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| History of MSBA Bus #699 (205538) | |||
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History of MSBA Bus #699 |
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Posted by Joe Saitta on Wed Aug 25 20:59:51 2010 In 1970, Nassau County ordered 35 model CCD-111 sister buses from the Flxible Corporation in Loudenville, Ohio for some of the private lines in the county which were in need of new equipment but did not have the funds available to do so. Fifteen were painted in this beautiful blue/white/silver scheme and distributed to a few of the private companies. This particular bus was numbered 666 and went to Mid Island Transit. However, that company went bankrupt shortly after this bus and five others were delivered to them. These six buses remained out of service until the bankruptcy was settled and then were given to Utility Lines (a subsidiary of Bee Line, Inc.), which operated them until 1973, when the Metropolitan Suburban Bus Authority (MSBA) took over all of the private lines based in Nassau County. Some of the acquired buses were renumbered to avoid number duplication. Since Bee Line had already used the number 666 (GMC New Look) for a large number series (using most if not all of the 600-series numbers up to and including #698) for the buses in its fleet, #666 was renumbered as the oddball #699. It was later repainted in the New York City Transit Authority's light and dark blue with orange stripe scheme.In 1985, #699 was given a complete $85,000 overhaul by Perfect Body in New Jersey and repainted in the then-regular MSBA white with narrow blue and orange stripe scheme. I was fortunate in operating this fine vehicle on most of my runs from 1985 until 1991, and became quite impressed with its smooth running and operation. As the Orion Vs began arriving in 1991, #699 was removed from service and stored at the Zahn's retired bus facility until 1996, when I purchased it. Mr. Kim Kimball, General Manager of MSBA at the time this bus was retired, was deeply interested in preserving a number of buses and allocated #699 and GMC #810. It was entirely through his efforts that #699 is with us today. However, #810 was severely damaged somehow at Zahn's and its restoration costs would have been excessive, so it was scrapped. Unfortunately, Mr. Kimball retired in 1992 and any future preservation plans became moot. Around this time, all of the sister Flxible New Looks buses were retired and later scrapped, but one, #434, an ex-Hempstead Bus Company unit, was rehabbed by MSBA and ran for a few more years after 1991. I had the privilege of operating #434 most of the time, but, unfortunately, it developed a small transmission leak which took its final toll on the bus while I was deadheading to the Mitchel Field Depot; it was retired that evening. This was the last non-power steering bus in regular service and a great way to exercise one's arm muscles and to help keep a Bus Operator's stomach from expanding, which it did quite well. After its retirement, my stomach, well..... I purchased the bus in 1996 and shortly thereafter it was repainted into its original (Mid Island Transit) scheme. It was repainted again, in this same scheme, as shown in the photograph, in 2008. The bus operates as if it were new. This year it celebrates its 40th birthday, and, from time-to-time I am very happy and privileged to invite close friends to share rides with me. It has been as far south as Philadelphia and as far north as Hartford, which makes it far from being a "city" bus. |
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