Now that I've gotten you're attention, forever means a week.
I will be posting next saturday and will attend that chat (that's why I rescheduled this week's to tonight).
Now before you break out the bottles of champagne and other celebratory materials, I might be reading (or even posting) during the week anyway, probably at least once I'll check to see anything interesting.
And I'll be checking my e-mail.
This is the first week that I didn't see any WMATA fishbowls. I did see one Flxible new look in Rockville. Other sights: On Monday I saw Orion VI #2054 on the B22 in Bowie. I also saw another Orion VI yesterday in Takoma Park on the F4. More new Orion V are also being delivered. I saw #2218 on the D1 yesterday. There is at least one GMC RTS 03 series in the yard near the Fort Totten Metro station.
Wayne
36 images had been add on NYCTransiTrans Gallery Page & enjoy it. An you know it been a slow months for taking pictures of buses & subways. So Have a good day.
Peace Out
David Justiniano
PS: Where is R36 Gary???? Your Email had drop & im trying to make contact with Gary.
Wasn't slow enough however.
My day is ruined now!
ATTENTION SUBTALKERS
THERE WILL BE A CHAT IN THE #METROCARD ROOM TONIGHT, 7/1/00 AT 9PM EST.
THE MAIN OP WILL BE @TEVI.
To get into the chat, goto http://chat.cjb.net/metrocard using your web browser, but if you are using a MIRC client, and only do this if you know how to, goto the irc.cjb.net server, channel #metrocard.
---@Tevi
Co-OP of #metrocard.
ATTENTION BUSTALKERS
THERE WILL BE A CHAT IN THE #METROCARD ROOM TONIGHT, 7/1/00 AT 9PM EST.
THE MAIN OP WILL BE @TEVI.
To get into the chat, goto http://chat.cjb.net/metrocard using your web browser, but if you are using a MIRC client, and only do this if you know how to, goto the irc.cjb.net server, channel #metrocard.
---@Tevi
Co-OP of #metrocard.
With the former New York City Transit Authority 1963 General Motors TDH-5303 New Look Fishbowl green body bus #3758 currently facing serious mechanical and electrical defects (which prevented the Museum Bus from attending the 2000 Bus Roadeo at South Beach), I understand that the vehicle is currently housed at the Jackie Gleason Bus Depot.
I was informed by several Transit Officials that 1963 GM bus #3758 is scheduled to get rebuilt sometime in the near future at the Bus Central Maintenance Facility in East New York. First of all I would like to find out if this green bus will be getting refurbished anytime soon? Also, will 1963 TDH-5303 bus #3758 return to the Gleason Depot once it has been rebuilt?
I have not regularly ridden buses since I got my driver's licence several years ago. At that time what was considered the latest thing were GM buses with slanted windshields rather than the earlier vertical windshields.
Last week I rode on a NABI CNG and was quite impressed from a rider's point of view. That got me looking at the manufacturers' websites, and there appears to be quite a competitive market for urban busses these days. Naturally each manufacturer said its busses were the answer to all of an operator's dreams.
My questions to those of you who are intimately acquainted with city busses are:
1. Which contemporary bus, if any, stands out as a good bus for handling, safety and maintenance.
2. Which contemporary bus, if any, is a real dog.
3. What significant changes, if any, have been implemented that make the current busses a new generation apart from busses manufactured five or ten years ago?
Tom
1. Which contemporary bus, if any, stands out as a good bus for handling, safety and maintenance.
1. From talking to most operators in the major transit authorities, The Orion Series, The Flxible Metro Series, and the New Flyer Coaches seems to handle well in the Transit Market, while the MCI Cruiser is the best coach for commuter usage.
_______
2. Which contemporary bus, if any, is a real dog.
2. Same sources, The Gillig Phantom & Neoplan Transliner Series Pre-1996 seems to be the dog of the group while the RTS maintains it's great maintenance and safety, the RTS has it's down side on Driver Compartment and Handling. Thought the RTS-WFD has a superb Driver's Compartment.
________
3. What significant changes, if any, have been implemented that make the current busses a new generation apart from busses manufactured five or ten years ago?
3. Most transit maufacturers look at past products, driver's input, passenger input and maintenance input to redesign/design a new bus. Some suceed, some fail.
_________
Hope this info has helped you in some way!
Trevor Logan
Flxible Metro B #3511
www.transitalk.com
REAL GOOD BUS: New Flyer D40LF.
REAL DOG OF A BUS: Any Gillig Phantom
CHANGES TO SET BUSES APART: More complex electronic systems, the low floor buses which make loading and unloading quicker due to no steps, etc.
Does anyone have a bus roster from Command Bus Company with the GM and Flxible Buses.
I don't have a roster even though prior to the 1985 RTS all of their buses were in the 2XX series. I've never seen a new look Flxible at Command and I'm pretty sure they never had any Grumman Flxible 870 buses.
Wayne
[I've never seen a new look Flxible at Command]
I believe Command got some of the 35 foot Flxible new looks that came from Albany, NY, at the same time many of them went to the other NYC DOT private operators.
As of several weeks ago ex-Command 793 New Look Flxible (non A/C) was still parked at the DOT Yard in Brooklyn.
I'll comfirm what Sid says -- I used to trade 35mm slides of buses, and received a bunch that included some CDTA (Albany) units that came to NYC. Many received a verypartial, front end only paint job but kept CDTA colors for awhile; some were painted dark green and had "Command" lettering on them.
I do remember those 35 foot New Look Flxibles at QSC, but I didn't realize Command had some also.
Thanks for the info.
Wayne
JBL did not have any of the 35 ft flxibles. I heard they did not want them or need them from a driver i know there. Also some were painted just the front and some had full paint jobs.
Yeah - It seems that JBL has never been short of buses, but I'm not suprised as their buses seem to be in good condition. Their Grumman 870's seem to have a lot of life left in them.
Wayne
They may seem to have a lot of life left in them but there are now five Jamaica Grumman 870s in the DOT Storage Yard near Command.
Peace,
Kevin
transitworld.org
Green Bus Lines had some also.
Actually, all of the DOT privates in Queens had Grumman 870's.
Wayne
Saw this bus yesterday on the B43 at Myrtle and Throop. Is the highest number CNG Low Floors to be at JG?
B35#914Mike
937 is!
Trevor Logan
Flxible Metro B #3511
I just saw paperwork that sayed that 190 will be in JG within the few months.
190 is an orion bus. perhaps you mean another number.
190 is the size of the NYCT order for New Flyer C40LFs, not the number of one of the buses in the order.
David
disregard last post. i just realized you meant 190 buses. i know you have 800-856. perhaps you could update us on the 2000 new flyers that have been received so far.
According to the latest Urban Transit Club roster, the following CNG Low Floor New Flyers are at Gleason: 800-862, 864-865, 868-869, 873, 875, 877-879, 885, 887, 890-891, 893, 913-917.
I want to know why Glenn's MTA-NYCT Bus Roster haven't updated since May 24,2000???? I seen a lot of NYCT Buses had Transfers to diffirent depots.
Peace Out
David Justiniano
NYCTransiTrans Gallery Page
Why not ask Glenn? He puts his e-mail address on the UTC website, where the bus roster is located. It's urbantransitclub@aol.com.
David
thanks sid and add 874 spotted on b68 on 7/1.
07/02/2000
FLASH.....FLASH.....FLASH.....FLASH.....FLASH.....FLASH.....
The Circle Line Metrocard "Escape the everday...ride the beast" is now available. I got mine at the MVM at the 34th St. 7th Ave (1,2,3,9) station. The card looks very nice with two boats with sharks teeth painted on the front. So it looks like they're here folks!
Bill "Newkirk"
Reporting
Sounds like they're advertising 'The Beast!'
-HAnk
This is not for circle line. It's for The Beast, two speedboats that operate out of Chelsea Piers.
07/03/2000
[This is not for circle line. It's for The Beast, two speedboats that operate out of Chelsea Piers]
Logo on card shows "Circle Line Cruises" and circleline.com with phone number (212.563.3200).
Bill "Newkirk"
Circle Line owns and operates them, but it is not really considered the Circle Line. Like you probably wouldn't say "I rode a NYCDOT bus today" If you had ridden a NYBS bus. You'd say you had ridden a NYBS bus.
07/04/2000
Thanks Tevi,
Bill "Newkirk"
No problemo :)
nycbuses-owner@egroups.com
Moderator of NYC Buses
Not to prolong this thread unnecessarily, but what types of buses are used on the Circle Line shuttles? I've ridden these only once, 12/98, going from the ferry to theatre district, and it was too dark outside/too crowded inside for me to catch the bus make. I haven't had occasion to see these in subsequent visits to NYC, so I'm still in the dark.
Chris
They use - gasp - AmTran buses. Yes, these are school bus chassis' retrofitted with a transit body, doors, and seats.
Along with 2 companions, we just got back from a NYCDOT Queens Lines' journey. Our $4.00 all day MetroCards got us lots of mileage. Starting point in Maspeth on a CNG Orion to 23/Ely E/F station. Bus was cold, but I couldn't keep my mouth shut when some guy opened up a window because he was too cold! He needed some humid air to warm him up! Spare me! Took an E to Kew Gardens. Looked for a Classic local bus on Greens Q10 or Q37 because one of my companions never rode one. No go, but found one on the Q60 so rode it to Supthin/Archer and took an E train back to Kew Gardens. Rode a classic on the Q10 dropping out at Rockaway Blvd./Lefferts and changed there for another Q10 (Orion 5517) to JFK to check out the Air Train construction and other buses (employee, PA courtesy, and Rent-A-Car buses. Spotted some beauties. Now I know why WMTA and NYBS rejected those Orions. 5517 was running great when all of a sudden as it entered JFK property it decided to have a maximum speed of 5 MPH with the engine reving at a high pitch. So we pulled over, he shut the bus down called it in on his radio, sat there for 5 minutes, tried again and the bus decided it had sufficient rest and behaved itself! Got off in the airport, took another Orion back to Lefferts/Liberty to get a Q112 Jamaica Bus Lines RTS to Parsons/Archer. Traffic was heavy with double parkers, saw back to backs heading toward Ozone Park so decided to get on another Q10 to Kew Gardens, then the E to Parsons Archer. Took a QS CNG to Main/Roosevelt for a QBX1. but waited too long and scrapped that. Took #7 to Woodside for TCC Q53 to Rockaway. Eventhough it was well after 2 PM, the soft seat CNG had 10 people standing by the time we left Queens Blvd./Broadway. He passed up a load of people at 63rd Drive/Queens Blvd. We had room! This driver was a maniac! Almost was in several accidents, we were afraid if we were in a certain type of accident, bus would blow up! This guy sitting next to me kept on falling asleep and falling into me! Now if it was a girl.......! Glad to get off that bus! Next was Green Q35 #644 to Brooklyn. Great bus, nice and cold! Was going to get on subway, but saw a CNG Flyer on the B11 so rode it to Ave. J for the D train and made our way home. First time on a CNG Flyer and we quite frankly didn't like the bus at all. Got our moneys' worth out of those cards!
QS Orions CNG's are probably the best buses in the whole city! They have cold A/C and are very fast. Also the Q53 (Triboro Coach) also has nice fast Orion CNG buses with express style seating.
I stay away from Green lines, I usually always wait forever for their buses, and they are always breaking down.
I just wish LI Bus got CNG's like QS has. Even though they both have Orion, the QS ones have a more powerful, more reliable Detroit Diesel CNG engine, while LI Bus has weaker Cummins engines. Also they got more comfortable seats on Queens Surface as well.
As far as New Flyer low floor CNG's go, I did ride on one last month and it was kind of slow. Besides I don't like low floors too much, I like sitting high above the traffic instead of car level.
"This guy sitting next to me kept on falling asleep and falling into me! Now if it was
a girl.......! Glad to get off that bus!"
That has happened to me, and women usually never sit next to me. Usually if one does she is fat and homely. Man why do us small guys get all the big people squeezing next to us on the bus?
Sometimes I'd rather stand. Especially when there's no A/C. Saw 597 running on the N22 with no A/C (all windows open) a common experience on LI Bus.
On Triboro Coach, it seems to me that when you add up the number of buses required for express service vs. the total number of express buses availiable, they are able to run Orion CNG express buses on local routes. Eventhough the Q53 is considered an express route, it has regular fares and is simply limited stops. With that in mind, I usually see the same pool of buses on the Q53, mostly the lowest numbered 3000's. I don't like them used on local routes. I worry about vandalism of seats. On the Q53 we were on, one of the seats had a great big knife wound in it.
[On Triboro Coach, it seems to me that when you add up the number of buses required for express service vs. the total number of express buses availiable, they are able to run Orion CNG express buses on local routes.]
I'm pretty sure I saw a 3000 near LaGuardia Airport on the Q23 at the route's north terminal yesterday around 5:30 p.m.
I frequently see the Orions assigned to TCC's Q-38 on Eliot during the morning and evening rush hours (I'm waiting for the day an Orion Q-38 goes by and the QM-24 I'm waiting for turns out to be a TMC RTS - that shouldn't take long now) and I've caught an Orion Q-18 in the evening around 7PM & 9:30 PM. I've also seen them on the Q-39. Curiously, despite the large number of 400-series Orions @ QSC, I'll still occasionally pass a 500-series Orion on the Q-67 on Saturdays and Sundays.
>>> why do us small guys get all the big people squeezing next to us on the bus? <<<
Because we big guys have no hope at all of squeezing in next to another big guy.
Tom
HAVE A SAFE AND ENJOYABLE HOLIDAY. BIG AL
When I last reported on this topic, there were 3 Florida charter companies operating buses in the NYC Metro area. Those were Fame Tours, Sovreign Bus, and Dynamic Coaches. These 3 have now been joined by Transitmasters who like the others are out of the Orlando area, and by Millenium Charters who is from the Miami area. All of them now keep their buses and drivers at the Palace Hotel in Weehawken, NJ. Unlike the other 4, Fame Tours has brought his entire fleet of 17 coaches up here and intends to keep a permanent presence in NY. He has already leased a garage at King St. & Connover St. in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn.
Did anybody ride on one o both of these routes?
B46#8444Mike
I didn't but I was out for a bike ride in Central Park and I saw a lot of Kingsbridge buses around the area...
--Clayton Parker--
Did anybody ride on one or both of these routes?
B46#8444Mike
Was surprised to hear the rumbling Series 50 engine passing the house at 6:50 am. It was run 1 on the Q74. Then i remembered it was July 4th. When did i miss this?
I know they had a special schedule for Christmas eve and New years eve, but by the couple buse i saw during the day the service was nowhere near warranted.
Looked like a 20 minute headway all day. If it wasnt for the heavy Jewish population in the neighborhood, i'm sure the line could support Saturday service again, which was the norm up to 93(?)
As usual WMATA buses were operating with American flags on them for Independence Day. I know WMATA has been doing this for the last few years - does anyone know how long WMATA has done this.
For those not familiar with this practice... All WMATA buses do have an American flag decal on the drivers' side of the bus. On Independence Day small flags are placed on the buses above the drivers' window. They look sort of cool rolling along with the flag flying in the wind.
Wayne
Yeah, I've been seeing this for several years, maybe ten? I guess they probably store the flags the rest of the year and re-use them the next year. Must be quite a job for the bus yard employees to install them all on the night of the 3rd . . . I notice that they usually leave them on a day or two afterwards as they slowly remove them.
Speaking of the 4th, I was at Friendship Heights last night about 9 p.m. and I saw a Ride-On Gillig sporting a Ride-On "25th anniversary 1975-2000" paint scheme. Not just a commemorative decal, but the whole bus was painted . . . there was some sort of gradient blue-to-white scheme, not the usual bars, and large type to the effect of "Ride-On 25th." Similar to the Metrobus 25th Anniversary silver bus from a few years back, if anyone saw that. Anyone else seen this Ride-On bus?
Chris
Thanks for your response. [I notice that they usually leave them on a day or two
afterwards as they slowly remove them.] That's interesting because I was thinking that those WMATA employees must be really quick because I've never seen a bus still sporting the flag on July 5th (including this year).
Ride-On has 2 buses painted in the silver 25th Anniversary scheme. Both are 1997 Gillig Phantoms - numbers (97)5410 and (97)5411. The buses are assigned to lower (Montgomery) county and upper county respectively. These 2 buses will retain the anniversary paint scheme for the entire year and fare on them is 25 cents which is why they're purposely shifted to various routes in their areas to give all riders a chance to ride them.
Wayne
Thanks for the info on the Ride-On buses . . . pretty refreshing break from the standard Ride-On livery, which I think is starting to look dated. My Ride-On observations are based mostly on what I see at border stations like Friendship, because I rarely ride RO buses. This brings me to another RO question -- I've started to notice fairly new-looking 40-footers coming into Friendship Heights over the past three months or so; before FH was serviced only by smaller buses like the Gilligs and cutaway shuttles. I think they have (99) numberings, meaning they're pretty new . . . any info?
I didn't see any flags today either, but I have in past years . . . I have one memory in particular of two 30-route buses stopped at a stop on Wisconsin Ave flying flags on a July 6. (Think it was '97 or '98.) But you're right, they take 'em down quick!
Chris
I've been seeing new CNG Orion 40 footers. One I saw was last night coming home from Richard Montgomery High School. It was green, but on the side there was a yellow sign that indicated that people should "ride the cleaner alternative". Yeah, whatever. Washingtonians using mass transit? Hah.
Those other 40 footers arrived recently. They are in the 5700's. I also spotted a 40 foot Flxible painted in ride on livery, I know I wasn't mistaking it to be the WMATA 30 footers, because this one had an air conditioning unit on top and had a 5700 serial number. I think Ride On must have rehabbed those old MTA Flxs and are putting them in service. It was coming off of 355 and going into the Grosvenor station.
Re: Flags again: While I was at lunch today I saw a 35 foot Metro that still had a flag on it. It was #9492 on the 38B route.
Wayne
I've seen 975409 on the 36 and it was silver...
Correction: The Silver 25th Anniversary Ride-On Gilligs are (97)5409 for lower Montgomery and (97)5410 for upper county.
Wayne
Regarding the flags on the buses, I saw one on 4316 just a little while ago outside of my building. Its definitely a nice touch that they do this, being that we are in the nations capital and all. I'm curious to how the shuttles that ran back and forth after the fireworks went. I heard that for the New Years celebration one bus that was to go to Rosslyn but couldn't because the road was blocked, got lost and ended up in Springfield.
I see the silver Ride On bus every now and then around the White Flint Station on the 40.
No fair! The silver bus is always at Friendship Heights when I'm not!
Although CUMTD did not operate any buses yesterday, for the past week or so many of the route displays on the Flyers have been wishing passersby a happy 4th of July and displaying a little American flag. (The MTD has this annoying habit of displaying extraneous messages on their route displays, often as many as three or four.)
I recently obtained a photo of NYPD RTS 9598 of unknown history. The photo was taken at Union Square West and E-14th St.Dated 3-29-00
Can anyone shed some light on what Year/Model it is and what its former NYCTA number was?
I have a slight suspicion that it was the former NYCTA-Police TMC RTS 06 from the 4700(?) class.
Any info is VERY apprieciated.
Thanks,
Ryder
"The photo was taken at Union Square West and E-14th St."
No it wasn't. The only place around U-SQ this bus has been in on 17th in the park between USE and USW.
It may be TMC RTS 4796.
R36Gary
New York Police Department bus #9598 is originally MTA-NYC Bus #8400. She never saw service as 8400, she got delivered to the TA property as 8400 but was quickly whisked away and repainted as Housing Police bus #HP-1. Then later became NYPD #9598.
The original order for the 1990-91 TMC RTS-06 went as such....
8300-8396, 8400 - TMC RTS-06 T-80206 Diesel
8397 - TMC RTS T-80206 Methanol, now converted to Hybrid Electric Power
8398 - TMC RTS T-80206 Duel Fuel, later became full CNG, then retired
8399 - TMC RTS T-80206 CNG, Retired
Hope this information helps you out!
Trevor Logan
There's a pic of it here, somewhere in the bus section, courtesy of yours truly. If you don't find it, it's in one of the subdirectories of mine, and I'll find it. In a few days, I'll be posting a couple (2) pics of CAT buses from Savannah, GA.
-Hank
Thank the great J.C Rebis for starting my obsession with this photo of the 9598.
By the way if anyone has the occasion to wish old Joe Rebis all the best as he has not been feeling to well lately.
Ryder
Great show Trev!
I knew it would be you to solve this mystery.
The 8300-8400 series was surely an oddball of a series.
I always wondered how it looked in the Housing Auth-PD scheme as thier cars are quite cool looking.
Ryder
why were buses 8398 and 8399 retired after only ten years of service?
Read #17182 for your answer.
There is a side to Trevor Logan that we have not noticed. Well, they say a picture is worth a 1000 word, well I am sure if you go his profile site and see this particular pic,Iam sure that there will be more then 1000 words to say for that. We will defintely learn something from this.
Here is the site:
www.hometown.aol.com/MetroD3700
I am not going to say anymore but enjoy!! BusTalk I appologize if this is going to cause any trouble.
What we should learn is to mind our own business. A person's private life is just that, private. This bulletin board is for the discussion of buses and bus systems not to slander or demean it's contributors. Trevor is very knowledgeable about buses and is webmaster of an excellent site. Any criticisms should be directed to those two areas and nothing else.
Yes that's right, i'm Bi-Sexual, Big fucking deal, that has nothing to do with my knowledge of buses and subways and there of. Whom ever made that post did not cause me any pain nor suffering. And remember whatever negative stuff that you pass along to you comes back ten fold.
Have a safe and blessed day!
Trevor Logan
That shouldn't matter. Quoting Trevor of being BiSexual has nothing to do with MTA NYC Transit. Please stick to talking about buses here-not lifestyles. Thank you.
R36Gary
I am divorced with a son,we all have personal items that should not be discussed on boards like these
He has helped me with numerous projects in the past,so can we leave him alone,please.
I am sure,,if you look at yourself,you might see things that you are not too happy with!!!!
Steve
True, but I try to hang in there as best as I can. Trevor is a reliable resource for any new bus and subway info. Let's get off this topic and get back to talking about buses and subways..PLEASE?!
Thank you!
R36Gary
www.transitworld.org
While i am new here and dont know Trevor personally,what he is or is not has nothing too do with this page,I agree people should mine their own business and stick too what this page is about,he has giving alot of information too all of us,maybe more then anyone else may have gottting us.
While i am new here and dont know Trevor personally,what he is or is not has nothing too do with this page,I agree people should mine their own business and stick too what this page is about,he has giving alot of information too all of us,maybe more then anyone else may have gottting us.
Ok whats the what here people?
The fact that this "Orion666"s messages heave played this site into a free for all soapbox is very depressing.
It should of been the webmasters move to kill the origial message before it hit the airwaves.
Unfortunatley by responding to the original message so many times it has given this jealous bitch gratification that he has effectivley caused such a controversey and tarnished this site. His original goal.
Lets all move on with life and enjoy each other for who we are no matter how far out we may all be in our personal lives.
I make that statement not so much in response to the original contorversey but as a rule for life in general.
Personally I cannot wait to meet Trevor when he visits us here in Los Angeles. To personally thank him for this creation.
The work that has been accomplished here most in part to is obsession to what we all are into BUSSES BUSSES BUSSES and for those rail. And his work is unmatched on the net.
So lets all go do what we do best BUSSES and not be phased by "The Haters"
PEACE OUT ALL!
Mr.Blue
Damn straight! The only problem I have with Trevor is that he hasn't posted a picture of the NYC Queen of Buses 1746. :)
Trevor, I did NOT look at that article & hope that lots of others here also did not ... what does it have to do with your love of buses & subways ?
I think I've found the first Sub/Bus Talkers that I don't like !
Mr t__:^)
I did hoping to find something interesting like he's involved in fusion engine for buses but oh no he's promoting AOL 5.0 :-)
Arti
Trevor, I did go into that website, and was extremely impressed. You are obviously very smart and creative to be able to design a web site like that and your knowledge of transit buses and subways should not be challenged. Like everyone else, who gives a damn what your personnel life is. Always remember the most important thing in life is that you are happy and not ashamed of who you are. Keep up the outstandingly good work. As to what that original post said, the only thing we all learned here is that Orion 666 is a TOTAL ASSHOLE! BIG AL
I don't know what the big deal is all about. I commend Trevor for being open and honest!! (And I don't think there is one bit of off-color topic in that web page mentioned, so nobody should be afraid to visit it.)
Maybe some people just can't handly honesty.....
These type of slandorious messages posted on this site reflect a sad state of affair amongst our society in general.
Whomever you may be Mr.666 (The same number cultist Charles Manson has tattoed on hs hand) you best be happy that I am in Los Angeles well away from you.
Not to go on a long speach I will quote the great Eddie Murphy "I think people shold fuck whoever the fuck they feel like fucking"
Incidently on a Saturday Night Live sketch Eddie apears on a NYCTA Flxible.
Does anyone know what number it was?
I seem to remember it bieng 7510(?) or something like that.
I welcome any replys.
Ryder
I asked this question a long time ago on this site.It was 9210 (the last of the New Look Flexibles)Circa 1978.
Wasn't that the same bus that appeared in "Fort Apache: The Bronx" ??
Ft.Apache was a 5303 bat wing as far as I recall.
In the super dark blue scheme.
Ryder
No, Fort Apache was definitely a 9000 series Flxible. Remember when the young cop jumped in and drove the bus, with all the cockfight people on board (plus the roosters) ???
Huh I seem to rember it bieng a GM bat winger.
I remember the great like "New York Police we're takin the bus"
I need to find that movie.
Ryder
I have a copy of it here, one of these days I'll get itout and check. I'm almost certain it was a 9200 series Flxible. I could always run a copy of the movie if you need.
SO WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!
This type of crap has no place on this forum.
Peace,
ANDEE
What the hell has the Daily News and the Village Voice taught you!!!??? To look into people's personal life and inform people about it!!! I am disgraced at the Daily News and the Village Voice for going into Rudy's personal life but it doesn't go deep to me because Rudy is a jerk....But this, this my fiend, has gone deep. You have dug into Trevor's life and pulled everything out and posted it onto a bus messageboard. This is an example of your stupidity. Trevor is my friend and I stand up for him. Put yourself into Trevor's shoes, someone just notified about your private life on a messageboard that you like to read on. You would feel that you wanna knock all that person's teeth out or kick him in the nuts. So I leave you with this one thought - How would you feel if the light was turned around?
--Clayton Parker--
I don't know about that. I mean, it WAS posted on the net, and pretty much the entire world population could see it if they wanted to look. I doubt very much it caused Trevor much more than a "Crap! I just didn't want to tell them. Oh, well."
As to our anonymous poster, well, obviously he/she/it/he-she has more to hide than Trevor, since they posted anonymously.
At least Trevor has almost always been upfront about ho he thinks he is. :) (No offense, Trevor)
-Hank
>>>We will defintely learn something from this<<<
Yeah, we all learned what a contemptable A**hole orion 666 is.
Peace,
ANDEE
I say it always and I truly mean it. A person is a person to me. Their private life is just that - Private! If the person treats me as want to be treated - then I'll always reciprocate and we'll never have a problem.
This is really uncalled for.
Wayne
Thank you to every one that still supports me & my web projects after this uncalled for drama.
I have a pretty basic idea of who this is, but I will not return the favor because I have matured since my past incidents of cursing people out on this board.
Everyone have a safe and blessed day (even Orion 666).
Trevor Logan
Flxible Metro B #3511
www.transitalk.com
Thank you to every one that still supports me & my web projects after this uncalled for drama.
I have a pretty basic idea of who this is, but I will not return the favor because I have matured since my past incidents of cursing people out on this board. I'm bigger than this, and to be perfectly honest with you (to Orion 666), I don't care if people know about my lifestyle, I really have nothing to hide or I wouldn't have made the AOL page.
Everyone have a safe and blessed day (even Orion 666).
Trevor Logan
Flxible Metro B #3511
www.transitalk.com
Trevor dont stress it. Its obviuosly the ignorance of someone who has not grown up yet. Keep up the good work as we all enjoy your site! I for one dont look at you differently. You have our support!
Peace,
Kevin
transitworld.org
Hey Trevor!
Don't worry about this person, because this person has deep issues that none of us can resolve. Keep up the great work and I will never look at you any different!
Peace & Blessings
DaShawn Pretlow
www.transitworld.org
Trevor may be from Mars for all I care. What I like about Trevor is his interest in buses, knowledge of the industry, his bus related web site and his helpful attitude.
It seems Trevor has alot of well deserved support here. So Trevor - hang in there.
As for Trevor's private life - I agree with another poster here - SO WHAT??!!
> We will defintely learn something from this.
Don't know about you all but here's what I learned.
Some people will go out of their way to display their bad traits to the world (e.g. homophobia). It's clear that "other sides" to more than one person were revealed in this post.
Trevor, I for one apologize that this happened. It seems like you have this well under control thanks to those here who don't have such issues like Mr. Orion. (who I should probably disable for violation of the 'must supply real name' rule).
-Dave
I agree with everyone else, Trevor. I was raised to get along with everyone and I don't care what color, religion, etc. anyone is, we are all humans and we are only here for a short time, so enjoy life while you can. This page has really allowed me to expand my knowledge of transit and buses and I've seen great pictures that everyone has put on. Its really nice to know that there are other people out there that have the same interest as I do. Actually, the knowledge everyone else has here blows me away, but I get to learn more because of that.
Keep up the good work Trevor!
I think Orion is Subway_Crash under a new handle.
Ken S. Your GIF Image drawer for MN,NJT,NYCTA,and Amtrak
Now, now lets not start this sort of thing. From comparing IP addresses and such I suspect this is not the case.
-Dave
SO? See the appropriate response on Subtalk. No, wait, I'll repost it here, since you seem to lack good sense.
So what? I don't give a rats ass. To me, all but a few of you are merely 1's and 0's arranged in a coherent pattern. I don't care if you wear dresses, if you're an alcoholic, or you like to type with your toes. I only care that what I read here is coherent, and makes sense. And it must not be a load of lies, or "facts" for which you bear no proof. Which is why I love the net. No one knows who the hell you are unless you WANT them to know it.
-Hank
That is the amazing thing about the internet. Its the only place where people open themselves up to millions of strangers. People have personal web pages, cameras in their home, and chat online with complete strangers.
I know and have met Trevor and think he's a very unique individual for his age considering his knowledge and intensity for his hobby of picture taking. Obviously Trevor is not ashamed or trying to hide his personal life if millions around the world can access his webpage.
However, it should be left out of here.
Of course, most people wouldn't have the balls to say in person what they post on the Internet.
I remember the days of local BBS's -- the same sort of thing went on. Then there'd be a get-together party, and all the biggest noisemakers were quiet as church mice at those meetings.....
IF they even had the guts to show up. I remember a lot of threats...I miss those BBS days.
-Hank
Very true, Hank!
The other thing I always got a kick out of -- most of those local BBS's had a "matchmaker" setup on them, and you had to list vital statistics, such as height, weight, etc.
Never, EVER saw a female less than 300 pounds, though they never LISTED more than 175!! Those BBS's had more "weighty" lies than drivers' licenses!!!
what the hell is this "BBS" thang?
Curious,
Ryder
Before the era of the internet, one would connect using a terminal program to a server, where one would have available rudimentary games, chat rooms, instant messages and file libraries.
Some BBSs were national, like Compuserve, Quantum and GEnie. In 1989 Quantum decided to replace the text based terminal access with a graphical client. Since then it has been known as America Online. The growth of the internet and the Online Services (graphical, national BBS) in the mid '90s all but doomed the local BBS.
BBS = Bulletin Board System.
They were like a very crude version of the Internet and were VERY localized. Usually an operator of a BBS would be doing it from their own computer, with a few phone lines running into it.
BBS's had, as their name implies, bulletin boards (similar to Usenet groups), chat rooms, and file upload/download areas. Some BBS software systems had "matchmaker" setups, game setups, etc.
The Internet has all but eliminated the need/desire for these localized systems.
This is a puzzle, place the appropriate letters in the appropriate spot, send me a e-mail at metrod3700@cs.com with the correct answer and you "may" receive a prize.........
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Good luck to the winners!
Trevor Logan
I'd like to buy a vowel : an "A" A little joke! LOL!
R36Gary
Vowels costs $250.00 -- send Trevor a certified cashier's check or money order only.
10-4 OVER AND OUT!!! LOL!
R36Gary
I was in NYC visiting my mother in Bklyn for the 4th. She lives on the B61 route, which is out of JG. Almost all of the B61's that I saw during the course of the day were New Flyer CNG's (800's and 900's). My question is this: Is the MTA making all New Flyer 40 Foot CNG's comeout of JG and if so, will I never see RTS's and Nova's out of JG, or just the Orion and New Flyer CNG's? Thank you all!
-B61 Leonard
All 190 New Flyer C40LFs will be assigned to Jackie Gleason Depot. At present it's the only NYCT garage equipped to handle CNG buses. The rest of the fleet, for the time being at least, will consist of the 31 CNG Orion Vs and the 3 CNG RTS buses, plus a few diesel RTSs.
David
The three RTS's CNG have been retired. They were not rebuilt to take a 4500psi. load of fuel. So JG can't fuel them or they will pop the safty vaule on them.
Robert
Why are all the old buses kept at the yard? Excepting those involved in legal or insurance matters (the Belmont Fryer for example) are they being cannabalized for parts or waiting to be sold to a scrap company???
Last week i saw a number of Quuens Surface RTS buses being towerd out of there. I think they are stored there til they are sold or until they can be transferred to another DOT company. I am waiting for them to rebuild the rest of the Triboro Methanols that are still parked there.
Peace,
Kevin
transitworld.org
Anyone know if there is a specific reason why the MTA never bought the private bus lines within New York City?
Reasoning is unknown, BUT to date there is talks of the MTA-New York City Bus picking up NYCDOT companies such as Green Lines, Command, Triboro Coach, etc.
Trevor Logan
www.transitalk.com
In 1980 NYCT took over the Avenue B bus company lines including the M7,M8 and M9.
NYCT only took over the M8 and M9, and later cancelled the M8.
Most of what MTAbus is today is made up of private companies, 5th Ave Coach company, Surface Transportation and NYC Omnibus come to mind, in addition to the previously mentioned Ave B and East B'way Company. I suspect that it will only be a matter of time before the others are absorbed.
Peace,
ANDEE
Well that may happen, then it may not. If you go back in time a way you're going to see that when the TA bus divison was formed it was the intention of government to find a buyer.
The problem was that buyers were scared away by the politics, i.e. when the cost of living went up the fare stayed the same. When the owners were crying that they were starving, the city turned a deaf ear. When one of the owners "threw the contract on the mayors desk" the mayor kept it.
Would the public be better served if all the bus lines were controlled by one big impersonal unaccountable government agency controlled by the governer of the state who worries about a lot of issues out side of NYC including being President of these United States ? This is not to say that the group of "private" companies controlled by the mayor is the way that the city should go, but the fact that more then one organization exists is good for the riding public.
Mr t__:^)
All of the current MABSTOA/NYC Transit bus divisions were once private companies. Some quick history:
Brooklyn Division was part of the BMT (Brooklyn and Queens Transit Co. and Brooklyn Bus Corp) - taken over June 1940 as part of subway unification.
Queens Division was North Shore Bus - taken over in March 1947.
Staten Island was Isle Transportation Co. -taken over in Feb. 1947.
Manhattan (not MABSTOA) - was East Side Omnibus and Comprehensive Omnibus - taken over in Sept. 1948.
Saw a Blue Bird city-type bus today. Would this be the "City Bird"? I didn't see any badging other than plain "Blue Bird." I noticed that it had front-entry steps angled so as to point about 45 degrees into the bus . . . don't know if this would help with identification. Did Blue Bird make any other transit buses besides the City Bird? This one seemed to be serving private shuttle duty.
OT, but Amtrak has unveiled its new logo/corporate identity program, replacing the dated-looking '70's arrow: http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A57484-2000Jul6.html
And finally, anyone know if Metro has any plans to retrofit bus fareboxes to accept SmarTrip cards? I just got mine today, and being able to use it on the bus would make it twice as nice.
Chris
I've heard that metro is going to purchase new fare boxes that will finally accept the Smart trip card. I think they were also talking about putting something like a small version of a farecard machine in that would allow you to use any denomination of money and purchase fares that way. Not sure how that would work since it would slow down everyone trying to board.
I keep seeing more and more new Orions popping up as well. They appear to have the LED displays rather than the older flipdots. I think these will hold up a lot better.
SmarTrip would speed things up, but you're right, it would significantly slow things down if they go with the downsized farecard machine. You know how long lines at the Metrorail farecard machines get during rush hour, plus there are the other hassles like old ladies dropping their change (invariably $5.00 in quarters) all over the floor . . . let's just leave it at SmarTrip!
Are you sure the new Orion's external displays are LED? I know they have the red-LED interior destination signs, but I *think* the outside signs are still flipdot, albeit very clear and advanced. I'll have to look more closely next time.
Thanks for the SmarTrip info.
Chris
I would love for Metro to go to something more efficient, but they are so slow to do anything that is innovative. Hopefully, they do get the new fareboxes soon and it will be more of a cashless system that will boost ridership.
I'm not completely certain that the new Orions have LED displays, I know the 4000 series Orions have flip dots, but the new 2000 series ones look a lot like the LED displays on the newer Ride On buses. I haven't had the chance to ride a new one yet as I haven't been on a Metrobus in about a month due to all of the summer traveling I've been doing. I did see another Orion IV the other day as I drove to work but didn't catch the number, it was on the 23C though.
I also went by the Montgomery lot the other day and noticed that a lot of the RTS buses have been moved off to the side of the lot. This may mean that they are going to be disposing of them fairly soon. I'm sure there will be a bunch running around in revenue service, but it looks like littly by little they will be heading to the Fort Totten grave yard.
You're probably right about the new 2000-series Orions having LEDs; I haven't seen them yet (or haven't noticed). I was referring to the 4000- (4200-?) series delivered in '98.
I still haven't seen any of WMATA's O-IVs yet, but I haven't been down in Va. much, so I probably wouldn't. I rode by the Montgomery lot today on the White Flint shuttle (the pink Transtar they use to connect w/ White Flint metro station) and noticed the RTS', too. Would be a shame if they put them out to pasture . . . I'll have to sneak a final ride sometime this month.
One night last week I was stopped at a red light on Rockville Pike and saw one of those green natural gas Ride-On Orion Vs. What's the function of the rooftop boxes? I think all CNG O-Vs have them but I hadn't figured what they do. Wonder if WMATA will ever use CNG.
Interestingly, I saw a whole bunch of Orion IVs caravanning on Interstate 87 near Glens Falls, NY, on the July 4 weekend (Sunday) ... I guess it's the distribution route from the factory to points Northeast?
Chris
Yeah, that's what I was thinking too. 4201-441? has flip dots as do the 30 foot Orion V's. I accidentally referred to the other Orion's as IV, but they are actually Orion VI, sorry! I have only seen a few of them. I think some have been spotted in the Silver Spring area too.
The box on the top of the Ride Ons are the storage tanks for the CNG. I had a chance to visit the facility in Shady Grove one time and saw where they refuled them. They have a whole bunch on order also. I know they have an Orion VI running around too and a 40 foot Flxible I spotted a couple of weeks ago (unrelated to the Flxibles they are using from Metro). Metro is really opposed to CNG and would probably only do so if they were forced to. They keep claiming that its too expensive, etc. to do this.
I am going to have to try going on the RTS's also before they go away. I always wondered why they never ordered more of them. The Flxibles were great, but I'm not the biggest Orion fan. I guess I will get used to them. Maybe its because the 9600 series looked like they were all about to fall apart before they all were refurbished.
You're right, they're Orion VI's ... I was confused too. The ones that look like Orion V's but lower and with a flat floor. I'll have to look for them in Silver Spring; I still haven't seen any.
It IS odd that Metro never ordered more RTS buses, especially considering how ubiquitous they are in NYC and other large cities. Ours are getting pretty run-down by now, but they're still good buses, and still in production, I believe (I think an outfit called Novabus bought rights to the RTS-II from GM and now sells it as the RTS with minimal changes).
I like the Orions alright. The Flxibles were good buses, but the head-pounding window-rattling and icky seats on the earlier models really got on my nerves. My favorite Flxi's are the last ones -- I think they're numbered 4400 (?) ... they've got good, no-rattle windows and the good padded seats -- in fact, the same kinds as in the Orions that superceded them. Too bad we couldn't have had more of those ... but Flxible went out of business in '96, I think.
The 9600 Orions did seem to have gone through a rather premature round of refurbishments, but they're OK buses ... DC has a tough duty cycle. Better Orions than New Flyers or Gilligs ...
Chris
Technically, the boxes are only the housing for the tanks. The actual tanks are cylandrical.
-Hank
They plan on getting new faareboxes that can do this. They will also accept farecards and if you were to pay with a 20 dollar bill, it will give you a farecard with the value of your change.
Now on eBay: Item #376005179: No reserve, minimum bid applies. Negative-original (not a copy, nor a scan, but printed from the actual camera negative), an 8x10 inch copyright-registered photograph of a classic Brooklyn, New York scene. This extremely sharp and clear photo, taken November 4, 1947, in the Bay Ridge section at the intersection of 5th and Bay Ridge Avenues (photo is looking north and was taken from the southwest corner), shows the once ubiquitous Peter Witt style trolley opeating on the Fifth Avenue line stopped to discharge and receive passengers, and Loew's Alpin Theatre, which offered two feature motion pictures: Bob Hope and Jane Russell in The Paleface, and Ray Milland in Sealed Verdict. The photograph was taken by Robert Wasche, noted trolley and transportation photographer, who, beginnning in 1946, walked and photographed, generally block-by-block, each of Brooklyn’s trolley, bus and elevated lines, photographing a clean and dependable means of transportation never to be forgotten. The photograph is hand-printed and developed on Agfa archival glossy stock, and will last a lifetime under proper storage conditions. The labels and cross-hatch lines shown on the eBay photograph do not, of course, appear on the actual photograph. Here is an opportunity to possess an original photograph of one of Brooklyn’s most classic and historic scenes Bay Ridge scenes. Please also note that we have in stock thousands of similar classic scenes from all over the Borough of Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, The Bronx and Staten Island. •For further information or additional items that may be listed in the category above, do eBay Seller Search for JoePCC699@AOL.com. New items are added on almost a daily basis. Check our listings as often as possible; you wouldn’t want to miss an item you were looking for. Over 25,000 items in all categories are to be listed in the future.
It just amazes me about how someone could be so ignorant. I havent known Trevor for long but HE IS this board.Trevor has set up a website for my business and has remained a good friend even though I am on the west coast. He has always been there for me and runs the best NYCTA website there is. For someone to be so hateful and try and ruin someone elses life is just stupid. Not to worry Trevor, people like this guy always end up old and lonely. Now lets put all this hate behind us and get on with what this board is all about........ BUSES!!!!! not who is sleeping with who... Trevor, your the best, god loves you and so do I!
Well said.
Perhaps this person is very envious of the amazing work that Trevor has accomplished.
Ryder
I had a private e-mail communication from Trevor, and he is greateful for the support he has gotten from both boards. He is not worried about the issue at all. He said that if he was going to "hide" he never would have put it on his personal page.
He is a talented young man with his head on his shoulders. If you don't like him as he is, it's not his problem.
Today while driving my bus across 57th St, I noticed Triboro Coach bus # 793 decked out in a new paint scheme I'd never seen before. It was a bright red and cream combination with a gray stripe under the windows. Is the whole fleet going to be repainted in this scheme or is this just a test bus?
A good amount of the fleet at Triboro is sporting this scheme. A few MCI Classics, about 65% of the GMC RTS fleet, about 35% of the TMC RTS fleet and NONE of the Orions sport this new paint scheme.
Trevor
After seeing this bus three times prior, I finally rode this bus a couple of days back on the M3 Southbound. The Bus number is 6360, the first of 5 new NovaBUS RTS-06 Hybrids (6360-6364), and the last RTSs to join the NYCT fleet for a long time. The time I caught her was around 5:30pm at 168th Street at the Hospital.
She is very similar to Miss 9900, just more speced out to TA specifications. Interior is that of the 1999 NovaBUS RTS-06 Diesels (4900-5249). Very fast, Very Quiet.
Keep your eyes open kiddies, as this bus is great eye candy and a beautiful ride!
Trevor Logan
Does anyone know how long MTA is planning to go "RTS-free"?
Peace,
Big D
Right now, there are no plans at all to buy any more desiel RTS's in the future. All new buses on order are either CNG or Hybrid Electric's. If the Hybrid RTS-06 passes all the tests and is well liked, then maybe those will go on order in the future. BIG AL
[All new buses on order are either CNG or Hybrid Electric's]
Of course, the New Flyer Artic's that are coming in on the current order are still diesel.
Yes, I remembered the Artic's right after I hit the post message button. My main idea I was conveying is that there are no more diesel RTS's on order in the near future. BIG AL
lets not forget the 170 mci buses on order as mci does not produce a 45 foot cng and transit also has no facilities for same.
Bah! I hate quiet RTS buses. All they do is scream. I like the ones that have the bass to make the windows shake.
Also, are these buses faster than New Flyer D40LF's? If they are, they must be working it.
Is there any diffrence in appearence of the 6360 as opposed to the rest of the RTS?
Thanks again for the tidbits on the 9598 RTS question.
It is great to be here in LA and look at the pictures I get from JC and have any oddball mysterys solved.
LAter crew,
Ryder
6360 is a Hybrid-Eletric powered RTS as will 6361-6364 will be!
Trevor Logan
What is Miss 9900? BIG AL
Miss 9900 was a demo RTS-06 Hybrid that ran out of Manhattanville for a short while back in 1997!
Trevor
THE HOUND IS BACK
Peace,
ANDEE
hey andee... thanks for the link to the daily news article... i didn't know it was in today's paper... in fact i didn't know exactly where the pick up point in brooklyn was... i am going to bike down there today and check out the service...
for anyone interested in greyhound, there is a club at yahoo called greyhoundthroughexpress that is devoted to greyhound
greyhound through express
Yes, but how many buses and where do they go? To the PABT?
bill... i was down there today around 11 am... there are 4 round trips a day from brooklyn to philly with most of the runs stopping in camden and trenton...
1 coach seems to be covering the whole operation...
i don't think the coach goes to the port authority... although yesterday i checked greyhound's website, and you can book a brooklyn new york trip at 9:30pm for the one way fare of $11.50... that's a good thing to know in case of a transit strike :-)...
ridership today was on the light side... the run in from philly at 11 had 1 passenger, while the run back out at 12 had no one... also interesting was the coach had a small bit of graffitti on the right side near the passenger door... that was the first greyhound that i have ever seen tagged..
Thanks for the info. At least by going to Philly, connections can be made there for points west. But the way the schedule is currently set up, anyone wishing to go north (Albany for example), the Brooklyn boarding won't work.....$11.50 from Brooklyn to PABT. Wonder what a yellow cab or livery cab would cost for the same trip.
But it proabably won't be the Albany fare + the $11.50. It'll most likely just be a couple of dollars more than a NY-Albany ticket if you purchase it in Brooklyn.
you're right... i just checked at the greyhound website... brooklyn to albany is 33.00, while ny to albany is 29.50...there is one major problem that the only brooklyn to new york schedule seems to be 9:30 pm when i guess the coach returns to manhattan for the night
Does it really make sense for Greyhound to run their Brooklyn service from Dekalb Ave; a location that is so near to Manhattan (only 1 subway stop away)? Would it not make more sense to start the service from somewhere deeper into Brooklyn such as East NY., Coney Island, or Bay Ridge? After all if somone has to ride the subway to begin with, they might as well go all the way to Manhattan rather than getting off at Dekalb Ave.
i don't know whether greyhound suffers from the "brooklyn is a foreign country syndrone" or whether they hoped to draw ridership from the people who live in the downtown area... the current location is a central business shopping area... east new york is an area which sends chills up many middle class brooklynites... bay ridge is more a white middle class area, and i think greyhound has a large minority ridership... coney island would be an interesting location as it has a large varied population living in very dense high rise buildings... interestingly, i passed their operation yesterday on the way home from the city, and noticed that they had some packages in the cargo bays... perhaps they are getting some freight business..
I did see a Greyhound bus at Myrtle and Flatbush yesterday. It looks like it was heading towards the Downtown Bklyn terminal. Wasnt there talk of a Greyhound base in Fort Greene??????
BM34x
I guess they decided on DeKalb rather than Fort Greene. At least you can catch the bus from the train, and it's a reasonably reliable ride down 3rd or 4th Avenue toward the Verrazano.
Inter-city bus service collapsed 15 to 18 years ago, when the price of fuel and de-regulation brought down the price of airline travel. Now that energy prices and air fares are rising, and air service is gettin worse and worse, Greyhound and Amtrak have an opportunity for a comeback. I wish them well.
New Jersey Transit just closed a pretty deal for 1,400 new MCI D3 & DL3 Cruiser Coaches. These D3 & DL3s will be considered 3rd Batch MCIs for NJT. The new 2nd Batch is steadly arriving, this would be the last 27 102-D3 CNG Cruisers #7050-7077. Buses #7050-7055 are already in. This prompted the moving and possible first retirement of Custom-made Eagle AE-20 Cruisers. Six (6) Eagle AE-20s made their way up north to the Fairview Depot in South Bergen County and can now be seen in service until the end of their useful lives (slated for the end of this year). The 3rd Batch MCI D3 Cruisers will do the Eagles in for good. This is to happen by Christmas this year. MERRY CHRISTMAS MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT! Kiddies, Get you Eagle Photos Now, as these rare form buses are on thier way out the door.
NJ Transit is also in the market for new articulated buses to replace thier aging Volvo B10M Fleet which consist of 60 Suburban Type and 46 Transit Type models. Last year NJT demoed a NABI Model 436 Articulated (which I had a chance to ride) and is now demoing a New Flyer D60HF Galaxy Articulated. From what I was told, Neoplan is not a option because of political reasons.
Trevor Logan
On Saturday while driving to NYC - I was heading NB on I-295 near Mt. Laurel and I saw 2 NJT Eagle 20 buses pass on an overpass. I know those Eagles were usually on long routes, but I immediately thought that they were a long way from home. My goodness - time really flies. I remember those Eagles well as the new kids on the block. Does nayone remember when it seemed that no two NJT buses (other than the hundreds of NJDOT 1976 Flxibles) look alike. Many times I would stand on the drop off area at PABT during rush hour to see all of the different NJT buses. You could see anything from the late 1960s era GM PD4905 (and nearly all suburban fishbowl models) to MC-8 and the then new MC-9A. many of the NJT buses were still in their TNJ (and pre-TNJ) paint schemes.
memories memories!
Wayne
i remember hanging out at the njt terminal in atlantic city in the 60s. i used to love seeing their old looks and the different letters used before the numbers. and who could forget orange and black bus lines at palisades amusement park.
I guess NJT is buying some of these buses for the other providers of transit in their area, such as Academy and the many other companies that they have an agreement with to provide transit serivce in the NJ/NYC area since NJT only has 1,500 buses total in their fleet and this would mean that either they are doubling their current fleet or getting rid of everything they have and placing these buses in their wake.
NJ Transit leased many of their 1999-2000 Novas to other companies, carrying on the tradition of the PANYNJ, which purchased everything from 1981 through 1994 for NJT and other companies. I don't know about TNJ or PSCT though.
Neoplan Artics, or the Fatty Fat Bytches, as I call them, are the absolute worst bus I have ridden in a long time. Here are their numerous problems...
1. They are inconsistent. Some are average accelerators (Houston Metro 4536) and some are plain pathetic (4561). Our 18 year old RTS buses can beat these things.
2. They are shoddy and lack durability. Some of the 2 year old ones look and sound 10.
3. They scream and screech like a car slamming on their brakes or a woman in a horror flick. This sound comes from their motors by the way.
4. They are ugly and out of place on most routes.
5. They are replacing the RTS buses, the worst crime of all.
I wish Metro would retire these ft behemoths and have a public showing where they are stripped of their paint, stripped to their frames and crushed...repeatedly.
Sorry about the rant, I just hate the Fatty Fats.
AGGGGHHHHHHH
WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH BLACK-ON-WHITE TEXT?????
Some of us are colorblind, you know!
And of course, the yellow and grey barely show up on the white background. And you neglected to CLOSE your HTML.
-Hank
Damn, calm down, Hank. I was trying to do something a little different. I won't do it again...for awhile.
Jason;
Next time, don't hold back so much. Let us know what you really feel about the artics. :-^)
Tom
I would but I wouldn't want any little kids to stumble in here and see the language.
[...Neoplan is not an option because of political reasons.]
Some BusTalkers may remember when NYC Transit demonstrated a Neoplan Artic on the M15 in the early 1990's. During the demo period, City Council Member Tom Duane (D-Chelsea) learned that Neoplan was based in Lamar, Colorado, whose residents had voted in favor of the "gay-ban" amendment to the Colorado state constitution (which was later overturned, on the grounds that no single state could alter the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution).
More than likely, the long-ago "gay-ban" vote was also NJT's political objection.
that bus was in yukon for about a year prior to that. neoplan has indeed been shunned by many transit properties because of this cotroversy which involved barbra streisand and others. in a little aside to this barbra streisand was a rider on the b41 in the 50s.60/s on her way to erasmus hall hs as an unknown student. i doubt she has rode a bus since.
The Eagles always struck me as wierd, I don't know why. I heard they are a nightmare to maintain.
I only rode on one - #5524 on the #139 line between New York and Old Bridge. The return trip was on #7006, a CNG 102D3
this converted 1985 coach is back in service at west side depot servicing their express routes etc.
This used to be a Q.V. depot local bus. I don't think that bus was converted to a coach recently, since I believe transit is no longer converting old RTS's into coaches with all the new MCI's coming in. Personally, I always felt they were wasting time and money with those conversions. 3964 probably transfered there from another depot that's getting in new coaches. BIG AL
The biggest waste (as talked about here previously) is UP's 4742. This former FP local bus was damaged in a fire, rebuilt and converted to a soft seat coach, re-assigned to UP, used a few times, and according to my chief bus spy, has been sitting in the UP lot, looking good, but o/s for several months.
If they are not using it, they should send it over to Jamaica so we can get rid of 1746. BIG Al
4742 is seen on a regular basis on the gowanus. 3964 was converted in 1998. i drove it at yukon. when the 100 mcis came in it was sent to crosstown storage and as stated before is in service at westside depot this week.
How buses 1746 and 1755 are still running is beyond me. I spotted both of these relics running on the X63. Apparently JAM maintainers aren't wasting a lot of time and effort on their general appearance. They look horrible. Oddly enough, another 1982 RTS, #1844 looks pretty good--I wonder how it runs.
I saw 1747 Thursday on Queens Blvd with no rear number plate. I've been on 1746 but on a strange route: the Q17. This was in late 1997. Another bus that I see from Jamaica a lot in service is 1752. I wonder how she runs? But getting back to 1746- when I rode her on Q17, her transmission seemed to be shot because she was jolting when she was speeding up. And what happened to 3870? I haven't seen or heard about her opereating. Is she at Jamaica Depot?
Q17#4560Gary
Jamaica never had 3870. Can't say I ever even saw that bus. As I mentioned in previous posts, 1746 is a total piece of garbage. 1755 is actually pretty good, despite her looks. 1844 is pretty good also. The rest of the 1700's I can't really talk about because I never drove them on the open road. (I used to drive 1755 everyday when we had the X32 and loved it!) Also, today 9346 broke down on Hillside ave., right before 179th street, in front of McDonald's. When they towed it into the depot the engine was still running and the transmission was making a grinding noise. Two maintainers were shining there flashlights in the transmission panel, so I guess that bus will be off the rode for the next few days. Also, 4571 is still out of service with a blown engine. She's been down now for several months and I'm starting to wonder if it will be scrapped. BIG AL
1834, probably the best 1982 RTS left in service, is now gone from Ulmer Park. It was the one with the Bronx Style Numbers on the back. Too bad - it was extremely fast (65 on the hwy), had good A/C and it was all around an excellent bus (ran better than some of the 4800s) despite the way its exterior began to look. Used to go in the morning before the 9200s & 9300s it was so popluar.
Anyone know where this bus went??
1760, 1761, 1778 and 1846 are the only 1982 RTS' left at UP -- and they are all on their last legs.
GMC-RTS#1834 are in South Brooklyn Storage Yard & i have the picture of #1834 running on B1 Local on Jan 31/2000.
Peace Out
David Justiniano
M-F I usually have a chance to do some bus watching around noontime at Parsons-Archer. Of course, I see buses from different depots along with Jamaica & Green lines. I never see 7000's operating on QV routes which pass there. Coincidence? Are they only used in the rush?
I saw 7036 and 7037 on the Q46 yesterday.
Q46#7001Gary
So much for the coincidence! I saw one on the Q31 today.
I saw 7015 on Q46 today. Looks like more remans are hitting the road this summer. Last year, I rarely saw 1.
Q46#9363Gary
I see those 7000's all day long. The only time they are not used is on Saturday and Sunday. BIG AL
As a rule, the 7000 Series (ReMan) buses are used during the morning rush. They usually don't go out again after 3PM. They're fueled, drilled, and parked for the next days rush. You'll be hard-pressed to find one on the weekend. A 7000 on the road on the weekend usually means a weekend road call- something frowed upon at any time.... I'd _never_ pull one of those out!
You'll find the 7000's on heavy lines which incorporate extra service such as the Q-46, Q-43, Q-30 (especially on "school trippers"). Mid-day, you might find a few on less-travelled routes such as the Q-1, Q-2, or Q-79.
Also, this week there's a hold on many of the 9000 series QV express buses. You're more than likely to see our proud express fleet of 1741,42,43,44,45/38xx's.... complete with soft-cushion blue seats.... enjoy :-)
QV
What kind of buses are the 7000's and the 9000's?
The 7000's are remanufactured 1981 GMC RTS buses. The 9000's are Nova buses from the late 90's.
What I want to know is why did they remanufacture those 1981 RTS buses if they barey use them? They could've just left them as was and use them the same way.
QV is the only depot that I know that buries their Remans. FLA, UP and the Manhattan Division uses theirs at will.
Oh and a little FYI for those concerned with the 1700 express coaches:
Bus 1741 is sitting on the rear apron at QV partially stripped and with no farebox. Might be farewell for that one...
FLA , UP and Manhattan Division depots run much of the same level of service on the weekend as they do on the weekdays whereas weekend QV service is curtailed at least by half of the weekdays.
Therefore why wouldnt you want your newest and less-prone-to-road-call equipment out there??
I guess that has something to do with it
Posted by RTS_2150 on Tue Jul 25 18:51:05 2000, in response to Re: Where are QV's 7000's, posted by Basman on Tue Jul 25 18:28:00 2000
The 7000's are remanufactured 1981 GMC RTS buses. The 9000's are Nova buses from the late 90's.
What I want to know is why did they remanufacture those 1981 RTS buses if they barey use them? They could've just left them as was and use them the same way.
The 7000 series are remanufactured 1000/2000 series buses. The NYCTCMF began an intense campaign to try to save money by remanufacturing buses rather than replacing them with new models. The cost was about half that of a new bus, but the cost in the long run proved to be a waste of money. Although much of the bus was repaired/replaced with original equipment, it was still built on a 20 year old chasis.
It's a 20 year old bus that drives and responds like a 20 year old bus. They are the loudest idling buses we have, and rattle like no other bus currently in use. A simple pothole sounds like a crash.
These buses are prone to the most defects- suspension, steering, low power, transmission fault, engine fault, and the list goes on.
I believe the 7000 series was Central Maint. Reman while the 7500 series was built elsewhere (outside the TA).
The 7500's wrere done by midwest bus rebulders.
Here in Los Angeles we had a major rehab of the original 940 GMC RTS 04's bought in 1980/81 460 were rehabbed in 1990/1991 and ran out thier last miles up to a few weeks ago when they were replaced by NABI LF40C's for the most part. All rehabs were done at te CMF.
The NABI's are hated by mechanics.
All but 2 of the RTS are gone and those are the nicely forgotten ones and 3 run for ATE on a contract service.
These busses proved to be an invaluable investment when the Alternitive fules went dead the RTS save d teh day and many of them clock nearly a million miles!
As the decals read when the rehabbed them "Happy Miles"
And if maintained the NYC ones will last as well.
All it takes are major CNG mishaps and the RTS will appear from nowhere rattles or not!
As seen when the NY Grummans took a dump the then pending disposal new looks were rehabbed and saved the day.
Ryder
Do bus operators get to pick the bus from the lot they want to drive for the day. Could a operator choose a 7000 if he or she desired so on a weekend?
the 7500s were not too great. i drove a couple, had a smaller steering wheel, short turns.
i drove bus 7000 (ex1333), and it was probably one of the best i drove. Original steering wheel too.
"i drove bus 7000 (ex1333), and it was probably one of the best i drove. Original steering wheel too."
Probably because bus 7000 was the first one to be remanufactured and the TA didn't cut any corners when rebuilding that bus. Some of the other remans I've been on look terrible inside. I've been on almost all the express remans (7038-7049) and can tell you that the padded seats are new but the panels on the inside of the bus were never fixed. Most have the paint falling off, ect. In general, they still look like the 1981/82 busses they once were. And this is when they just came in! Most drivers I've talked to would rather drive a 1700/1800 over a 7000. I've also noticed that some of the destination signs weren't replaced with the newer type in a couple of the last busses remanufactured (I think 7042 & up). Again - Cutting corners. If all the others are like that, I can understand why a depot would not want to send them out. They may look nice & new on the outside, but looks are decieving.
Shaun
You are exactly right. The very last remans looked very crappy compared to the first ones. I know of at least one of the last 7000's rebuilt didn't even get the new wheelchair lift. It had the old dashboard by the operator also. When it rains, they leak water all over the place. The marker lights were cracked and dirty looking and very dim. It seems near the end all they did was paint them, throw on the aluminum wheels, renumbered them and called it a day. How they said these buses were totally remanufactured I'll never understand. BIG AL
I thought you guys were talking about RTSs and liek flyers or something. They are the same, there is basically no difference whatsoever!
Fresh Pond took the engine from 1834 before it went to South Brooklyn.
Can someone please take a picture of this bus (1746) so I can really see if it's worse than our 1983 RTS 2128. You'd be amazed it was still in service. I doubt it's as bad as you all make it put to be.
1983 RTS 2128?! Are you sure that's the right number? 1983 RTS's started with 3001. Maybe you mean 3128? When I'm down to just a few shots left on my camera, maybe I'll snap a picture of that bucket of bolts (1746) and hope it doesn't break the lense. BIG AL
[1983 RTS 2128?! Are you sure that's the right number?]
I believe RTS 2128 is a Houston Metro bus - RTS_2150 is from Houston, if memory serves me correct.
He is correct. Trust me, I think 2128 is worse.
Can someone please take a picture of this bus (1746) so I can really see if it's worse than our 1983 RTS 2128. You'd be amazed it was still in service. I doubt it's as bad as you all make it out to be.
that bus 1844 spent most of it years in ulmer park. they are running several 1982 gmcs already 18 years old.
I saw it on the B3 two weeks ago. The driver told me that they do not run her on express runs much. She comes out at night once in the while for local runs off peek when there are less kids around
spotted this sleek bus on west street yesterday. it looks more like the mci suburban as it is not as rounded in the front as previous mdels. no livery spotted. has anyone else seen these?
I went to try for my permit. However, in Springfield Gardens/Far Rockway. 532 said Training bus. Y are stengel operators training in Springfield Gardens?
It maybe that the streets are in a deserted part of Queens and don't pose much of a risk to passing motorits.
Recently when I was at the DOT yard in Brooklyn compiling my inventory list there was a traning bus from Ulmer Park on the side street with students. They were practicing parallel parking and pulling away from bus-stops. There were absolutely no cars on either curb for the whole block and thru traffic was non-existent (except for me). It was a great place to practice and as far away from UP as Springfield Gardens is from CS.
The training buses go anywhere and everywhere. The students are learning to operate the bus not the routes in the depot the bus comes out of. The spot down by Command is very popular, as is Westchester Avenue in the Bronx for the el-pillar slalom.
Interestingly enough, last Friday (7/7) I spotted QV training bus 8357 deep in the heart of Jamaica territory at Merrick and Springfield Blvds., also in Springfield Gardens.
The other day around 34th and 2nd in Manhattan I saw this bus (9258) on the X68, I think with a QV decal. When was this bus switched/moved? Were any others switched/moved? I had thought 9250-9299 were at UP.
9252-9256 are at QV. Maybe 9258 was recently transfered.
9250 & 9251 are at Jamaica depot also. BIG AL
The other day around 34th and 2nd in Manhattan I saw this bus (9258) on the X68, I think with a QV decal. When was this bus switched/moved? Were any others switched/moved? I had thought 9250-9299 were at UP. (Except for 9282-9284 which are at WS).
Saw Green Line 282 RTS on a flatbed just heading away from Atlantic Diesel this afternoon . Looks like it's on its way back to Green Line via Sunrise.
I was heading south on the N73, going down Wantagh avenue just before the RR station when I saw an RTS bus with blue and tan stripes heading north in the other direction. I could not see any company logo on it or number, looked like a bus that is not used for transit service anymore, but what a sight to see NYC's famous RTS on the streets of Wantagh.
Blue ad tan stripes? Sounds like another ex-Westchester Bee Line unit (they had a imitation gold stripe which would look tan....) Some of them even made it out here to a used bus dealer in southern California about a year ago.
Somebody recently mentioned a driving school in babylon or somewhere out there using some old Westchesters didnt they?
Commercial Driver Training Institute on the corner of Wellwood Rd and Edson Avenue in West Babylon, near the Southern State Parkways and between all the cemeteries.
If I get a chance this coming Friday I'll get over there to see if I get a picture of the bus or any info on it. Incidentally they are only about 3/4 of a mile from Harran Coachways yard off of Mahan St.
(all the streets that start north from Edson Avenue are alphabetical starting at Wellwoood Ave and heading East).
Please email me I need to ask you a question ASAP!
THANKS
Can someone help this guy:
Dear friends:
I have a Mack C 50 bus that ran in service in Buenos Aires city between 1948 and 1965, I try to restore this bus to a working condition. It will be not much accurate because of lack of Mack spare parts here. For example I need to use a local made Scania Diesel engine wich is close in horsepower and torque with the Thermodyne one. But my first problem is the transmission I cant found an Spicer or Mack automatic gear box for the bus. Here the only automatic gear box for buses I can found are news Allison, but putting it in the transversal way the Mack uses it overhang outside de bus.
Do you know some place in the Usa to find such spare part?
Thank you very much
Luis de la Fuente
Av. Franklin D. Roosevelt 5169 1A
C1431BZG Buenos Aires - Argentina
luisdel@ciudad.com.ar
THERE WILL BE A CHAT IN THE #METROCARD ROOM TONIGHT, 7/1/00 AT 9PM.
To get into the chat, goto http://chat.cjb.net/metrocard using your web browser, but if you are using an IRC client, and only do this if you know how to, goto the irc.cjb.net server, channel #metrocard.
Dear All,
Today I came across the following report from a recent edition of a newspaper here in the UK. The buses will be Dennis Trident III as per the ones recently delivered to Victoria, BC. Please note that I have yet to confirm whether the bodies will be Duple Metsec (as per the BC ones) or Alexander ALX500 . Of course it could be that Alexander will biuld the Metsec kit bodies as Alexander does not currently build a left hand drive version of it's body.
Rumour has it that further orders for Dennis Trident double deckers will be announced for cities elsewhere in the US over the next few months .....
Richard Stedall
Buses Worldwide
US/Canada sub-editor
----------------------------------------------------------------------
THE HERALD (UNITED KINGDOM): COACH USA TURNS THE BIG APPLE GREEN
97% match; The Herald (United Kingdom) ; 02-Jul-2000 12:00:00 am ; 296 words
Coach USA, the giant Stagecoach subsidiary, is to spend Pounds 8 million on 30 new double-decker sightseeing motorcoaches to be built by the Falkirk-based specialist coach builder Walter Alexander.
The biggest charter and tour bus operator in North America has ordered the state-of-the-art, environmentally-friendly buses for its New York City operations.
The vehicles will begin shipping to the Big Apple next year and will be built to meet the very latest environmental standards, with low-emission engines, air conditioning and open top decks for sightseeing.
Frank Gallagher, chief executive, said the size of the investment showed how seriously the Houston-based company took pollution concerns.
'Some of the old buses on our city streets have given double-deckers a bad name, but these new coaches are already operating in cities around the world. New York deserves the best and New York will get the best.'
Stagecoach, one of the world's biggest bus and rail operators, already has similar double-deckers buses running in Hong Kong. Chief executive Keith Cochrane said: 'We know all about running 'green' buses in crowded cities and Stagecoach is in the vanguard of proposals to reduce pollution in Hong Kong, using vehicles almost identical to those we are buying for New York City.
'New Yorkers have a very bad image of double-decker buses because most of the vehicles they see are old. We hope our investment will show New York that new double-deckers are no threat to the environment.'
Bus and coach specialist Walter Alexander, a subsidiary of the Mayflower Corporation, currently employs just under 1000 people at its Falkirk plant. It recently supplied its 3000th bus to the Kowloon Motor Bus company in Hong Kong and, 10 days ago, opened a 250,000sqft factory in North Carolina in a joint venture with DaimlerChrysler.
Stagecoach recently reported an 11% rise in pre-tax profits to Pounds 244m. The company also warned it would take at least a year to sort out its Coach USA subsidiary, which currently has a turnover of Pounds 424m a year.
World Reporter All Material Subject to Copyright
This post brings up a question I have had for some time. Why aren't DD buses used more in the U.S. for transportation as opposed to sightseeing? They are successful in Great Britain, Europe and Asia, but I do not know of any American city using them. Using a LF plan on the lower deck you could even have enough headroom to stand without bending over on the upper deck. Closed circuit TV would provide the BO with a view of the upper deck, and it should be possible to have a system that would allow passengers to know how many seats were available on the upper deck before they climb the stairs.
Although DD would not be practical for lines where passengers travel only a few stops, it would provide medium distance commuter lines more capacity in the same size space during rush hours.
I remember seeing one DD bus in downtown Los Angeles a few years ago, but I have not seen it lately. I assume it was some sort of test bus.
Tom
It could be a matter of how high are overpasses. It could also be a matter of how far over the street the arm of the street light hang. I remember in the late 70's when NYC got their DD's they could only run them on certain routes on Fifth and Madison. This was after the street lamps were modified so that their arms did not protude over into the traffic lanes. They were only kept at the 100th Depot because it was the only garage that had doors high enough to let the buses in. Also would the garage ceilings be high enough to accomodate a DD when it is raised on a lift ? How much would it cost to install heavy duty lifts to handle the heavier bus ?
If anybody is interested in seeing what these new buses will look like,go to the following website: www.buses.co.uk/company/welcome.htm
Photographs of the bus appear at the bottom of the page.
[I remember seeing one DD bus in downtown Los Angeles a few years ago, but I have not seen it lately. I assume it was some sort of test bus.]
I recollect that in the 1980's and early 1990's, LA had some DD Neoplan buses that they used on the El Monte Busway commuter routes. I'm pretty sure they are gone, but I'm not sure what year they got rid of them.
In Los Angeles we had some Double Deckers ver the years.
In 1974 SCRTD bought to german Neoplan an # them 9900, 9901.
In 1980 RTD bought 20 more and they exclusiley ran on El Monte Busway Park & Ride lines. # 9902-9921.
RTD was never too happy with them as they were maintinance nightmares and fiunnaly got rid of them quietly in early 1996.
One or two have stayed locally as Hollywood sightseeing busses the rest went back east and to Chicago and the upper decks were chopped open for "Open air" effects.
The ones you see in New York were former RTD.
mr.Blue
To add to Mr. Blue's info.....
Four of SCRTD's Neoplan N117/3 double deckers did burn to the ground in an fire reportedly started by faulty Neoplan wiring. I know 9902, 9905, 9921 burned -- plus there was one other one. The fire also engulfed a 3000-series GM S8M5304A at the former Division 16 in Pomona.
The personal injury lawyers would have a field day with double decker buses in NYC in this era. How many people a day would claim injury because the bus allegedly stopped short and people got hurt on the stairway going up or down while the bus was in motion.
One other tidbit.
In 1996 Antelope valley TA boght 3 Neoplan Doubledeckers for commute runs and those still can be seen in Downtown LA tat the peaks.
Blue
Saw this bus on Atlantic Av. Look like it was heading towards ENY depot. I wonder is this a transfer or if it was heading for maintenance?? It still had its JG logo on......
BM34x
Saw 4666 on the B83 @ VS and Linden Blvd........
Bm34x
Most likely you saw a bus move in action. Buses 4631, 4666 and 4667 were transferred from JG to ENY on Thursday afternoon.
Last updated from July 4, 2000 Glenn's Bus Roster have so many buses had been transfers. Most of 44xx series from Gun Hill went to Kingsbridge Depot. Also they have 46xx series too. East New York Depot have 4602,4628,4643-4653,4660,4666 & 4690 & Flatbush have 4605,4618 & 4624. Look like they going to spilt between ENY & Flatbush Depot but i don't know about Kingsbrige might getting more 46xx series.
Peace Out
David Justiniano
NYCTransiTrans Gallery Page
According to the online roster, he hasn't updated since 5-24-00. Can you email me a copy of it? Thanks.
R36Gary
I was going back home waiting for an N21 to Glen Cove at around 5:45pm for the 6:08pm. Apparently there was a breakdown there in Great Neck, and that was the bus that was supposed to be the 6:08pm, broke down earlier going into Flushing. So there was bus 159 with the driver waiting for another bus. So 117 pulled up at about 6:20pm and the dispatcher told people waiting "running late to Glen Cove".
So we get on 119 and it is not running good. Very loud and slow and poor A/C, but we were moving. But as we came up to the hill, right before my bus stop, buzzzzz, it stalled out. The driver looked really pissed off now, this was his 2nd problem bus today.
I was about to get off and just walk, but he did get it started again and I made it to the stop.
Saw 288 earlier on the N6, definately sounds like a DD CNG engine to me, good choice since Cummins is crap.
Anyway, with all the breakdowns this driver had today, he must be laughing at our new "quality control" sticker!
[Anyway, with all the breakdowns this driver had today, he must be laughing at our new "quality control" sticker!]
A quality control sticker which is just that, a sticker, is much worse then no sticker at all ... from the customers point of view.
At this depot the sticker doesn't go on until the bus is checked out stem to stern by our maint. dept. Then it's the drivers job to report anything that needs attention to keep the bus in tip top shape. The problem is that when the whole fleet is wareing the sticker it becomes harder to keep everyones attention on the topic. But then that's where management can participate.
Mr t__:^)
Well LI Bus management is pretty messed up from alot of the drivers I've spoken too. When a bus has a problem they tell the driver more or less "run it till it aint running anymore".
Why 117 stalled out was probably due to some poor maint. on the bus or the engine itself. The bus was buzzing the whole way in and perhaps the engine was overheating. Then when it got to the hill it just shut down. This seems to be a major problem with the buses, engine stall and strain. Also alot of the older buses (low 100s CNG's, 500 and 600 diesels) have poor or no A/C, but mgmt seems to do nothing about fixing that problem.
And that poor driver had two more trips, one from Glen Cove back to Flushing and then Flushing to Glen Cove.
I saw 117 going to Flushing down Glen avenue but later on the last run he had a different bus, 101, so 117 probably broke down for good.
Of all the routes N20/21 seems to have the most breakdowns, I guess because the combination of duration, hills, and traffic strain them the most. Whenever I'm riding the other bus routes in southern & central Nassau I don't experience as many delays due to breakdowns.
But hills and traffic are no excuses. If LI Bus mgmt had their heads on straight they should've replaced the "ailing" Cummins engines with Detroit Diesel (CNG) ones. I don't see most other agencies having as many problems with their Orion CNG buses like LI Bus has had.
wait a minute... When those buses were delivered, they seem to have been OK. Its seems like you guys always bitch about the buses. Just remember.... the bus is only as good as the people who work on them. If you dont give a shit about your job and your supervisor doesnt either, this is the consequence. Also, what does a sticker mean? Is it that the company is saying that they know the bus maintenence is lousy and they are trying to make it seem better with a sticker? Are they saying the maintenence department is slacking and now they are all better? ANY BUS IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALLOWED TO REPAIR THEM
Maybe they're using those stickers to hold the buses together.....
At this depot we started a NEW quality control program about a year and one half ago.
[wait a minute... When those buses were delivered, they seem to have been OK.]
The Orion's got a sticker as soon as they arrived on the property. The RTS fleet got them AFTER we looked the bus over with a fine toothed comb & fixed a lot of little items that may have been neglected. Once it got a sticker it became the driver's job to take PRIDE in HIS bus & report anything that made it look bad or not operate properly. The program is old now so you have the problem of keeping everyone motivated toward the goal, but by and large I think our fleet still looks pritty good ...
or as Ed Kotch would say .... "How are we doing ?"
Disclaimer: I don't work for the maint. dept., but I do see a lot of the fleet every day AND today I'm riding a couple of our coaches to a meeting in Brooklyn, well QSC will get me as far as 6th Ave then I'll have to go underground, but for a railfan it will actually be a treat.
Mr t__:^)
Once again you are missing the point. The driver is not responsible for repairing the bus. The driver writes down, to the best of his ability.. what he THINKS is not right. It is up to the maintenence department to have it looked at and/or repaired. If the mechanic is not in the mood to work and obviously either is his superiors....... then nothing much gets done and the buses start failing on the road which brings us to the point we are at now. The driver has nothing to do with the maintenence. The buses were not delivered new with a note from the manufacturer...... please dont use this bus all day as it will break down or this city bus is new, dont use it on heavy routes... I think that all new buses have thier glitches. Its up to the shop to work with the manufacturer for the warranty period to repair or modify something that is not right for the climate or conditions that the bus will be operating in. Any bus company can run without many people, but the maintenence department is by far the most important link in the chain. You can have drivers and management sitting around all day but if the maint. dept. hasnt been doing thier job correctly, then you get the consequences of bad maintenence. BREAK DOWNS!
Saw LI Bus 288 again today at Atlantic Diesel in Bohemia.
Wonder what it was doing there AGAIN? I just saw it running a few days ago on the N6. Could it be LI Bus has two Orions with the number 288 and will eventually change one of the buses to another number?
Bus 9258 is still at Ulmer Park I pulled out behind it this morning I was in 9324.
There will be a chat in the #metrocard room tonight, 7/10/00, at 10:45 EST.
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Tevi,
Co-OP, CP.
7-10-00
Here in LA Division 10 Flxible metro 2744 was cut off by a motorist yapping on a cellular phone and the powerful bus powered by the Cummins L10 destroyed a night club and apartment building sending people running for dear life.
The bus sustained substantial front end damage and will be used as a parts bus for the rest of the MTA Flxibles as rather than fix LACMTA will part ot a wreck as they wish to get rid of the Flxbles as soon as they can due to the rarity of parts now that Flxible parts are out of production.
The bus was removed under its own power.
The motorist was charged with felony hit and run.
And the driver was OK and will likely be getting a nice long sick leave due to sustained injuries.
Ryder
What a way to go.
Sorry to hear that a Flxible was destroyed. Here's what I don't understand. If the operator is getting a nice long sick leave due to sustained injuries, HOW CAN HE BE OK? BIG AL
I saw the 2744 from a far at the CMF today and it did not look too bad.
As I said n the first post LACMTA wants the Flxibles gone as soon as they cn get rid of them and this is yet another example of them throwing away a saveable (By NYCTA standards) bus.
Blue
07/14/2000
[Flxible metro 2744 was cut off by a motorist yapping on a cellular phone]
Why am I not surprised? People who drive cars while using cell phones are fast becoming a threat. It's not like listening to the radio or chatting with someone beside you.
I almost broadsided a Lincoln Continental 2 years ago in Farmingdale. This car shot out of a industrial parking lot. I slammed on the brakes and leaned on the horn only missing him by 6 feet! The dummy didn't stop,yet kept talking on his cell phone like nothing happened. Holding the phone on his left blocked his peripheral (sp?) vision. Sometimes these dummies are so caught up in their yaking they forget the light has changed to green!
Bill "Newkirk"
One of the local 'canary carpets'- you know, the free community weekly papers found in Bank ATMs and the front of supermarkets- reported that effective Monday, July 10, there would be several changes to the Q76.
The bus from Jamaica would proceed past its longtime Whitestone terminus at Parsons & 14th as follows: south on Parsons, west on 20th Avenue, north on 130th Street and east on 14th Avenue back to Whitestone and Jamaica. This was no doubt in response to the many new stores and shopping centers on 20th Avenue on the Whitestone-College Point line. It's not made clear exactly where the new terminal would be located. Seems 20th Avenue & 130th Street would be most logical.
In addition, Jamaica-bound Q76s would alter their route so that instead of running east on 14th Avenue through downtown Whitestone, south on Clintonville Street and east on the Cross Island service road, it will now use the service road all the way from 14th Avenue & 148th Street to Clintonville, bypassing the 'Village' as oldtime Whitestoners refer to it as.
I haven't had time to check any this personally, but there's NO MENTION OF ANY OF THIS IN THE MTA WEBSITE'S BUS ROUTE ADVISORIES/CHANGES PAGE.
Shouldn't they be on top of this stuff?
I posted this in my monthly posting of the NYC Transit Committee agenda,,last month
Steve
If you've been put through the horrible pain and suffering of riding, or driving one of these fatty-fats, please post here, and we will help you get through this together.
I'm sorry, but I like the Neoplan Articulateds, I had the joy of riding one of SEPTA's new Neoplan Transliner AN460 Articulated and it's was great!
Trevor Logan
Last December, I rode on one of the old Neoplan artics that are used in Rutgers University service in New Brunswick. I believe those are ex-MARTA (Atlanta) buses. The interior was very comfortable, due to lots of space between seats. It seemed to ride very nicely for its age, and did a great job of holding lots of students.
I've aonly ridden them once. It was at MARTA and now it would be a pretty old bus, but it's DD 8V-71 engine give it good acceleration.
Wayne
They're alot better than the NABI artics. What an underpowered peice of junk those things are.
You know, SEPTA just got some brand new Neoplan articulateds, and they look great! I don't know what kind of Neoplans AN460's they have where you are, but the ones in Philadelphia have a stop announcement system, velvet covered seats, and seem to be very comfortable with the air conditioning feature.
I did a Philadelphia Photography trip back easter weekend of this year, I had a chance to ride those artics, THEY ARE GREAT! Our Westchester County Bee-Line System is gonna have a blast especially because ours is coming with Detroit Diesel Series 60 DDEV IV Engines instead of the standard Detroit Diesel Series 50 Engine.
Trevor Logan
We all know the merits of the glorious GMC/TMC/Nova RTS. Hell, I would be here all day explaining the merits of the RTS-04 alone. But now, a new bus, a New Flyer D40LF to be exact, has won my affections with it's smooth ride and awesome acceleration. This bus may very well be the RTS of the twent first century. What do you all think?
I DON'T SEE IT! Even though the Flxible METRO Series is no longer being built, IT WILL ALWAYS BE NUMBER #1 IN MY BOOK!
BUT THEN AGAIN, I DO SEE IT! Because the New Flyer D Series Buses are my second favorites.
Trevor Logan
Isn't the Metro now being built by MCI? (still haven't heard of anyplace who has these).
MCI Brought the rights to the Flxible METRO Series, there was talks from MCI about bringing the METRO back, but from what I understand it fizzled for now.
Trevor Logan
I really wish the Flxible Metro would come back. I had the pleasure of driving them at University of Maryland-College Park and they were so easy to drive, easier than a car sometimes. We had 18 30-foot detroit diesels and cummins and two 40-foot cummins. The detroit diesels had better brakes, but the cummins had better acceleration.
I hope someone decides to bring it back. Too bad MCI decided against it for now.
I've ridden on several D40LF's in various transit systems, and generally like them. I wonder, however, how long New Flyer will continue to produce them, as it is possible that the newer Invero will eventually replace the D40LF as New Flyer's standard low-floor bus. To be honest, I'm still a little puzzled how the Invero is intended to fit in with the rest of the New Flyer product line, i.e., will it replace the D40LF, compete with it, or somehow supplement it.
I've always been a big fan of the Flxible Metro and GM/MCI/Nova Classics, but those D40LF's are pretty quick too.
Wayne
Anything would be better than the RTS. It may be glorious to you but try spending 8 hours a day 5 days a week driving one of these torture chambers. I'll be glad when the last RTS is scrapped.
We'll probably be dead before that happens.
I wouldn't be suprised to see the D/C40LF become the RTS' sucessor. It is already the most popular of the low floor buses, although it seems like the NABI 40LFW is mounting a little challenge. I wonder also how the D40i Invero fits in (the picture of it on TransiTalk is in front of SEPTA headquarters if you didn't catch it). I didn't know what to make of the New Flyer bus until I rode one at Penn State (a CATA C40LF). I was pretty impressed.
I was informed by Senior New York City Transit Department Of Buses Officials that the reason why the 1963 General Motors TDH-5303 green body New Look Transit Museum Bus #3758 did not appear at this year NYC Transit Bus Roadeo on June 10th at South Beach was because the 37 year old former TA bus had serious electrical defects.
Now I hope that the Bus Central Maintenance Facility at East New York in Brooklyn can finally start getting the ball rolling by making all the necessary electrical repairs on the 1963 GMC Fishbowl New Look Bus so it can start operating properly and safely once again in time for both the "Jackie Gleason Bus Depot Tour" on August 12th, and definitely the NY Transit Museum Bus Fest on September 16th. Most of all, I don't want to see this Classic 1963 GM Transit Bus always being parking right against the wall inside the Jackie Gleason Depot. On the day of the Tour of the Gleason Depot 8/12, I would like to have plenty of space so that I can get a full view photo of that reknown Transit Bus.
I hear you, but the TA is a business. Eventhough we all like buses and would like to see 3758 running again (I remember that bus brand new at Crosstown when I was young), then TA has to have a priority in utilizing its' mechanics, especially during the summer air conditioning season, (and vacations) on getting the daily service requirements out onto the street. There are budgets, accountability, production goals, etc. which allow the paying passenger to get the biggest bang for the buck. Unfortunately, the average passenger couldn't care less about a 37 year old relic unlike us. Maybe they can tow it the short distance from Gleason to the Bus Fest on 9/16.
If the TA decides to fix it, I think they should call on the forces at Fresh Pond maintenance to fix it! LOL LOL.
right now there is no overtime at the central maintenance facility. workers are refusing same due to management harassment. therefore there is a big backlog on overhauls. 3758 is a very low priority as it is not a revenue bus.
right on Bill-
The unfortunate thing about busfans is they expect the magic wand to be waived to make busses go.
Every busfan in NY should be happier then hell that you have an agency that as a dedicated historic fleet PERIOD!
Here in LA we DID have a formittable historic fleet but due to a managment screw up that in itself became historic.
There are slight hopes of renewing the historic fleet and we shall see what happens there.
If you want a photo of the bus so bad contact JC Rebis JR he has em all and could use the contact.
Blue
Are they any Liquid Propane Gas buses running? What are the exhaust fumes given off? Same as CNG? I ask because there is a propane powered floor waxer where I work. After its shutdown there is a unique smell with lots of heat.
Chicago used to run many LP buses. They smelled just like an lp forklift. Some school buses use the stuff now. I do not know of any current transit usage.
CNG bues run pretty hot, especilly the catalytic converters. The ehxaust smells like a gas stove but not as strong.
Today I saw 5208 on the Q24 with ENY decals on it on Jamaica ave at Merrick blvd. I didn't know they were getting 5200's also. Anybody know how many they are getting? Also, why hasn't the bus roster been updated since May 24th, on this website? Does anybody have a current bus roster address we can click on? Thanks BIG AL
Check TransiTALK's Roster at 6:25pm for a recent update!
Trevor Logan
I am looking for a current depot to depot bus roster page. Unfortunatly, your roster hasn't been updated either since 5/23/00 on TransiTalk. Thanks anyway Trevor. BIG AL
Yeah, my depot by depot roster is not maintained by me, i just host it!
I only do the list style roster! Sorry I couldn't help you there!
Trevor
Trev thats my bad. I'll send you a roster tomorrow. BTW, 5205-5208, 5224 and 5229 are in ENY.
No sweat, I understand your a busy man, that's why i didn't e-mail you about it, i figured you'd get it to me when you got the chance!
Trevor
What??? I'm getting moved to East New York Yard on the J/M/Z Line? I'm a 75' car!!! You can't do that. OHHH. Wrong *Talk. :-)
I spotted 5221 on the B60 at Bridge Plaza with Kingsbridge decals.
I never see their 7500's anymore. I don't think that's a coincidence. Anybody know if they got transferred to another depot? Just curious, like with Bill and QV's 7000's. Thanks BIG AL
According to the July 1 UTC Roster (which is not yet posted on the internet), 7500-7510 are at Flatbush and 7511-7534 are at Ulmer Park. 7535 and higher are in various Manhattan depots.
Buses 7552,7553,7554,7557,7558 &7559 are assigned to 126th Street Depot.
This month the theme is Rey Playland with one of the segments about the Bus Rodeo in SI. Lots of shots of non drivers there having fun, plus some interviews with a few of the 350 drivers, BUT not much footage of the redeo AND only a few seconds of the vintage buses that came :-(
Read my post to SubTalk for what else is on this 1/2 hour edition.
Mr t__:^)
Yup, But I remember a clip they had of a B/O and his RTS. The shot was with a face closeup and then zoomed out. Then I saw a whole line of cones jammed under the bus. Oops. The B/O's face was filled with mass confusion.
Yes it would have been nice if they incl. more of that. I wonder who exactly they think their audience is ... it's NOT TA employees as it's on PUBLIC tv.
Mr t__:^)
Approximately one year ago I put up a post asking about the origin of the bus that is in the yard on the GCP opposite the Gas Station at 188th Street.
At that time, Wayne Johnson responded that it was a GM New Look Fishbowl, Model T6H-5307A. He believed that it came from Triboro Coach and that it was in the 700's.
Wayne, you were right. I stopped there yesterday at 8:20 AM. I was directed to speak to Kenny, who is in charge of the bus. Since it is "His Bus" its nicknamed BIG KEN. He showed me the bus... It still has its orginal Triboro Fleet # 743 on the inside of the bus. The builders plate shows that it is Serial # 0148 which matches #743 from the production lists at www.omot.org.
Ken also told me that they ripped out the original seats and put in suburban style seats from an old Command Bus. He also told me:
1. The bus originally was acquired with a loan from the European-American Bank and he had to get a pay-off letter from them in order to get the title into the name of the NYPD.
2. The Bus was donated to NYC by Triboro.
3. They are attempting to get NYC Transit to donate a set of aluminum wheels to sharpen up the apperance of the bus.
4. Officer Ken believes that the bus primarily ran on the Woodside-Rockaway (Q53?) line.
5. The bus will soon be repainted to match the PD's current color scheme of white with a blue stripe instead of the former light blue with a white stripe.
Thanks Officer Ken for all the info.
Yes, those 700 series New Look Fishbowls primarily ran on the Q53.
Good work!
Is officer Ken a highway patrolman or a police officer from the motor pool?
Did you have any problems getting in to Highway District 3 to ask the questions?
I don't know if Ken is from Highway Patrol or Motor Pool. He was on the phone with a Sargent and his desk had a computer on it, leading me to believe that he is HP.
Last year, while on the way into Bus Fest '99 at about 8 AM, that Sunday I pulled into the precient. I came off the GCP and make a U-turn and parked at the west end of the property and walked to the bus and took the pictures. One officer was filing up his detective's car and nary a look or question.
This past Wed. I got there at about 8:20AM. I parked in the same spot. Of course its a weekday and the place was busier. I took my photo album with me for credibility. I walked slowly and asked the first officer I saw, what information I was looking for. When he realized that I was not a crazy person but an individual who is on the level but with an unusual hobby he told me to go through the screen door and ask for Ken. I went in very slowly and another HP officer questioned me why I wanted to speak to Ken, who was on the phone at the time. Again after the same explanation and showing him some pictures of bus fest he introduced me to Ken by saying that I owned buses and wanted some info. I had to correct him by saying "I own TOY buses. Can't afford the real thing".
Ken was very courteous to me and seemed genuinely interested in my knowledge of buses in general and "his" in particular. He seemed to like the idea of the model # system, that I've learned on Bus-Talk and told him about www.omot.org.
I've found that if you are courteous, not rude and convey an understanding that if they say "no" you would be upset, people will usually work with you if the rules allow.
One more thing, Officer Ken told me that the A/C still works on the bus and occasionally when they go to funerals he sees the JBL Suburban still owned by the Coopers.
I agree with you on what you said.
One of my other hobbies is highway patrol vehicles, motorcycles and cruisers. I have several books and information. I have written letters to several state police and local police with highway patrols to obtain information on such.
Yesterday on the way home I swung past the ENY Depot. Parked at the front of one of the doors on East NY Avenue was a Flxible New Look in the current white with blue stripe livery. I was east bound and there was too much traffic to slow down and look. Couldn't see a number. Anyone know which bus this is ?????
Could be MTA Flexible 236 which is stored at ENY Depot as a museum bus.
R36Gary
Subject is self explainatory!
Trevor
What I saw was definitely a Flxible New Look.....Not an 870
236 is a grumman flxible not a new look.you may have seen 7562 a former ulmer park bus which nyct uses for training purposes. also 7809 is now at hudson pier also a training bus.
Too be more specific, the bus that was spotted was probably the one transit is using for their hazardous chemical awareness programs. This bus is basically a classroom on wheels that goes from depot to depot teaching operators how to be aware of hazardous solids, liquids and gases and what to do in the event of an emergency. Basically all transit employees take the class once a year. I forgot the number but I know it is a 7500 series and I think it is 7562. BIG AL
07/13/2000
I was traveling home today on the LIRR when a male passenger in an opposite seat had a blue baseball cap with the following logo:
Micahel J. Quill depot - Manhattan division
I asked the man about this and he told me that the old Westside depot was renamed in Mike Quills honor today and they were giving the caps out. Is this true?
Bill "Newkirk"
It's a great idea as long as the bathrooms are named the John Lindsley Room.
It's true. A Westside operator told me about it yesterday. The ceremony was held today.
Also the new logo has already been put on some former Westside buses.
The logo has a picture of Mr Quill in the center and is a sharp looking logo.
Now the supervisors have to come up with a shorter version to use on the radio. One supervisor today cut it down to MJQ depot on the radio today.
How about Quill? It's just one syllable.
It will probably be unofficially known as Quill depot, just like Jackie Gleason depot is more commonly referred to just as Gleason depot.
No matter how many times they may rename "The Quill" (Formerly Westside), I still think of that building and depot as Greyhound.
okay... there's a greyhound man among us... i just noticed about a week ago, that greyhound still has its driver dormitory on the section of the building on 11th avenue... go greyhound...
I'm not the least bit anti-labor, but I must ask two very stupid questions....
1. If Quill was such an esteemed leader of the TWU, why does it refuse to name one of ITS OWN locations for him?
2. Why does MANAGEMENT have to rename a facility for a UNION leader? In what other industry has such a thing occurred?
as far as historical precedent goes, what other industry named a bus depot after a tv actor?
in a way, naming a depot jackie gleason depot was honoring a man who made a bus driver into a much loved and cared for tv character...as head of ralph's bus company, i am sure you appreciate the tribute being made... in fact, i think you made a big mistake not making ralph the bus driver supervisor in the pool lesson episode...
mike quill was a really colorful character who was head of the twu for so many years... as someone pointed out he is well remembered for referring to the mayor as mr. lindsley during the strike in the 60's... i think that the union contract after that strike established great gains for the workers... why name a depot after him?... mike quill was an irishman who spoke with an accent that some people said increased when he was in front of a microphone... yet he represented a large number of men, many of whom were immigrants, who helped build and run the transit system... he did much to improve the standard of living of his members...
putting all my pretentious historical analysis aside, i applaud the choice to name the depot after him... mike quill was an especially colorful, important, and most importantly funny man in the history of new york city...
Who the hell is Michael J Quill??????? This guy used to be a Union Boss back in the early 80s???
Peace Out
David Justiniano
Try 60's
mike quill was the head of the transit workers union until his death in the 1966 in the midst of a major transit strike... he was one of the founders of the union going back to the 1930's... he was a short, fiery man who was quick witted... up until the strike in 1966, the union often came to settlements with the then mayor robert wagner... some people said that wagner knew how to deal with quill
then john lindsay became mayor in 1966 and declared
that the transit labor negotiations were going to be done differently, there was to be no more special deals... what followed was a rather long transit strike with mike quill in the forefront... the transit pact that was signed after that strike established many great gains for the union... a pension after 20 years service was one of the victories... the advances made in that contract led other unions to demand more from the city...
david... i have the sense that you are young... mention mike quill to most of us aging baby boomers, and you'll probably find a smile come on our face... he was quite a character... putting that aside, the twu and mike quill are inseparable in the history of new york city labor... i think that there is a biography or two written about quill and the history of the twu... but you had to see and hear him to capture the presence and importance of this man... he was a fighter... may he rest in peace...
i was looking on the web for some information about mike quill... instead i found a funny story about mayor lindsay... during lindsay's inauguration celebration when the strike was already in progress, sammy davis jr., the very talented entertainer, congratulated lindsay for solving the crime problem in the subways in just a few short hours... the closing of the subways had brought crime to a screeching stop in the underground...
I always like that guy. On his first day on the job, Mayor John Lindsey faced a transit strike which he did not know how to deal with. Nice first day, John! Who said it (a strike) will never happen!
Since that strike, the city will never under estimate the power of Mass Transit in New York!
PRESS: Where are you going, since the strike is settled?
MR QUILL: To the mens room.
What was even better, and a choice Quillism, was uttered by Michael right after the Lindsay administration got a judge to issue an injuction ending the strike. Mike's reply was "The judge can drop dead in his black robes, I will not end this strike!" His departure, true the transit tradition, was in the line of duty. His equal will never be seen again.
dan... i remember another truly quillism... he was on a sunday morning tv interview show... at some point he said that there should be a limit to what people can earn of something like $20,000 a year... a reporter pointed out to mike that as head of the union he earned more than $20,000... the reporter then asked him how the new proposed limit would affect him?.. quill answered: "i'd be screwed"
Mike Quill will also be remembered for his vulgarity. In the early 1960s it was not fashionable or polite to speak of bathroom matters on the public airwaves. Quill made frequent references during his rather colorful news conferences to discussions he had with management negotiators in the toilet which he pronounced "tylet" in his Irish brogue. I also remember one comedian on TV saying during the strike that Mike Quill's favorite drink was Manhattan on the Rocks.
just goes to prove how far ahead of his times he was... if he would have had his way, transit workers like ralph kramden would have been able to afford a bigger tent when they went camping with their wives...
Quill would also purposely screw up Lindsay's name by calling him
"Mr Lindsley". It was pure justice that when he dropped dead in 1966, the cemetery workers were on strike! Couldn't be buried for some time.
Joe C
>>> Who the hell is Michael J Quill??????? <<<
David;
Check out this TWU biography of Mike Quill
Tom
The 1966 strike crippled the city and cost millions in lost funds and hours, probably billions in today's money. The intense spending on labor in the years to come was what led to the 1975 fiscal crisis that killed the Second Avenue Subway.
One advantage of the strike is the Taylor Law passed to prohibit municipal employees from striking (and I believe the three consecutive teachers' strikes in 1967, '68 and '69 helped that too). It made the 1980 strike a failure and that knowledge helped prevent a possible 1999 strike.
Although a one day 1999 strike would be tops. School would have been cancelled for the first day of the strike, and I'd have a strike to remember.
the 1980 strike was far from a failure. we all gained parity with the seniop men. john lawe led that strike and since the twu has had a bunch of gutless leaders. not to mention staten islands atu leadership.
You saying that Larry Hanley is GUTLESS?
-Hank
>>> the Taylor Law passed to prohibit municipal employees from striking <<<
I doubt that the Taylor law would have stopped Mike Quill if he thought a strike was necessary. He came from an era when union men often died in the struggles with management. He was up there with the giants of the labor movement such as Gompers, Lewis, Reuther and Randolph.
Tom
I'm wondering why they didn't name it [JG] the Ralph Kramden depot. I mean, he was the character of the bus driver. Jackie Gleason was never a bus driver.
tevi... i think they named it shortly after jackie gleason died... i suppose it was a tribute to gleason as well as to ralph... jackie gleason depot as a name probably sounds and feels better to the workers than ralph kramden depot... i'd be curious about what other people think about this...
Paul;
It was proper to name the depot after Jackie Gleason to honor his great talent, rather than to name it after the fictional character he created.
In fact when you first look at Ralph Kramden, you can hardly say he is such a great role model as a bus driver. Bus drivers could have the same complaint the NAACP had about Amos ‘n Andy. He was always scheming and never able to carry out his plans successfully. From the character and his surroundings you get the idea that it takes no smarts to be a bus driver, and the pay must be very low.
It was Gleason, the artist that made the character so lovable, and therefore he is the one to be honored.
Tom
tom... i kind of agree with you in that gleason was a great talent who after a while just gave people what they wanted to see of him... ralph kramden also was not the model bus driver or model husband, but there was something very real and touching about the characters and premise of the show... if you watch it now, it seems timeless...
it's interesting that you mention amos and andy... there are some parallels between the show... they both had an opening of a backdrop against the night sky... both shows were about ordinary people trying to make it in life... kingfish was certainly a schemer... kingfish and ralph both had mother in law problems... they both belonged to fraternal organizations: the mystic knights of the sea on amos and andy, and the raccoons on the honeymooners...
Why name a depot after a fictional character? What honor does that bestow?
-Hank
Not everyone, of course, has the same take on this. Many bus drivers of old, and their families, empathized with the driver burdens borne by the character played by Gleason and, consequently identified with that character. Naming the depot after Gleason is a little tip of the hat to all the drivers of that era, as well as to their predecessors and their successors. To me, as the son of a driver of that era, that one name, with all its recognition-attracting power, represents a memorial to all the drivers. I now live far from NYC, and my father drove a very long time ago, but I can hardy explain the emotions I feel every time I have the opportunity to pass by the depot. Naming it after someone who represents the ordinary driver is a nice balance to naming the Quill depot after someone who fought so hard for those drivers. Moreover, the depot could have been named after the actual fictional character; instead, it was named after the man who gave life to the fictional character.
Jackie Gleason was a fictional character? I don't think so.
Ralph Kramden was a fictional character played by Jackie Gleason
Peace,
ANDEE
I'd better repeat and reword my questions, in order to increase the likelihood of their actually being answered....
1. Why must MANAGEMENT name its facility after a UNION leader?
2. Why isn't the TWU willing to rename ITS OWN office afer Quill?
3. Has any other union anywhere also forced management into such a move?
>>> 1. Why must MANAGEMENT name its facility after a UNION leader?
2. Why isn't the TWU willing to rename ITS OWN office afer Quill?
3. Has any other union anywhere also forced management into such a move? <<<
Your questions contain assumptions that are not necessarily true. 1 & 3 assume that the union forced the MTA to rename the depot. Was it in a recent contract? I don't know, but I doubt it. Perhaps the MTA wanted to rename the depot as a gesture of good will toward its workers without any coercion. Is that so unthinkable?
As far as question 2 is concerned, I do not know where the TWU office is, or how public it is, or if the building already has a name, or if the idea of renaming the building has ever come up and been rejected. Do you know?
Tom
twu has offices on w 66 st i believe. the street has been renamed for john lawe.
See how I got to a meeting at 130 Livingston Plaza and back incl. our Orion CNG & an MCI on SubTalk.
Mr t__:^)
As everybody knows, Camden is fairly run down. There have been attempts to revive it, like the State Aquarium, but that's not enough. What we need is a wholesale name change! The C in Camden should be changed to a Kr, it's the only way to do it! That should certainly boost tourism, especially if NJT renames all of the busses there to Gotham Bus Company.
[...especially if NJT renames all of the buses there to Gotham Bus Company.]
Sorry, Pigs. There's only one Gotham Bus Company around here, and I'm it.
:-)
I'm posting this to both BusTalk and SubTalk because of the possible crossover appeal.
When you buy a Newark Subway ticket, you can buy a ticket with transfer which adds the 45 cents necessary to transfer. Does it give you a separate ticket or is it combined in one, if separate, does the transfer have to be stamped?
Since the subway is one zoned, continuing trips mean nothing when transfering to it, but how do you get a ticket after having paid the 45 cent fee on the bus and getting a transfer ticket. Do you have to stamp the transfer in the validator?
I'm not 100% positive on this, but let me give it my best shot. When you pay the extra 45 cents at the subway ticket machine, you get just one ticket, like you would if you paid only $1.00. You validate that ticket and also use it as the transfer when you switch to the bus. Coming in the other direction, you pay the transfer fee on the bus, get your receipt which shows you paid for a transfer, and merely show that transfer if an inspector asks for proof of payment on the subway car. But the key thing to remember: many of the transfers between the Newark subway and bus routes do NOT require the extra 45 cent transfer charge. I forget precisely which transfers do and which don't, but I think there's a chart that shows the two categories posted at each ticket machine on the subway. I know I've transferred from the #74 bus to the subway without paying the 45 cent fee.
When attending this years Bus Roadeo at South Beach on June 10th, I noticed that the New York Transit Museum Booth was selling photos of former New York City Transit Authority buses (now Museum replicas).
Among the Vintage Transit Buses in the photo album that were for sale to the public included the green body 1961-62 GMC TDH-5301 New Look bus #2151, 1964 Flxible New Look bus #5149, and the Classic 1960-61 GMC TDH-5301 New Look bus #1059. However, I am very surprised that the Transit Museum did not have any publicity photos of the 1963 GMC TDH-5303 New Look bus #3758 when it was also first commissioned as a Museum Bus back in 1986 or 87. Therefore, is there anyone out there who happens to still have a photo negative or slide of the green 1963 GMC TA bus #3758 when the Transit Authority first took a picture of that Vintage Bus at Steeple Chase Park back in the late 1980's? I even tried contacting the NYC Transit Archives; but the curator there told me that the only photo they had of a 1963 GM New Look bus was the one taken at the 1964 Worlds Fair. I am very surprised that the Transit Archives does'nt have a full range of photos depicting the history of the different model buses that were in the NYC Transit Authority's bus fleet over the years.
Would someone PLEASE give this guy a picture of 3758 so we don't have to hear this anymore?
David
Unfortunately, Yesterboy is not only a repetative whiner, but he's very particular about the picture he keeps bothering us about! I've advised him in the past that there's a picture of 3758 on this site under the 1999 Bus Fest pictures, but I recollect he didn't like it because the picture shows the front, and not the white lettering on top of the standee windows on the side. One of our Gleason BusTalkers should really bring a camera over there some day so we can cure Yesterboy's misery!
This 3758 thing is getting to be as repetitive as the daily question on the SubTalk side about the service plan when the 63rd St. extension opens.
i think it's great... the greatest good is achieved when the greatest number of people are irritated...
Is this going to be a weekly post? It's starting to sound ike a broken record.
Can someone tell me what's so great about 3758? Is this bus just like GM fishbowl 1059 which is what we have at Jamaica depot? If it is, next week I will snap some pictures of 1059 and mail them out to whoever can post them so we can put an end to this long running soap opera. BIG AL
BIG AL... please don't put an end to this soap opera... i like soap operas, but even more enjoyable is seeing people get bent out of shape because someone else is really caught up with something... you know it's okay if we run all over the city trying to catch up with this bus or that depot... that's cool... but if someone else keeps talking about the same thing, nah that's not cool...
What ever happened to those 3 New Flyer 45ft Vikings (996-998) that the MTA was supposed to test on express routes on Staten Island. I remember people posting saying that they saw these busses at Atlantic diesel in Lodi NJ and Trevor even posted pictures of them. Were they ever used in passenger service? Are they still sitting there?
Just something I was thinking about today.
Shaun
Sorry Shaun, NO MORE VIKINGS!
The Song and Dance......
The New Flyer D45S "Vikings" entered into TA existance in the Fall of 1999 with a preview of Bus #997 in front of the MTA Headquarters at Madison Avenue, a short stay at East New York Depot, and a thought-out run on the X17 which turned out to be a TA trick as that bus was just on a test run with no passengers. Bus #997 then returned to New Flyer.
Bus #996 later arrived at Bohemia Detroit Diesel and then traveled out the Lodi NJ, to Atlantic Diesel. About a week later Bus #997 returned to the NY Metro area bringing along Bus #998. Bus #996 saw a short preview of SI when it was brung over to the Arthur Kill Turnaround for a preveiw to some SI drivers, that same day Bus #996 returned back to Atlantic Diesel. Somewhere in the interim, the TA decided against the New Flyer D45S for it's next Commuter Cruiser order. Buses #996, 997, & 998 remained at Detroit Diesel in Lodi for about 1 month. After that one month, they were returned to New Flyer. Whereabouts of these three buses are uknown.......
Pictures for you enjoyment:
Have a safe and blessed evening!
Trevor Logan
I think we have those D45S's here in Houston. About 104 of them. They're pretty nice and fast.
So they never actually ran in service? If they did, it'd be yet another test run of something I missed by that much.
i still believe that these buses probably would not fit into tunnel and nyct is doing a good job covering up their idiocy. now if only someone could prove this it would make a good news story.i work at yukon and never saw these buses on staten island.
It sounds like some multi million dollar project that LACMTA engaded designing a sham bus that was built as five demos that never ran and are presently at one of the MTA disposition lots.
Said sham bus was decided to never be produced.
Abused FTA grants at their worst!
Ryder
Does anyone know what is now being built on the site of the now-demolished 100th St. Depot?
Yes...a replacement depot!
David
A brand new 100th Street Depot is being constructed. Once it opens sometime next year, Hudson Pier Depot is scheduled to close. Personnel from Hudson will be assigned to Westside aka Michael Quill Depot. Personnel assigned to Westside/Quill will move to 100th Street.
Do you know where routes and buses will go once HUD closes?
When it's determined,we'll all know. Until then, anything that's said about route assignments post-100th Street opening is sheer speculation and a waste of time.
David
What i know is that Hudson Pier Depot will close when new 100th St Depot on in late 2001. The Route assignments for Hudson Pier will go to Quill Depot & some of route from Quill Depot going to new 100th St Depot. But i heard it that New 100th St Depot will not get Originally route before old 100th st Depot shut down. Also the new Depot might get M72,79,86,96/106 & 116 that only the rumor. New 100th Street Depot will be open in late 2001 and will have approximately 400 by 200 feet with consist of a four-level, above-ground structure with a partial basement also will include areas for bus servicing and maintenance, bus parking, employee facilities, administrative offices and support areas. This project will be design build project.
Peace Out
David Justiniano
NYCTransiTrans Gallery Page
The TA's ultimate goal is to get it's lines as close as possible to their respective depots. This will cut down on travel time for operators going to make reliefs and reduce the distance buses have to run on and run off thus saving on salaries and fuel. The latest rumors at 126th Street Depot have the M66 & M57 going to Westside/Quill Depot. In return the M96 will go to 126th along with either the M100 or M60. Again these are just rumors at the moment. It is inevitable however that a transfer of lines such as this will eventually happen. Since I transfered to 126th Street in March of 1992 the M22,M27 & M50 have been transfered out with the M35,M57 & M116 being transfered in. Once 100th Street is completed and Hudson closed I would look for a major realignment of lines.
Will Hudson Pier deot have a replacement depot constructed as well?
No, that area will be going thru changes due to the new Westside highway reconstruction project.
On a similiar vein Amsterdam depot had a floor collapse on Friday July 14. The damage was not very extensive and patch up work is going on now with steel plates covering the hole. However many engineers were inspecting the entire depot for any other structural problems and the future is not very bright for this old depot (the oldest structure New York city Transit operates).
It created havoc on the M104 (one of the lines I now supervise) and the other lines from the depot because all these lines were forced to fuel up at other depots and the buses were parked all over the streets in the Amsterdam Av area.
Yesterday in the AM enroute to a client I stopped at Commercial Driver Training Institute in West Babylon LI. Mostly have tractor trailers.
They had 3 old NYBS coaches #1370,1376 & 1378 on the property. They are in bad shape, rusting in parts, not washed or cleaned in a while. One has a dent in the entrance door, probably caused by a student learning to back up a tractor-trailer. Although they are all
T6H-5308A's they are in a suburban configuration with high-back seats and no rear doors.
There were no Bee Lines on the property but were on the road with students. I went back on the way home at 7PM. The yard was shut.
However by standing on top of an earth berm and peering through a fence I can confirm that they have THREE old Bee Lines Buses.
The buses were # 133, # 146 and # 148. They are all GMC - RTS 01's. However they have been retrofitted with kits and are no longer Slope-backs (my favorite). OMOT.org, does not have any production lists for RTS's so I don't know the origin of these 3.
I have production lists for the entire RTS run. They were all originally delivered to Westchester Street Transportation.
Many of the Westchester County RTS's made it out here to a used bus dealer in southern California, almost a year ago. I'm sure many of them wound up down in Tijuana -- willbe going down there and checking on the bus fleets next weekend.
Didn't QS use RTS-01 back in 1997-1998 for a short period of time? They were numbered at QS as 177-192.
Q66#384Gary
Yes, QS did have some RTS's from Westchester County, which would have been from the same order as the ones now on L.I. I recollect that Westchester County received only one order of RTS's. By the way, I'm pretty sure Westchester County still has a few of those old RTS's in service. I believe they are all 35-footers, which made up a very small part of the original order. I saw what looked like #213 or 215 on the New England Thruway a few Sundays back.
Does anybody have pics of QS 177-192 when they were there? If you do, email me. Thanks.
Q104#384Gary
TransiTALK updated it's roster today, current as of July 15th!
Click Here
Trevor Logan
Hop on over to #metrocard on the IRC channel irc.cjb.net. For people without an IRC client, go to metrocard.cjb.net and click on chat room. For people with an IRC client, log onto the server irc.cjb.net and join the room #metrocard.
--Clayton Parker--
Cheif Technical Officer at #metrocard
Technical Administrator at TransiTALK
headtechie@thetechroom.com
For those of you who use a webtv terminal, I've written an IRC which loads this room, port, and server automatically. Access
http://nyctabus.tripod.com/transitchat.html. You may upload that and customize as necessary.
I was there about 8:15 last Saturday, but there wasn't anyone else around! Hopefully, we'll have a better turn-out this week. I've hadn't had the opportunity to visit an active Transit Chat to date. It should prove interesting.
QV
For those of you who use a webtv terminal, I've written an IRC which loads this room, port, and server automatically. Access
http://nyctabus.tripod.com/transitchat.html. You may upload that and customize as necessary.
I was there about 8:15 last Saturday, but there wasn't anyone else around! Hopefully, we'll have a better turn-out this week. I've hadn't had the opportunity to visit an active Transit Chat to date. It should prove interesting.
QV
The JFK Flyer 40DLF[?]'s were 6 cylinder. (rode for the first time, going to the computer fair at the Ramada. Could tell by the sound) I had always thought they were 4 cylinder like the ones Roosevelt Island got shortly after these came. Especially since they have the so called "stovepipes" on top, which is a required feature for 4 cylinder engines. I always wondered what the 6 cylinder version of the LF sounded like. Kind of like a cross between the Orions and the MCI coaches.
The PA also has mini buses painted with a blue stripe like the TA for employees. They have the new style interior lighting, like the newest RTS's and Orions, but I couldn't see who the manufacturer was. Hertz has something that looks like a flyer, but is a bit different. Avis still has 6V-71 35ft RTS's.
Those new PANYNJ Shuttle buses for the employees are 1999-2000 Champion Solo Low Floor Buses. Some are out at Newark Airport also.
The new Hertz Bus you saw was the new Gillig HF2000 "Advantage" Low Floor Bus.
Trevor Logan
Finally had the chance to ride a new WMATA Orion VI, number 2004 from Fair Oaks Mall to Ballston on the route 2B. It was a pretty nice ride, seemed fairly smooth and the driver seemed to enjoy it as we were flying around the corners pretty good. I've never been on a low floor bus, so it was odd sitting so close to the ground, but it wasn't bad.
I think WMATA needs to work on some of the destination sign programs, though, since the destination sign read "Brightwood" instead of Ballston, but for some reason, the talking feature still announced the final destination as Ballston. I guess something wasn't entered in right. Also, the red electronic sign inside the bus that would show the streets messed up every now and then by either showing the same street twice even though we only have to pass it once, or by flashing "Fair Oaks Mall", which was where it started from, occasionally. Then, the whole thing shut off and popped back on and the voice announcement wasn't correct. Minor technical glitches I guess.
Also spotted bus 8708, which I think is usually out of Landover or Southern running out of Four Mile Run. The only 8700's in VA come out of the Arlington Lot and are in the 8770's or 8780's. Could be a reserve bus since I think the whole WMATA fleet is still going through its rehab process of repainting them.
I passed by Four Mile Run on Saturday afternoon and I saw 8703 in then yard.
Wayne
Those Orion VIs must be brand new, or because I never saw any of them on WMATA or RIDE-ON. Or maybe they just run those in Virginia, since 2B is a virginia route. I have, however, rode the newer Orion VIs on the K6 route to Fort Totten, and everything seemed fine except for the outside destination and number sign. The number sign said Z8, and the destination sign said K6 Fort Totten. I guess the destination sign could use some work. And also, as you may have noticed, the metrobus fleet (WMATA) is being repainted in a new color arrangment, just like SEPTA is.
I haven't seen any Orion VI's in Md or DC yet, but I know that some other bustalkers on here have spotted them around. I'm thinking that the full order of 100 buses hasn't completely arrived yet, so they will be hard to spot. I do see them quite often in the Arlington area, though, along with the new Orion V's. I saw an Orion VI on the Ride On, route 46 recently as well as new CNG 40 foot Orions.
It always seems that it takes awhile to get the destination sign glitches taken care of.
I like the new WMATA paint scheme, especially the blue on the back of the bus over the air conditioner vent, rathern than the standard black.
Ride On has had there Orion VI CNG Low Floor's since 1995. They are not new.
Picture:
Trevor Logan
Oh. I haven't ridden ride-on as often as I used to for quite a while now. Besides, the bus that was on that picture was on route 59, and that bus serves the rockville area. The Rockville area always seemed to use different types of buses than the Silver Spring area, which is where I usually see and ride Ride-On buses. In Silver Spring, you would basically see Orion Is, 30ft Gillig Phantoms, 35ft Gillig Phantoms, and once in a while an Orion V.
I haven't seen any Orion VI's in DC yet but I have seen #2054 in Bowie, MD on the B22 route. I've also spotted one in Takoma Park on the F4 and another at the Silver Spring Metro, but in both cases I wasn't close enough to see the fleet number.
Wayne
Hey, since when does Ride-On use 40ft buses? Ever since the '80s they have been using 30ft buses, and then with the new Gillig Phantoms they have been using 35ft buses, as well as those mini van-buses (does anyone know the model name of those vehicles? I'm actually a little surprised to hear that Ride-On is now using full sized buses.
Ride-On just took delivery of a bunch of 40 foot Orion V's. I don't know if they got any for upper (Montgomery) county, but I see 25 (995701-995725) operating in lower county. I don't get to VA very often, but Fairfax connector also has some new 40 foot Orion V's. But Fairfax already has a fleet of 40 foot RTS (about 1995 models?).
Wayne
i've been to virginia, and i've seen the 40ft Orion Vs. However, I haven't seen the RTSs on the Fairfax Connecter. I have seen Orion Vs on Ride-On once in a while for a few years now, I mean, they are pretty rare (i don't think they really look good in Ride-On colors anyway) and isn't Silver Spring in lower Montgomery County? Next time i'm in maryland, I'll look for the 40ft Orion Vs. maybe i've actually seem them, and thought they were 35ft buses (I can be mistaken, since they have a wierd window arrangment). Also, I LOVE ORION BUSES. THEY ARE MY FAVORITE BUSES, AND I'M ANNOYED AT ANYONE WHO SAYS THEY ARE BAD. I mean, gilligs are okay, and so are flxibles, but I think that Orions (at least on the WMATA) take the cake. Also, did anyone see the Orion IIs for WMATA of Phlash in Philadelphia? Are they any good?
The RTS for Fairfax Connector have been running since late 1994 when they took over WMATA route 5 in Reston. They aren't bad and are numbered in the 7800's. The Orion V's that they have are in the 7700's.
I think WMATA has a more extensive preventative maintenance plan than does Ride On, which they should since they have many more garages and more at stake in the region than does Ride On or DASH or any of those other government bus companies trying to run metrobus out of town. Metrobus was almost eliminated entirely in the early 1990's, but luckily, was saved.
I am not the biggest fan of Orions, but I do like the new Orion VI and the newer Orion V's. The 1992 Orion V's are my least favorite, but they seemed to have been rehabbed nicely. Nothing in my mind will ever be as good as the Flxible Metros. I heard that the Orion II's are a joke.
Ride-On does have some 35 foot Orion V's. They are numbered in the high 5500 series and they don't have the yellow vertical/horizontal poles like the new 40 foot 5700's. I usually see them in Rockville and as far south as the Wheaton Metro station. I've never seen them at Silver Spring, however Silver Spring Metro is probably the best place to find Ride-On's new 40 foor Orion V's. When you finally see Ride-On's 40 footers you'll know right away, especially since most of the bus from the rear door back is white.
I see WMATA's Orion II everyday and it's hard to get used to them. The only thing I like about them is they still have their aluminum rims.
Wayne
Wait, how new are these 40ft Orions? I mean, I haven't been in Maryland for a while now. Maybe Ride-On got them since the last time I was in Maryland? Oh well, maybe I'll see them, and maybe I'll go to the Rockville area and ride route 46 and get to ride the Orion VI.
They started showing up during this past winter/spring. The regular diesel Orion V 40 footers seem to run mainly on the lower Montgomery County Routes, while the CNG buses come from Upper Montgomery since the CNG refuling station is at the Gaithersburg lot. Rt. 46 seems to get a lot of the CNG buses,while I've noticed that the 26, which runs from Montgomery Mall to Glenmont gets a lot of the diesel 40 footers.
I also saw on the news that a Gillig 35 footer, 5379, was involved in a fatal accident today when a car crossed the median and slammed into the bus at Rockville Pke. and Tuckerman Lane. Nobody on the bus was seriously hurt, but the bus was really messed up. The front bumper was completely torn off and the panel above was severely damaged. They didn't say if the bus was in service or not as the front destination sign was blank.
Wow, that's awful. I hope it wasn't in service. This reminds me of a time a few years ago when I was on a Gillig 30ft bus and at Silver Spring a car backed into a bus, although that wasn't as serious as this.
Yeah, luckily, the bus was out of service and the driver wasn't seriously injured. The Washington Post reported that it was the first fatal accident with a Ride On bus since 1998. Pretty decent track record. I was on a Metrobus about 10 years ago when the T6, now RIde On Rte. 42/46, was still operating. This car rear ended us as we stopped at a bus stop. The front end of the car was really messed up but the bus, an RTS, only had some white paint on the bumper.
There are times when I just don't want to drive in this area beacuse of all the crazy drivers and the traffic and the bus works just fine. I usually try to ride the bus and subway a lot on the weekends to go to the malls and things like that.
I haven't seen or heard about many bus/car accidents in the DC metro area or even NYC. However, in the early 90's I used to go to Atlanta pretty often and I would always see accidents involving MARTA buses and cars. The cars almost always hit the buses. We used to joke that - "How can these drivers miss the huge white bus white colorful stripes on it." - which means that they were likely tailgating or just misjudged.
Wayne
It seems as if its a game to try and beat the bus. People don't realize that a bus wont stop on a dime and its even harder to brake when you have a busload of people on there. I used to get so annoyed at people, especially who had small children in their cars, that would cut me off. Luckily, I never had an accident, but a lot of accidents seem to be due to a lot of carelessness on the part of the automobile.
You're right, how can you miss a gigantic vehicle???
Perry
It is funny. People know that buses are big slow vehicles that stop all the time, yet they are always rear ending them and stuff. I guess that is why they have that sign saying that the bus makes frequent stops. Although sometimes I think that bus drivers should be a little more careful when they go into traffic from a bus stop.
For the most part I think the bus drivers are as careful as they can be under the circumstances they face day in and day out. Its not easy maneuvering through this traffic and having passengers nag you at the same time.
Although, the driver of bus 4224 on the 23A to Crystal City must have had something happen to him as I was driving behind him coming off of N. Randolph St. onto Glebe Rd. this morning. As he made the left onto Glebe with me and a few other cars behind, the bus just stops for no reason at all, no bus stop there (the closest one was only about 500 ft. away), no signal to let us know he was stopping, no other cars in front that could have cut him off as the intersection was clear and I sure didn't see anyone running for the bus. I was only 3/4 of the way completed with the turn and the other cars were stuck blocking the intersection, so I moved left to go around him and almost got nailed by an impatient taxi that came out of nowhere. Fun in the AM rush.
Yeah, I guess it isn't easy. One time, though, when I rode the M4 in New York, the bus driver seemed crazy. I mean, we cut off so many cars, and made a right turn right in front of a truck that was trying to move. I've never heard so many car horns honk because of a vehicle I was riding in, especially a bus!
I've also been spotting new Orion V CNG 40 footers now as well. Saw one Friday night on the 46, but was too far away to see the number. I Also happened to see one on I-270 N. near Urbana one time too, but again couldn't see the number, but I could tell it was 40'. I haven't seen the 40' Flxible running around anymore, only saw it that one time going into Grosvenor (It was number 5700). It had an air conditioning unit on top and it was squared off in the back similar to the WMATA 9700 and 9800 series Flxs. Maybe this was one of the ex MTA buses Ride On took delivery on.
I haven't seen a Flx new look in ages. I bet those, the Fishbowls and the RTS will be all gone by the end of the year.
this weekend on "this american life" on national public radio, they are repeating a program called
"roadtrip"... this american life is a rather strange program coming out of chicago... each show has a theme and there are several parts where different people talk about their lives relative to the theme... "roadtrip" is what makes getting out on the road so appealing for many people... there is a segment of this episode in which dishwasher pete is interviewed about his experiences on greyhound... pete washes dishes and after a while picks up and gets on greyhound and goes to the next town... he likes riding greyhound... then national public radio gives him some audio equipment and an ameripass and he heads out on the bus trying to capture the greyhound experience... but he's in for a big shock when he discovers that his attempt to document the greyhound experience changes his whole joy of riding greyhound... it is a very compelling 10 or 15 minutes of radio... in the new york city area it can be heard sunday at 2 pm on wnyc 820 am or at 4 pm on wnyc 93.9 fm... if you are outside the city, you can find your local npr station and times of broadcast at http://www.thislife.org/
if you have missed the airing, after this week the episode will be in their archives available on real audio...
2 quick questions,
Is there a bus junk yard and if there is where is it?
I heard that some of the older t.a buses are in some of the depots throughout the city, are they for public veiwing.
Thank You
Tom Joyce
07/16/2000
I know of Gershow Recycling out in Meford, Long Island. They aren't really open to the general public so be careful!
Bill "Newkirk"
Just want too say thank you too Hart Bus and Bill Newkirk for answering my questions.
Just want too say thank you too Hart Bus and Bill Newkirk for answering my questions.
There is the DOT yard on Flatlands Avenue about a mile east of Penn. Ave., near the Command Depot. They have some old buses there. I got there at about 6PM one Wednesday and the yard was closed up. Kevin Barsky has some pictures on his website that indicate that he was able to get acess to the property. Probably went earlier in the day.
This afternoon I rode New Flyer D60HF Articulated #5405 on the Bx12, while it's not wierd to have a Articulated on Bx12, it "WAS" wierd because 5404 is a Kingsbridge Bus and the Bx12 is a Gun Hill line. Does KB do trippers on the Bx12 now? Also observed 1071 on the Bx12 also which is a KB Bus also.
Trevor
Kingsbridge runs extra service on the Bx12 for Orchard Beach. Saturday and Sunday only during the summer.
I can recall KB having the same type of Orchard Beach trips way back when the Bx12 ran out of Coliseum. The KB runs were numbered from 101 on up.
KB has been doing some of those summer Orchard Beach runs for many years.
Wayne
I was driving up Hempstead Trnpke. today at 5:00pm when I spotted the yellow slopeback RTS inside Belmont Park. It belongs to a company called Jetway Transit located in Brooklyn. They supply the buses that shuttle the people from the racetrack to the parking lots. I spoke to the operator and he told me that is the only slopeback that they have and the only one he ever see's period! It is a 1980 RTS, bus #5200. It is painted top half yellow and bottom half white. They purchased it from a transit system in Pennsylvania. Before that, it used to work out of JFK airport. He told me it would be there until 7:00pm. It also works out of Aquaduct raceway when they are open. I went home, grabbed my camera and came back. Found it parked in the back area, but the operator was not around anymore. I did snap off 5 pictures, 4 of the outside and 1 of the inside. However, I did not get any with the rear "elevator" doors open. Since it is privately owned, I did not want to push it by starting it up and opening the back doors myself. Anyway, now for the bad news. I do not have a scanner. So, anyone who wants to E-mail me their name and address, I will be glad to mail the pictures out so they can be posted on bustalk. I am having them developed right now and they should be ready on Tuesday. Also, next weekend I will go back to Belmont earlier and try to get more pics of the driver's area and the rear doors opened. BIG AL
SEPTA in Philadelphia used to run slopeback RTSs until 1997 when they got the new NABI buses. Maybe the bus that you saw was from SEPTA?
If it has a roof top air conditioner it most likely is from SEPTA. To bad a serial number wasn't mentioned. That would solve the mystery once and for all.
RDChilds
The bus does not have a roof top air conditioner. It does not have a wheelchair lift either. When I see it again this coming weekend, I will copy down the serial number. BIG AL
It was at lga full time hudson general had the contract for jfk and lga. It was a decent driving bus and had pretty good power on take off.(#51 at lga was my personal favorite) Before Jetway had the parking lot work at the tracks it was roosevelt bus lines which was vetrans trans (school buses) in valley stream. They had a bunch of new looks they used late 1960s models if i recall right.
I was thinking that it could be one of those old RTS 03 series that were used at the airports. A few as I know that were never retrofitted with the square back and they always seemed to be in excellent condition. I remember arriving at JFK on a flight in the wee hours and I had to wait about 2-3 hours for the first JFK Express bus to show up. So to pass time I rode around the airport on RTS #5.
Wayne
Hey, do you or nayone else know what company made the slopebacked RTSs? Was it TMC, GMC, or Novabus?
gmc
GMC built all RTS buses until 1987 when TMC took over.
Wayne
Actually, I believe the slopeback was only built for 1 or 2 years ending in 1980. These were RTS-01's. I'm not certain, but weren't the 1981 & 1982 RTS's, RTS-02's and the 1983 RTS, RTS-03? Anyway, I took pictures of the yellow and white slopeback and had them sent out for Metro D 3700 to scan and they should be posted by this weekend. BIG AL
Ok, forget about what I said about the RTS-02 and RTS-03 stuff. I grabbed my MTA insiders guide to buses book and looked it up. 1981-1985 RTS's were RTS-04. 1986 to current is RTS-06. However I believe I read someplace that the first RTS's, which were the slopebacks, were RTS-01. These are not in my book since transit never really operated them other than the test bus, #200. Can anybody confirm that?BIG AL
Big Al you are right, the first RTS series was the RTS-II 01, but it did get a few orders. Here's a link to the delivery list. There was no RTS-II 02 though, and the first series that took off was the RTS-II 03 (SEPTA, Maryland MTA, others). Speaking of the RTS, I just got new brochures in the mail from Nova BUS, they say that the RTS is now available in T-drive. How late am I in finding this out? The only time I heard anything about a RTS with T-drive was an experimental model T80-205.
Peace,
Big D
Yes, you're right the slopeback RTS were 01 & 03 series and production ended in 1980. AFAIK there was no 02 series. There were very small differences between the 01 and 03 series. I believe all of the slopebacks that came to the NYC area were 03 models. After the 03 series came the 04 series in 1981 and 06 series in 1986. There is an 08 series with a wider front entrance and somewhat flatter front end also but NYCTA never ordered these. CTA (Chicago) has plenty of 08 series RTS and theirs have rear windows also.
Wayne
The first slopebacks were the RTS-01's built in 1977. Houtran (our MTA predecessor) ordered five, then later that year ordered 146, then one more.
They went like this...
1700-1704 First Order
1705-1850 Second Order
1851 Last bus ordered
They were never retrofitted to look like the mordern buses, they kept the sloped bak until they were retired. Instead, Metro put SUMAC A/C racks on them. They were never well liked so retirement begin in the late 80's the last one gone in '92. Thank you Ikarus (this bus also killed the GMC New Looks which were pushing 30 and beyond)
I never got to ride one, but one came to my school when I was in second grade. I never saw one before up close and I never saw one again.
SUMAC? Or perhaps Sutrak?
Not a quibble...I'd really like to know.
David
Most likely Sutrak, the SEPTA buses had the same thing done to them around '85-'86 using Sutrak units. AFAIK at the time they were (if not one of) the only ones who made rooftop A/C units for buses. The units were shorter (they didn't have the back part w/o the vents) than the ones you might find on the Neoplan Transliner and Metroliner, and Van Hool coaches that were built with them in the mid-late 80's, and later on the Metro D.
Peace,
Big D
Yeah, I think you're right. It was Sutrack.
Sumac's the poison.
Sutrak is the air conditioning system.
Hey, slope backed RTSs aren't really that bad. I rode them on Route 65 on SEPTA, and now that the NABIs took their place, I never saw one again. I also rode the regular WMATA RTS buses and to me they basically looked the same.
It was like the slopebacks dropped off the face of the earth. I haven't seen one in it's original form in over 10 years up until several months ago when the yellow slopeback suddenly appeared running up and down Springfield blvd from Belmont racetrack. BIG AL
Many of the originals were retrofitted and lost their slope. The remainder were scrapped.
The reason the slopebacks "disappeared" is that many companies chose to retrofit the air conditioning systems on them. The original RTS's (01 and 03 series) had major components of the air conditioning system down in the engine compartment, where it tended to heat things up all the more -- causing engine and a/c system failures.
There were at least three manufacturers of retrofit systems, and four such systems that I know of.
Thermo-King's system mounted onto the slopeback, and its shrouding looked closest to the squareback RTS shrouds on the 04/06/08 models. We have them on all our RTS's at Orange County (California). I thought I saw some Hertz buses retrofitted with these also though most of Hertz's originals seemed to stay as slopebacks.
Trane's system also mounted on the slopeback, but was not a full-width shroud, and I always referred to them as "backpacks". Westchester County's RTS fleet was retrofitted with these.
Sutrak made two diffferent retrofit systems. One was a system similar to Thermo-King's, but the shroud was a bit more squarish,
especially along the roof edge. The only properties I know of (but there may be more) with the Sutrak back mount system was Long Beach, California, on their 01 ad 03 buses in the low 4700 series, and Santa Clara County (San Jose) on their RTS fleet.
The other Sutrak system was a roof mount, as done by SEPTA. On these, the original slopeback remained. I personally thought these looked really sharp this way.
Damn straight they looked sharp. The RTS Slopebacks were pretty futuristic looking if you ask me. I wish Metro still had theirs. NOVA should bring them back.
Wasn't the reason that these slopebacks were retrofitted was to improve the Air Conditioning, which IIRC was substandard. Rather than for appearance sake.
Peace,
ANDEE
That's true!
Peace,
Big D
Al, if you were referring to NYCTA #200, yes that was the demo slopeback NYCTA ran. I recall seeing it I think in Jamaica, Queens.
As you all are probably aware by now two Staten Island Express buses nos 2013 and 2014 were involved in an accident on the elevated Gowanus Expressway. It appears that one bus which was travelling inbound towards the city struck the divider and sent it into the lane of the other bus which was outbound to Staten Island. There were some injuries but none serious. Knowing the TA's system of Napoleonic justice regarding accidents, I'm sure they'll find some way of finding fault with both drivers. Even though the driver of the outbound bus could probably do nothing to avoid hitting the divider thrust into his lane the TA will look to find him at least 50% at fault since the accident occurred in front of him.
you can bet they will. 2014 had half its front bumper sheared off. there was extensive damage to the steel divider on the gowanus resulting in a horrendous commute this morning.
I heard on NY1 that the driver of the bus heading to SI hit the movable wall first. The driver of the second bus tryed to avoid hitting that other bus by going into the center divered. This was a smart move on his judgement. I would have done the same thing. It is better to hit a fixed object and a moving object heading touse you. Also your right that both drivers will be found at fault oneway or another, and both drivers were taken down for drug test. One more thing I heard that the driver of the SI bound bus might be a probe.
Robert
From the pictures and accounts in the SI Advance, the outbound bus hit the divider near the break at the Prospect. The divider, which is actually a long line of concrete blocks hinged together by link and pin, and is designed to be moved to allow expansion of traffic lanes. The barrier was hit head-on by the SI-bound bus, which made the barrier fold accordian style. The Manhattan-bound bus hit the accordianed section of the barrier. The Gowanus HOV lane is a single lane with no shoulder. It is physically impossible for a vehicle in that lane NOT to hit something that is suddenly perpendicular to its line of travel. There is no space for manuvering, and at 40 mph, it takes a 5 ton bus 200-300' to stop, assuming anti-lock brakes. For the outbound bus, an inquiry is certainly warranted; the driver was out of his lane when he hit the barrier. For the inbound bus, the situation was completely unavaiodably, and therefore the inbound driver should be held blameless. There is no possible spin you could put on this that would result in the inbound driver having any fault whatsoever, barring drugs or alcohol.
-Hank
The TA Management (hey, now there's an oxymoron if I ever heard one) to take a long look at themselves and their practices.
Wayne
Bad enough to have a traumatic thing like an accident take place and the TA is not supportive but critical.
One driver is probably at fault, but that would be the one who crossed the divider first. The other bus was a victim and tried to avoid hitting the out of control bus, thus he/she should not be punished. Anything else is a serious miscarraige of justice.
M57 Reroute
Implentation Late 2000
via E57 st,1 Av,East 60 to a terminal nearside of York Av.
Return via South on York Av,South on Sutton Place,West on East 57 St
Alternative Discussed include--
1. Layover on East 55 at Sutton Place .
Keep in mind,,presently,no layover on the East Side .
2. via 1 Av,E 60 ,layover at York Av.Return via York Av,Sutton Place,East 55 st,
--------------------------------------------------
Bx41 Terminal Loop Revision
Implentation Fall 2000
via North on White Plains Road,East on 238 st/.Nereid Av,,,,North on Baychester AvWest on East 241 to a terminal stand on East 241,nr White Plains Road nearside of Cranford Av.
---------------------------------------------------
X1 x12 x27 x28 x29 Morning Peak travel via Brooklyn Battery Place Loop
Implentation when HOV is extended thru the tunnel in late July
via Tunnel ,exit at Worth St,West st,Battery Place,Greenwich Pla,Trinity Pl to Midtown
6 AM to 10 AM
Alternative ,,some midtown trips via FDR Drive or West St to Midtown Direct
I'm not surprised the TA is considering re-routing the M57. As a driver on that route I can tell you that our current layover on the westside of Amsterdam Avenue between 72nd & 73rd Street is a dangerous spot. With the reconstruction of the 72nd St subway station not projected to be finished until 2003 it was inevitable that something had to be done. I know Command has some of it's buses lay over on 60th St. between 1st and York. Will the TA share that block with Command or will Command have to find a new layover ?
What is the current turnaround routing of the M57 on the WESTSIDE
As far as Command,,that is unknown
Steve
The last stop is on the southwest corner of 72nd St & Broadway. From there buses turn left on Amsterdam and layover on the west side of the street between 72nd & 73rd Streets. When departing for return trips to Sutton Place the buses must turn left on 73rd Street,left on Broadway and then right onto 72nd Street. The first stop eastbound is on the northwest corner of 72nd Street and Broadway.As far as the proposed re-routing , I think you can forget about the buses laying over on Sutton Place and 55th Street. The residents of those buildings will not tolerate the sight of a bus parked on Sutton Place.
I just noticed that the U.S. Postal Service has a picture of 3 WMATA Flxible new look buses on one of the stamps of its "Celebrate the Century" series of stamps - the one for the 1980's. It is a poor picture from a bus fan's point of view. It is the stamp entitled, "Hostages Come Home". I don't think you can buy this stamp alone, but can only purchase the entire sheet. I forget how many stamps are in the sheet - perhaps 15.
That's pretty cool. I've been keeping my eyes peeled for any remaining WMATA Flxible new looks, but I thinking that with the arrival of the new Orion V/VI that are currently being delivered the few Flxible new looks were probably the first to go. I am still seeing some GM new looks but very few. I saw one yesterday laying over at the Pentagon as I drove past on I-395.
Wayne
You know, I think there is a depot that is full of Flxible New looks near the Fort Totten Station on the Red Line. If you look towards the other side of the train tracks from what you can see from the bus terminal, you might be able to see a few in the bus depot. However, that was before the new year, so I don't know if they are still there. (I lost on of my front teeth on one of those buses).
Yeah, that is the yard the old buses are placed in before they are disposed of. It looks like they paint over the numbers so that they can be taken off the books, I suppose so they can be used again for newer buses. Its sad to see them there, but they served the area well.
My favorite Flx New looks were the ones numbered 8594-8603 that had the digital signs on them.
Well we all know last Monday I had two buses break down on me while going back from NYC (last week I went back with F to N6, N25, and N21). Well this week I took a Q66 from the G,R station on Northern, which was a very nice smooth and fast ride on those beautiful Queens Surface Orion CNG's.
The A/C was on nice, and the ride pretty fast.
Got back to Flushing in time to make the 6:54pm N21. That guy is usually on time and always has a diesel Orion because he claims it will not break down. Well Monday proved him wrong.
After finishing his break he headed over to bus 604. There was already a long line at the bus stop because an earlier bus had broken down. He went to the driver's seat and proceeded to start the bus. I heard nothing, and could see he was having problems.
Apparently there was no turnover, the bus would not start. By 7pm the line was growing quite long and I decided to just wait for the next bus at 7:58pm. I'm glad I did because he did eventually leave at 7:15pm with one of the CNG's, but it was crowded and all the windows were open (no A/C, another major LI Bus problem).
At least my ride on the 7:58pm bus had A/C and it did not break down, BTW it was a CNG Orion. (But they shut off A/C on hills otherwise the bus may stall out)
Man, something is up (or should I say down) with LI Bus maintainance.
It seems all the buses (CNG's and diesels) are having problems with their A/C and breaking down. This time I'm going to complain to LI Bus officials, all these breakdowns, delays, and having no A/C are really getting on my damn nerves! Man how I wish the Q12 went to Glen Cove!
You can add LI Bus 560 to the breakdown list. Saw her with the work Jeep on Hempstead Tpke. at Route 135.
Also do you notice that alot of buses have broken or inoperative tailights? I heard the driver of bus 604 say when it broke down a tailight was out.
I think LI Bus is just as bad or worse than Green lines. What the hell is going on?
RTS buses!!!!! The answer is RTS buses, I just can't stress tha enough, people. Buy RTS.
You got a point. I see many RTS's that have lasted a long, long time in NYC. Diesel Orions that are nearly 8 years old are in bad shape compared to the RTS. I think RTS has a tougher body and can take the stress of NYC roads (also those in Nassau county) better than Orions.
However some drivers do claim Orions are easier to drive.
Unfortunately LI Bus has not gotten any RTS's.
It's too bad the RTS's that NYC has gotten rid of have not gone to LI Bus. It would be nice to see something other than an Orion or Gillig in these parts.
There have been several previous posts here stating that old NYCTA RTS's have made their way out to LI Bus. I haven't seen them recently along the routes that travel Hillside Avenue, but I do recall seeing a few RTS's on LI Bus routes last year; for some reason the LI Bus number 4290 sticks out in my mind as one of those that were transferred. Does anyone know if LI Bus still has those ex-TA RTS's?
LI Bus is getting some new Orions now, so why should they want a RTS with 500K miles or so already on it ? Yes most (but not all) of the RTS made by several vendors have stood up well, but they can't last forever ! Have you forgot the old dogs (somebody elses hand-me-downs) that they used to have ? It's time to move on to newer equipment that also makes the air a little cleaner.
Now don't all of you attach me as I'm just looking at this another way. As you know I love old subway cars, but don't insist that they are kept in service. Enough said ?
BTW, Take a look at a SubTalk post Sat 7/15 at 22:57 by Dave P. Mixed in with the shots that Todd Glickman took are some of us on a GM Fishbowl that Todd got permission to drive us around in up at Seashore. I'm the guy "assuming the postion" and viewing the signage.
I was hopping for a Trackless Trolley ride in Boston, but they don't run on Sunday :-(
Mr t
They can't last forever, but here in Houston, we have 1981 RTS buses that see base and express service, a testament to their relaibility and durability.
And more breakdowns
Saw 286 pulled over somewhere on Merrick road in Lynbrook. No jeep was on scene yet, and of course all the windows were open.
Also saw 155 and 662 both on the N16 with all windows open (No A/C) as well as having the pleasure of riding 226 on the N25 with no A/C.
Also saw 581, it's a diesel Orion with a weird shape back, bottom part protrudes out. Sounded horrible, and that one too had all windows open (No A/C). Mostly CNG Orions with no A/C today, some days diesels have trouble others it's the CNG's. This especially shouldn't be happening with the newer ones (270-286).
But I'm fed up with the lack of A/C lately, it seems 50% of the buses don't have it. I'm going down to LI Bus later today and giving them a piece of my mind. I had to worry when they were threatening service cuts, now I deal with extremely unreliable service and buses with no air conditioning. I have trouble dealing with heat and buses need A/C even when it's not hot outside. Many bus riders are elderly or disabled and have medical problems. Will bus riders in this county ever get treated better?
Bus riders in this country will be treated better only when an NYC 1746 is in every facility and the RTS is the government standard.
Caught it on the Q11 last night.She has the blue rear destination sign like the MTA's RTS's and Orions
Hey, does anyone know what Ride-On did with those TMC T-30's? I know that they still have the 30ft Gillig Phantoms (i've seen them on the route 16), but what ever happened to those older buses that were serving Ride-On in the early 1990's?
Around 12 afternoon i was walking around at 23th St/3rd Av & i was suprised that i saw Orion #470 on M101? Orion #470 is from Amsterdam Depot but this depot doesn't not run on M101. Any way is this Depot had change routes??
Peace Out
David Justiniano
No, the M101 is still at Manhattanville.
However, during the morning rush hour, several runs on the M104 deadhead from the U.N. to 3rd Avenue & 23rd Street and become M101's for the return to Amsterdam Depot. That lets both 3rd Avenue and Broadway get exactly the level of northbound service that they need.
Interesting. Does this happen anywhere else in the system?
There is a moderate degree of "interlining" throughout NYC Transit.
Sometimes, a run which otherwise works a specific route will operate on a different route, as was the case with thse Orions that showed up on the M101. The off-route service can range from a single supplemental school trip to an entire block of trips that cannot fit into any runs on their own route, but CAN fit into a run on a different route. One example is the Orion that was "interlined" from the M104 to the M101. As another example, some runs out of Ulmer Park may be assigned to, say, the B6 or B74, but spend their entire first halves on the X27 or X28. [When the latter happens in the Queens or Staten Island Divisions, the entire run is usually (S.I.) or always (Q) assigned to a "phantom" route called Miscellaneous rather than one of the "actual" routes that it works. Miscellaneous runs are numbered in the 300's, making them easy to identify.]
As I was channel surfing yesterday evening I came accross a silly movie (didn't catch the title) about a group of inner-city rappers taking a bus from Harlem to Miami to make a rap record. It was all no name actors but the "star" of the movie was this old, beat up GMC PD-4903 type bus that had been retrofitted with some kind of aftermarket modifications to make it look like an Eagle type bus. You had to look closely. The lower area of the roof in front had some kind of "cap" placed over it to remove the "hump" and make the roof look flat. But the side windows and rear lights were pure PD-4903. Interior shots also confirmed that it was indeed a PD-4903 type bus in Eagles clothing. Is anyone familiar with this movie or any aftermarket add-ons that would make a PD-4903 mimic an Eagle?? This was one wierd looking bus. It was a pretty recent movie too, cell phones and the like in evidence.
Peace,
ANDEE
Quicks Bus Service has these refit kits on their bus down here in N VA. They may not last long as all these ex Greyhound MC-9s are comimg in. Only the word Greyhound have been removed on the MC-9s.
The movie is called Ride. Actually, it has Cedric the Entertainer, John Witherspoon, and Malik Yoba in it. Hardly no name actors IMO. The best was the best part of the movie though. They should've used in RTS though if they wnted something relaiable.
Thre was nothing UNreliable about GM PD4903/4905 buses. I drove them or many years. They had all sorts of power, they rode nicely, and if some asshole cut you off, they had one HELL of an air horn! I gave MANY a cab driver a heart attack driving 4903/4905's through Los Angeles Airport!!!
The movie is called Ride. Actually, it has Cedric the Entertainer, John Witherspoon, and Malik Yoba in it. Hardly no name actors IMO. The bus was the best part of the movie though. They should've used in RTS though if they wnted something relaiable.
There was an outfit out here in California that did it too, I think it was Peninsula Bus Service up in Palo Alto.
It looked GROSS. Kinda lookd like Herman Munster....
>>>It looked GROSS. Kinda lookd like Herman Munster.... <<<
Yeah, that about sums it up...
Peace,
ANDEE
There were 2 of these GMC PD4903s with the Eagle cap located in the NYC metro area that I know about. One was operated by Charlie of Bus Electric located in Hoboken, NJ (across from Academy) under the name Matador Charter Service. It was painted red. I do not know if that coach is still operating. I last saw it 3 years ago. The other was operated by the now defunct Spring Valley Coach Lines which was bought out by Monsey Trails 5 years ago. They were operating the coach up until 1 year ago. If they did not already sell it, it may be up in their storage lot located in Monroe, N.Y. I can find out for certain in the next day or so if anyone is interested.
Last night I was behind Ride-On's CNG Orion V #5814, (Route 46) on Rockville Pike at a red light. I was thinking that... I need to get over one lane to overtake the bus, but was I ever wrong because that bus had awesome acceleration and nearly kept pace with the cars.
Wayne
Really? They have fast acceleration now? Interesting. It looks like buses aren't slow anymore. Maybe it is the CNG power.
When I used to drive buses for the University of Maryland, I would normally pick a Flxible with a cummins engine because I could always keep pace with the cars and outsmart all of them that tried to pass me! : )
I've noticed that the Ride Ons pick up pretty good. Its possible that that the CNG has something to do with that, but also I've found that Orions seem to take off pretty good in general.
I never been too fond of CNG buses because of their appearance and they "seemed" to be slower to me. Now they pretty much sound like a diesel bus and #5814 accelerated like it's diesel sisters.
I agree - the Flxibles with the Cummins engine are pretty quick, but the vibration take a little getting used to. I rode WMATA 9444 yesterday. Even though today engines provide great acceleration. I still think the older buses (GM Canada T8H-5307A/08A & Grumman 870/Flxible Metro) with the DD 8V-71 engines were the best. They definitely sounded better to me.
Wayne
I had heard that the transmission was not designed properly, or not compatible, with the Cummins engines and that's what causes a lot of the vibrations as opposed to the Detroit Diesels that are very smooth. If I had my choice, i would pick a bus with the Cummins engine that had the smooth braking that a detroit diesel had. That was my problem at Md. the brakes on the detroits were so smooth, but the pick up was awful, plus that whining sound they made drove me nuts as well. I've noticed that a lot of the 9300's and 9400's at WMATA have this vibrating problem. One of the worst ones I can remember was 9365 that I was on a few years ago on the F2. I thought I was going to lose my teeth from the vibrating.
I've never been on a CNG bus before, but they seem to be holding their own pretty good.
Orion CNG's are fast buses, they probably are the best CNG bus out there. Especially with those powerful DD CNG engines. QS Orions are pretty fast too.
Hi; I noticed that, particularly in Manhattan, many buses do not have the number painted on its roof. Are they still painting them?
I've always wondered, what exactly is the point of painting the top of the bus with it's number?
All of the newer buses have the number painted on the roof. Most of the older buses do not. I could be mistaken but I believe the TA began putting the number on the roof with the arrival of the 1993 buses. The only reason I can think of putting the number on the roof would be to assist police aerial units in tracking a bus that is involved in some sort of incident.
That's the exact reason. The same reason police cars have large patrol car numbers painted on top of the trunk. BIG AL
So that the police chopper can ID the bus.
Another fun thing is tofind roof numbers that are incorrect to the bus number.
Here at MTA Los Anges I just spotted Flxible 2842 with 2824 on the roof.
2824 is opertd by a contracer no less!
Its a hard to do but fun task to get shots showing roof numbers.
Blue
Here in NYC, 9517 roof was on bus 9518.
But are they painting the ones that do not have any numbers?
I've noticed that the 9200/9300 coaches have had their numbers on the roof removed from after they had come back from being repainted. Anyone else notice this?
Shaun
It's not only with the 9200-9300 Express buses- it's ALL of the buses.
Q32#9500Gary
The NYCTA started painting the fleet number on the top of it's buses around 1994. At this time when a bus went to be repainted they usually had the MTA-NYCT logos replace the NYCTA and in most cases the number was painted on top of the bus. If you can find a bus that still has the NYCTA decals on it - more than likely it won't have the number painted on top.
Wayne
I was by the South St. Seaport and seen a purple RTS bus that said NYU on it, and one on Water St. furter north. Does anyone know if they can be ridden by anyone or by NYU students exclusively. It looked like a narrow RTS, probably a 03 type.
By NYU students exclusively, or anyone who has a NYU school ID card.
Many times I've seen Baltimore MTA buses in or near Wash, DC and I wondering if there is a regular route between Wash & Baltimore. I would think that service like this would be handled by Eyre Bus Service with their Flxible suburbans and MCI's. Tonight around 9:00 PM I saw one of Baltimore MTA's NABI #9952 (with "EXPRESS" displayed) on Massachusetts Ave near to Union Station.
Wayne
MTA runs special buses for the Orioles games since MARC doesn't run service after games due to the fact that CSX owns the tracks on the Camden line and refuses to let MARC run trains that would disrupt freight service. Tonights game was rained out, so its possible it was driving those people home that were already up there.
On weekends MTA operates buses to/from the Greenbelt Metro Station (903 Express) During weeknight games, people can take the MARC train up, but MTA runs buses back to Laurel, Greenbelt and Union Station (904 Express).
During the week in the AM/PM rush, Eyre does have service from Columbia to Silver Spring/Downtown DC.
There is a route 929 to Silver Spring that is an express MTA route. That is probably what you saw.
I think that route is run by Eyre, though, and doesn't run all that late. I know that MTA uses 9900 series buses for the Orioles Express as I was on one in June. They are equipped with orange destination signs.
Oh, I see. I guess your right, because out of all the times i've been to the Silver Spring Metro station, I have never seen an MTA bus there.
Yeah, Eyre may have an MTA logo on it someplace, I'm not sure. They do run a few Flxible Metros as well, which sort of look like MTA buses. They are white with a green stripe on it.
The Orioles shuttle is a nice little run, albeit a little expensive ($5 one way, $9 round trip). But its a whole lot better than having to fight the traffic in Baltimore.
Thanks - I do see the Eyre (route 929) buses in Silver Spring regularly and yes, many of them do have a small MTA logo on them. I seen MTA buses at Greenbelt Metro also and I thought that it was probably Oriole Special service. You're right - #9952 had a nice bright Orange sign. At the time it (9:00 PM last night) it was raining pretty heavily, but I immediately noticed the huge orange "EXPRESS" coming toward me.
Wayne
You're welcome! I love those orange signs, definitely more interesting than the normal green ones. I remember years ago, this might be 20 years or so, that some of the Flxible new looks that WMATA had, somewhere in the 8590's, had pink digital signs. That only lasted for a short time, but I remember being fascinated by it as a kid and when I'd get on the bus at Fort Totten to come home, I'd pass up a bus that was already at the bus slip if that one was the next in line to go.
Those 9900's are very nice that MTA has. I noticed that some of the 9800's, which are also NABI's, have composite floors with no ridges in them rather than the normal rubberized ones that are standard in the buses.
Perry
I personally don't think Those full-LED signs are good for most city routes. If you're at a 45-315 degree angle from them, you can't read them at all.
The Flxible Metros with the green stripe are not just "sorta look like" MTA buses, they are MTA buses. As part of our massive 1987 order, 10 buses were ordered in Suburban configuration and green belt stripes. They are leased to the private contractors on a "fuel & water" basis. Daily operating expenses are the contractor's responsability, major work (body/electrical, etc) are the MTA's.
Eyre and the other MTA contractors get a small MTA plate/decal to mount on the buses that the contractors dedicate to MTA service. Those buses also get the cast-off Cleveland fareboxes from the MTA system.
I remember when I visited one of MTA's garages last year I saw one of the Eyre Flxible Metros in there getting worked on. Now that you mention it, I vaguely remember the gentleman telling me that it was purchased by MTA. Thanks for the reminder. The one bus I fondly remember seeing there was the bus that was involved in the chase from Baltimore to VA when this nut took a bus from one of the yards and used it as a battering ram down 95, on the Capital Beltway, into Old Town Alexandria and then eventually apprehended when he went out of control near Potomac Mills.
Last night, between 10:30 and 11PM, this Orion CNG had the misfortune of colliding with a NYC DOT work truck on the Long Island Expressway Westbound. The front end was quite crushed from what I could see. Does anyone know if the operator was injured?
No but the farebox took a good wack :-(
Mr t
Yesterday, I was at the Bridge Plaza of the George Washington Bridge awaiting my NJT Bus to come into NYC.
While there I had noticed a CNG Orion V approaching quickly, so in thinking that this was either a MTA-LI Bus Orion or a NYCDOT "Existing" Orion I yanked out my camera for a shot of this bus in NJ.
When the bus approached I snapped the photo. BUT This bus was all white, I looked inside, she had a DOT standard local interior. So I was like, whoa a new DOT Orion! Not the strange part............
The strange part is.........
I know that the DOT is against the Cummins CNG Engine, but when this bus took off, Right away I knew that this bus was being powered by a CNG Cummins ISC Engine with a ZP HP592 Transmission.
Did DOT Decide to Go back to the Cummins Engine after the Command Orion V #4932 flop? We'll see, also this bus was BRIGHT WHITE, LIKE RIGHT OFF THE TRUCK!
Trevor Logan
It may be going to QS. They're missing buses 404 and 437 right now. I think Thurston told me that they're gonna have John Deer Engine in them? Not 100% sure though. BTW: 499 came in I saw her naked on the Q66 on run 131 a few weeks ago. The local roster at QS is from 396-499. They skipped 390-395 for some strange reason.
Q66#399Gary
Gary is correct ... as the last two Orions on our order have arrived.
Saw them yesterday in the yard, but didn't open the back to inspect the engine compartment.
Mr t__:^)
Trevor, when you were talking about the ghost Orion, I thought you were going to say: The strange part is.....nobody was behind the wheel. BIG AL
Could you post some pictures of this when you get the chance?
Whenever I get the developed and scanned!
Trevor
Think those ghost pics will show up on film?.........LOL
People got jokes. Just to clearify I meant ghost as in it was all white! :)
Trevor
Thus was the headline in today's Utica Observer-Dispatch
www.uticaod.com.
This means that Daimler-Chrysler, through its Freightliner subsidiary also owns Thomas School Bus Co and its CL-960 Transit Bus. Wonder what if any models will be discontinued?????
Hopefully the whole Thomas line.
Hopefully the USDOT or whatever government body declares school busses UNFIT for transportation, as they would have been declared already had they been used to transport people who are not disenfranchised and can vote.
Thomas buses are the worst things in the world to drive. The have such a huge turning radius and slow pick up. We had some at University of Maryland and I refused to drive them except for the couple of times that I had to because I had no other choice, but I just prayed that I wouldn't be in an accident when I made a turn. I guess I got spoiled with the tight turning of the FLxible Metros.
I read that NovaBUS was a subsidiary of Volvo. It is also known that Volvo wants to merge with Ford. Does that mean that the RTS was once made by GM and will now be made by Ford?
Ford does buy GM products.
Ford needed some locomotives to do switching at their auto plant to replace their ALCO-GE swichers. Ford brought their new locomotives from GM's Electro Motive Division.
Yesterday after work I went over to Belmont to try and find the Slope-back. It wasn't there but there were other buses from Jet-way doing parking lot duties.
They were old NYC RTS's 1322,1459,2492,1248 and 1901.
Also saw parked in Green Lot was a Flxible 870 with Jet Way markings in purple. The bus carried #308 but a look inside from the front door revealed it to be former NJT bus PA 208. It was a NJ bus because the digital front route sign still said 54-Patterson.
In the blue lot was another Jet Way Flxible 870 numbered 2202.. The jetway markings were black block lettering. The roof still had the NJT tri-color stripes. The back of the bus above the grill still had 2202.
I then had the thought that if I look at the registration in the window we could trace the history of the unit from production lists.
The VIN was for a GMC RTS not a Flxible. When I checked the plate number on the registration it was for RTS #1459 parked in front of it. In other words, the plate and reg. didn't match. This reg. expires 5/01. The reg. in the window of 1459 expired 4/00. Hope Jet-way is pulling some of LIALS old tricks.
Does anyone know where Jet-way's garage is so I can possibly get pictures of the Slope-back??
Hart Bus
PS- Passed by ENY Depot on the way to out to Belmont---The Flxible New look is still in front....It is 7562
>>>the digital front route sign still said 54-Patterson<<<
If Paterson was spelled with 2 T's as you've indicated then it was not a NJT bus. ie, Paterson, New Jersey-----Patterson, New York
Peace,
ANDEE
The bus was parked in an area that had a lot of horse trailers and I didn't look closely at the spelling, I was more surprised that the sign was stuck.
However I still think its a former NJT bus because :
1- The other Flxible 870 (#2202) is definitely a former NJT bus
2- Would the NY Paterson be in an area for transit to have 54 routes?
NJ Transit does not have a #54 bus. Maybe it actually said #74, which goes to Paterson.
I was the one who saw the bus.......It definitely said 54 - Paterson could be the digital sign had a defect in it. Why would a bus that is shut off still have the sign visible??? Also based on the outward apperance of that bus and other Jet- Away equipment in service at Belmont Racetrack, anything's possible.
Why would a bus that is shut off still have the sign visible???
I've actually noticed that most old buses with digital signs still have there entire sign shown. Being from NYC, I've seen it. Actually, I think when the new RTS's came to NYC in 1990, they had a different sign that allowed more letters to be shown, instead of the standard 15. when they did that, I believe that's when signs when off when the engine did. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Thank You.
B61 Leonard
RTS 1901 couldn't have been ex-NYCT, at least not with that number. NYCT's buses only ran from 1201-1858 in the 1981-82 orders (2201-2704 in the MaBSTOA 1981-82 orders).
David
Maybe 1901 was the one retired here in Houston in March '99. It was an '81 RTS bus.
Enjoy, Photos by Alan "BIG AL" Jones, Courtesy Scan by Trevor "Flxible Metro" Logan
Regards,
Trevor "Flxible Metro" Logan & Alan "Big Al" Jones
Those pictures are splendiferous. RTS designing at it's zenith.
Looks like an ex JFK shuttle (Round Robin) job.
Yes, it is according to a security guard I spoke to yesterday at Belmont while looking for the slope back (it wasn't there).
In looking at the pictures I notice no license plate on front or rear and there doesn't appear to be a reqistration or inspection sticker in the window.
Also from the mismatched front doors and taillight back section I think the bus has been hit a couple of times.
If that 20 year old bus was only hit a couple of times, then I would say she is pretty lucky. Jetaway is located in Carnarsie Brooklyn. Their phone # is 718-272-4800. Anyone who wants to see the slopeback should call them. Maybe they will let you come to their lot. Yes, there are no plates on the bus, but instead what looks like a 30 day permit on the front winshield. When I go back to Belmont this weekend to take more pictures, I'll ask what's the story with that. Will also take some pics of the former NYCT buses and try to get some of the Flxibles. BIG AL
Big Al: What the address at Belmont so i can take some pictures of former NYCT buses.
Peace Out
David Justiniano
PS: I already have two pictures of former NYCT Buses #2606 at Staten Island near SIR Clifton Yard & i am looking for more former NYCT Buses.
Belmont Racetrack is located on Hempstead Turnpike right off of the Cross Island Pkwy. Just go East on Hempstead trnpke and you can't miss the track. BIG AL
Belmont Park
2150 Hempstead Turnpike
Elmont, NY 11003
A private shuttle to Dizzy World in Orlando has a few former NYCT buses. They must have gotten them through ABC Bus sales.
Tandy Center has one too (1012 Valley, Fort Worth Texas).
Where is ABC bus sales located,thank you
ABC Bus FLORIDA
17469 West Colonial Drive
Winter Garden, FL 34787
(800) 222-2871
(407) 656-7977
FAX (407) 905-7010
www.abcbus.com
Closest office to New York is : 1494 Federal Street
Camden, New Jersey 08105
800-222-2873
Early this morning i went hunting former NYCT at Belmont Park & all i found it Ex NYCT #1248 & 2492 also Slope Back RTS #52 too. I snap all three buses & i want almost a hour to see there any buses running but all i saw is #1248 running 5 times & Slope Back RTS 2 time between Belmont Park Track & Parking Lot. Well im am looking forward to come back to Belmont Park again to snap couple Ex NYCT Buses.
Peace Out
David Justiniano
I saw and rode on 1459 the last time I was there. 1322 may be there also. What depots did these buses formely operate out of?
1248
1322
1459
2492
Q46#3901Gary
1459 I think originated from Flatbush then spent many of her last years out of Fresh Pond.
Went back to Bemont this afternoon and snapped more pictures. Got pics of exNYCT buses 1248 and 2492. Also took some of a Grumman Flxible (Forgot what #) and some more of the slopeback.(still couldn't get one with the rear doors open) For you guys who wanted the serial # of the slope, here it is:18H203A1086. Also noticed that on the Flxible, the registration on the windshield was for a 1981 GMC, plate #BY9609, but the actual plate was BE9651. Hmmm, a little illegality here, but let's not tell the authorities. Also, the slope and one of the exNYCT buses had no plates, but 20 day temporary stickers in the windshields which were expired. This might explain why these buses are always parked in the back lot of Belmont now and don't seem to travel back to Brooklyn. Also, in the same lot. Brand new 2000 Chevy automobiles that must be overstock from a dealership someplace. I was just getting ready to take one general picture of the whole lot, but a security guard drove up and kicked me out. Says it is private property and no one is allowed back there. So anyone who wants to see the buses should come during the races, when they are being used. I'll be mailing the pictures I took to Trevor soon to post on bustalk as soon as I can get one last picture of the slopeback with the rear doors open. BIG AL
The mismatched plates belong to ex-NJT 2202 and the registration is for ex-NYC RTS 1459 that were both parked in front of all those 2000 Cheys in the BLUE LOT this past Wednesday at 6:30 PM. Also saw 2492 and saw ex PA 208 (Flxible) parked in the Green lot next to some horse trailers, renumbered as JetAway 308. This is the bus with the sign that still says Paterson.
Serial A1086 (model T8H-203) was built for the Port Authority of NY & NJ (Jamaica NY) for LaGuaradia Airport service and numbered as coach #52 Built 05/80 according to the information I have available to me.
RDChilds
What year did the Slope Back RTS-01/03 #52 built???
Peace Out
David Justiniano
It was built May,1980 from the info the serial number gives. BIG AL
The front door panel on the right was swiped off an NYCT bus!
07/20/2000
I noticed a couple of unusal items:
1) On the interior shot, the sliding windows that look like they were added on are on the left side of the image only.
2) The mismatched front door leaf looks like it came off an NYCT RTS!
Bill "Newkirk"
Yup - That's definitely one of those former airport shuttle buses. I doesn't look to bad at all.
Wayne
Does anyone know whatever happened too those buses that were lent too use some years ago when the T.A was having problems with the grummans flexs.
Most were returned back to DC except for the few that were vandalized beyond repair and the one that fell into the drink
There was also one VERY heavily damaged in a collision with a garbage truck at 6th Avenue and 42nd Street one Sunday morning. I got there after it had all been cleared up but the WMATA bus was waiting for the TA tow truck to haul its remains somewhere. The entire front end was caved in, damaged to the rear of the front doors. It was NOT a pretty sight. I don't inow exactly what happened, but it really looked like the bus was moving at speed and broadsided the trash truck.
Some of these buses may still be in service. WMATA operated many new look GM & Flxibles to the present day, but they're sure to be withdrawn from service soon because WMATA is in the process of receiving new Orion V & VI buses.
Wayne
I had the great fortune of riding the 1752 on the X63 today. For a bus that is almost 20 years old, it ran great. The interior was clean and the bus even had air fresheners hanging from the grab irons. I heard pros and cons about these 17xx series busses, but they could kick those 50xx series in the butt acceleration wise. I hope the TA will hold on to these treasures for a long time.
Really. Slayer, maybe you should take a ride on 1746. Then you will change your mind. BIG AL
Why do you all hate this bus? It's a testament of good old RTS reliabilty. To have this bus in service and be as bad as you all claim it is, it has to be a DAMN good bus.
You'd never see the prissy Orions in service like that, or the too good for the ghetto MCI's in service like that either. The reason, they would fall apart.
Good old RTS know-how is holding 1746 together, and I hope they keep that bus in service for another 18 years! So, I say, the raggedy buses are the best because they don't need to look good to run good. Hell, they don't even have to run good. As long as an RTS can take off, it'll be okay.
So, instead of berating 1746 like the girl know one liked in high school but was really a good person, you should worship her like the football captain's girlfriend.
So Big Al, when you drive 1746 again, you treat her like you'd treat Tyra Banks, or some other model of that high caliber.
Long live 1746, the queen of NYC Transit!
PS, I'm not drunk!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA
GOOD SHOW M'BOY.
Ryder
P.S yes I am a bit drunk
The reason the majority of NYCTA bus drivers hate RTS's is very simple, THEY SUCK!!!!! Nobody is questioning the durability or reliability of the bus. You're right when you say the Orions will probably never match the RTS in durability. That doesn't change the fact that for drivers the bus is a torture chamber on wheels. Every driver I've encountered who drives Orion V's and New Flyer Artics says from a comfort standpoint those buses are far superior. When it was first introduced the RTS was state of the art. Sadly time has passed it by and I'll be glad when they are all finally scrapped.
Ha, you'll be daed before that happens!!!! We all will. The RTS design is 23 and going strong, they won't stop making these beauties for another 10 years. The last RTS will probably be scrapped in the year 2030.
You are sort of right, but RTSs aren't in demand anymore. At one point they were the most popular buses in the country other than flxibles, but thier time has passed. Yeah, Novabus still produces RTSs, but with Orions and NABIs and New Flyers around, especially with low floor and CNG buses, who would really want an old fashioned RTS, unless they couldn't really afford any better? Personally, I think that Novabus is lucky that NJ Transit purchased new 2000 model RTSs, which don't look any different to me, by the way. But, I guess they are built to last, and New York is famous for their RTSs.
You are not looking at the situation from the drivers' standpoint.
Ok, here we go again with this argument. I want to make it clear that I do not love or hate RTS's. I merely have to deal with them. The truth of the matter is this bus is 18 years old. It is no longer comfortable or safely reliable. Her days of performing to her fullest extent are over like an aging sports star. This bus has outlived it's usefulness. RTS2150, next time you are on the express, if it's a 1700, ask people if they would rather be on that old clunker or a Nova express. Or ask them if they would rather be on an MCI.
Listen to what they tell you. I won't argue that these buses were once very good, but now they need to go! If you have never driven these buses, you do not, or can not, possibly understand what it is like to spend a day behind the wheel. Being a passenger and being the operator has no comparison. Do you still drive an 18 year old car? I'll bet not. But I'll bet it was still running when you got rid of it. And that comment about us all being dead by the time the last RTS is scrapped. I don't know about you, but I plan on being around in 50 more years.(I'm in my 30's) Assuming they discontinue RTS's in 10 more years, and it will probably be sooner, do you think those buses will last for 40? How many 50 year old buses do you see on the road anyway? I don't recall seeing any lately. BIG AL
The condition of te buses in question has to do more with the quaity of maintenance it did or did not receive during its life. It doesn't mattr how old the bus is, if it was "babied" its entire life, it will be a good one.
My employer still runs 125 of the original 175 1980 RTS's, and they run GREAT. They had the a/c units retrofitted, they had newer, more powerful engines put in, they have had all other components maintained very well in their lifespan. And they drive very nicely to this day. They just rebuilt 50 of the 125 with upgraded enines, and added the Allen-Bradley" PLC computer systems to them so that they operate just like our newest New Flyer D40LF's.
The funny thing was that they sold 14 of them to a neighboring agency, and that agency tore up those 14 buses in less than a year's time.
I'm not sure exactly how many older RTS buses we currently house, however we have our share of the 1700 / 3200 series buses. Drivability and performance of these older buses varies greatly to the newer 8000, 9000, 4900, and 5000 series buses. Personally, I'd rather drive a well-maintained 1700 series bus than the new 4900 series buses of today.
Why?
Well for one, there's no modified rear door interlock, which means I don't have to wait to depress the break pedal to move. There's no yellow door tape at the rear doors, which means I don't have to "dump" the air from the bus to close them.
Secondly, the newer buses incorporate a front door interlock of sorts, which makes opening the front doors impossible without coming to a complete stop. Most of these new 9000/4900 series buses have speed governers set below 50mph which makes highway driving cumbersome. Also, there is no wheelchair wheel clamp. Instead, there are a series to "tie-downs" and safety belts that must be fastened. The wheelchair lift itself is much slower, and requires a completely flat and level surface in which to deploy.
The AC in the newer buses, however, is much better than the older series in that the operator compartment receives a cooler fanned flow of air, which is also quiter than the older buses.
Lastly, steering in the older buses provides a greater turning ratio. This ended with the newer 8951 series bus.
The new seats are horrible!
Strictly from an operating standpoint, I'd prefer a well-maintained 1700/3200 series bus to that of any bus on the road today.
What's wrong with the new seats? Also, I guess it depends what types of buses you have. What kind of buses are the 9000/4900s? Maybe it is just a bad kind of bus?
"Secondly, the newer buses incorporate a front door interlock of sorts, which makes opening the front doors impossible without coming to a complete stop."
Actually, on the newer buses, you can't open the front doors until the speed switch comes on, at 1.5 MPH. So you can open the doors as long as the speed switch is on, or you are going at 1.5 MPH or below.
Posted by Tevi - Mr. M9 Man on Sat Jul 22 22:26:36 2000, in response to Re: RTS 1746, posted by Queens_Village_BO on Sat Jul 22 10:36:39 2000
>>Secondly, the newer buses incorporate a front door interlock of
>>sorts, which makes opening the front doors impossible without
>>coming to a complete stop.
>Actually, on the newer buses, you can't open the front doors
>until the speed switch comes on, at 1.5 MPH. So you can open the
>doors as long as the speed switch is on, or you are going at 1.5
>MPH or below.
That's not entirely true. Remember that these switches will wear over time and normal usage. What may have been a design implementation doesn't necessarily mean it will work that way over the long haul. Most of the 9300/4900 buses we have will not allow the front doors to open until the bus comes to a _complete_ stop regardless of whether the speed switch activates or not.
There are a few buses of this series that allow the doors to open regardless of the speed. It depends on the bus, and the operation of the sensor.
Just today I road called bus #9351 because the front door would not open *at all*! I forsee many mechanical, structural, and electrical problems with these series buses. The may look nice, but they will not last. Not on these city streets. That I guarantee.
Like I've said.... give me a 1700 series bus any day :-)
Big Al, I would like to know on which run is the 1746 operating this week in the A.M and P.M. rush. Any info appreciated. Thanx.
Unless a particular Bus Operator makes an off-the-record "deal" with his/her Yard Dispatcher (or an individual bus of a new type is being tested and only a limited number of people have been qualified to operate it), a particular bus isn't assigned to a particular Operator, run, or route.
David
Granted. I'm looking for a ballpark figure so I wont spend half my day on a bus stop. I would like to know which express run itis out of Jamaica. They have only two X routes so tracking that bus may not be too hard. Thanx.
And my point is that it could be any run (or extra, if there are extras) on either route, or could even be held in the depot on any given morning. It could be Run 1 on the X235 one morning, and Run 4 on the X986 the next day (just as examples; please don't anyone tell me that I've got the routes wrong). Check the MTA website for the timetables and then stand at a location where both routes would pass by you, say, in midtown Manhattan.
David
Not true. At Jamica and QV, the express bus operators have assigned buses.
The newer express buses do get the same operators every day. These are the 9000's and some of the better 3000's. However, I do not believe the 1700's have any assigned operators. I pull out at 6:25am every morning, before most of the expresses do.I know 1746 is always in the yard whenever I leave, so it is hard for me to say where that bus is, on any given day. However, I'll see if I can find out any info on where that bus will be on a certain day, and leave a post. BIG AL
Is that official within the depot or the Queens Bus Division, or is that just the "policy" of the Yard Dispatcher?
David
I wouldn't really call it official. More like convienence. But the senior operators are the ones who get the 9000's and the pee-ons always get the older buses which generally get assigned according to whatever is in line to go out first. That's why it's hard for me to track where 1746 might be on any given day because I'm already on the road when that bus is assigned to one of the junior operators. BIG AL
Then my original statement (that, officially, buses are not assigned to particular Operators) stands. Thanks!
David
If you stand at Woodhaven Blvd and Queens Blvd tomorrow morning between the hours of 730-9pm, you will see not only other Express Buses for GBL, JBL, CTC and QS, but you'll see the 1700 and 1800 Suburbans as well as the 3800 and 9200 Suburbans. That's where I saw 1746 last and I believe she was on the X64. Here's a pic of MTA 1746 taken by Kevin Barsky:
MTA Bus 1746 at Queens Blvd and 50 St
Gee wheezers, that bus looks nice and clean. From what everyone was saying, you made this bus look like a piece of junk. This is a nice bus, and I guess I wouldn't mind driving it if I had a bus driving license and was 21 or so. RTSs are okay, but I still love my Orions (did you see the Orion VIs on Ride-On and Metrobus in DC?)
Nope, I never went or have been to DC. I'm only basically interested in NYCTA buses. I wasn't saying that 1746 is a bad bus- it was just the 1 time I rode it- it didn't ride that good but Jamaica may have fixed her up since then.
Q17#9073Gary
If you stand at Woodhaven Blvd and Queens Blvd tomorrow morning between the hours of 730-9pm, you will see not only other Express Buses for GBL, JBL, CTC and QS, but you'll see the 1700 and 1800 Suburbans as well as the 3800 and 9200 Suburbans. That's where I saw 1746 last and I believe she was on the X64. Here's a pic of MTA 1746 taken by Kevin Barsky:
MTA Bus 1746 at Queens Blvd and 50 St
Enjoy!
Q46#4904Gary
I know that 1755 (from JAM) has the same run everyday, or at least I see it in the same spot same time everyday.
I always see a lot of the 1700s from queens usually laid up on 23rd street and the FDR Drive during the evening rush. Might be a good place to spot 1746.
Shaun
Thanx BIG AL, I want to ride that bus before it is shredded.
If you're interested in photographing that, or any other bus, simply head over to the garage and ask the Yard Dispatcher if the bus is going out, and at approximately what time. The operator may even offer you a ride.
Buses are assigned in a variety of ways. SOP dictates that runs which are high-mileage "first-halves" are assigned the better buses, while buses that will be on the road for a short time, or buses that make single-trip deadhead-trip runs will be assigned the older buses.
Usually, express buses are assigned a "run" not necessarily a "driver". Example: Joe drives run 3 on the x44. Bus #5222 is assigned to run 3, so even if Joe isn't at work, the bus would still be assigned to the run.
The only time this isn't the norm is when dealing with a new bus operator. They usually get the worst buses imaginable.... regardless of run/route/mileage. That's just the SLD saying "Pay your dues" :-)
Anyway, next time Im behind the wheel of #1741, I'll let you all know!
This evening I was drilling(parking buses) when I had the fortune, I mean misfortune of having to park 1746. I noticed on the vehical condition report that the bus was run 7 on the X64. Also noticed that the operator had taped family pictures on the sun visor indicating he might be using this bus regularly. I will try to get the schedule for that run & route tomorrow for all you buffs who want to ride it. Anyway, I drove the bus around a little. That bus has no pick up what so ever. When I went through the bus wash, it rolled back at first under full throttle and I had to nail it hard to get in the wash. Coming around I intentionally hit some small bumps. The suspension felt like it was ready to fall out it banged so hard. The windows are so scratched up, especially the right rear one, that you can hardly see out. Why any operator would want to keep that bus is beyond me. On a good note however, it did have a brand new operators seat which was very comfortable. Maybe that's why the operator keeps it. Otherwise I still proclaim: SEND HER TO THE TRASH HEAP! BIG AL
They're probably going to keep that bus for another six months. Why else would it get a new operators seat.?
Maybe something on the old operator's seat broke making it completely unusable. I've seen this happen many times. Usually the backrest breaks or it develops an air leak and it's adios amigos for the seat. When the bus finally gets scrapped, they'll just pull the new seat right out and keep it on the side for another bus that needs one. BIG AL
That is run 7 in the morning rush, or run 7 in the p.m. rush?
Run 7 in the morning rush IS also run 7 in the evening rush. BIG AL
Was this new seat a Recaro, BE-GE, or a Isrihauggen? (Isrihauggen is the kind used in almost all the older ones).
I have no clue which seat is which. It's the seat with the 3 small yellow buttons on the left, the one on the 8750-9349 series. It's also on all the 1986 & 1987 RTS's. It's the most common seat TA uses. BIG AL
That would be the Isrihauggen.
You actually typed in all of those angle brackets?
Start the quoted area with <BLOCKQUOTE> and end it with </BLOCKQUOTE> It'll save you some time.
Posted by Pigs of Royal Island on Sun Jul 23 15:12:23 2000, in response to Re: RTS 1746, posted by Queens_Village_BO on Sun Jul 23 09:20:27 2000
"You actually typed in all of those angle brackets?
Start the quoted area with <BLOCKQUOTE> and end it with
</BLOCKQUOTE> It'll save you some time."
It's a "webtv-thing", which I've grown accustomed to. Almost automatic in replying to usenet, bbs, or other forums. Thanks for the tip however. Glad to see html is supported here.
Well, in USENET, the software does the quoting automatically. I didn't know it did it here.
You see, I don't hate RTSs. I mean, they are okay, I don't really have a preference for them or anything. Also, if a company fixes the buses and make improvements, they could run just like new. I mean, if SEPTA spent the time actually replacing some of the windows that aren't very clear on some of their NEOPLANs and maybe some other improvments, they might be almost as good as the NABIs and they wouldn't have to keep buying more buses, although more new buses is a good thing.
My question is this, Does the slopeback RTS's have A/C. I know that most RTS's that do have a/c aren't slopeback, and the one's that were slopeback, were converted into a/c buses(Westchester Bee-Line and WMATA).
B61 Leonard
Slopebacks had A/C however, it was substandard and the only way to improve it was with those A/C "backpacks" or roof mounts. The squared off look in later RTS's came from beefing up the A/C and moving some components out of the engine compartment.
Peace,
ANDEE
Ditto. The hot engine compartment is no place to mount an A/C unit. The GM design group mess this one up without checking with engineering if it could be done without problems. GM must have tested the design on the expressway/freeway and not taken into account the stop and go nature of transit buses.
Now that a test lab for buses has been set up by DOT in Altoona Penna, it can test the claims made by the makers.
The RTS's have very poor gas milage. Some properties thought someone was stealing disesl fuel when the RTS first arrived.
OK - Yes, slopeback RTS's have A/C. And again - they weren't converted into A/C buses. They were manufactured with A/C.
Wayne
My question is this, Does the slopeback RTS's have A/C? I know that most RTS's that do have a/c aren't slopeback, and the one's that were slopeback, were converted into a/c buses(Westchester Bee-Line and WMATA).
B61 Leonard
Yes, the Slopeback (01/03 series) RTS were equipped with A/C. I don't know the exact problem, but I think it was an overheating issue because the slope caused the A/C equipment to be too close to the engine. The retrofit was necessary to correct the problem - not to add A/C. I don't know of any non A/C RTS except those 08 models at CTA (Chicago).
Wayne
Now on August 12th the day of the Tour at The Jackie Gleason Bus Depot
on Fifth Avenue in Brooklyn, are members like myself of the Transit Museum allowed to go up to the 2nd floor in the bus garage where maintenance is performed on all of the buses? Also, will that green body former New York City Transit Authority 1963 GMC TDH-5303 model bus #3758 be parked on the main floor of the Gleason Depot (8/12) where there is plenty of room for bus buffs to take pictures of that Fishbowl bus as well as the famous 1948 GMC Old Look Bus that Jackie Gleason drove in the "Honeymooners"? Hope to see you all at the Gleason Tour!
First of all the depot is only one flour. The maintenance is to the right of the building if you are faceing is on 5th ave. Second 3758 is still in the depot. Third I will be taking pitcher this Sunday for you still want. It tool me so long to get you the pitcher becouse I had to send my lens out to be repaired.
robert
Can you provide more information about the tour of Jackie Gleason Depot. What time will it be given ? Is there an admission charge? Do you need tickets and if so how do you get them? Thanks.
You get tickets by calling up the transit museum. I am not sure of the phone number. But I'll be there.
07/23/2000
(718) 243-8601.....closed Monday
Bill "Newkirk"
i don't if many of you are familiar with the radio show "this american life" which is carried on national public radio... last week they repeated a show that had a 10 or 15 minute section called "bus man's holiday"... it was about dishwasher pete's experience going from town to town on greyhound...
the theme of the show is very intriguing... pete had always found greyhound to be a rather attractive way to travel, until national public radio gave him recording equipment and an ameripass to chronicle the greyhound experience... attempting to do that radically changed his experience of greyhound... it's that part of the show that is interesting... there is a special magic that befalls many of us when we are left alone to ourselves when we ride buses, subway cars, trolleys, planes, trains, ... i am curious to see if anyone can relate to his experience? ... it's on real audio...
www.thislife.org/ra/102.ram
I came across a message in news:nyc.transit describing a Transit Chat scheduled for 8PM tonight (Sat 07-22-00). Do any of you who participate here also participate there? Is this a weekly event?
Thanks, QV
I never heard of it. Where did you find that message?
>Posted by Basman on Sat Jul 22 21:34:56 2000, in response to
>Tonights "Transit Chat"?, posted by Queens_Village_BO on Sat Jul
>22 16:12:48 2000
>I never heard of it. Where did you find that message?
In the Deja News news:nyc.transit newsgroup below:
http://x52.deja.com/[ST_rn=fs]/viewthread.xp?thitnum=28&mhitnum=0&toffset=0&CONTEXT=964325129.560136217&frpage=threadmsg_ct.xp&back=nyc.transit&new=0&rok=1
By-the-way, I visited there this evening at 8:15 PM and the room was empty.
B67
That's because I (the main moderator, who posted the message to nyc.transit BTW) was asleep.
I also post a message to SubTalk and BusTalk right before the chat, assuming I'm not asleep.
And if the room is empty, don't leave. Since nobody will enter at the same time, if everybody left if they saw the room was empty, then many people would enter, but there would be no chat and nothing to show for it.
Yes, this is a weekly event, and I do participate there most of the time, at least when I'm home.
He was going to give LI Bus a piece of his mind on Friday.
He never came back. This is suspicious.
Maybe LI Bus took it.
Sorry I've been very busy this weekend and I haven't gotten a chance to report my findings. I went down to LI Bus Friday afternoon, and walked into the office. First let me say wow, it looks like a high security bunker with hefty door and steel wall between waiting area and the office. They must have installed it because they know they are running crappy service, and people might storm in there.
It wasn't there when I visited last year.
Anyway a lady came out and asked information about the problems I had (breakdowns and No A/C). I gave the routes, times, and bus numbers of routes I had breakdowns and no A/C. She was not interested in all the buses I sighted with all the windows open, saying "lets not assume there was no A/C". Why would all the windows be open otherwise?
She just took the information and went in. They don't let anybody except staff behind that metal door, so I could not peer into the garage. On my way out I saw a bus coming out, one of those old Thomas-builts 709 with all the windows open.
When I got to Roosevelt Field from walking over, I hung out for a while at the bus stop. Saw 223 with all windows open and no A/C, sounded horrible too.Saw 626 and 546 with all windows open as well.
And 133 had a left tail light out.
Was back at RF later and still saw 223 running on the N79 w/o A/C.
They know they got buses running that sound and act like garbage because they maintain them like garbage.Of course I did not get into a whole tirade with them, because their security would probably throw me out. LI Bus is a horrible excuse for a bus system, and may I say their steel wall won't hold everyone back forever.
I saw buses coming out of the depot with no A/C. They know what's going on. The idiocracy of LI Bus just sickens me.
It's a low down dirty shame that LI Bus is so poor in service and maintenance. They should be ashamed to have the MTA Logo on their buses. I remember my only bus ride on an LI Bus- last summer on 138 on the N20- packed and with NO A/C. It was a sauna on that bus- when I got off her I was drenched in sweat. The only thing that I did like was the talking system that was on her. That was all- I thought the engine was too loud. I wasn't impressed at all with their service.
I have switch to another company that I think is doing pretty poor in maintenance and service and that's Triboro Coach. Last Monday I saw 657 getting towed away. Today while on the Q60, I saw 3001 getting towed. And I've seen a lot of Triboro's getting towed away: 3014, 2051, 2055 to name a few. I think Triboro has very poor maintenance of their buses despite the new paintjobs that are being given. Look at 2808: The bus is all scratched up and has white replacement part where it is painted red on the right side. 3012: A brand new bus that already looks like junk: A hole in the right rear, gray replacement part where the rear lights are. And it's not only 3012 that has it: The majority of the 3000 fleet has at least 1 replacement part in the rear: 3065 has 2. 662- Destination sign is broken, smoky rear, replacement door rear, silver right rear grill- just look at the right side of the bus and you'll see how bad she is. 2807- just looking at her will make u hurl. And the time performance is very poor. I waited 90 minutes 1 time for the Q18 to Maspeth from Steinway St. It's sad to see these operations operate so messy. These 2 are the worst in NYC. Next on that List would be Green Lines but I think that they're slowly improving.
R36Gary
Well, before I end the infamous 1746 argument, I have a few things to say...
1. Who e-mailed me to stop posting about 1746? I found it quite funny.
2. 1746 is obviously a victim of bad maintenence. Just as another poster had said, if this bus had been kept in decent shape it's entire career, no one would mind driving her around, 18 years old or 18 days old.
3. If 1746 was the last RTS in NYC and was still making those express runs, you'd be faliing all over yourself to drive that "bucket of bolts."
4. Trust me, we will be dead before the last RTS is scrapped, for the simple fact that it never will. The last RTS bus will be sitting in the Smithsonian.
5. I know the difference between being a passenger and a driver. They're totally obvious. But, I would LOVE to dive 1746. Hell, I'd do it for free. But how many 15 year old bus operators do you know?
6. Count your blessings you're not in a 3rd world country. 1746 would be a blessing to them.
Well, I think that is it. I also think that I have piqued everyone's interest in old 1746, that some of you might actually look for her to see what all the fuss was about.
Thank you...
RTS 2150 West
Oh wait, here's some more points...
7. If I had an 18 year old car, it'd be older than me. But I'd keep it in good condition, it's not really that hard.
8. Go to Hawaii, that's pretty close to 50 year old buses.
9. I don't live in NYC, I can't ride the Express.
10. Passengers will like whatever looks and feels the best. If bus 9395 was looking like it took a bath in mud on the outside, smelled like it took a romp in the sewer on the inside, and rattled like it was going off a mountain, I'd think the passengers would like 1746 better. It just depends upon appearences.
1746 I thought was a bad bus that just keeps chugging along. I rode it 1 time on the Q17 and the transmission was shot. But yet she's still going. There are only 20 other 1982 Express Coaches that are left operating and the majority are in Queens. Another bus that was good but sounded very strange was 1819 out of QV. Ahe made like 2 or 3 different sounds when accelerating but had very good speed.
Q46#1819Gary
Fishbowl lovers may want to take a look at the just posted write up of the "First Annual Seashore & Boston T Party" in the Field Trip section.
Thanks to Bus Curator Tom Santarelli & driver Todd Glickman this was one of our many treats that day.
Mr t__:^)
Just want tell say a few things that happened too me within the last too weeks,
Last week either Thursday or Friday i was on my way too around 8.30,8.40, when i got behind a green line bus along Woodhaven Blvd,Bus number 727,when the driver hit the gas,all of a sudden a big ,i mean huge cloud of black smoke came out of the back of the bus,well it told a feww minutes too clear and i ended up blowing a red light.
Then today,monday the same thing happened on the way too work,but a different bus,227,but i didnt blow the light this time,my question is this,why dont they retire theses buses,i know that there may be an need for more bus service,but the condition that these buses are running in i feel that it is doing more bad then good and a few less buses would be better in the long run.
I hope spelling doesnt count,i am still feeling the affects of those fumes from today,.
Flushing Tom
Queens Surface retired their GMC RTS Buses at the very beginning of this year once the CNG Orions arrived. I've said my say about Triboro Coach before. As far as Green Lines is concerned, they have to build CNG tanks at their garage and once they do that, then the GMC RTS buses will be replaced. I believe that they're at the halfway point with that project. Till then, keep holding your breath.
Q11#1148Gary
It could not happen any time sooner,who knows what or where ill end up if this happenes again.
Green Bus Lines does not have a bus # 727. Perhaps it was also # 227 the first day, but the fumes causes a misreading!
He may have meant Triboro Coach bus 727 since he said that he saw it on Woodhaven Blvd. I got another bus for all of you to be aware of and that's Green Bus 603. I saw her on the Q11 Tuesday and she was very smoky.
Q11#611Gary
Last Friday, DaimlerChrysler purchased Western Star, a truck builder that is the parent of Orion. They also purchased Detroit Diesel. I wonder about the lack of competion in engine choice now.
So basically, it's just like when GM owned Detroit Diesel, and built the buses.
-Hank
Hi, there. I am seeking info on any changes for fall 2000. Also, when does this pick begin, and where will it be held?
The Q76 extension is going info effect
Posted by FDNY on Tue Jul 25 19:02:55 2000, in response to Brooklyn Division Pick- Fall 2000, posted by transitbuff on Tue Jul 25 10:21:13 2000
The Q76 extension is going info effect
Where is the Q-76 being extended to?
131 st and 20 Av,,see my posting on the July NYC Transit Committee Agenda
Steve
Got up close to one of the two Orion V CNG's with John Deer power plants and yes the engine is green ... would you have expected anything less ?
The arangement of the components is different, so if they don't work out we'll have some extensive re-config. to do. Also there will be a learning curve for our maint. dept.
Status ... soon to be #404 and #437 were driven down here and are waiting for their turn in the paint shop for QSC logo & stripes. They'll probally be coming to a route near you in less then a week. If I become aware of their addition to the morning's line up I'll pass the info. on.
Mr t__:^)
Thurston,
Do you know any more specifics such as number of cylinders, displacement, horsepower and torque ratings.
Wayne
Will 404 and 437 look and/or sound different than the other Orions that are out on the streets now? Last Thursday I got to ride QS 900 on the QM1 and this gets a thumbs down :( Sorry, Thurston but this bus was bad. The transmission was shot cause every time she was about to move, she jolted, was very slow picking up speed and was bouncy. The bus went onto Hunters Point Blvd and I flew up into the air cause I was at the very rear of the bus. It hit the bump with such force. Also, when it got to 34 St, it nearly hit the X51 bus 112 behind us cause she rolled backwards nearly 3 feet. Usually Classics are very reliable buses but this one in my opinion wasn't.
QM1#553Gary
CNG Orion V's don't really look that much different than the regular Orions, except for the tanks on top. They should sound different, though, since they have a different type of engine, not the old detroit V90 desiel engines the older ones have.
[CNG Orion V's don't really look that much different than the regular Orions, except for the tanks on top. They should sound different, though, since they have a different type of engine, not the old
detroit V90 desiel engines the older ones have.]
What Gary ment was that these last two have a streight 6 cyl vs. 4 cyl CNG engine (John Deer vs. Detroit Diesel). Busbuffs like Gary will be listening to see what they can hear ;-)
Mr t__:^)
Well 900 and her sisters are from 1988 ... that's a dozen years. In addition I don't think 900 has been thru the major O/H program yet.
914 is coming out this week ... new paint and many other parts to keep her rolling for another dozen years ?
Mr t__:^)
I've noticed all the DOT companies are overhauling the Classics. These are reliable buses and im glad to see the DOT wants to keep them in service at least for a few more years and probably even longer for New York Bus Service. I spoke to a mechanic at Command and he said Command should be getting their new Orion V CNG Transit versions within the next two weeks. That means no more 1985 GMC RTS at Command.
Peace,
Kevin
transitworld.org
[These are reliable buses (MCIs) and i'm glad to see the DOT wants to keep them in service at least for a few more years.]
As you probaly know the City is commited to moving to buses that make it easier for elderly and handicap to board. At this point nycDOT hasn't selected that bus, so in the mean time we have to keep the MCIs providing the best service they can. A little hard cash is making it possible.
BTW, for those that don't know our fleet includes some wheel chair lift equiped buses on the express runs that also use the MCIs. This requires us to do a fair amount of talking to our customers that need one of these buses, but it's all part of the friendly SERVICE.
Disclaimer: I don't work for the Transportation or Marketing department of QSC just an employee (who like many of my friends at other companies in the city) cares about the product we provide.
Mr t__:^)
900 has not been overhauled as of yet. It still has her original 1 stripe on her. Along with 900 that still have their original 1 stripe are 902-903, 907, 916, 919-921, 923-925, 929, 931-936, 938, 943-944. The original roster was from 900 to 949 at 1 time at QSC. Where did buses 950-954 come from? What were their original numbers? Aren't 950-954 1989 Express MCI Classics? I rode 952 at 1 time and she had gray seats on her.
QM1#952Gary
I forget, but I think they (950-954) came from either Liberty Lines or NYBS or perhaps both.
Wayne
I got behind an QS bus several weeks ago and noticed on the back of it ,it had letterings of westchester coach or transit,dont remember which one now, did queens surface get some of there buses,or was it a spare hood that they needed.
About 5 years ago they came from Liberty Lines.
Mr t__:^)
Saw 404 on the QM1A today- brand spanky new and naked on the sides and rear. Had the orange stripes on her though.
Q66#404Gary
The boss gets realy mad if we let a new bus go out as a ghost or a wrap with nothing left that says QSC !
BTW, saw two RTS getting re-wrapped yesterday.
Mr t__:^)
1 was 367? Cause I rode her today on the Q104 and she has the US Open wrap which speaking of looks identical to the one that they used last year for the open. Will be on the lookout for the other.
Q104#357Gary
They are OPEN buses ... as in US Open ;-) There are several varities, one has a bunch of FDNY.
Mr t
Sorry, but since I'm not even in the same building I don't have easy access to the detail, but I can tell you that they are streight 6 cyl vs. 4s from Detroit. Transmission is a Allison B400.
Space wise the John Deer seems just as big as the Detroit but I couldn't see too much when I opened the hood ... and didn't want to hang around too long as I had no real business there.
My maint. friend said they were real quite when he went for a test spin upstate. BTW, Deer's experience with this CNG incl. some school buses.
Mr t__:^)
As a huge bus buff who has attended the New York City Transit Bus Roadeo's from 1994 at Steeple Chase Park, 1996 at Casey Stangel Bus Depot, 1999 Randals Island, and recently this past June at South Beach; I did have the chance to see the many Vintage Transit Buses that on hand, but never had the chance to take full view photos of these Old Timer former New York City Transit Authority buses. I am aware that NYC Transit has been holding the Bus Roadeo's since 1979; while NY Transit really started displaying their Museum Buses by the late 1980's at these events. Therefore, I was wondering if anyone still happens to have any photos of Vintage NYCTA Buses including the green body 1963 General Motors TDH-5303 New Look bus #3758 showing the script Transit Authority logo on top?
Ho hum....
The weekly rant.
Lets not get personal with our fellow bus buffs. I am just frustrated because TA GMC TDH-5303 bus#3758 did not show up at the 2000 NYC Transit Bus Roadeo.
Somehow I have a feeling a picture of 3758 is the only thing on somebody's mind here. I have 2 solutions that might solve this problem. 1)Yesterboy, why don't you just come to the depot yourself and see this bus? 2)Why not all us bustalkers chip in to buy this poor guy a ticket (on a bus of course)to come to New York (if he doesn't live here already) to see the damn thing. (I'm not drunk) BIG AL
Just tell me where too send my 1.50,too help with the fare.
on thursday evening 10PM - 11PM and then repeated early friday morning 2AM - 3AM, the history channel will be airing a 1 hour special tracing the history of buses from the first 8 seater to the most opulent specialty buses...
The one thime there is something on the history channel that I would want to watch, I can't watch it. drat.
I saw that you can buy a copy of the tape for $19.95. Not sure if its worth that much though. They may show it again sometime, other than tonight or at 2AM. I am almost thinking about setting my alarm for the 2AM show, but not sure yet. Go to www.thehistorychannel.com. They have info on it.
Has anyone seen Green Bus Lines vintage 1979 RTS-02's running recently? I seen them quite often on the Q11 and occasionally on the Q60. Last time i seen one was a few weeks ago, and I usually see several a week. Second question, does anyone know what type of engine these busses have, they sound much different from a regular GMC RTS. Their air intake for the A/C is also much smaller on the rear. Any other history or facts appreciated on these busses, also where the hell are they?
These were the buses that were slopebacks that were converted over to squarebacks like what we've been talking about in the other posts, if I'm not mistaken. I haven't seen them since the GBL started getting in all those new Orions, so I would imagine they have all, or most of them have been retired and scrapped. BIG AL
Former QS TMC 275-281 were given to QS and were renumbered as 1143-1149. 1143 was former QS 281. 1144 was former QS 280 and so forth.
QS also had 700-705 and they were renumbered as 5545-5550. 5545 was former QS 700. 5546 was former QS 701 and so forth. Therefore, these buses replaced buses 1001, 1003-1006, 1008-1015 which were 1979 buses which I believe had a 6V71 Engine in them? Some of the 1000s were sent to Command Storage. Some are still sitting in the rear of the Rockaway Blvd portion of GBL Depot.
Q11#5514Gary
Actually the GBL slopebacks were either 01 or 03 series buses. GM never did have an 02 series RTS. Most slopebacks including those that operated in the NYC area were 03 series. GBL (as well as the other NYCDOT privates) buses had the DD 8V-71 engines.
Wayne
QSC had some of the -03s that we borrowed from Liberty Lines while we were waiting for the Orions to come in. They were modified slope backs, i.e. you could see the sloped back & the add on A/C unit very clearly. These all went back to Liberty by 12/31/98.
I had heard that LL was saving at least one of them, when running around Queens it had number 177. I saw her just before she went back ... she was in good shape.
Mr t__:^)
It was interesting reading everyone's response about this bus. I've always been a fan of the 1982 RTS myself, but I understand that all good things must come to an end.
I hadn't seen much of 1746 since it left Flushing (now Stengel) depot I guess BIG AL would know, but I believe 1746 was one of the few "unlucky" buses that had it's DD 6V-92TA engine replaced with the underpowered DD 6V-71N. I remember PA1717 and 1981 RTS 1308 also having DD 6V-71 engines.
Wayne
Big Al (or anyone else) do you why did the TA do that?
Peace,
Big D
07/26/2000
Has Manhattan's Canal Street ever had any type of crosstown bus service ? I know the traffic and gridlock is insane, maybe that's a good reason why the TA doesn't run this type of service today!
Bill "Newkirk"
Yes, it's insane. I'm not sure about the original bus plans. The original subway plans call for a crosstown subway line under Canal Street. Just to get back onto topic, the B51 covers some of Canal Street in 1 direction. I believe it's from the end of the Manhattan Bridge to Lafatette Street. This only runs weekdays, the worst traffic time.
And it's almost impossible to cross it.
This wouldn't be a problem with a well designed Lower Manhattan Expressway and a removal of the Verrazano toll.
IIRC Robert Moses proposed something like that in the 60's. I think it called for a widening of the Jackie Robinson Parkway, extension of it along Eastern Parkway and then up Flatbush and over the Manhattan Bridge and across Canal Street. I suppose it was to be an elevated structure. The dissection of the various neighborhoods and quality of life would have been something else. Just look at what the Cross Bronx did to that borough.
Just look at what the Cross Bronx did to that borough.
Do you know how many parts of the Bronx do not even come NEAR the Cross-Bronx Expressway?
The CBxE may have destroyed a part of the borough, but most of it has to do with modern Moses scapegoating. The neighborhood declined for a number of reasons: Rent control, crime, lack of parking, suburban white flight, the expressway pales in comparison to all of these, in fact, it's in an open cut. It doesn't ruin any views, there are many overpasses and you don't have to run across lanes of traffic to get across (safer than a boulevard) and there are no stairs to climb for said bridges.
Mentioning Bushwick, it's pretty much in the same condition as East Tremont, but where's the highway? What about Riverdale, there's been a highway there since the 1930s, but where's the decay?
The Interborough Parkway would not be widened (there's a reason that it was built the way it was, even Moses couldn't wake up the dead). The Bushwick Expressway (Interstate-78) would have run from the Williamsburg Bridge to JFK Airport's Nassau Expressway by running along Bushwick Avenue and Conduit Boulevard. The median reservation is still there on Conduit Boulevard.
At one time the C-Bronx was like the Mason-Dixon Line. Everything north was still middle class, while everything south became run=down. Now the run-down syndrome has leaped the highway.
So in that case the Cross-Bronx was a wall that helped hasten the decline of the Bronx to the north.
It would not have prevented decline to the south.
Any particular road or street that seperates Harlem from the upper East Side?
Yes, 96th Street.
There was a thread long ago mentioning how the rise of the railroad to a viaduct above Park Avenue north of 96th Street prevented any gentrification of that area.
Eventually, housing projects went up there, they are now a divide.
And...
Just that there is no road creating a wall in one place, but there is in another does not prove anything.
Forget the 'Lower Manhattan Expressway' boondoggle. You can also forget the elimination of the VZ toll, or a return to 2-way tolls. Notice the politions aren't saying anything about making changes to the Holland tunnel, such as restoring the 2-way toll there, or banning trucks during the day (the way to go). Another option is the creation of a true 'truck route' across lower Manhattan OTHER than Canal St (such as going 'around the horn', as it were). Enforcement of the gridlock laws at all the intersections of Canal St would go a long way as well, as would a truck restriction (such as 2-axle trucks only).
-Hank
Going around the horn would just move the problems elsewhere, where they already exist.
Just because politicians aren't saying anything doesn't mean that something shouldn't be done, it just means that there aren't any future thinking politicians anymore.
And calling something a boondoggle (especially something never funded or constructed) is just another thing that the anti-public works lobby uses against public works.
Or a reinstitution of the Brooklyn-bound toll and subsequent reduction of the Staten Island-bound toll.
Or an institution of new tolls on the free East River bridges.
(I'm not suggesting that these changes be made, but they would significantly reduce traffic on Canal Street.)
A Lower Manhattan Expressway -- unless it's buried underground (and the one Moses planned wasn't) -- would solve the problem in large part by removing any need for local crosstown traffic.
Actually the establishment of a toll on the free bridges and eliminating all tolls on bridges not involving Manhattan would be a good thing.
I don't know about Canal, but the M8 ran across Grand and Broome Streets at one time. I once rode it (in its brief NYCT days); I was the only passenger. There doesn't seem to be much demand.
To answer the original and other posts:
(1) There's never been much demand for xtown bus service on Canal St (or anywhere in Manhattan south of Houston St.) due to: severe traffic congesiton on the few through E-W streets; and lack of demand for such service. The island narrows below Canal St. and most people who access the area on the N-S subway or bus routes can walk to the their final destinations. Canal St. has been gridlocked since 1927, when the Holland Tunnel opened (the Manhattan Bridge has been there since 1909). The old M8 Grand St. (another poster mentioned this) and the old NYC Omnibus #12 Spring/Delancey Xtown were eliminated due to low ridership.
Only exception is the M22 (old M1) Madison-Chambers route, which survives because it serves a dense residential district near Corlear's Hook that is far from subway stations, and connects to the main business district of Lower Manhattan.
(2) To those who mentioned the Cross Bronx Expressway not being responsible for the demise of much of that borough - I beg to disagree. My wife grew up at Walton Ave. and 174th, where the Cross Bronx dips under the Concourse. Whole buildings were emptied of tenants and razed to make way for the highway. She still remembers the blasting and vibrations 40 years later. Her building was not razed, but was next to ones that did come down. Family lives and patterns were disrupted when one block shopping trips took five circuitous blocks. She always remembers the XBX construction as the most significant event towards the wholesale changes the enveloped the Bronx between the late 1960's and early 1970's.
In response to #2:
You cannot use a local resident as a subject for this as she will inevitably be biased and her opinion will be based on simple perception. There were a number of factors involved in the demise of the Bronx. One can perceive that since the fall happened after the highway was built, the neighborhood fell. That would be a bad cause/effect relationship.
I got a chance to drive by the Maspeth storage yard at 49st. & Grand ave., and seen a pretty impressive collection of about 60 buses ranging in from the 3200 to 4100 series RTS. These busses were from F.Pond, Flatbush, Ulmer Park, and about 2 4100's from Gleason. There were also 2 Flxble New Looks (old 7000 series) buses painted in a Maintenance Training Mobile Facility scheme. There is also construction on the building which will house the new Maspeth depot. Will these 3000 series buses be used for the start up of the new depot? If so it will be the depot with the oldest equipment in the city. I also failed to mention that all these buses look good apperance wise, none are stripped or scavenged for parts from their former depots. For anyone interested in old RTS's it is worth a visit to the storage yard.
My question is this: What depot will the Maspeth replace, if build. My guess is the Fresh Pond.
B61 Leonard
Maspeth is intended to relieve overcrowding throughout the Brooklyn Bus Division by allowing routes to be reassigned, not to replace any depots. And please, everybody, don't ask which routes will be reassigned. It's still in the planning stage.
David
what buses will be reassigned there?? :):)
B46M Limited
100 Twin Coaches, 50 Yellow Coaches, and 75 REO Speedwagons.
Ask a silly question...
David
What bus routes will be assigned there? :):)
B46M Limited
Sorry I haven been on in a while
Subbus: There is no reassigned at Maspeth & it only for Storage for RTS Buses. Because MTA having troblem finding the place to storage the RTS Buses but they pick Maspeth. Maspeth will be going to be a Depot in the future maybe around 2002 or 2003. An u know that there are 35 RTS Buses from 30xx to 33xx running on the road. Some of them already in Maspeth Storage Yard. Im trying to find GMC-RTS #3009 from ENY Depot but it hard to look for it before #3009 retired.
Peace Out
David Justiniano
NYCTransiTrans Gallery Page
David, while I was on the Q11 yesterday, I saw 3009 on the Q56. Go by ENY and you'll find it.
Q11#1171Gary
I have a picture of #8501 on State Street with the back sign having with the following:
It appeared to be in the test mode when I took the picture and founds this "reading" among the horizintal lines, vertical bars, and cross-hatches. Anybody know what this is all about??
Maybe it was just messed up?
Flip dot signs sometimes get messed up like that. I've seen several WMATA and MTA buses with that on the backs and even on the front destination signs. I think this is one reason why LED is becoming more popular. A maintenance person at MTA in Baltimore told me that the flip dots are a real pain to maintain.
I've seen that on the back of the SEPTA neoplans. What is the LED display? What's the difference?
A flip dot sign is self-explanatory. There are electromagnets behind the pixels and the dots themselves have magnetic poles. Depending on the direction of the charge, the magnets will flip either to the green side or black side.
An LED sign is just an array of light emitting diodes that light up like light bulbs just with different colors depending on the element used inside.
A hybrid LED backed flip dot has flip dots just it has LED instead of the green side that get a charge (from contacts arranged on the side of the dots) and light up when flipped forward.
I thought the LED's were always on. If you look at it a certain way, you get this sea of green light from each dot on the sign.
The only true LED signs are the yellow ones on the GBL's and one or two Orions in NYCTA. The signs on the 4900-5200 RTS's and the newest Orion's from NYCTA are actually flip dot also even though they look like total LED. What it is are small LED's which get covered up by the flip dots. Depending on which LED's get covered, that's how the letters are formed. BIG AL
Show on Buses in America at 10 PM Thursday
Call NYC Transit Buses Dept. at
1-888- 692 --8287
real nice Public Relations Item
Steve
That "articulated bus bookmark" has got to be the biggest waste of NYCTA print shop money I've seen to date. The size of the card (approx. 14" x 3") makes it almost impossible to dispense from the bus map/info center slots, which means they will most-likely wind up on the floor of the bus, or all over the seats.
Does it bend in the middle?
As a matter of fact, it does!
David
I just picked up some today at 126th St. The bookmark bends and also has specifications of the articulated printed on the inside along with answers to questions about the bus sent in by passengers. Apparently this is the first of a series of BusMark's(That's their official name)that the TA plans to issue. Who knows maybe they'll become collectors items. It goes to show you that the TA must be swimming in cash and has to find ways to burn it.
cool, i wish I had one
This is the first time I'm posting here. I am really not a bus fan. I'm a train man forever. However, I'd like to tell you that I rode the new low to the ground bus in Manhattan on the M101 today. It is really a waste of space. The wheel wells take up a lot of room, and the motor takes up half the width of the back. The 1 minute it saves putting wheelchairs on the bus isn't worth it. DON'T BUY ANY MORE, MTA!!!
Look at the bright side, they also serve as a snow plow. Tony, you're a train man forever? Check out my handle. There's no more train man forever other than a train.
Not only do they save a minute loading/unloading a wheelchair, but they also save a few seconds for each and every passenger walking on and off the bus. Believe me, driving the New Flyer D40LF's, I see the difference.
The New Flyer D40FL's that the MTA in New York are not EZ to get Wheelchairs on. The Fair Box base it ot big. The people with the electice Wheelchairs shotter have a very hard time move around it. I have even had to get out of my seat and pull the back of the chair, so they could get in. They have to back up the ramp, with some of them have trouble doing. So some company Low Flour buses the other company use might not have this problem, the ones them the MTA do. The ADA was told about this problem and are now for what I heard are looking into this problem and might do something about it.
Robert
You must be phsyco, Those Hybrid Eletrics are the best thing going for the MTA right now!
Trevor Logan
A hybrid electric doesn't have to be a low floor bus.
See other post for my opinion of the LFs.
I rode the new NovaBUS RTS-06 Hybrid Eletric and the Re-made 1991 TMC RTS-06 Hybrid Eletric and none of those can compare to the Orion IV Hybrids!
The Orion HEVs are just plain better!
Trevor Logan
The New Flyers have steps in the back so the back is high floor and clears the engine.
In Europe, the low floor busses use car sized tires which are still small enough to fit under the lower seats.
One should not write off a technology so easily.
I remember an MC-9 about 8 years ago without a tag axle. It was not an NJT. It had the destination sign in the window as opposed to the NJT cap, and was lavatory equipped. It was owned and operated by Autobahn Tours of Fairlawn, NJ, a 3 bus operation owned by an elderly German couple, Herb & Marie Sinning. Does anybody know how many of these coaches MCI manufactured and in what year they were built ?
Here's what I show in my MCI MC-9 production lists:
Serial EP0X9996, model MC-9TA was a two-axle commuter demo that went to Autobus Deshaies, in Sainte Julie, Quebec. I'm assuming this one did NOT have the lavatory, being labelled as a commuter demo. It was built sometime in 1984.
Then, from TMC.....
ER004449 delivered to Hudson Transit Lines/Shortline (fleet # unknown) in 6/84.
ER004461 delivered to Autobahn Tours Inc., #8402, in 6/84.
ER004476 delivered to Greyhound Lines East, #4199, in 7/84.
So, looks like the score is.....1 MCI and 3 TMC MC-9's as two-axle jobs. Total of four buses. I don't have information as to whether any ere resold, scrapped, etc. -- just original delivery info.
Didn't Connecticut Limo run coaches without Tag Axles from Ct to Kennedy and La Guardia ???
Or were those MC-8's ?
Those were MC-5C's. They had an MC-8 front, so the roof dipped a couple inches behind the driver/entry area. They also had the same taillamp array/engine access as the MC-8 as well. But they were a 35-foot bus.
Bonanza had MCI buses from 1986 (numbered, of course, in the 8600 series) that had only 2 rather than 3 axles, but I'm guessing these were the model that followed the MC-9. Ditto for the 2-axle ShortLine buses that can still frequently be seen in service (mostly in the H-500 series, but a few former sightseeing buses in the H-400 series). Also, I recollect that the Conn. Limosine 2-axle buses mentioned in another post were built around 1986.
Right, all of those companies had the MCI model "96A2" buses. The Connecticut Limousine buses were MC-5C's but were built earlier than 1986. I'm not sure of when the production of the MC-5C ceased, will have to check my production records.
I'm pretty sure Conn. Limousine had some 96A2 buses. The fleet numbers were originally two-digit, in the high 70's perhaps. A number of years later, Conn. Limo renumbered its entire fleet, using the year of delivery method; these two-axle buses were renumbered in the 8600 series.
Conn. Limo had the A2 model as did Carey. Also Clausen Bus (became NY Airbus which is Harren) had the TMC version 128-130 were the first in 85 then 131-133 in 86. I was one of the drivers that went to Rosewell NM to pick up the second group. Thats where i got the MCI tmc A model belt buckle, plus other promo items.
Yes, you're right....Connecticut Limo DID also have MCI 96A2's. I somehow missed them when scanning through the production record book too quickly!
Here's a list of who had them according to "the book".
Model 102A2 -- 102 inches wide (all built by MCI in 1986-1987):
Hausman Bus Sales (Demonstrator)
Bonanza Bus Lines (Providence, RI)
Concord Coach Lines (Concord, NH)
County of Westchester Transit-Liberty Lines (Yonkers, NY)
Wade's Bus Service (Schenectady, NY)
GO Transit (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
Chenango Valley Bus Lines (Binghamton, NY)
Colonial Coach Corporation (Mount Holly, NJ)
Hudson Transit Lines (Mahwah, NJ)
Model 96A2 -- 96 inches wide (all built by TMC in 1985-1988):
Hudson Transit Lines (Mahwah, NJ)
Clausen Bus Service (Valley Stream, NY)
International Bus Services (Hoboken, NJ)
Chenango Valley Bus Lines (Binghamton, NY)
Leprechaun Lines Inc. (Newburgh, NY)
Safety Bus Service (Pennsauken,NJ)
Sun Coach Lines (McKeesport, PA)
Trans-Bridge Lines (Bethlehem, PA)
American Sightseeing (Miami, FL)
Lion Tours Inc. (Rio Grande, NJ)
American Trails Bus Company (Philadelphia, PA)
Connecticut Limousine Service (Bridgeport, CT)
Olympia Trails Bus Company (Irvington, NJ)
Community Transit Lines (Passaic, NJ)
Erin Tours Inc. (Brooklyn, NY)
Carey Transportation Inc. (Queens, NY)
Private Trails Inc. (Brooklyn, NY)
The thing *I* find interesting, going through these lists, is that all the narrow ones came from TMC and the wide ones came from MCI, though both made ALL versions of the three-axles buses (96A3, 102A3, etc.) The company locatons are what MCI/TMC listed.
what was the story behind the GLI MC-9's 4198-4199 that were bonna fide 9's with no tag axle?
Was there ever any of these built besides the GLI units?
Advise please,
Blue
I didn't know there was a 4198 -- the production lists only show 4199.
Gonna have to hunt that other one down.
The reasoning behind the lack of the tag axle was that the buses were intended to be operated only in the east coast areas where the bridge axle limits are higher so there was no need for the tag axle.
I believe California has one of the lightest maximum axle limits in the country. Has to do with the fact that they build the bridges to absorb earthquake shock, so they are lighter (they are also hollow out here too.)
One of the MC-9 two axles was delivered to Bonanza Bus Lines in 1984. Bus # 8405 is still owned by Coach USA/Bonanza and may still be in Providence-Logan Airport service.
Ah I thought it was you that told me that it was 4198-4199.
OK sounds cool at last I got the slider of it.
Blue
Voila!
Found it.....I should have gone one page back on the production list, and then would have found GL 4198 as well as Bonanza 8405. (These production lists were printed on the ancient Commodore 64 database, and thus are, at my ripe old age, difficult to see due to very cramped typeface and fading ink. I MUST updae these lists to the PC one of these years....)
Here's the serials for those interested:
Greyhound 4198 -- TMC MC-9 -- ER004403 -- delivered 7/84
Bonanza 8405 -- TMC MC-9 -- ER004424 -- delivered 6/84
I did list the rest of the two-axle MC-9's in an earlier post in this thread.
What was the deal with TMC making MC9's and the A-series when it came out? I know that MCI and TMC were sister companies at the time under Greyhound Corp, which also owned GLI before it was spun off. It seems like TMC only had it's own bus when it got the Citycruiser (Orion I) in '79(?) and the RTS in '87. I know that when Greyhound Corp. became Greyhound-Dial Corp., and later Dial Corporation it had still owned TMC including when after MCI was sold to Dina, until (I think) the RTS almost met it's end in '94 before the MBTA's order (0001-0138-TMC, 0139-0250, and 0251-0400-Nova BUS, the Nova BUSes being separated because 0251-0400 AFAIK was either an option or a separate order. I guess I should change my question to what is TMC's history? It seemed like it was just around mainly to help take care of MCI backlogs, and building the RTS. Am I correct in this line of thought?
Peace,
Big D
TMC didn't make the Orion I, or the city cruiser. TMC made a similiar model, the T-30 (people who rode the old ride-on buses, before the 30ft gillig phantoms, know what they are. At least, those who rode them in the Silver Spring area.) I'm not sure about the RTSs, other than TMC continued the design of the RTS. What does TMC stand for, anyway?
transit manufacturing corporation.
I know it's being picky but the T is Transportation not Transit. I didn't mean to imply the Citycruiser/T-30 was TMC's design, but wasn't it built under license from OBI?
but wasn't it built under license from OBI?
Maybe, but I doubt that Yoda had anything to do with it though.
Okay, and now what does OBI mean?
Ontario Bus Industries.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought it stood for Orion Bus Industries
B61 Leonard
Nope...Ontario Bus Industries it is. The American subsidiary is called BIA -- Bus Industries of America.
David
Transportation (not transit) Manufacturing Corporation.
I heard they also built semi-trailers also.
Read all about it:
BUT A LEAST THEY RUN ON TIME
Peace,
ANDEE
[The DOT survey found that 75% of Command's buses were clean, but below the 80% minimum required for the companies to receive bonuses for meeting performance standards.]
Let me qualify what the City means by "dirty". One newspaper is on the floor, they count every sheet from the paper. You rip up a lottery ticket, they count every piece. The other key is when they hit you with a survey ... before you go out in the AM, well the fleet should be spotless ... after an AM run ... did the crew get all those coffee cups & newspapers yet ? I regularly see some of our fleet around lunch time when I go looking for MetroCards ... I view the fleet as clean, but then I don't have a magnifing glass looking for little scraps of paper.
So 75% means that most of their fleet didn't have a single scrap of paper anywhere. Could they do better, sure if they want the bonus.
Disclaimer: I'm not part of the service or maint. crew, just an employee who has a personal opinion.
Mr t__:^)
Posted by Thurston on Fri Jul 28 08:34:06 2000, in response to Command is No Bargain, posted by SUBWAYSURF on Fri Jul 28 07:39:49 2000
Let me qualify what the City means by "dirty". One newspaper is on the floor, they count every sheet from the paper. You rip up a lottery ticket, they count every piece. The other key is when they hit you with a survey ... before you go out in the AM, well the fleet should be spotless ... after an AM run ... did the crew get all those coffee cups & newspapers yet ? I regularly see some of our fleet around lunch time when I go looking for MetroCards ... I view the fleet as clean, but then I don't have a magnifing glass looking for little scraps of paper.
So 75% means that most of their fleet didn't have a single scrap of paper anywhere. Could they do better, sure if they want the bonus.
The NYCTA fleet is swept daily. Most buses remain on the road upwards of 15 hours every day, sometimes longer. Even when they are returned to the garage, buses aren't swept until they are "drilled" that evening and parked for the night.
A bus could go out at 5AM on one route, return to the garage at 9AM, then be either parked temporarily to be reissued, or be issued immediately to a driver waiting for a bus (on any route). That same bus would return or even be relieved on the road somewhere at 1PM.... and the cycle continues throughout the day. The only time a bus is cleaned before the drill period is when the bus is scheduled for maintenence or when someone gets sick on the bus. Other than that, once the bus leaves the yard for teh AM rush, it isn't cleaned until late that night.
But the issue here isn't the fact that buses are dirty. The issue is how do you suppose they GET dirty?? It's very simple: DONT EAT OR LITTER and the bus will remain clean. Period! Why is this so difficult to fathom?
I have a post at news:nyc.transit which is close to this topic (Listed under NYCTA Employees).
Think about this- I pull out a clean bus every day. At the end of the day, there are empty coffee cups, half-eaten bagels & rolls, candy wrappers, discarded mertocards, nut shells, chicken bones, misc foodstuffs, newspapers, lottery tickets, used tissues, soda and juice bottles, and a host of assorted other garbage thrown about the bus floor.
HOW DO YOU SUPPOSE IT ALL GOT THERE? I certainly didn't do it...
It frustrates me just as much as it does you having a dirty bus. I may at times "clean" it myself by kicking the litter out the back door onto a cardboard item, then tossing it in a recepticle, depending on the mess.
The solution is simple- don't litter on the bus and you'll always have a clean bus.
QV
[A bus could go out at 5AM on one route, return to the garage at 9AM, then be either parked temporarily to be reissued, or be issued immediately to a driver waiting for a bus (on any route).
That same bus would return or even be relieved on the road somewhere at 1PM.... and the cycle continues throughout the day. The only time a bus is cleaned before the drill period is when the bus is scheduled for maintenence or when someone gets sick on the bus.]
First ... here again we all get a little smarter about how things work, thanks to our new friend & my colleague.
Second ... at this depot we have a small crew mid-day who's job it is to go thru the entire fleet that's laying over to look for realy dirty buses. They have a little cart, some windex, etc.
[It frustrates me just as much as it does you having a dirty bus. I may at times "clean" it myself by kicking the litter out the back door onto a cardboard item, then tossing it in a recepticle, depending
on the mess.
The solution is simple- don't litter on the bus and you'll always have a clean bus.]
Oh my God a union man and management sharing the same opinion. Quick I need to pinch myself :-)
Seriously we have here a BO who cares about the product he provides, good for you ! To be honest I would say he's the rule and not the exception.
Mr t
But they still can't run on time.
GREAT BUSSES, LONG WAITS
Peace,
ANDEE
In terms of cleaniness and appearance I think Liberty and NYBS has always been far ahead of the other DOT privates. In the 1980's I'd say that NYBS was the best, but I think Liberty has since caught up with NYBS.
Wayne
READ IT
Peace,
ANDEE
"The Department of Transportation is doing a much better job of
monitoring bus companies, which is essential for an incentive program to work," Hevesi said. "We found the incentives are effective. The companies meet most of the standards so they can earn extra money. Now, we should consider applying incentives to on-time performance, which is very important to most riders."
1. I'm wondering why George Pataki/Virgial Conway didn't think of this for the MTA. Hummmm, all those suits could get a piece of the bonus if service was improved. He could first C-U-T their salaries ... start with Larry Reuter and work your way down (George has been good at finding ways to make money for the state). I'm all for making the MTA more accountable to the travling public ... seems like a idea that could motivate the MTA toward something the public cares about ... what do you think ?
2. Add On-Time preformance incentives at the "privates" ... I'll vote for that, BUT you would have to find a way to not count it against them if the lateness was beyond their control (act of God/construction/parade/etc.), e.g. some of our fleet just parked it for a while durring the Op Sail. Streets were jammed and there just was no way you could get down the road.
Actually this happens in a way right now, i.e. there is a financial penality if you don't put the required number of buses on the road every AM & PM ... it's called "making service".
Disclaimer: I don't work for the MTA, TA or nycDOT, just an employee of the system who cares about the product we provide.
Mr t__:^)
Posted by Thurston on Fri Jul 28 08:52:53 2000, in response to Queens DOT's clean but late, posted by SUBWAYSURF on Fri Jul 28 07:50:44 2000
"The Department of Transportation is doing a much better job of
monitoring bus companies, which is essential for an incentive program to work," Hevesi said. "We found the incentives are effective. The companies meet most of the standards so they can earn extra money. Now, we should consider applying incentives to on-time performance, which is very important to most riders."
1. I'm wondering why George Pataki/Virgial Conway didn't think of this for the MTA. Hummmm, all those suits could get a piece of the bonus if service was improved. He could first C-U-T their salaries ... start with Larry Reuter and work your way down (George has been good at finding ways to make money for the state). I'm all for making the MTA more accountable to the travling public ... seems like a idea that could motivate the MTA toward something the public cares about ... what do you think ?
They already DO receive federal incentives for "on-time" performance! Why do you think they place so much emphesis on our running on time? But the issue is this- the schedule is created via program by some suits in an air-conditioned office who never drove a bus, let alone ride one. The TA knows that the schedule they implement is impossible to keep, UNLESS we drive "recklessly" which they also prohibit. That's the position we drivers are in, and is why many drivers will say "to hell with the schedule, I'm here to keep my job".
Thurston, you need to take a ride with me one day. I'll give you my schedule to hold while I drive, and you keep an eye on the clock.. you'll see what I mean LOL!
2. Add On-Time preformance incentives at the "privates" ... I'll vote for that, BUT you would have to find a way to not count it against them if the lateness was beyond their control (act of God/construction/parade/etc.), e.g. some of our fleet just parked it for a while durring the Op Sail. Streets were jammed and there just was no way you could get down the road.
Lateness could never be counted against the driver, but in reality, you can't have it both ways. Penalties would be the witholding of funds outside your designated "performance schedule" (as in the 5 minutes the TA gives itself). When I'm 6 minutes late, oh well... give me more running time.
Look, we drive in a city already overcrowded with people, traffic, pedestrians, etc. A schedule is simply a guide.... nothing more. A schedule is for the public... not for the drivers. We do what we can, but the schedule is the LAST thing the TA tells us to be concerned about.
#1- SAFETY
#2- SERVICE
#3- SCHEDULE
That is the NYCTA policy where those services are concerned. You see, schedule is last, and with good reason.
QV
[... But the issue is this- the schedule is created via program
by some suits in an air-conditioned office who never drove a bus, let alone ride one ...]
That's one benifit of the "privates", i.e. our President (who recently passed away) & the VP of Transportation both drove buses. And we're right here with the sounds & smells all around us. So for someone with a functional responsibility, or just a little curiorsity (like me) it's easy to keep up with what is going on. Can't do that from a cubicle at 130 Livingston Plaza or Jay Street !
[... we drive in a city already overcrowded with people, traffic, pedestrians, etc. A schedule is simply a guide.... nothing more. A schedule is for the public... not for the drivers. We do what we
can, but the schedule is the LAST thing the TA tells us to be concerned about ...]
At this depot the on-time arrival has a higher priority, so we may have more "white shirts" on the road trying to maintain the "headway". I also know that the Transportation dept. spends a lot of their time on the problem ... extra buses, replacements for breakdowns, re-routes due to problems on the streets or LIE etc. (don't the suits at the TA depots do this too ?) BTW, the folks that answer the calls, snail-mail & e-mail are part of this same group (they also sell MCs just to keep them busy all day). This said, how did we do vs. the other "privetes" ... well we're #1 at 85% ... still a little short of 90% goal :-(
Also from the Daily News article: A/C we're tied for #2 at 98% (yes, yes it was a lot easier this summer); and cleanliness ... opps we need to pick up those little scraps of paper despite the fact that the fleet looks clean to a non-proffesional.
Disclaimer: I'm not a official spokesperson of the MTA, TA, nycDOT or my employeer. But I have enjoyed the opportunity my new colleague at the TA has given me to get on my soap box.
P.S. You offered to "take me for a ride" ... seperately you've told me what route you work ... If I have a reason to go to a meeting that way I may take you up on it ... although I'll have to admit that I prefer the underground ;-) BTW, I'll be at Shoreline this Saturday if any of you wants M-E to take Y-O-U for a ride, Ding Ding. The headway is every 1/2 hour so bring something to read ;-)
Mr t__:^)
Ya sure about schedule being last? There are plenty of times I've had drivers just stop for 3 minutes, saying that they were early. (And trust me, where they were stopped wasn't too safe, although, it was a bus stop, it was Chatam Square).
i was down by the junction, flatbush & nostrand aves, in brooklyn this morning about 8:30, and saw something that i had never seen before...gbl 641 parked by the curb on flatbush was getting a boost from gbl 630 double parked alongside it... both buses had their rear hatches up, with booster cables running between them... this went on for about 30 minutes...
I'm assuming that they did this because the buses are far away from GBL Depot in both Rockaway and Rockaway Blvd so this was the only other available option to do.
Q60#5534Gary
I doubt the bus was giving an electrical boost. Sounds more like the bus was pumping air to the other. In any case, that would be a job for the road truck.
The TA and "privates" have different ways of starting their buses.
The privates have trucks to jump start a bus ... in this case the truck(s) may have been busy so they sent another bus out with cables.
Sounds like it didn't want to kick over ... i.e. 1/2 hour working on it.
Mr t__:^)
The only problem there is.... the batteries aren't in the engine compartment! That's why I mentioned a possible air pumpimg :-) Unless.... this isn't an RTS? I don't know.... The RTS battery compartment is on the forward side of the bus behind the (sometimes flapping) panels.
QV
(This may be stale news, but ...) The other day I traveled from Newark Penn Station to Newark Airport on Airlink route #302 for $4. Returning, I discovered that NJT route #62 is only $1 to Penn Station. Also learned (probably stale item) that the PABT-to-Irvington express no longer takes passengers whose trip is between Airport & NY. People are sent to $10 Olympia Trails, which may well save half the time of any trip requiring a transfer at Newark Penn Station. The bus "courtyard" at Terminal A was a fascinating place to see bus types and all sorts of operator-owner combinations.
I recollect reading an article in the paper a few weeks back that 47 buses were being deployed to replace the monorail, which temporarily stopped operating between the parking lots and the terminals. I haven't had a chance to get out to Newark Airport since then to see what kind of buses they are using in that service. Has anyone on BusTalk noticed what's running in the lots formerly served by the monorail?
By the way, I believe the monorail is still operating between terminals, but will be shut down completely for several months come September.
Do you collect bus paraphernalia? Owners Manuals:
Today, I came across two "Operators Manuals". One for the new Grumman Flxible and one for the new GMC RTS.
Grumman:
"Operators Handbook, prepared for the New York City Transit Authority and Manhattan And Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority". A 54 page light-blue soft-cover staple-bound book dated 1-May-1980 includes a drawing of the bus on the cover and a preface stating:
"The NYCTA Surface and MABSTOA will soon be placing 837 new advance design Grumman Flxible buses into service. The construction of these buses provides the latest improvements for safety, convenience and comfort of the passengers as well as the operators. Additionally, these buses are equipped with devices which make them more accessible to the elderly and the handicapped". - Andrew G. Schiavone, GSPT, Surface Transit
RTS:
"RTS Coach Operating Manual" in white lettering on a solid navy blue background depicting a photo of the bus. This 128 page soft-cover book includes all operating control device instruction as well as a safety checklist. Dated 1981 General Motors Corp.
Both include black-and-white illustrations throughout. The RTS manual is in excellent condition, while the Grumman is worn, faded and written on in light-blue pen. Inside, the Grumman is in excellent condition, and includes an original transfer from the Q2 dated 2 November 1980 which has been torn and used as a bookmark.
Thirdly, I am offering a Queens Bus Guide (map) dated 1975. I'd like to extend this map to the owner of this site. I saw there are maps from 1974 and 1976. If the webmaster would like this map, email me and I'll send it. If not, I offer the map to anyone here who wants it.
I offer these books on a first-come-first-served basis, and will pay the postage. Ideally, I'd like to ship all 3 items at once, however if you want only one or two items, thats fine as well.
Email me at the above address if you're interested.
Click here to read about my railfan trip
This week I put fareboxes in 404 & 437 (also listened to 404's engine running ... going to be hard to tell the difference, especially from the outside as sheet memtal is exactly the same) ... anyhow you should see them on a route near you in Queens next week ... happy hunting.
Mr t__:^)
Does anybody know when the new CMF on Zeraga Ave. will be built?
Ron: New CMF already built & they almost done that could be open before this year out or next year. Why don't u stop by at Zeraga Ave & check out your self?
Peace Out
David Justiniano
NYCTransiTrans Gallery Page
David thank you for that update on the new CMF. I hope I didn't sound to ignorent has far as it being built. But I am from the Philly area so I really didn't know. I knew they were going to build a new CMF I just didn't know about the progress of it. What will they do with the old E. New York CMF tear it down?
Ron: The old ENY CMF will turn into Depot for ENY because ENY Depot carried more than 300 buses & at night they parked about 45 or more buses right outside the ENY Depot.
Peace Out
David Justiniano
PS: NYCTransTrans Gallery Page will be updated tomorrow afternoon.
Not just at night, during the day as well there are buses on Jamaica, Georgia Aves and on Fulton St..........
B46M Limited
That is a good question. My dad is Richard Roach, a Queens Village B/O, run number 15 on the Q83 until the next pic. I will ask him when he gets home.
Watched the program last night. I came away with the feeling that it was okay but could have been a lot better.
The first segment was an interview with John Madden and a tour of his new Madden Cruiser. No glimses of the prior Madden buses. The program then went into a little of the history of buses and how the word "bus" evolved from "omnibus" meaning everyone. Then went into a tour of the MCI production facilities. Then a tour of a customizing shop and some of their products. I thought this was redundant in light of the Madden segment. Then did a long portion about school buses and their construction. Interesting in that the gas tanks are between some steel frames. I felt that the whole thing with school buses should have been a seperate program rather than being an infomercial for Blue Bird. The program then went back to transits.
This must have been filmed a while ago since "the dog" was shown in its old livery. Transits were barely given the light of day.
Over all I'd give the program a C+. I wouldn't buy the video for $19.95 or tape it for myself. I probably won't watch it again when it is re-run in the future.
oh, that doesn't seem like something i would want to watch.
I agree with your evaluation of the show. I was rather disappointed in it overall. The only thing that held my interest was the brief history they showed and the part on the futurliners.
I was surprised that the *experts* they had on were lacking in much of the knowledge regarding the most commonly known aspects of history such as when the scenicruisers were first introduced (1954, not 1955).
I'd give it a C- overall.
RDChilds
Also there was no mention of any other intercity bus lines other than Greyhound. No mention of Trailways and you'd think that MCI is the only coach builder....NO mention of Prevost or Eagle.
"NO mention of Prevost or Eagle."
Or Van-Hool, or Neoplan...
Or Setra
i just watched "buses"... i kind of liked it... they had nice segments on mci's assembly line, greyhound, the gm futureliner, school bus construction, transit buses, and people with bus collections...
and speaking of greyhound, the greyhound bus club is still at
greyhound through express
Guys, there is a game called Midtown Madness by Microsoft for the PC and people can make their own cars and implement them into the program and drive them. I saw that a Nova LFS City Bus was being made and the guy needed pics, so I gave the creator Trevor's pictures of the LFS, and sure enough, Trevor's pictures gave the creator of the Nova LFS City Bus a new "scheme". Compare Te_Xacto's MTA Nova LFS to Trevor's, this is cool.
--Clayton Parker--
That is absolutely amazing! What happens when you send your friend a Subway Car? Operate a train on the street. COOL! Aww man, wrong talk again!
That's the
running on
perspective.
Cool, is that bus and the game available?
Yup, you can buy Midtown Madness in any PeeCee software store, and you can download the bus from mmz.nozone.net by clicking on new cars, or by the time you get it, it'll probably just be in the list.
--Clayton Parker--
I hate Zipped files!!!!! I tried to download the Travel Bus as a test and now it won't even work right. I unzipped it and everything!!!!!
By the way, ask your friend if he could create an RTS-02-01.
Downloaded the bus, played it, IT RUNS WELL! And it's very realistic!
Trevor Logan
What are some Alt fuels used instead of CNG.
Is Triboro still running that Methnol bus?
Is it possible to run busses on propane or hydrogen prioxide?
I don't know about hydrogen peroxide, but if a bus can run on methane, it can be modified for propane.
CTA used to run propane fueled Twins in the 1950's complete with fires and occaisional fueling station (garage) explosions and fires. The Twins were all junked by the 1960's, when I started visitng the North Shore and the 4000's and the Trolley Buses and other treasures.
Triboro Coach run the following CH30H or Methanol Powered Buses- all are TMC 1994 Models:
2136, 2138, 2140-2142, 2144 and 2147. All others (2137, 2139, 2143, 2145-2146) are either in Command Storage or have been retired. They used to have 1988 GMC Models M1-M6. M3 is now reconverted to diesel bus 3701 at JBL. M5 is now reconverted GBL Diesel bus 653. M6 is now reconverted GBL Diesel bus 654.
Q18#2144Gary
That's all I have to say. Here is a link.
Saw this bus on Nostrand Ave. This bus does not have the regular white on black numbers in the middle. Instead it have 4 small black numbers on the left side. Anybody have more info on it??????
B46#9402Mike
When it was in Manhattan, it may have had an advertisement on the back. When this happens, the bus maintainers usually place the numberboard to the right or left side depending on the advertisement.
It do have an advertisement on the back........
B46#9403Mike
Is this the Bronx style of numbering?
Yes. The brokx style numbers are stickers on the bus, rather than a metal plate, so they cannot be ripped off, as was usually done by kids in the Bronx. So in the Bronx they changed the rear numbering to this style, being named "Bronx Style Numbering".
I recollect that when the 1981/82 RTS's first came in, they had the "Bronx Style Numbering" in the rear. I forget whether it was the 3000-3324 or 3400 order that first had the rear numbers centered at the top like you see today.
3096-3152, 3490-3559, 4165?-4218 were buses that had this style of numbering.
Has anyone noticed the holes on the right side of the back of CNG Orions at LI Bus? Usually there are just marks, at about the midpoint of the right side of the backside. But I've also seen holes in that spot too. I saw 143 yesterday with quite a large hole on the right rear. What are these holes from, and why do LI Bus Orions have them in particular?
Also another mark is an "X" drawn in white chalk in the front interior of all Orion buses (mainly at LI Bus) by the front stepwell. What the heck does that mean?
It's not only at LI Bus- it's on the CTC Orions too. I saw 3004 on the Q53 with a hole in the left rear. There are plenty of others with holes in them- once I see them I'll get that list here. As far as LI Bus is concerned, I'm not too sure about them but I'll keep my eye open for that too.
Q18#2813Gary
"Also another mark is an "X" drawn in white chalk in the front interior of all Orion buses (mainly at LI Bus) by the front stepwell. What the heck does that mean?"
Deaf guy selling drugs?
"Also another mark is an "X" drawn in white chalk in the front interior of all Orion buses (mainly at LI Bus) by the front stepwell. What the heck does that mean?"
Mute guy selling drugs?
07/30/2000
Re-runs of the 70's comedy Welcome Back Kotter are now playing on Metro channel. In the last scene of the closing credits are teens boarding an NYCTA GM new look "wing bus" #8854 (?). Was this bus saved as a member of the museum fleet? Anybody out there photograph this bus in service or have stories to tell about it?
Bill "Newkirk"
I'm not to sure but I think it was converted by Blitz
8854 can also be seen twice at this website under Joe Testagose's collection. First at St. George on the R103 during 1971 with the green paint scheme and the other on the B64 during 1977 with the blue paint scheme.
If B53 Rich says that the bus ran on the B64 during the Mid 70s, then it must have been shot as neighbor scene. The school used by Welcome Back Kotter as a back round is New Utricht, and the B64 runs right by it along with the B 8, and both ran out of Ulmer Park at the time if memory serves me right.
I guess it's tivia time. But I seem to remember that bus in the opening credits of 'Welcome Back Kotter!!' was a B9, which runs along 60th Street.
The route number is pretty hard to see, but the destination is "Flatbush Av," which was as far as the B9 went in 1975. Also, the B9 was in Ulmer Park in 1975, and so was bus 8854, so it stands to reason that the B9 was the route in question.
David
as i recall the school is lafayette which the b64 does run by. i drove that 8800 series in the 80s out of ulmer park. nyct saved bus 8928 from the series.
I got the go ahead from our webmaster to work on a bus FAQ section.
I believe we need this info:
Routes assigned to each depot and Depot patches(Photos- incl;uding Quill and the old Westside)
MaBSTOA- What is it and which routes does it have in Manhattan/ Bronx
Bus Rosters
Why doe we have so many different bus companies in Queens
Radio Frequencies
Former bus companies (Fifth Ave Coach lines, etc.)
Day in the Life of a Bus Operator (Bus Driver)
Types of Buses past and present (Mack, Old look, fishbowl, Flxible fishbowls, RTS type bus. Flxible Metro, Orion, Artics, over the road Express, etc.
If you think we need others let me know via e-mail.
****please e-mail me any information. I will review the info and forward to Dave. If you can answer any of the questions send the answers via e-mail
I've always thought we needed a bus line history. For each line it would outline companies that once ran it, routes with which it was combined, trolleys which it replaced etc.
The NYD-ERA BULLETIN has, for many years, benefitted from the vast knowledge of Bernard Linder. Bernie has written many articles on the history of various streetcar lines in New York City and continues to do so. Of course, the history of each line ends when the line either dies or gets converted to bus operation, so subsequent bus route renumberings won't be included -- but it's a good start.
David Ross
Director
New York Division
Electric Railroaders' Association, Incorporated
Each year, the Deaprtment of Buses (NYCTA Surface) prints and issues an "Insiders Guide" detailing various bus information. Inclusive, you'll find:
Mission Statement
Bus History (Daily 1953 - present)
Bus Routes (garage assignments)
Bus Route Miles (total and nationwide ranking)
Bus Ridership (facts and figures)
Employees (number of employees by title)
Roadeo Statistics
Major Unions
Top 10 Money Routes
Bus Fleet
Overview
Fleet Ranking Nationwide
Bus Facts (dimensions, weight, cost, etc)
Bus Roster (year of buses, bus numbers, and total in use)
Various photos
The Deopts
Page-by-page detail of all depots including routes assigned
Bus Command Center Info
Central Maintenance Facilities
East New York CMF
207th Street Paint Shop
Ninth Avenue Shop
Gun Hill Annex
Vintage Fleet (Roster, assigned garage, year of use)
Bus "Lingo" (some of the terms we use)
This 1999 DOB Insiders Guide is a 72 page soft-bound booklet containing much of the information you're looking for. If you'd like a copy, call the NYCTA or email me and I'll see if I can grab a few from the garage.
Coming out in September ,2000
Maybe you can also add one of those "off the beaten path" deals where you can show the different buses the TA were evaluating in the past like the double deckers in the 70's, the Japanese built Hinoand even the Renault we had here for a few months.
nycDOT also has done some "evualating" over the years. One is going on right now, i.e. 404 & 437 from this depot have John Deer CNG engines.
Mr t__:^)
If anyone has photos of these please e-mail me the photos! Your name will be used!
You mean like these?
Or maybe these?
They're all right here, on this site.
If you want ,I can also add the Destination Signs or Agenda Notes
Steve
FDNY
Is there any pics of the Neoplan that the city tested in 1984 out of QV(caught it on the 88 2x's ) thought it was a great running bus
You don't have destination sign readings from the early 1980's, when the 1981, 1982, and 1983 RTSs each had different readings, do you? (I actually may be able to uncover some of those, if need be.) Or the readings on the old rollsigns?
Sorry,I do not have any of those,,since my fire in 1992
Thank you
Steve
FDNY
Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know about the fire.
Are you aware of a book called METROCARD MANIA, FUN WITH USED METROCARDS, by Michael Makman. It is available at the Transit Museums, Barnes & Nobles, Amazon.com or at www.professorputter.com
also an OFFICIAL BOOK SIGNING will take place at the GRAND CENTRAL TRANSIT MUSEUM on SATURDAY SEPT 23 2000. Call for time.
Yes I am aware of this book, and certainly, I do have it! of course i only work with the MC's with no ads, because I am an avid collector.
--Clayton Parker--
Hi Sorry I haven't been on the board in a long time. I been busy at Penn State. I saw pics of the bus expo on Staten Island. It's seem I missed it again. Does anyone know if there will be one at the T/A museme in September. Also a while ago I asked about the Jackie Gleason decals. Anyone know how to get some for me. Well happy bus trails
Got to Run
Take care
The Republicans are coming to town, and they'll never ride a bus. Heck, they don't even care about mass transit. I think the destination signs should say "G.O.P. Go Home" or "G.O.P. Get Lost".
You see, they would really take the phlash probably or take those shuttles that SEPTA is providing. Besides, they aren't renovating the buses and getting new ones just for the GOP. Don't forget the five year plan. Also, I have to say that the Neoplan AN440 fleet are very sad looking bunch of buses. I mean, the windows are messed up on a lot of them!
Does the GMC-RTS (Ex NYCT) Academy Bus go to Manhattan?? Also it there any one have Academy Bus Roster with Ex NYCT Buses Number????? Im trying to find a spot for Academy Bus so i can snap some Ex NYCT Buses running in manhattan.
Peace Out
David Justiniano
NYCTransiTrans Gallery Page UPDATED!!!!
Go to the corner of 40th Street & Dyre Avenue at the mouth of the Lincoln Tunnel, Stand there, you'll get all the juice you need!
Trevor Logan