stanhas87
87thScale addict
1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
Posts: 4,906
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Buses
Apr 2, 2004 5:21:52 GMT 1
Post by stanhas87 on Apr 2, 2004 5:21:52 GMT 1
Dear Sirs: Brazilian buses are a different breed.Essentially,the chassi is for one's manufacturer-Mercedes and Scania prevailed until 1977;Fiat offered bus chassis by 1978 and Volvo came by a bit later.The latter had a presence in Brazil on the early 1960's and there was a series of buses that were offered by them.But due to any reason,Volvo was ordered to leave the Brazilian market.By 1978,they were back and they are quite sucessful in there now. Mercedes had the big share on the bus market.Their 'O' series were offered and,as city buses,they were the only ones with a rear engine;most of the city buses were front-engined. The deal was that: someone offers the chassi and someone else comes with the Body. At the early 1960's,Mercedes,Volvo (their buses were unique) and FNM (their buses were unique,too) offered the chassi;CAIO,Metropolitano (Rio de Janeiro),Grassi,Carbrasa and Nicola from the South offered the bodies.Also,by then,some of the buses had the door behind the front axle;hence,some of the passenger will be seated alongside the engine and the driver.Some other models had the door ahead the front axle,as the widely known variety of these vehicles.Magirus buses were also represented. By the 1970's,CAIO brought Metropolitano and had a Northeast division;hence it was represented at the most of the country. However,the big bus manufacturer in there is Marcopolo and the latter has connections with the Mexican Dina,and the result is the Viaggio Highway bus.Ciferal is another manufacturer from the South and they offer Highway buses.Mercedes offered the majority of the chassis;Fiat and Volvo came to the picture by the end of the decade.FNM was long gone by then and their city buses were decomissioned .Other bus manufacturers came to the picture by the 1980's,including the ones from Mafersa,a railroad Wagon manufacturer and Busscar. Trolleybus gained momentum at the country and specialty manufacturers offer models.CMTC,former Sao Paulo's transportation Authority buit their own at the 1960's; some of their ACF Brills are still operating under different bodies ( these were rebuilt by 1987).Meanwhile,the ones from Rio de janeiro were converted to Diesel,and were active at the mid-1970's. The 1980's and 1990's saw new bus manufacturers and the introduction of articulated vehicles and Double-deckers; Volkswagen also offers a range of full-size buses.CAIO,Ciferal,Marcopolo with the Mercedes and Volvo connections are the major players there. On the Highway front,Cometa is the Brazilian Greyhound.Their first buses were GM's PD series,later,Ciferal was their major supplier.CAIO and Marcopolo did offer Highway model as well,and these are part of other bus fleets.Nielson is another one;very luxurious coach.Marcopolo is,again,the larger bus manufacturer.CAIO from Sao Paulo comes on second yet their buses are present on more of the bus fleets.As far as Highway buses are concerned,Scania offers chassis for these kind of vehicles only;Mercedes does offer their 'O' range of buses and chassis for other body manufacturers and Volvo is the current offering. There is a site that has pictures of the Brazilian buses. members.aol.com/busspot2/sbhalp21.htm
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stanhas87
87thScale addict
1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
Posts: 4,906
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Buses
Apr 4, 2004 4:08:14 GMT 1
Post by stanhas87 on Apr 4, 2004 4:08:14 GMT 1
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Buses
Apr 4, 2004 17:49:29 GMT 1
Post by Eric on Apr 4, 2004 17:49:29 GMT 1
It's an Eheim model actually, the (round) logo is visible on the two pictures of the bottom of the model.
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stanhas87
87thScale addict
1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
Posts: 4,906
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Buses
Apr 20, 2004 4:05:22 GMT 1
Post by stanhas87 on Apr 20, 2004 4:05:22 GMT 1
Dear Sirs:
Bova is a Dutch manufacturer that debuted in 1975. The design of their vehicles is a tad unusual and their vehicles are used at the British Isles.
A miniature of these vehicles was molded by EFSI; diecast,and at the USA is not that easy to find. I do not know who bought EFSI, but its sucessor also did the new Bova model- the Magiqe.
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Buses
Apr 24, 2004 0:41:19 GMT 1
Post by Eric on Apr 24, 2004 0:41:19 GMT 1
Bova is a Dutch manufacturer that debuted in 1975. The design of their vehicles is a tad unusual. That unusual streamlined design led to it's nickname, it was called 'the pregnant bus' here.
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stanhas87
87thScale addict
1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
Posts: 4,906
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Buses
Apr 24, 2004 1:57:35 GMT 1
Post by stanhas87 on Apr 24, 2004 1:57:35 GMT 1
Dear Eric:
Very interesting fact about the Bova Bus.
Another bus that had a very unusual design was the Cametal from Argentina. It seems that some of these ended up on Miami Florida.
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stanhas87
87thScale addict
1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
Posts: 4,906
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Buses
May 25, 2004 4:47:25 GMT 1
Post by stanhas87 on May 25, 2004 4:47:25 GMT 1
Dear Sirs:
It debuted around 1977,at its design was revolutinary rather than evolutionary. Either way,this bus stands up in the crowd and can not be confused with another bus- as is was the case of its predecessor,the GMC newlook TDH series, (or fishbowl). Of course,I am talking about the GMC RTS series. The first series of this bus had a slanted back,by 1980 the 'square' back debuted. Long Beach,California, were the first costumers of this vehicle and these were bought in large number by MTA New York ( they been getting Orion Buses lately). MTA Los Angeles got theirs by 1980 (8000 and 9000 series) and these were decomissioned by 1999 ( durable buses as well!) and they also had the best air condicioner. By the mid 1980's, GM got rid of its bus division, and the RTS were built by a new company.TMC, which was associated with Greyhound. MTA Los Angeles still has some of the TMC's running (1200,1300,2000 series) and some are over 15 years old and some received the new orange.grey livery that debuted this year.TMC association was disbanded by the late 1990's, and the Canadian NovaBus built some of the RTS for a while. NovaBus still in business,but they produce their own designed buses now,not the RTS. Incidentally, the Canadians revered -so to speak- the GM buses. An American fishbowl bus will have the GMC logo up front,while its Canadian counterpart has only GM badged in the front of the bus.GM also had a bus plant in Onatrio,Canada. Fishbowl production ceased in 1976 in the US; in was manufactured up to 1986 in Canada and Santa Monica,California Municipal Buses received the last batch of these. At the time,Candian did not liked the RTS that much; hence they picked up a fishbowl bus and 'flattened' its face and it was ofered as an artic bus and called it the 'Classic'. As GMC stepped out of the bus manufacturing,this bus was called an MCI classic by the mid 1980's,and it was associated with TMC. The final MCI classics were also manufactured by NovaBus but that is not the case any longer. In all, as the fishbowl,wich was also a revolutionary design in the early 1960's, the RTS was also a very original bus design,and not only that, these were durable vehicles as well. Pirate models do offer kits of these buses; they may be done by the major manufacturers soon. Historically,these were the last buses ever done by GM (they quit the Interstate bus manufacturing by 1980).
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stanhas87
87thScale addict
1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
Posts: 4,906
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Buses
Jun 2, 2004 5:56:33 GMT 1
Post by stanhas87 on Jun 2, 2004 5:56:33 GMT 1
Dear Sirs: From all places,I discovered.thanks to Motor Trend Magazine, that GM is still on the Bus Business. I went to their site and as I understand,they make the bus 'hybrid' and does not build these. Seattle took a large order to 230 hybrid buses,and as I looked to its design,it does not looks like as NABI,Flyer or Orion.The GM site explains how the bus is converted to hybrid,the benefits of this conversion and the towns that already used this technology. I hope that I will discover some more about that. More info on www.gm.com
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Buses
Jun 10, 2004 13:30:07 GMT 1
Post by cfesmire on Jun 10, 2004 13:30:07 GMT 1
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stanhas87
87thScale addict
1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
Posts: 4,906
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Buses
Jun 10, 2004 16:51:06 GMT 1
Post by stanhas87 on Jun 10, 2004 16:51:06 GMT 1
Dear Chester:
Thank you. You made this bus nut very,very happy! Superb site!
Nick K
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Lee
Senior Member
Posts: 1,899
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Buses
Jun 11, 2004 20:07:04 GMT 1
Post by Lee on Jun 11, 2004 20:07:04 GMT 1
Even more interesting is going to sessions-station.com itself and looking at the other groups of listings. Great set of pictures of old trucks. Also found pictures of the steam shovel that Vintage Vehicles makes. (I wonder why the tracks/treads are missing from it?) ;D Thank you Chester ;D ;D ;D
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stanhas87
87thScale addict
1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
Posts: 4,906
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Buses
Jul 1, 2004 4:18:31 GMT 1
Post by stanhas87 on Jul 1, 2004 4:18:31 GMT 1
Dear Sirs:
The thread on big trucks reminded me that Australian buses are also equipped with something called the 'roo-bar' - a bumper similar to the ones used by 4 x 4 vehicles because at night the driver may meet a kangoroo and if that gets hit,the results will not be so nice.
Ansett is the one of the major bus manufacturers, and they did jobs with Flexble and MCI buses before;they also make their own vehicles.
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stanhas87
87thScale addict
1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
Posts: 4,906
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Buses
Jul 3, 2004 16:01:13 GMT 1
Post by stanhas87 on Jul 3, 2004 16:01:13 GMT 1
Dear Sirs:
Cuba manufactured a bus caled Giron.In the early 1970's,it had its own design; later it was based on the Ikarus.
I just got the June issue of MAR and at the back cover there is a photo of a model bus that is based on the one that is used in there.It is a semi trailer combination and supposedly,it can carry up to 350 people and is widely used at the island.The front and rear of the trailer stand high while its middle is depressed and it is called the 'Cuban Camel artic bus'. The model has Athearn's Freightlaner tractor as its prime mover and the trailer was scratchbuilt; impressive vehicle.
Here in Los Angeles, at the mid 1980's,the OCTA (Orange County Transportation Authority) had something similar and it was claimed that this would be the 'bus of the future'. Nearly twenty years later,that bus is nowhere to be seen.It was a tractor pulling a trailer made by CAPRE (Carrosserias Pre Construidas) from Mexico. By now,this Authority has the conventional Flyer buses at its fleet.
It seems that in Cuba,that type of vehicle does quite well. I also saw some photos of buses like that operating in India.
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stanhas87
87thScale addict
1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
Posts: 4,906
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Buses
Aug 8, 2004 4:18:05 GMT 1
Post by stanhas87 on Aug 8, 2004 4:18:05 GMT 1
Dear Sirs:
I mentioned it two threads above,and this is the story as I know it:
Canadian operators did not cared much about the GMC RTS series but the GMC TDH series (or fishbowl) had wide acceptance at this country.It was mentioned that while the production of the TDH ended in 1976 in the US,Canada offered this bus until 1986.It was also mentioned that the American bus would have a GMC badge under the front window whilst the Canadian version would carry a GM inscription at the same spot.
Hence,at the very early 1980's,GM Canada took a TDH bus and made a new face to it (flatter,two windows) but at the side,it had the same angled windows as the TDH and it was nominated as the 'Classic'.Incidentally,the first Classic was an artic bus,serving the town of Missuagua (I hope that I am right about the spelling),close to the Canadian's GM factory. GM gave up bus production at the mid-1980's,and TMC in New Mexico will be producing the RTS buses.Since this was linked to Greyhound,the Classic was known as MCI Classic and as I heard,this was a very smooth running bus.The final generation of this vehicle had upright side windows;hence,by now,it was a distinctive vehicle.TMC folded up by the mid-1990's and NovaBus from Canada,continued,for a brief period,the production of either Classic and RTS.
In the Los Angeles area,only Santa Monica had a fleet of Classics.Incidentally,they also were the ones who took the final batches of the TDH bus.
Post-Script::
I been attending the Los Angeles Auto Show since 1999 and since this period,Santa Monica bus did offered shuttle ride to or from the Show.By 2003,'generic' buses were doing this duty,and imagine my enormous surprise when I saw one of the original GMC Classics -the articulated one-with Missuagua markings,doing this duty! Drooling time!
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stanhas87
87thScale addict
1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
Posts: 4,906
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Buses
Aug 8, 2004 4:41:04 GMT 1
Post by stanhas87 on Aug 8, 2004 4:41:04 GMT 1
Dear Sirs:
Bus fleet numbers.
In the US,the four digits that are at the side of the bus says everything about the vehicle:type of vehicle,when it was delivered and so on.There are books and magazines which offer this info and the St.Petersburg models who offers 1/48 scale models of trolleys and buses are quite well informed at this subject.
At the LACMTA,3000 series(or buses bearing this set of numbers) were,by the mid-1980's,the first Neoplans that this agency got,around 1984.These were decomissioned by 2000.Earlier 3000's.by the late 1970's,were the GMC TDH (fishbowl) buses. 4000 and 6000 series are further series of the same buses and bought at different periods.Incidentally,the 6000 series are not assigned to come to the place I live while the 4000 series are seen elsewhere.The 8000 and 9000 series were the RTS series that were bought in 1980 and decomissioned in 1999.Now,the 9000 series are assigned to a batch of Thomas built (part of DaimlerChrysler now) City buses that are run either by LACMTA or LADOT (LACMTA runs routes with the help of other authority,this time the Department of Transpotation which also run its own routes which were or not part of LACMTA).
In Sao Paulo,Brazil,the Goverment authority CMTC had the four digit number set up;however,as Private Carrier were-and are completely now- the norm in there,the fleet number of these would have five numbers until 1977 (the First two digits would identify the carrier,say 20,000 is reserved for St John carrier) and final three will reveal,without any concern about the vehicle,the bus number.In 1978,the carriers were orderd to join others from the same area and the numbers went to six-digit numberation.Also,the color of the bus indicated in which area of the town the carrier was running.CMTC fold up by the end of the 1990's.
I do not know how things are in Europe.Perhaps they use the four digit set-up.
I been telling my co-workers that if they ever had an incident to LACMTA or other carriers which run in Los Angeles,to take the fleet number of the bus and that is more than enough.Incidentally,at train numberation,the numbers are set up to determine powered and non-powered units.
Also,LACMTA also have a fleet of Canadian Orion buses,11000 series.I will see these only if I travel to the South-east section of town,because these are assigned for that area only.At the past,all bus series were running at all routes from SCRTD( the operator that was the predecessor of LACMTA) except when the routes called for minibuses.But this is a different story.
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