CTA: 1985 Man Americana Review
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- čas přidán 10. 07. 2021
- This covers the review on CTA’s 1985 Man Americana life and death roaming the streets of Chicago from 1985 to 2004 with footage provided by me and others over the years.
- Auta a dopravní prostředky
These are my favorites sounding buses of all the CTA fleet. I’ve only rode them once when I was little kid and I’ve never forgotten about how they sound. The initial whine when they start moving is music to my ears even after 25 years it sounds just like I remembered. Glad you had audio recording of it. I couldn’t find any audio recording of these buses until today. Loved the design of these buses too. The double wide doors and boxy design with those cool looking headlights were iconic. Great review! I think only the CTA NABI attics and MAN artics are the only buses that come close to these in terms of sound and cool factor.
Same here a tear came out of my eye just listening to it.These buses having that sweet sounding ZF tranny with them I instantly fell in love with them and I use to ride them out of North Park Garage a lot in the early 2000’s til they were retired.
@Steven Darkins Yea I really enjoyed making this review especially due to many memories being made on the man Americanas and TMC’s also.
It's neat you found a recording of the MAN Americana's acceleration engine. It's been over 20 years since I last rode on one, but I remembered the sound. The only video of MAN Americana bus rides are from Seattle's public transit. That said, those buses are known for being the hot box because of lack of A/C. I do remembered the front door being wide, having a stand in between the steps. The seats are a common thing for CTA buses from the 70s and 80s. Nice review.
It took me close to a month to find the Man Americana’s acceleration. Last time I rode one was in December 2003 on the 145 to Wilson and I believe it was 4236 I rode on. It sounded just like that but the driver was hauling down Lake Shore drive with little to no snow in his path.
@@JGTVideos Nice. North Park was the last garage to have the remaining buses at that time, I remembered riding on one serving 36 Broadway. Even some were transferred to Forest Glen for a while to replace/supplement the 1983 Flyer buses. Nicely found.
@@StevenWWade I remember that too that Forest Glen had the remaining Americanas at the time.
Look up the M.A.N. SL202. Same bus, but how it was originally released in Europe. The engine, transmission and body look and sound the same. There are plenty of CZcams videos with the sound you're looking for!
I've rode couple of Americanas at Minneapolis, they had A/C and W/C Accessible.
MAN, I remember these buses! The articulated ones ( Big Bens ) as well!
They were the backbone of Cta to me especially with the paint scheme they once had.
I owe you guys a few videos it’s coming I need to adjust the music and speakers since I’ll be working on reviews similar to this.
Oh how I loved these buses. The first route I remember ever getting to ride them on was the 94 as the route existed before the opening of the Orange Line. It was always a joy to ride them on CTA's express routes because when you hit the express zone, you got to experience all the gear shifts. My first express route I caught them on was the 6 when it was still the old 6 Jeffery Express. That soon expanded to the 14 in its old rush hour only days, and long before its current iteration as the J14 Jeffery Jump. I had the fortune to ride them on every Lake Shore express route assigned to 103rd and North Park. I was even lucky to catch one on the old and now defunct 99M Midway Express from one of those rare occasions that Archer garage would borrow Americanas from time to time during the early and mid 1990s. I was sorry to see them leave 103rd and 74th garages for Forest Glen upon the retirement of the Flyer 1600s and 9800s since it meant the end of their time on the south side. But I took comfort in knowing that I could get them on any North Side route not yet designated an accessible route, which by that time was only the 54A, 91, 135, 136, 145, 146, and 152. The 136 was technically designated accessible by that point, but North Park was still assigning Americanas to plenty of the runs on this route quite regularly up until a few months before the Americanas' final retirement from service. As for spottings in entertainment, CTA Americanas could also be spotted in locale shots from Perfect Strangers and its widely popular spin-off show Family Matters. They were also sometimes spotted in the TV program Early Edition.
I remember seeing them on Family Matters a lot I’m glad I had the opportunity To ride them before they were retired in 2004.
I remember still caught them occasionally on few Fully Accessible Routes in the 90s were on 28-Stony Island, 34-South Michigan, 63- 63rd, 55-Garfield and 3 King Dr.
@@knightclassic1 Yeah I had similar experiences in the 90s. For me, it was 7 Harrison, 12 Roosevelt and in the first few years after it became fully accessible, the 66 Chicago. I also remember I was still able to ride them on the 147 Outer Drive Express (using the old route name because the new one is kind of long) the first couple of months after it got the fully accessible designation, and strangely enough they ran regular on the 136 Sheridan/LaSalle Express all the way until the month before they finally got fully retired from service even though the 136 was designated fully accessible in the late 90s,
There is one 4000 left at South Shops, it was an old Iron Worker that use to sit underneath the 61st Street rail yard near 63rd and Calumet. I'll see if I can get a picture of it later in the week. Good video by the way. I use to ride the 4000's a lot in the early 2000s in the downtown area.
I thought that was a 4000 series bus sitting under 61st yard. I used to ride them a lot on 145,& 146 from 2001-2004. I would always go to the back and listen to the bus sing down the streets.
I believe the number is 4240, hopefully I'm not mistaken.
@@JGTVideos Me thinks it should go to Illinois Railway museum.
I appreciate you for this! Wow, it’s been years I been wanting to hear this.
I gotta tell you as both a long time Cta bus and rail fan since the age of 4 and a Cta bus operator I really appreciate this video and you for making such a awesome video thank you sir and God bless you.
No Problem I actually enjoy making these videos because I want people to know that even though I’m a part time storm chaser,full time model railroader,railfanner,bus enthusiast,and car enthusiast I will always love these buses to death. I rode these guys along with the TMC’s & ,Flxible Metro B and E
Out of Kedzie,77th,Forest Glen and 103rd a lot throughout my life. Just making this is very exciting and makes you want to do more of them.
4000 series man are retried. And Cta used 4000 for new flyers.
Never got the chance to ride these because I was born a few months after they were retired. But I heard some very good things about these buses, same as the SG-310s
They were good buses before Nova dominated 77th Garage It was common to find TMC’s,Flxible Metro B and E’s,and Man Americanas running most south sides routes such as 3,4,79,87,49A,48,and most out of Forest Glen and North Park throughout 2001-2004.
I remember riding these buses on the Jeffery Express and Lake Shore Express routes as a youngster in the late 80s/early 90s. The Americana and the Americana articulated models were my top two favorite to ride, before the A/C-equipped Flxible and TMCs came into service. Sad to know they're officially extinct. As of this writing the 4000-4399 numbers, that were assigned to the 1985 Americanas, are now assigned to the New Flyer articulated buses.
I hated the engine note of those buses, it freaked me out when i was a kid! But I really liked the bidirectional stairway at the front. Thank you for this trip back to my childhood, though!
Boy your brought back memories for me ! I just a little kid visiting Chicago with my Mom going around Chicago riding these buses. Though I remember it was in it CTA "Green Limousine" scheme (What my Mom called the CTA)
I’m glad you like it I got one more Green limousine I’ll be releasing shortly.
All I can think of, as a 34 year old, is 1990s when New Orleans , Louisiana had these with the RTA fleet.
CTA started receiving them right after New Orleans RTA, Seattle KCM started to receiving them right after CTA in 1986
I drove all three buses. The MAN bus was the best one to drive
I like that oldschool cta bus 1985
1:01, #4020 was one of my Favorites because I rode that one many times, 1st of few Kedzie Routes (Old 25- West Cermak, 82- Kimball Homan, 12- Roosevelt, 126 Jackson and NP's 146- Inner Drive Express (last time on that 4020 on Fall 2003)
That transmission is quite worn. They sounded a lot smoother when new. I think when it hit fifth gear then it had what i call that second windup and, sometimes it would hit sixth. Sometimes when it hit sixth, i was glad because we didn't stop to pick up passengers for a couple of blocks and i could enjoy the multi mechanical sounds of the bus.
Again... another Batch of Strip Down CTA Busses from the 80's, I Called them the "Bread Box" Busses. When I Rode them for the 1st Time in December 94, they were Beat Up & Showing its Age & the Electronic Headsigns were Beat-up & not Bright at Night.
These were on couple other Movies such as Oprah 1993 TV Film "There Were No Children Here", 1996's "Family Thing" and 1997's "Soul Food" along with 5300s and 4400s. Even these were from 1985-86 Built, these really RULED THE ENTIRE 90s, The BEST Ever ran in the Entire 90s Era.
A lot of the videos I’ve looked at I’ve noticed most of the entire 4000 series in action, after a few reviews based on Pace suburban buses I’ll do a compilation of Cta’s Man Americanas from 1985-2003
@@JGTVideos I will add other movie 1993 Oprah Winfrey TV Film "There Were No Children Here" were all Variety Buses were on there with Flx 5300, MAN Artic 7100, RTS 4400 and I think 1977 GM buses, Soul Food were shown MAN Americana, Flx 5300, RTS 4400 and Budd 2200 (Blue Line). Man Please do review on Budd 2200 Cars, I miss them so much
Whoever said these buses were delivered to 103rd was dead wrong and you proved it because they were delivered in 1985 so they could’ve delivered them to the old Beverly garage in that year because 103rd didn’t open until 1988.
That’s what I was saying from the beginning because Beverly definitely had the fishbowls possibly the New flyers then the Americanas. What’s funny about it is that the old Beverly garage looks like it could fit a few dozens buses in it but it would be tight though.
I remember riding these on the 108, 111, 112 and 119.
Those were the days it seemed like yesterday to me.
@Steven Darkins Sweet I remember riding 4241 on 146 back in October 2003 but the last ride was on 4302 on 147 in 2004.
I remember riding these on the 103. I’ve seen a lot of different bus series come out of 103rd.
When The Wild 100s was Da Best 100s back in the day. I remember these ran as Night Cars on 108 and 34
@@knightclassic1 How far back since you remembered that? Late 80s? Unless they ere used during the Nite owl service in the 90s when ADA compliance wasn't heavily enforced.
That differential whine around 2:27 sound the same as Charlottes First Gen. Novabus Lfs differential whine. Also, Charlotte CATS had some 1987 MAN Americana wayyy back in the day. I barely remember those, cuz they retired them all in 2002, when I was 5.
I remember seeing and hearing a few Man’s even to this day after 20 years it’s good to unwind and go back to simpler times.
Minneapolis/ St Paul had the very last Ones from Production 1987 and 1988s.
1:50 Reminds me a New Flyer D40LF or a New Flyer C40LF.
Sounds me of MARTA’s John Deere powered C40LFs frfr in sound
I wish San Francisco had some of these.
Sweet Video bro
Thanks bro I need to adjust the volume a little bit more on some parts but it’s fine for now.
These are known as the M.A.N. SL202 in other parts of the world. Same bus, same engine, same transmission. Minor regional differences, but nothing major. I believe that the only place to have a different name for it is here, in the USA.
The Americana SL40-102 is definitely my favorite bus. So much nostalgia. Heard that howling ZF transmission go by my mom's apartment all the time when I was growing up. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
Very true and no problem I enjoyed working on this review a lot because it really takes you back in time to the good old days.
@@JGTVideos Sad that they're all scrap metal now. Like a piece of childhood is gone, save for stories, pictures and videos. If I had the money, I'd totally buy an old SL202 from Germany or Australia, rebuild the engine and trans, and paint it in CTA colors, just for sentimentality. Some still exist and are even in limited service, I believe.
@@redleader6442 I would’ve love to ride one again just for old times sake
@@JGTVideos If this recent upload I found of an SL202 is any indication, you could somewhat get your wish if you care to travel to another country: czcams.com/video/VKn53UQB1xE/video.html
It's not a CTA but you can't mistake that look and sound.
@@redleader6442 I’ll have to check it out
5:04 Interesting to see how the left turn lanes used to be on Michigan Av. before they redid them...
Yea I thought it was pretty cool to see that before the 2000 era
My favorite bus 126 Jackson
Very nice review
Thanks I also liked the reviews you came out with for NYC’s MTA over the years.
@@JGTVideos thanks there's more coming soon
@@kalelc1996 Sweet I can’t wait
I Remember when 103rd got them Buses when 103rd stony island when they Switched with 77th in 1988 from flyer to M..A.N
My Grandma was telling me all about it and she too was a bus enthusiast she loved to sit in the back and open the window so fresh air would hit her in the face while listen to the MAN Americana travel down 34 and 15 routes back in the early 90’s. Even today we still chat about them a lot and how we both miss them dearly.
This sounds like bus number 4041
What garage took over from 69th garage? Was it 74th garage?
Yes 74th Garage took over 69th. Around that time in 1995 that garage was ran by MAN Americanas,TMC’s and Flxible Metro E’s 6232-6329.
I remember riding these buses when I was a kid & my dad was taking me to school they was always on the Jackson route
My Grandma and Grandpa would always go up to the north side to the shoeshine place off Wilson every weekend to get their shoes clean. We would always ride a Man Americana on the 146 or 145 up there.
@@JGTVideos I always loved the way they sounded
@@09tahoeppv Same here I like how it whines when it takes off I rode them up until May of 2004 when the TMC’s of North Park made the 146 non Americana and only the 145 had them but by that time they were all retired. I tired to ride one but TMC #4513 came that day. I like both TMC and Americana but I was slightly sad that I didn’t see a Man that day.
@@JGTVideos yea it was time for an to go cta beat tf outta em
@@09tahoeppv Yea that’s true Cta really ran the hell outta them and you could see them aging well with some having rust on them.
Imagine if someone/some group found one of these buses. That'll be *cool* !
I agree that would be super cool
@@JGTVideos yessir!!
It's a cool bus I hope I see the old New flyer 5800 series 1995 next
Yea It’s coming along with the 95’ flxible Metro E 6000 series.
@@JGTVideos yes yes yes cause both of them are my favorite da most 🔥🙏🏼✊🏽
@@bokctwochains_g684 They are being worked on at the moment I will let everyone know when both are being released.
@Steven Darkins same it’s not the same without them ngl.
I was born when these buses were nearing death
Same here I was born in 2001 so I rode a handful of these Man Americana’s on Mostly North Park Routes 145,146,147, and rarely 11
@@JGTVideos you're lucky. I never rode any because of that. Seems like CTA moves buses nearing death to North Park and put the new stuff on the Southside garages, like 103rd
@@AJsBusVideos Yea 77th is like the spoiled child while North Park and Forest Glen gets the worst equipment. Prime example the 6400’s went to Forest Glen in 2014. Around July 2016 most of the 6400-6530 except 6472 were scrapped.
@@AJsBusVideos never got to ride them. They retired months after I was born.
The transmission sound like an organ