Bus, Rail, Etc Transport Pic Thread - August 2008

glid4500 · Thu Aug 07, 2008 6:35 pm

1990 NewFlyer D40HF ... taken last week

2120 with new LED interior lights

1992 Stewart & Stevenson Apollo T40. Refurbished in 2004. Repowered DD50/Allison

2004 MCI D4000

2- 1998 Neoplan AN440s used as training buses

1998 NewFlyer D40LF

A MCI D4500 working the LAX-Union Station Flyaway route

MTA 1497 - 1993 TMC RTS T80206. These RTSs dont have much time. Most of them are at the Venice Bch Depot and can be found on routes 2, 20/21, 30/31, 33, and 534.

747400sp · Thu Aug 07, 2008 8:07 pm

Quoting Glid4500 (Thread starter):
2004 MCI D4000

Quoting Glid4500 (Thread starter):
A MCI D4500 working the LAX-Union Station Flyaway route

Good old MCI D series, this what I call a work horse, highway coach, tour coach, commuter coach and airport shuttle. Now I more of a MCI G series fan, ( yes believe it or not there a G series fan out there) but I have to say the D series and MC9 are the two best buses MCI ever built. Ok with exception of the MC6.

PS: I wish LAMTA would buy some MCI D4500s.

18161 · Fri Aug 08, 2008 2:20 am

stasisLAX · Fri Aug 08, 2008 4:10 am

Big version: Width: 500 Height: 333 File size: 136kb

AMTRAK Surfliner at San Diego's Santa Fe rail station

I use AMTRAK's Pacific Surfliner to get from Anaheim to San Diego's main rail station for appointments in downtown SAN often. Only costs $48 round-trip which is less than a tank of gas costs in my car! It definitely beats the hell outta sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic on Interstate 5 and the 405 freeway, and then dealing with idiot drivers that are suffering with an acute case of road-rage.

I would highly recommend both Amtrak's Surfliner service and the New York-Philadelphia-Washington Acela service that I've also used several times while back in my home town of Philadelphia. All were excellent experiences! praise

MCOflyer · Fri Aug 08, 2008 4:35 am

Paper Transport Freightliner Cascadia

Walmart International Prostar

Raven Transport Volvo VN780

Walmart Freightliner Columbia: Thse are being replaced with new Cascadia's and Prostars

Contract Freighters Kenworth T600; Company aka Conway Truckload

Will post more Late Sunday night and/or Monday

Hunter

ACDC8 · Fri Aug 08, 2008 5:15 am

Quoting Glid4500 (Thread starter):

I'm assuming that these are all buses that are in your system or at least area. Do you drive most of the buses in your system or are you somewhat limited to type/size of bus? Also, the training buses in the picture. I'm assuming that your company has dedicated buses for training?

We just use which ever buses is available, since we've only got a handful of them ... Silly

I got my first couple of hours on our brand new Nova yesterday. I was quite impressed, but I do find there are quite a few blind spots on the side windows, especially the driver's side.

glid4500 · Fri Aug 08, 2008 7:56 am

Quoting 747400sp (Reply 1):
Good old MCI D series, this what I call a work horse, highway coach, tour coach, commuter coach and airport shuttle. Now I more of a MCI G series fan, ( yes believe it or not there a G series fan out there) but I have to say the D series and MC9 are the two best buses MCI ever built. Ok with exception of the MC6.

The Ds and MC9s and MC12s are pretty durable MCIs. I like the 1997/1998 MC12s that Greyhound have. DD50 engine/Allison B500 transmission with Jake Brake. That is just an awesome combination.

The early Gs Greyhound got in 2001 were pure junk. The later ones are holding up for the most part.

Quoting ACDC8 (Reply 5):
I'm assuming that these are all buses that are in your system or at least area. Do you drive most of the buses in your system or are you somewhat limited to type/size of bus?

I only drive the OCTA Buses. We have 40 and 60ft equipment in our fleet.

LA County and the OC have lots of stuff to see as far as equipment.

Quoting StasisLAX (Reply 3):
I use AMTRAK's Pacific Surfliner to get from Anaheim to San Diego's main rail station for appointments in downtown SAN often. Only costs $48 round-trip which is less than a tank of gas costs in my car! It definitely beats the hell outta sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic on Interstate 5 and the 405 freeway, and then dealing with idiot drivers that are suffering with an acute case of road-rage.

I love the surfliner. I take it when i can get the chance. Whats really neat is when they substitute the engine ( usually an F59PHI as shown in your pic ) for a P42DC

Quoting TRVYYZ (Reply 2):
GO

Ahhh so those are the new M36PHs... looks sweet

Quoting MCOflyer (Reply 4):
Will post more Late Sunday night and/or Monday

wheres the dual exhaust pipes lol ???

MYT332 · Fri Aug 08, 2008 9:26 am

Welcome to the crapiest mainline train in all of Great Britain!

Closely followed by this:

What? You knew you wanted me to post in here!

HUYguy · Fri Aug 08, 2008 12:55 pm

Quoting Myt332 (Reply 7):
Welcome to the crapiest mainline train in all of Great Britain!

Closely followed by this:

What? You knew you wanted me to post in here!

We get the 142's in Lincoln! They suck!

I've not seen that trainbus contraption before! Is there anymore information on that? Thanks,

Shane

signol · Fri Aug 08, 2008 1:36 pm

Quoting HUYguy (Reply 8):
I've not seen that trainbus contraption before! Is there anymore information on that?

I saw one in Bristol, on a length of abandoned track near the SS Great Britain docks...

Seems like one of these:
http://www.parrypeoplemovers.com/index.htm

From their latest news, it looks like one is being put to use on the Stourbridge Town branch line in the West Midlands.

signol

qantas744 · Fri Aug 08, 2008 1:52 pm

It's not all bad up north, at least you have these:

Big version: Width: 600 Height: 400 File size: 49kb

I only had a couple of journeys on them but I was quite impressed.....compared to FGW 158s!

For the rest of my shots see here: http://matthew-taylor.fotopic.net/

Matt

YYZflyer · Fri Aug 08, 2008 3:23 pm

VIA Rail Canada

glid4500 · Fri Aug 08, 2008 5:35 pm

Quoting Myt332 (Reply 7):
Welcome to the crapiest mainline train in all of Great Britain!

intresting lol. that kinda looks like one of those Optare Buses.

glid4500 · Sat Aug 09, 2008 6:14 pm

Brand new arrival from the NewFlyer plant in Minnesota.

Pics taken last night of brand new arrivals. Before i left work for home, I decided to pose this one up for show n tell.

Quality Assurance inspection will be completed and installment of radio & fareboxes. These NewFlyer C40LFR suburbans will replace the older 5100 series D40HFs & should be in service by fall. They will be used on the LA, Riverside, and Irvine express routes

747400sp · Sat Aug 09, 2008 6:22 pm

Quoting MCOflyer (Reply 4):
Paper Transport Freightliner Cascadia

Walmart International Prostar

Raven Transport Volvo VN780

Walmart Freightliner Columbia: Thse are being replaced with new Cascadia's and Prostars

Contract Freighters Kenworth T600; Company aka Conway Truckload

Will post more Late Sunday night and/or Monday

Hunter

Today truck are very good looking, it just too bad they do not have the large V8 like the old on had.

[quote=StasisLAX,reply=3]I use AMTRAK's Pacific Surfliner to get from Anaheim to San Diego's main rail station for appointments in downtown SAN often. Only costs $48 round-trip which is less than a tank of gas costs in my car! It definitely beats the hell outta sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic on Interstate 5 and the 405 freeway, and then dealing with idiot drivers that are suffering with an acute case of road-rage.

When I was base in San Diego ( before I got my car of corse) I used ride in Bussiness class of the AMTRAK Pacific Surfliner, to Los Angeles for around $60 roundtrip. Good service, but a lot of stops. Those EMD F59 PHIs locomotives can get up to speed quick!

czbbflier · Sun Aug 10, 2008 5:12 am

Quoting ACDC8 (Reply 5):
I got my first couple of hours on our brand new Nova yesterday. I was quite impressed, but I do find there are quite a few blind spots on the side windows, especially the driver's side.

Ah, details, details, details.

glid4500 · Sun Aug 10, 2008 5:52 am

I second that lol. Not too many USA Properties have NovaLFSs. From what I can remember Santa Barbara MTD ( Santa Barbara, Ca ), Memphis Area Transit Authority, Charlotte Transit i think, and Chicago Transit Authority.

Quoting Czbbflier (Reply 15):
Ah, details, details, details.

md90fan · Sun Aug 10, 2008 7:27 am

Metro Local Nabi 60ft Articulated bus operating Metro Rapid Line 757/Western Blvd

Same bus on Metro Rapid Line 710/Crenshaw

scrubbsywg · Sun Aug 10, 2008 9:26 am

on a semi related note...

New flyer is a 'hometown favorite' here, so they end up in the news a bit. Although they reported they lost something like 10 mil in the second quarter this year, that was down from like 80 million last year. They also said business is essentially booming as lots of cities are scrambling to replace aging fleets with newer fuel efficient vehicles. They are raising their production rate in order to do so. More new New flyers will be on the road.

jetstar · Sun Aug 10, 2008 3:13 pm

Quoting Glid4500 (Reply 13):
Brand new arrival from the NewFlyer plant in Minnesota.

Out of curiosity, are these new busses driven from the plant in Minnesota and if so by who, or are they delivered by a flatbed truck.

If the busses are delivered by truck, do they separate the articulated busses into 2 sections.

ACDC8 · Mon Aug 11, 2008 6:21 am

Quoting Jetstar (Reply 19):
Out of curiosity, are these new busses driven from the plant in Minnesota and if so by who, or are they delivered by a flatbed truck.

I'm not sure how other manufacturers do it, but BC Transit's Novabuses are driven from the plant, which is a fair drive from Montreal to BC.

Quoting ScrubbsYWG (Reply 18):
New flyer is a 'hometown favorite' here, so they end up in the news a bit.

For some reason, I always thought that Nova's were built in Winnipeg as well.

Quoting ScrubbsYWG (Reply 18):
They are raising their production rate in order to do so. More new New flyers will be on the road.

Good to hear. Nova (and I'm sure other manufacturers) are just as busy. From what I hear is that there is at least a 6 month waiting list for Novas. Fortunately, the run that we are using the new buses on is considered a political route (from what I heard) so we got ours within a month.

Quoting Czbbflier (Reply 15):
Ah, details, details, details.

Quoting Glid4500 (Reply 16):
I second that lol. Not too many USA Properties have NovaLFSs. From what I can remember Santa Barbara MTD ( Santa Barbara, Ca ), Memphis Area Transit Authority, Charlotte Transit i think, and Chicago Transit Authority.

Well, here are the pictures that I included in last months thread ....

If you look at the driver's side window, you can see sort of what I mean with the blindspots. I'm just used to having a big clear view from the window like in the Darts.

They drive very nice, lots of power and very driver friendly. There are a few things that I do have to get used to though. Only floor signals for starters. Even though a couple of our Darts have them, they still have the signal light lever on the steering column, so you have a choice. Also, if you just touch the foot valve on the Nova, the retarder kicks in, giving you an automatic 33% braking action. It's quite a sudden drop in speed, so I gotta get used to that. But the one thing I really don't like is if you're stopped for more than a few seconds, as soon as you release the brakes, you can give gas all you want but it won't move until the gear engages after about 3 seconds. Its supposedly built in so you don't jump the light when it turns green.

Our new run cut just went up the other day, so we'll be bidding for the new run within the next few days. From the sounds of it, not too many people are interested in it, so maybe I'll have a go at it. Something different.

MYT332 · Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:05 am

Quoting HUYguy (Reply 8):
We get the 142's in Lincoln! They suck!

They suck royally actually. I try avoid Northern Rail where I can!

Quoting Signol (Reply 9):
Seems like one of these:
http://www.parrypeoplemovers.com/index.htm

From their latest news, it looks like one is being put to use on the Stourbridge Town branch line in the West Midlands.

That's the one! Apparently it's a Class 139 as it has a tiny diesel engine to run it's fly wheel!

Quoting Qantas744 (Reply 10):
It's not all bad up north, at least you have these:

Totally, they're a nice unit. Puts Northern Rail to shame.

czbbflier · Mon Aug 11, 2008 12:31 pm

Oops- the 'details, details details' was supposed to come with a wink....

Quoting ACDC8 (Reply 20):
Also, if you just touch the foot valve on the Nova, the retarder kicks in, giving you an automatic 33% braking action.

Yes, that is a very unpleasant situation. I just turn it off unless I'm full and / or coming down a steep hill and / or going relatively fast.

The brakes are disk all 'round and so brake fade is not so much a serious issue as it is with drum brakes. Just watch you don't overheat them too much! Then you have a really smooth braking.

Quoting ACDC8 (Reply 20):
But the one thing I really don't like is if you're stopped for more than a few seconds, as soon as you release the brakes, you can give gas all you want but it won't move until the gear engages after about 3 seconds. Its supposedly built in so you don't jump the light when it turns green.

Something's not right with that. Does the engine rev up when you give it throttle? If not, try this: Are you sitting at the light with the rear door engaged instead of with your foot on the brake? If you are, you can release the rear-door interlock immediately by touching the brake pedal (1 lb of air should do the trick).

The exhaust particulate filter is also a source of ennui from time to time. If the yellow filter tell-tale light flashes, write it up... if it stays on solid- call the office!

glid4500 · Tue Aug 12, 2008 7:35 pm

Quoting Czbbflier (Reply 22):

what kind of transmission are in the NovaLFS ?

glid4500 · Tue Aug 12, 2008 7:38 pm

Heres some pics of our newest arrival ... 7553... just so happen to snap these last night.

7570 is stuck up in Las Vegas. Apparently it had some kind of engine problems on its Delivery trip from Minnesota.

...and the other newbies

[Edited 2008-08-12 12:39:59]

czbbflier · Wed Aug 13, 2008 2:48 am

Quoting Glid4500 (Reply 23):
what kind of transmission are in the NovaLFS ?

I dunno- a push button one. Wink

I think ours have the ZF 6HP554CN transmission. It"s super smooth- but the retarder is waaaay too strong.

glid4500 · Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:32 am

Quoting Czbbflier (Reply 25):
but the retarder is waaaay too strong

I know how u feel brother. I hate strong retarders. Some of the retarders on our D40LFs are so strong passengers actually think the driver is braking too hard.

ACDC8 · Wed Aug 13, 2008 8:01 pm

Quoting Czbbflier (Reply 22):
Something's not right with that. Does the engine rev up when you give it throttle? If not, try this: Are you sitting at the light with the rear door engaged instead of with your foot on the brake? If you are, you can release the rear-door interlock immediately by touching the brake pedal (1 lb of air should do the trick).

To be honest I don't recall if the engine revs up or not. From what we were told it is a safety feature built in so the driver doesn't jump the light. It doesn't have anything to do with the rear door system at all. We were talking about this at work yesterday and most of us don't like this feature since we have so many un-controlled intersections in town where you're sitting there and have to slowly edge up in order to see any traffic, and by the time you've got a good line of sight you're almost half way through the intersection so its best to have immediate throttle response. I'll tell you one thing though, its a complete different bus then our Darts and it's gonna take a whole lot of getting used to.

Quoting Czbbflier (Reply 22):
The exhaust particulate filter is also a source of ennui from time to time. If the yellow filter tell-tale light flashes, write it up... if it stays on solid- call the office!

They went over this as well. If its on by itself, thats normal. If its on at the same time as the yellow engine light, write it down and let the office know. If its on at the same time as the red engine light, the company needs to order a new filter. Big grin

Quoting Glid4500 (Reply 23):
what kind of transmission are in the NovaLFS ?

Quoting Czbbflier (Reply 25):
I think ours have the ZF 6HP554CN transmission. It"s super smooth- but the retarder is waaaay too strong.

I'm not sure if we the same transmission or if we ordered one of the other optional transmissions. I'm thinking that we've got the same as Translinks though. And yes, the retarder is much too quick and strong IMHO.

Quoting Glid4500 (Reply 26):
Some of the retarders on our D40LFs are so strong passengers actually think the driver is braking too hard.

Our passengers love to complain about the most trivial stuff so I can see this being another thing for them to talk about during their ride to Wal Mart. I can also guarantee the number of complaints about passengers now having to use the rear door to exit.

LASoctoberB6 · Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:25 pm

Quoting Glid4500 (Reply 13):
Brand new arrival from the NewFlyer plant in Minnesota.

Pics taken last night of brand new arrivals. Before i left work for home, I decided to pose this one up for show n tell.

Quality Assurance inspection will be completed and installment of radio & fareboxes. These NewFlyer C40LFR suburbans will replace the older 5100 series D40HFs & should be in service by fall. They will be used on the LA, Riverside, and Irvine express routes

What's with the cloth seats? The DE41LFRs here all the bottom floor seats run parallel to the sides of the bus..

Quoting Glid4500 (Reply 24):
7570 is stuck up in Las Vegas. Apparently it had some kind of engine problems on its Delivery trip from Minnesota.

Is it still here?

glid4500 · Thu Aug 14, 2008 12:50 am

Quoting LASoctoberB6 (Reply 28):
Is it still here?

My source at RTC tells me its at the Cummins facility up there getting the warranty repairs.

Quoting LASoctoberB6 (Reply 28):

What's with the cloth seats? The DE41LFRs here all the bottom floor seats run parallel to the sides of the bus..

cloth seats will be used on the express routes. passengers on the 701/721 are spoiled. they love their soft reclining cloth seats

747400sp · Thu Aug 14, 2008 11:30 pm

Did Gilligs Phantom ever have 8v71? I know unlike the GMC RTS and Grumman/ Flixible 870/Metro, which had V drive, Phantom had T so there transmission similar to MCI,Eagle and Prevost coaches. I know Phantom are still popular today, but they was built in the same era as RTS and 870/Metro, which had 8v71 originally.

Also was there ever any GMC classic with 8v71? I just found out there was some in Canada with 6-71.

PS: I know this is for pictures, but I want to ask some guy that know more than me about buses.

glid4500 · Fri Aug 15, 2008 4:34 pm

Quoting 747400sp (Reply 30):

I think some of the early Phantoms came with DD 6v71s.

There were quite a few transit properties in canada that have 8v92 powered GMC Classics...mainly in the eastern part.
Several years ago, my friend aquired Ex-Mississauga Transit 5034/ Ex- OCTranspo 8203. Really neat sounding engine. He drove this bus all the way from mississauga to riverside, ca with no problems.

LASoctoberB6 · Fri Aug 15, 2008 7:51 pm

Quoting Glid4500 (Reply 29):
My source at RTC tells me its at the Cummins facility up there getting the warranty repairs.

Is your source in Las Vegas?

Quoting Glid4500 (Reply 29):
cloth seats will be used on the express routes. passengers on the 701/721 are spoiled. they love their soft reclining cloth seats

So the buses with the cloth seats are going to be exclusively on the express routes?

1337Delta764 · Fri Aug 15, 2008 8:06 pm

Well, I don't have any pictures, but here in Albuquerque, the city is in the process of acquiring additional 40-foot and 60-foot diesel-electric hybrid busees. While the manufacturer hasn't officially been selected yet, so far only New Flyer has made bids for the contract.

For further discussion, please talk about it in this thread:
https://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo...ms/non_aviation/read.main/1958156/

Here is one of ABQ RIDE's current New Flyer DE40LFRs though:

747400sp · Fri Aug 15, 2008 9:19 pm

Quoting Glid4500 (Reply 31):
I think some of the early Phantoms came with DD 6v71s.

There were quite a few transit properties in canada that have 8v92 powered GMC Classics...mainly in the eastern part.
Several years ago, my friend aquired Ex-Mississauga Transit 5034/ Ex- OCTranspo 8203. Really neat sounding engine. He drove this bus all the way from mississauga to riverside, ca with no problems.

Wow, a GM Clasic with a 8V92, that would have been a treat for me to ride on.

Thank you for the info Glid4500

asuflyer05 · Sat Aug 16, 2008 1:10 am

Quoting Glid4500 (Reply 24):
Heres some pics of our newest arrival ... 7553... just so happen to snap these last night.

7570 is stuck up in Las Vegas. Apparently it had some kind of engine problems on its Delivery trip from Minnesota.

That's what we're adding to the Valley Metro fleet here.

1337Delta764 · Sat Aug 16, 2008 1:33 am

Actually, I saw one of those OCTA New Flyer C40LFs here in Albuquerque about a month ago. It made a fuel stop at UNM's CNG fueling station.

glid4500 · Sat Aug 16, 2008 5:29 am

Quoting 747400sp (Reply 34):
Wow, a GM Clasic with a 8V92, that would have been a treat for me to ride on.

Thank you for the info Glid4500

you're welcome. just spoke to my friend not too long ago. he's trying to get rid of this GM artic. actually he was going to donate it to the Museum of Bus Transportation in Hershey, PA...theres just a lil debate of whose going to drive it out there from California...lol

in the meanwhile its still maintained and it comes out once in a while on special fan trips

Quoting 1337Delta764 (Reply 33):
Here is one of ABQ RIDE's current New Flyer DE40LFRs thoug

...how are they holding up ??

Quoting 1337Delta764 (Reply 36):
ctually, I saw one of those OCTA New Flyer C40LFs here in Albuquerque about a month ago. It made a fuel stop at UNM's CNG fueling station.

awesome. I guess theyre using different routings from MN to CA

Quoting LASOctoberB6 (Reply 32):
Is your source in Las Vegas?

yes

Quoting LASOctoberB6 (Reply 32):

So the buses with the cloth seats are going to be exclusively on the express routes?

yes they will be for use on the express routes

ACDC8 · Sat Aug 16, 2008 5:50 am

We had our new run sign up today, one of the more senior drivers snatched the new run with the new Nova, so it looks like I'm stuck on the Dart for a few months longer. Oh well, enjoying my ride while I still got it .... Big grin

I'm going to try and head down to Kelowna in the next few days, I'll snap some pics of their fleet.

czbbflier · Sat Aug 16, 2008 1:35 pm

Funny that. Just did sign-up day-before-yesterday too! YAY! No more 8-Frasers. I'll miss the artic trolleys on the 20 and the 3 but I'll have a much better clientele on my new runs!

I even get to drive diesels this sheet!

1337Delta764 · Sat Aug 16, 2008 2:32 pm

Quoting Glid4500 (Reply 37):
...how are they holding up ??

They are doing great! They perform very well and are reliable.

BMIFlyer · Sat Aug 16, 2008 11:21 pm

Quoting Qantas744 (Reply 10):
It's not all bad up north, at least you have these:

Haha, oh my, it's Hull..!

Also, I believe I recognise that arse (of the female conductor stood by the train) Big grin

glid4500 · Sun Aug 17, 2008 7:09 am

Today was a very special day, as other busfans from CA and AZ gathered to participate on the Western Transit Busfan Excursion - Destination San Diego. This trip was planned out very good...and we toured several transit properties in the San Diego County...including UCSD.

2007 BlueBird Express 45

1995 Gillig Phantom 35102TBS50

2007 NewFlyer C40LF

2003 CNG Thomas Dennis SLF232G

San Diego Transit 638 - 1967 GMC TDH4519

2008 NewFlyer C40LF - San Diego Transit 301 ... a brand new arrival

1995 NewFlyer C40HF

2008 MCI D4005

...last but not least ... the highlight of the trip ... 1991 Orion 01.507

...see we busfans have our get-togethers too

futuresdpdcop · Sun Aug 17, 2008 8:12 am

Quoting Glid4500 (Reply 42):
Today was a very special day, as other busfans from CA and AZ gathered to participate on the Western Transit Busfan Excursion - Destination San Diego.

Have a website for the bus forums?

The pics of the Breeze buses.....were those taken at the Oceanside yard or the Escondido yard?

glid4500 · Sun Aug 17, 2008 8:19 am

Quoting FutureSDPDcop (Reply 43):
Have a website for the bus forums?

Theres two popular bus forums

1. http://www.subchat.com/buschat/buschat.asp

2. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LosAngelesBus/

we stopped by the NCTD Oceanside facility and we had a tour of the Sprinter Rail Facility, which was really cool.

[Edited 2008-08-17 01:20:55]

LASoctoberB6 · Sun Aug 17, 2008 9:44 am

Quoting Glid4500 (Reply 37):
yes

I think I may know who your source is.. Smile

glid4500 · Mon Aug 18, 2008 2:11 am

Quoting LASOctoberB6 (Reply 45):
I think I may know who your source is.. Smile

oh yeah ??? lol

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