it. The NABI Artic is Amazing to Sound with.

[Caitsith810]

Sounds like Detroit Diesel Engine. The Artics here in NYC sounds alot like that in a way