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| Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s (66915) | |
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| (66915) | |
Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by FYBklyn1959 on Wed Aug 22 17:15:26 2007 First of a series I will post whenever I get the opportunity.We start off in Chicago:   Both taken on my 27th birthday by Wrigley Field. I was in Chicago for the weekend and managed to take in a game at "the friendly confines" before flying back to L. A. (Cubs were playing the Pittsburgh Pirates, I had to leave in the 6th to get out to O'Hare, the game eventually went into extra innings and had to be suspended due to darkness (this was back before Dumbya messed with the Daylight Savings Time implementation, so the sun set around 6 PM or so). My flight didn't leave until around 8, and just before I boarded, I heard the Pirates flight being called!) I forget who won when the game was resumed later that year.  This was taken in June of 1995, from the window of the Holiday Inn O'Hare along River Road. Sorry for the quality. Obviously a 40-foot Orion I, no idea of the number or route. I would eventually ride one of those from the River Road Blue Line station to the hotel, after riding the Blue Line from O' hare to River Road (decided to drop the rental car off one day early, since the HI had a shuttle to the airport.) More to come... |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by orange blossom special on Wed Aug 22 18:27:16 2007, in response to Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Wed Aug 22 17:15:26 2007. Friendly Confines?That's a bar in Orlando, has a ton of Chicago sports memorabilia! |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by caine515 on Wed Aug 22 20:09:38 2007, in response to Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Wed Aug 22 17:15:26 2007. i was in chicago in 1998. They still had the flyers. I was on the #65 route. My hotel was at the end of the #606 PACE route. Nice buses. The MAN Americana buses were my favorite. |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by PATransit on Wed Aug 22 20:58:52 2007, in response to Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Wed Aug 22 17:15:26 2007. not bad its always good to keep old shots like that I can't wait 5-10 years from now I can look at the pics I take and say damn..... lol wow June 1995 that pic was taken? sheesh I was only 5 then amazing |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Aug 25 11:48:22 2007, in response to Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Wed Aug 22 17:15:26 2007. Continuing now, with a couple from Las Vegas Transit in June, 1988:  Again, I apologize for the quality. Combination of a so-so camera, and a so-so scanner. The second obviously is a Flxible (not sure if it was an 870 or a Metro), the first is an MCI seemingly configured in a transit mode. Both taken on Las Vegas Blvd, AKA "The Strip". I think the route was the 6. |
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| (67242) | |
Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Aug 25 11:54:23 2007, in response to Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Aug 25 11:48:22 2007. Most of the rest of these will be from Southern California. The next 3 pics are of an ex-SCRTD/LACMTA 1981 RTS-04 that I found parked by the Amtrak station in San Diego during a visit in April 1996. The giveaway that it was ex-RTD/MTA was that the division sticker was still in the lower front windshield! (I messed up placing the pic on the scanner, that's why you see that grey at the bottom of the image!) :-/   Unfortunately, I have no way of finding out which number this bus had while at RTD/MTA. Obviously an early retiree, the commercial plate on the bus was issued in October, 1994, so it was retired from MTA sometime before that. Since it had a division 18 sticker, more than likely it was an 8200 or 8300, as those numbers were prevalent at D18. |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Aug 25 12:02:08 2007, in response to Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Aug 25 11:54:23 2007. Staying in San Diego, some pics from that fine city from over the years. My first pic of a San Diego Transit bus, a then-new Gillig Phantom at 12th & Imperial in August, 1984. I was waiting for a San Diego Trolley train to go back to downtown. (I'll post a Trolley pic from that same time later on on SubChat)   Moving forward to April 13, 1991. 2 pics of the extremly crappy 1989 Ikarus (I would ride one 5 years later on the 11, and we got stuck for about 1/2 hour due to a problem with the wheelchair lift). Pic of 212 on Broadway in downtown SD, 214 was somewhere on Commercial (I was chasing an East Line train).  Later on that day in 1991, I got this pic of a GMDD Fishbowl at the Grossmont trolley station on the East Line. Up next, some pics from April 1996. |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by Ken S. on Sat Aug 25 12:10:46 2007, in response to Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Aug 25 11:48:22 2007. Second one's an 870. |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Aug 25 12:17:43 2007, in response to Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Aug 25 12:02:08 2007. Here are the 1996 pics: A San Diego County Transit Gillig Phantom at the Santee Trolley station  An unidentified SDTranit Gillig with a full wrap for the Simpsons airing on the local Fox station  One of my better pics! New Flyer D40HF 1413, westbound on Broadway near the Amtrak station  New Flyer D60HF 1121, in about the same spot as the previous pic |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Aug 25 12:19:09 2007, in response to Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by Ken S. on Sat Aug 25 12:10:46 2007. Thanks |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Aug 25 12:23:25 2007, in response to Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Wed Aug 22 17:15:26 2007. A few from Palm Springs in the early to mid 90s: This was an ex-OCTD Flxible New Look  Another ex-OCTD bus, a Grumman Flxible 870  This was taken during my last visit to Palm Springs when I was still living in Southern California in the fall of 1995. A then-new CNG Orion V. Sunline Transit Agency (aka SunBus) switched their entire fleet to CNG in the summer of that year. I think one Gillig Phantom was kept and converted to CNG, otherwise, the Flxibles (new look and 870) were retired, replaced by the Orions. One of my contacts in So. Cal tells me that 506 is still in service. |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by caine515 on Sat Aug 25 12:33:25 2007, in response to Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Aug 25 11:48:22 2007. the flixible is a metro. They used to have all gmc buses but nice shot. |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Aug 25 12:34:15 2007, in response to Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Aug 25 12:23:25 2007. Oh noes! Teh bus yards!! Call Homeland Security! :)  I lived in Gardena from 1983 until I moved to So. Florida in mid-1998. This is the yard of the local agency, Gardena Municipal Bus Lines, which was created in 1940, when Pacific Electric abandonded the Redondo Beach via Gardena and the San Pedro via Torrance lines without bus replacement. Originally they only ran to Vermont and 116th St to connect with the LARy U line, but eventually they extended all the way to downtown L. A. This yard on Van Ness Ave and 154th St, is supposed to be replaced with a larger yard on Western Ave & 139th St (a few blocks north of where I lived in Gardena)  The main reason GMBL is getting a new yard is because the current one only holds 50 buses, and GMBL has 48 or 49 in its fleet. That meant when new buses arrived (like 770 that arrived in mid-1997), they had to park in a lot next door until the older buses left the property. 770 was a Nova RTS-06 with DDEC Series 50 and I think a ZF transmission. GMBL received 21 buses in 1997--the first 7 mid-year (754-759, 770 (the 760 series was taken by 9 1988 Flxible Metros (760-768) and one (yes, one) 1990 TMC RTS-06, 769)), and 14 more at the end of the year (790-799, 701-704). This allowed the retirement of the 1981 and 1983 GMC RTS-04s, and put the Flxibles into school commuter service only, though occasionally one would appear on a regular route. Now the Flxibles and 769 are retired (along with 4 ex-Long Beach Transit 1990 TMCs acquired in the early 2000s), replaced by 15 (705-719) New Flyer DE40LFs (or are they GE40LFs, I forget. Eddie?) |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Aug 25 12:37:36 2007, in response to Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Aug 25 12:17:43 2007. Oops, forgot this one from 1996: MTS is the brand name for MTDB, the governing agency for all transit in San Diego county. Most (all?) MTS-brnaded service is operated by contractor ATC/Vancom. The 932 goes from downtown San Diego to the border at San Ysidro, rougly paralleling the Blue Line (South Line) Trolley route. |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Aug 25 12:44:11 2007, in response to Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Wed Aug 22 17:15:26 2007. Da Big Blue Bus :) Fishies! The Big Blue Bus yard, taken in June 1996 (I think)  1990 MCI Classic 5210, eastbound on Pico Blvd at Overland Ave in West L. A., early 1991  Then-new 1997 New Flyer D40LF 3812, at the Venice Blvd/Walgrove Ave terminus of line 2 in late 1997  This was taken when I returned to L. A. for a visit in June 1999. 3821 was on line 3 at Airport & Century Blvds, headed from the LAX City Bus Center to the Aviation Green Line station. |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Sep 1 14:07:55 2007, in response to Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Wed Aug 22 17:15:26 2007. Off to Hawaii. Aloha! I think this is a Scania, no idea what model    W00t! Teh Grummanz :) (Check out the lean on the last pic). These had my favorite DDEC 8V71 engines. Nice to hear them again as $%&^$#%SCRTD had converted theirs to 6V92 back in 1984.  Nice baby Neoplan.  I think that is an Ikarus artic. And saving the best for last...   New Looks!!! I got to ride one, and saw the bulder's plate indicating it had been built in 1972 (!) Obviously, it had been seriously Blitzed or Nimco'd at some point, probably in the early or mid '80s. The A/C worked good too. Alas, that was probably their swan song (I was there late July-early August of 1990), as later in 90, TheBus received some TMC RTS-06s, which no doubt put the Flxys out to pasture. |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by SUBWAYSURF on Sat Sep 1 14:18:28 2007, in response to Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Sep 1 14:07:55 2007. Blitzed, if they had been "nimco'd" they look like this: |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by B53RICH on Sun Sep 2 23:00:12 2007, in response to Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by SUBWAYSURF on Sat Sep 1 14:18:28 2007. Steel Wool, "The FLEXIBLE Abrasive".....LOL. |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by FYBklyn1959 on Mon Sep 3 15:45:06 2007, in response to Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Wed Aug 22 17:15:26 2007. And now for some bus yard pics:First, a view of MTA Division 7 (West Hollywood) in 1991:  Followed by 2 views from early 1998:   (Main differences are the lack of Fishbowls in '98 (the last ones were retired in 1993), and more buses painted in the 2-stripe color scheme (plus a few in the dreaded yellowjacket).  Division 18 (South Bay), taken from Figueroa St in 1997 or early 1998.  D9 was Flxible city in 1990. A few 1980 870s, plus 1988 and 1989 Metros. I took a similar pic about a year later, the Grummans were gone, replaced by some 1984 Neoplans. More in the next post... |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by FYBklyn1959 on Mon Sep 3 15:51:07 2007, in response to Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Mon Sep 3 15:45:06 2007. Continuing with RTD/MTA yards...  2 views of Division 8 (West Valley) from June 1996. The RTS-04s in the second pic were being stored at D8, but a few of them were later activated for use by contractors (I forget exactly which #s).   First pic was taken in early 1991, when Division 12 (Long Beach) was very much active. By the time of the 2nd pic (November 1997), D12 had been closed as a revenue division, and was hosting 1992/3 Methanol powered TMC RTS-06s until they could be converted to diesel. It is still being used as a storage facility for out of service buses, but I think I read that MTS is thinking of selling it. It was closed in June 1997, as a cost-cutting measure, since many of its routes had been contracted, and the remainder shifted to D18. |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by FYBklyn1959 on Mon Sep 3 16:02:25 2007, in response to Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Wed Aug 22 17:15:26 2007. Some other L. A.-area agencies: Excuse the quality, was shooting through the window of a different bus in the rain. Brand new 1992 Stewart & Stevenson Apollo T-40 92041, laying over at Union Station (in the pre-Gateway Plaza days) on the Metrolink shuttle. This was during the first week of Metrolink service in October 1992, I had just come off a train from Van Nuys, and was aboard an almost-as-new Neoplan AN340 also belonging to LADOT. I think some of the S & S buses are still in service for LADOT. Alas, I never got to ride one :(    The last 3 pics were taken at a transit fair at the Del Amo Blue Line station during the first weekend of service (July 14-15, 1990). Top to bottom, 1990 TMC RTS-06 of Gardena Municipal Bus Lines (this was the only bus in this order, I think GMBL hooked onto either RTD's order of 103 RTS-06s (2300-2402) or Long Beach Transit's 8901-8927 (which in itself may have been hooked onto RTD's order). Either that, or TMC gave them the bus at a big discount to get Gardena's business back, as GMBL had bought 9 Flxible Metros in 1988, after having bought quite a few RTS in 1981 and 1983. Musta worked, as GMBL bought 14 Nova RTS in 1995, and 21 more in 1997!) 2nd pic is a 1981 RTS-04 from Montebello Bus Lines Last one is a Gillig Spirit belonging to Torrance Transit. TT got 6 of those (320-325) which were tied into a 20? bus order for a new commuter service called MAX, which operated 3 routes in the South Bay area that served the El Segundo aerospace employment center. TT was the managing agency for MAX. Not sure if MAX is still around, the the Spirits (MAX's and TT's) are long gone. |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by lbt 9415 on Mon Sep 3 16:04:03 2007, in response to Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Mon Sep 3 15:45:06 2007. these pictures really brings back memories of the SCRTD / early LACMTA days. The 232 used to be flooded with those Methanol/Ethanol powered RTSs and 1990 Flxible Metros...those days are gone. |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by lbt 9415 on Mon Sep 3 16:11:33 2007, in response to Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Aug 25 12:34:15 2007. Nice pics fred. I cant wait to see what the new yard will look like.The NovaRTSs are powered with a DD50 and Allison V731 transmission. Gardena has a total of 18 GE40LFs ( # 705-722 ) |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by lbt 9415 on Mon Sep 3 16:24:42 2007, in response to Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Mon Sep 3 16:02:25 2007. Wait... im looking at the S & S pic. Is that a propane logo on the back ? I thought all these were diesel.All of these were refurbished by Complete Coach Works a few yrs back... sporting a DD50 engine instead of the 6v92. Torrance MAX is still around. Its still managed by the City of Torrance. However, it is operated under comtract by MV Transportation out of the Downey yard. They have a fleet of El Dorado XHFs with suburban reclining seats.  |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by Terrapin Station on Mon Sep 3 16:31:57 2007, in response to Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Mon Sep 3 15:45:06 2007. gotta love the frameless windows on the RTS and the awesome 870's. |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by PATransit on Mon Sep 3 16:52:22 2007, in response to Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Aug 25 12:37:36 2007. Excellent Pics!!!! All around nice every single one of them, love seeing stuff from the 90s especially that was my era lol (Well I was born in 90 so hey) man hard to believe San Diego Had Ikarus though wasn't even aware I know they have the Artics never any 416s though...seems like they stuck with Gillig Phantoms for years any shots of Old LACMTA neoplans? (Especially those suburban ones) |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by PATransit on Mon Sep 3 16:56:57 2007, in response to Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Mon Sep 3 15:51:07 2007. haha ignore my last post about the neoplans I found them here,Excellent!! thanks so much for sharing. |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by Zman179 on Mon Sep 3 19:10:55 2007, in response to Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by lbt 9415 on Mon Sep 3 16:04:03 2007. When I used to take the 232 between 1988 and 1991, it used to be nothing but Neoplans and an RTS once in a blue moon. The flxible metros were all over on the South Central lines (I used to take the 105 a lot on La Cienega which used nothing but Flx's.) |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by Zman179 on Mon Sep 3 19:20:51 2007, in response to Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Mon Sep 3 15:45:06 2007. Thanks for all the old pics! I remember living close to the West Hollywood depot where all of those fishbowls lived out their days. heck, I remember when the bowls were all on the infamous 217 line.The 217 was infamous for being the slowest bus line in the system due to their heavy elderly passenger usage. |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by The Port of Authority on Mon Sep 3 22:18:07 2007, in response to Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by lbt 9415 on Mon Sep 3 16:24:42 2007. Wait... im looking at the S & S pic. Is that a propane logo on the back ? I thought all these were diesel.All of these were refurbished by Complete Coach Works a few yrs back... sporting a DD50 engine instead of the 6v92. Which LADOT lines can the Stewart & Stevensons be found on? |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by lbt 9415 on Tue Sep 4 00:09:10 2007, in response to Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by The Port of Authority on Mon Sep 3 22:18:07 2007. Theyre scattered among the area.they can be found all over the LADOT system. My best advice is to hang around 7th & Flower, 7th & Figueroa, and Temple St & Hill in Downtown LA during the PM rush hour. |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by The Port of Authority on Tue Sep 4 00:18:09 2007, in response to Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by lbt 9415 on Tue Sep 4 00:09:10 2007. Thanks; will have to try that sometime. |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by lbt 9415 on Tue Sep 4 00:35:25 2007, in response to Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by The Port of Authority on Tue Sep 4 00:18:09 2007. oh almost forgot. whilst on the subject of LADOT, they also have 3 1992 TMC RTSs ( ex-LACMTA units ) on lease. A few ex Foothill Transit Gillig Phantoms and 3 ex-OCTA Gillig Phantoms. |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by FYBklyn1959 on Tue Sep 4 16:55:15 2007, in response to Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by lbt 9415 on Mon Sep 3 16:24:42 2007. Actually, Eddie, that is a CNG logo on 92041. They might have been dieselized during their makeover. |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by FYBklyn1959 on Tue Sep 4 16:56:52 2007, in response to Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Mon Sep 3 16:02:25 2007. Another Torrance Transit pic: 1989 Gillig Phantom 433, at the Long Beach Transit Mall in 1990 or 1991. |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by The Port of Authority on Tue Sep 4 16:57:32 2007, in response to Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Tue Sep 4 16:56:52 2007. They still haven't changed their paint scheme. Reminds me of the Avis shuttle buses at airports. |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by FYBklyn1959 on Wed Sep 5 06:41:43 2007, in response to Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by The Port of Authority on Tue Sep 4 16:57:32 2007. Yep. That scheme started with the 1981 (Old) Flyer 901s. (those didn't have the black around the window, that feature started w/ the first Gillig Phantom order in 1984). I think most of the 70s Fishbowls were subsequently repainted with that scheme. |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Sep 8 14:53:26 2007, in response to Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Wed Aug 22 17:15:26 2007. Last but not least...SCRTD/LACMTA! This was from the first day of Metro Blue Line service, July 14, 1990. At the then-southern terminus of Anaheim St and Long Beach Blvd in Long Beach (the Blue Line downtown loop opened on the first weekend of September that year). Due to the huge crowds (which forced RTD to make the line free for the rest of July, the original plans were to just have it free Saturday and Sunday, which they repeated for the opening of the Red and Green lines.), they provided buses to take ppl back north who didn't want to wait in the high 90s heat for the train back to L. A. (I choose to ride the train back). There was a train on the northbound track when I took the pic, but you can only see the pantographs since the buses were in the way. Kinda looks like the bus on the left has a pantograph! :)   The above 2 pics have kinda a Blue Line theme, as I took them at 12th & Flower Sts in downtown L. A. while photographing the Blue Line doing final test runs in the soon-to-open tunnel to the 7th St/Metro Center station in February, 1991. The trains would run in regular service to Pico station, fumigate and run light to 7th St, change ends and then return to Pico and go back into service. First pic is 1989 TMC RTS-06 2357, probably on the 439 line. The Flxible is then brand-new 1990 Flxible Metro 2852, most likely on the 70.  This unusual pic was taken on March 3, 1991. That was the date of the 6th annual L. A. Marathon, but later it would become an infamous day in L. A. history, as the Rodney King beating took place early that morning in the San Fernando Valley. Pic was taken at Wilshire Blvd and Flower St. I had taken the Blue Line down for the Marathon, and the buses would supposed to be detouring during the runnin, but I guess the driver of 2159 (1988 TMC RTS-06) didn't get the memo. He turned from 7th St north on Hope as per the route, then west on Wilshire to find a blockade. So he made a nice turnabout and went back to Hope. No idea where he ended up. Incidentally, that same bus, a few years later ended up being jacked by some crazed skel and crashed into a house, ending its career. More to come... |
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A few RTD/MTA pics around town |
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Posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Sep 8 14:59:47 2007, in response to Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Sep 8 14:53:26 2007.  1988 TMC 2131, sporting a Ceaser's Palace full wrap, westbound on Wilshire Blvd. I think this was in 1996.   Again in 1996, 1996 Neoplan AN440A 4655, on display at the Wilshire/Vermont Red Line station during the opening weekend of the extension from Westlake/MacArthur Park to Wilshire/Western. Notice how I managed to get the cute girl in the 2nd pic :)  1981 GMC RTS-04 8499, eastbound on line 115 on Manchester Ave near the San Diego Freeway in 1997 or early 1998. This was a Sunday, BTW. MTA was having bog problems with it's Methanol fleet at the time, so you would see 17 year old RTS in service at all hours. |
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| (69222) | |
Around Division 18 (South Bay) |
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Posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Sep 8 15:12:39 2007, in response to A few RTD/MTA pics around town, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Sep 8 14:59:47 2007.   I was doing a spotting run at Division 18 sometime in 1997, when this 97 Neoplan pulled out, going to a Hollywood Bowl Special run (the 657 started at a park in Torrance, on Crenshaw Blvd, a few blocks south of Torrance Blvd (or was it Carson Street?) Interestingly, when I returned for a visit in June 1999, I rode 4747 for a few blocks on line 53 on 5th St in downtown LA.  This was taken in November, 1997 at Figueroa and Griffith Sts. 6319 was brand new then (this was the first time I had seen it). It was pulling out to line 207 (Western Ave). After I took the pic, I noticed that the bus paused for a bit, but it continued on. I then walked down Figueroa to the bridge over Compton Creek to check out the buses in the "foreign section" (which is MTA-speak for buses that are from other divisions and ended up at the division replacing Div. 18 buses that had broken down and were replaced by a bus from another division, or buses from other divisions that had broken down in D18 territory. In either case, they were parked by the fence until they could be returned to their rightful owners. A few minutes later, I notice that 6319 had returned s/b on Figueroa, and pulled up near me, and the stupid ghetto bitch driving demands to know why I took a pic of the bus! I respond that I am a bus fan, etc. etc. And she's claiming that ppl sometimes take pics of the bus and them claim later that she screwed up, blah blah blah (and she had a point as 1). She was now going to be majorly late going into service, and 2). Her headsign was already set to the northbound destination (207 WESTERN - HOLLYWOOD BL). MTA regulations state that deadheading buses are to display the route number and "NOT IN SERVICE". I never think fast enough in these situations, else I would've pointed these transgressions out to her. Also, as it turned out, I knew the first name of the Division 18 Service Operations Manager (courtesy of a MTA driver friend of mind who worked under this guy at a different yard). I shoulda dropped that on her, woulda really shook the bitch up. I would've said some shit, but I wa afraid she would hit the transit police button. I had seen a couple of units parked in the D18 yard (they were actually LA Sheriff's Dept Transit Services Bureau units, but the MTA Police (aka Amateur Police) had recently been disbanded and replaced by transit units from LAPD and LASD. So the officers were likely to be ex-MTA Police, and as you can tell from the nickname, I didn't think highly of them, so if they had come, I probably would've said the wrong thing, and been arrested (or worse). So I let it go and left. /rant :) |
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| (69224) | |
I didn't take this pic |
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Posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Sep 8 15:31:55 2007, in response to Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Wed Aug 22 17:15:26 2007.  It was taken years before I even set foot in L. A. I believe the photographer is a former RTD/MTA driver and mechanic named Tom Helliwell (if not, and if the actual photographer is reading this, please post or email me to set the record straight!) I included in this thread b/c this bus has personal importance to me, as it happens to be the very last GM Old Look I ever rode! It was in the spring of 1981--I was catching my usual line 871 (now line 42) tripper (BR 10) to school and work at USC, and 2167 showed up. It was a 1954 TDH-4801 originally ordered by Metropolitian Coach Lines (I think), which became (along with Los Angeles Transit Lines), LA Metropolitian Transit Authority (not to be confused with today's Metropolitian Transportation Authority) in 1958, which became SCRTD in 1964. Anyway, this bus had been in Division 18 since I moved to LA in 1976, but had transferred to Division 5 (which ran the 871) along with other buses, since D5 was short buses due to the Grumman crisis. D18 was able to give up buses, as they were the first division to get the new RTS-04s in December 1980. If the Grummans hadn't taken their brief vacation, the Old Looks probably would've been all gone by that time, but they hung around until mid-year, when all the RTS were in, and the Grummans were starting to return. This pic was apparently taken at the South Bay Center in Redondo Beach, which was remade in 1985 into the South Bay Galleria. This l/o zone was on the west side of Hawthorne Blvd, a few blocks south of Artesia. I think there was a movie theatre at the zone there. By the early 80s, there was the one screen by the bus zone, then 2 more further back, then a 4th one way in the back near the BNSF ROW. Of course now, those are long gone (they built a Ralph's GIANT supermarket there), and there is a multi-screen theatre inside the Galleria proper, I think on the west side near the current bus zone off Artesia. Oh the route was the 104, which I think was an ex-Inglewood City Lines route, a small company that RTD took over in the late 60s or early 70s. Eventually, that route was folded into RTD line 10, which started at East Adams Blvd and Central Ave, then went via Adams, Normandie Ave, West 48th St (which was the route of the LARy 9 line, only that line continued east of Normandie in a private ROW to Broadway or Main St, I think), then to Crenshaw, then meandered in the Hyde Park area, past Daniel Freeman Hospital, then everal streets in Inglewood, then ended up on Prarie Ave to Artesia, then on to South Bay Center. I rode this route on several occasions in the early 80s. The 10 became the 41 in June of 1981, as part of RTD's massive route restructuring. Eventually, the Prairie Ave segment became today's line 211, the rest of the route kinda disappeared (the Adams, Normandie and Crenshaw portions were covered by other routes, and the 48th St part went away, forcing those patrons to use the 105 on Vernon or the 108 on Slauson). |
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| (69226) | |
The Alpha and the Omega |
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Posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Sep 8 15:40:23 2007, in response to I didn't take this pic, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Sep 8 15:31:55 2007.   These pics aren't mine either, both taken by an MTA driver and friend of mine. Any of you who know Greek know that Alpha is the first letter in the Greek alphabet, and Omega is the last. Well, 8236 and 9108 are my personal Alpha and Omega, as they represent the very first and very last RTD/MTA RTS-04s I've ridden! I rode 8236 on the old 3 line (West 6th St-Central Ave) on 12/9/80, which may have been the first day that the RTS-04s were in service for MTA. I rode 9108 during my visit to L. A. in 1999, when my afore-mentioned friend was driving it on line 20. He took the yard shots I think later that year, as he knew 8236 was my first RTS, and they just happened to parked next to each other in the yard at Division 6. (9108 had been assigned to D6 since 1985, but 8236 had been assigned there recently after having worked originally at D18, then later at D1 and other places).  My friend took this pic when he was assigned 8236 on a run on line 4 (Santa Monica Blvd). It is at the short-turn location at Santa Monica and Sepulveda Blvds (now all line 4s terminate here, except late nights when the 704 Rapid is not running.  I did take this pic, during a layover at Terminal 17 (7th St/Maple Ave lot) when I was riding w/ my friend. Well, that's all of my old school pics. Hope you've enjoyed them. I'll be posting some rail pics on SubChat when I get a chance, along with some more recent MDT and BCt pics here. |
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Re: The Alpha and the Omega |
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Posted by PATransit on Sat Sep 8 15:41:47 2007, in response to The Alpha and the Omega, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Sep 8 15:40:23 2007. SWEET STUFF! I really enjoyed them all thanks for taking us back in the day! :) |
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Re: The Alpha and the Omega |
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Posted by The Port of Authority on Sat Sep 8 15:42:44 2007, in response to The Alpha and the Omega, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Sep 8 15:40:23 2007. Nice! |
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| (69325) | |
Re: Around Division 18 (South Bay) |
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Posted by lbt 9415 on Sun Sep 9 02:47:03 2007, in response to Around Division 18 (South Bay), posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Sep 8 15:12:39 2007. 6319 was the very first 6300 series Neoplan I rode. So happened that I rode it on the 446 line. |
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| (69486) | |
Re: I didn't take this pic |
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Posted by HMD on Mon Sep 10 12:08:16 2007, in response to I didn't take this pic, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Sep 8 15:31:55 2007. Some of the ex-SCRTD GM old looks served on SF Muni for a while in the late 70's. I remember taking an ex-SCRTD on Muni's 16X for a while, complete with interior advertisements for the Los Angeles Zoo!Muni's penchant for using other agencies second-hand buses continues--they used ex-SamTrans Flyers in the early 2000's, and they are using ex-AC Transit Gilligs now. (That's not even including the St. Louis and Kansas City/Toronto PCC's from the late 70's, but that's rail.) |
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Rail pics posted |
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Posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sun Sep 16 20:30:16 2007, in response to Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Wed Aug 22 17:15:26 2007. At SubChat |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by The Port of Authority on Sun Sep 16 21:35:28 2007, in response to Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Aug 25 12:17:43 2007. I think that's a C40HF, not a D40HF. |
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Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Oct 13 15:31:22 2007, in response to Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Wed Aug 22 17:15:26 2007. Just when you thought this thread was dead...Got some SF Bay Area pics off my defunct Geoshitties page (actually, it's still active (except for those frequent times when Geoshitties cuts off the bandwith), but it hasn't been updated in 3 years, and I have no plans to). Anyhow...  From March 1996, appears to be a New Flyer D40HF, on Broadway in downtown Oakland. This was the only one of my 10 Bay Area visits that I stayed in Oakland.  A then-new Gillig Phantom, westbound on Santa Clara St in downtown San Jose, in September 1997.  A 1992 Flxible Metro in April 1997. Up next, San Francisco Muni |
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| (72965) | |
Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s |
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Posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Oct 13 15:36:33 2007, in response to Re: Kicking it old school--bus pics from the 80s and 90s, posted by FYBklyn1959 on Sat Oct 13 15:31:22 2007. These are all from Muni's Woods Division, taken in April 1997:     Woods Division is the largest of Muni's 3 diesel bus divisions (the others being Kirkland in the Fisherman's Wharf area, and Flynn, which houses all the articulated buses. Flynn division is actually a garage, so it is the only one of all of Muni's divisions (bus and rail) that I don't have any pictures of. |
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