CTA’s 1983 New Flyer D901A review

After reviewing the 1985 Man Americana that Cta once had I figured I better do a review on the D901A too. This review is mainly based on It’s 18-19 year track record with the CTA from 1983 to 2001 Sit back and relax as I review a bus from the past. TheGTWRailfan1995 Signing off.

[@steveandrade3477]

I remember these. I rode them on route 77 and 82 as a kid. I'll never forget the engine note, it was my favorite of all the CTA stock.

[@mtanyctrainatlantamartatra7164]

Nice video and interesting, our bee line buses here in NYC had the accordion man buses, we didn't have the 40ft version man Americana model, I wish we did. Love the nabi buses ya'll used to have, I know some of ya'll hated those nabi accordion buses.

[@reginaldsmith2619]

I remember those buses in the eighties.

[@AJsBusVideos]

It's harsh I never got to ride as I was born the same year these buses were retired. Also, a couple of pointers: They originally had 6V71N engines before rehab; rehabbed buses got the 6V92TAs And 3 units were rejected: 1614, 9822 and one other 98xx unit. They were sold to Brandon Transit in Ontario as 36-38.

[@JGTVideos]

I heard about them on one of the old chitransit forum from a few years ago. 1614,9822 and supposedly 9830 went to Brandon Transit in the late 80’s early 90’s.

[@knightclassic1]

Its ashame that CTA didn't save any of these but Boston MBTA, San Francisco MUNI and Seattle KC Metro saved couple of their D901s/D902s

[@StevenWWade]

I do remembered seeing this bus on various occasions routes like 6,12, 17, 24, 25, 30, 43, 64, 71, 78, 82, 84, 86, 88, 91, 103, 108, 112, 125, 126, and 152. I recall riding them on 24, 71, and 112. Also these buses were kinda hot inside due to lack of AC and they did shown their age during the late 90s too.

[@JGTVideos]

Those were the days but yea They really didn’t come with AC so the only other option was to open the emergency hatch or also to slide the windows to get some relief.

[@StevenWWade]

@@JGTVideos I vaguely remembered the two toned green scheme since I was barely 4 when it was completely gone. I do remembered seeing the Green scheme on a Man Americana bus on the 82 bus.

[@StevenWWade]

@@JGTVideos Noticed you were born 20 years ago. Nice job doing extensive research. I used to so the same because I do remembered certain buses being assigned to certain garages between 98-06. During 98-00, the 103rd Garage got only Man American, Man Articulated , and Flxible Metro B. Of course all accessible routes in that garage must used the latter. Keep up the great reviews and fact checking.

[@JGTVideos]

@@StevenWWade I appreciate it bro When I do reviews I always double check before I mentioned a particular garage,bus,& years because sometimes I would tend to mistaken a bus for the wrong garage or wrong transit agency therefore I implemented that all reviews after the TMC’s being released on a schedule should be reviewed before it’s due just for that reason.

[@argentriaharden8302]

@@StevenWWade It'd be nice to see that two-tone green scheme brought back--that would be especially appropriate, now that the more environmentally friendly electric-powered buses are currently in service!

[@RTD8481]

9844 originally had a Cummins VTB903 engine. Later reequipped with the 6V92

[@JGTVideos]

Gotcha I read up upon 9844 and it’s pretty interesting to see that it didn’t have a DD 6v92 at first

[@baul104]

They sounded like DDOT's 1992-1993 NFI D40HF units #3000-3120 Detroit used to have, but their transmissions were the Allison V-731/VR-731.

[@JGTVideos]

Detroit’s 92-93 NFI D40HF units sounded pretty cool to be honest

[@baul104]

@@JGTVideos Yes, they do. Sadly, they were all retired between March and August of 2005 and replaced with the 2005 NFI D40LF units #4100-4220. But now all of the 2005's D40LF units were retired and replaced by 2020 NFI XD40 units #2000-2024. Plus, the D40HF buses sounded exactly like the Flxible buses and the Neoplan buses as well.

[@knightclassic1]

I did rode an DDOT D40HF on #16 Dexter entire Route from downtown on Woodward to Providence Hospital on 9 Mile Rd, then walked from there to my Cousin House on 12 Mile Rd behind Tel -Twelve Mall in 2001. It was a great bus but raggedy, I couldn't open their window, It was hot in that bus.

[@knightclassic1]

@@baul104 Man for what I see at DDOT, its sad that all of their NFI D40LFs especially their last ones (1000 Series) is coming to a end already. I didn't even get to ride any of them But I did couple 3900s/4100s in the past, I'm still shocked that all of them are gone. Did SMART their 2nd Hand 3900s DDOT yet? Lansing CATA is still operating half batch of their 2000 NFI 510 series.

[@baul104]

@@knightclassic1 one thing I know about SMART's 2nd hand buses from DDOT is that they are all placed into storage because of the Covid-19 pandemic, some suspended routes, less frequent services and shortage of bus drivers. They will likely not resume service ever again, and will be replaced with the 2022 or 2023 Gillig BRT-40 diesel units in the near future.

[@enolamsamoht]

San Francisco Muni used to have those as well. Except ours lasted until 2004.

[@JGTVideos]

I’ve seen a few of them in service way back in 2002 when I was on vacation in San Francisco.

[@knightclassic1]

San Francisco MUNI's D901s outlasted all other US Transit agencies that had them, Boston MBTA retired theirs around same time with CTA or earlier. Toronto TTC Retired their 1985-86 D901s in 2007.

[@knightclassic1]

Toronto TTC had theirs from 1985-86, theirs lasted until early 2007

[@calvincrews3885]

Sounds like a V730 Allison Transmission to me

[@DHP1975]

It is indeed a V730 transmission. D901’s were not T-Drive transmission buses, the successor which is the D40-87 and D40-88 which later became the Dr40HF would have the option of either V Drive or T Drive transmissions.

[@argentriaharden8302]

Toward the end of their service, the motor in the 1991 Flxible Metro buses began sounding similar to the 1983 Flyer buses when I rode them in the early 90s. I guess the fact that Detroit diesel manufactured the motors for both buses explains why!

[@JGTVideos]

Fair enough DD 6v92 basically was the CTA’s preferred engine til 1994-1995 when the Flxible Metro E’s came out they still had DD but it’s was a 60 series

[@knightclassic1]

Yes I been figured that in early-mid 2000s, most of them when they were at 103rd and 77th sounded so similar, louder mufflers.

[@argentriaharden8302]

@@JGTVideos oh yea i remember those 6000-6399 series Flxibles, with the upright backs. The motor in those had a low, consistent rumble sound

[@taiwanarnold5927]

I Remember when Beverly got them First in 1983 unitl 1988 they switched when 103rd and Stony Island was built with the M.A.N Buses with 77th we took The M.A..N Buses 103rd and 77th got the flyers

[@JGTVideos]

My Grandparents remember when they were brand new at Beverly they rode them on 111,103rd and a few other routes from 77th from 1983-1995

[@knightclassic1]

Toronto TTC Had D901s from 1985-86, last of them retired in 2006/ early 2007. All of them had 6V71N Engines.

[@JGTVideos]

I looked up a few of the TTC’s D901’s and I must say they sound pretty good.

[@knightclassic1]

@@JGTVideos To be honest with you, It sounded better than CTA ones with 6V92TA, but TTC ones were super slower, I'm surprised that CTA D901s never came with those type of engine.

[@knightclassic1]

@@JGTVideos I think they were the last Orders in Production in 1986 before switching to D40HF Restyle.

[@newyorkfan16]

That's an Allision V-730, not HT-740. MUNI's 1984 Flyers D902's had Allison HT-740. 4574's here on youtube.

[@JGTVideos]

Thanks for the info I’ll make sure I have everything correct on my videos coming up in 2 days

[@ronaldstubbs9450]

I drove this bus. And yes it did sound just like that

[@rashaunl.patterson6860]

Can u do cta 1995 New flyer low floor bus soon ?

[@JGTVideos]

Yessir it’s on the way

[@knightclassic1]

These sounded like 1991 Flxible Metros and NYC MTA's GMC RTS.

[@rockypereztheautismawarene242]

When did these buses got scrapped in?

[@JGTVideos]

From 1997-2001 they officially retired in August of 2001 the Nova lfs (6400 series) replaced them which is sadly close to being retired as well. I’ve gotta get my ride on one fast

[@rockypereztheautismawarene242]

@@JGTVideos Long time ago they were scrapped.

[@JGTVideos]

Indeed only one stuck around which was 1606 but CHBM had possession of it but it is very unclear if they have it or not today.

[@KTJohnsonkidThunder]

I remember seeing these buses on the 49A S. Western route. At one point, they were on the 103 W 103rd route, which at that time, most MAN Americanas and few of the Flxible Metro B's shared it.

[@JGTVideos]

Unfortunately I didn’t even get a chance to ride them but hey least you got the chance to ride them throughout your lifetime.

[@StevenWWade]

I remembered that since I use to live around 103rd place and state around late 1999. Apparently 103rd Garage tends to borrow Flyers from 77th at the time. Also my late Grandfather was a bus driver based at 103rd originally at Beverly.

[@tyhik9338]

Cool

[@JGTVideos]

Thanks man

[@thectabusboi8155]

Well damn it’s about time I’ve seen a video from yo ass I was bout to pay a visit bro

[@JGTVideos]

Ayo Chill video out already fam ion want no smoke😂

[@09tahoeppv]

Good video broham shit I remember riding these buses on the 53 when they ran out of C & I heard with 1606 they desined all the oil & shit & let it run till it blew

[@JGTVideos]

Thanks bro I had to really rework the audio and footage on this one because most videos for these guys were sparse so any footage of them had to be recorded immediately. Unfortunately I never really got to ride them since they were retired 3 months before I was born. I remember IRM had 1606 I was pissed when I found out that either IRM or Cta blew 1606’s Engine That was a good engine but hey that’s Cta for you.

[@09tahoeppv]

@@JGTVideos exactly & yea I see you put your all into these & yea cta blew that bitch up

[@JGTVideos]

@@09tahoeppv Yea I try to make sure everything’s right for these reviews. I typically double check for errors just in case

[@09tahoeppv]

@@JGTVideos got to when your doing these type of reviews cuz it's some people out there that will get bent out of shape about it

[@JGTVideos]

@@09tahoeppv True there’s folks like that out there but you can’t please everyone tho I just try to do something different especially because the first review was done because I loved the TMC’s dearly.

[@ajaytransitproductions]

Bruh if these had the HT 748, it would be over.

[@JGTVideos]

Oh hell yea that HT-748 sounds real good on Pace’s Orion I 8700 series 2000series and 2200 series.

[@bokctwochains_g684]

They sound just like da tmc RTS

[@JGTVideos]

True just that these guys didn’t come with the ZF5hp590 that the TMC’s had

[@KTJohnsonkidThunder]

Shares the same engine, along with most of the Flxible Metro B and Orion I.

[@KTJohnsonkidThunder]

@@JGTVideos I believe it shared the same transmission with most of the Flxible Metro B's.

[@knightclassic1]

Because CTA TMC's had the Greyhound MCI M-12's Engine, not RTS Original Engine. Its part of reason why Many CTA Drivers/ riders didn't like them because it wasn't an Normal Type of RTS like Gary, New York City and L.A.

[@waynewright2886]

Worst New Flyers Ever! that CTA Bought... Stripped Down...No A/C, No Wheel Chair Lifts, Hard Seats, Black & White Roller Headsigns, a Real Lousy Bus that CTA Staff Ordered in the 80's.

[@JGTVideos]

If they would added in all of the following items the d901A’s would’ve been decent but when I reviewed this model a lot of operators from 77th and 103rd complained of no a/c some complained that they’re just as bad as the TMC’s for some reason

[@waynewright2886]

@@JGTVideos Blame Politics with CTA Brass & Board & the Late Mayor's... Jane Byrne & Harold Washington for Buying Stripped Down Busses in the 80's. As a Ex Chicagoan Living in L.A. I been Monitoring CTA since the Early 80's & I would hear about the Bull & Shit with how CTA went the Wrong Direction with its System, ranging from the Rail System, to Mismanagement, to Meddling Puppet Board Members, to Crime on the CTA, Etc, Etc, Etc. When the A/C Started Failing on the GM Fishbowls bought in the 70's what does CTA do, Spend Millions Retrofitting Windows on the 70's Fishbowls where Windows can Open & not Replace the Bad Compressors on the Fishbowls. When Handicapped Riders wanted Wheelchair Lifts on CTA Busses, CTA Bought Lifts on its MAN 60 Footers, but Not on the New Flyers & MAN Busses. Riders on the CTA got Lousy Busses in the 80's. Here in L.A. for the 80's Then RTD (Now Metro) bought Sleek Busses With A/C & Wheelchair Lifts from GM, it's Replacement, That Took over GM's Transit Bus Business TMC, Neoplan & Flixible All in the 80's. I Remember when a CTA Operator was Visiting Here in L.A. him & then an RTD Swapped Stories on their System & was Kind of Jealous when he Saw the Better Looking RTD Busses, he told the RTD Operator Quote..." I'd Kill for the Type of Bus your Driving!" Quote... CTA Riders had to Wait in the 90's & the 1st Decade of 2000 to get Better Looking Busses.