BusTalk

[Q65A]

I had the great pleasure of attending the 2008 DOB Bus Roadeo at Floyd Bennett Field today.
This year's event was very well attending, perhaps not a surprise given that this marks the first time that MTA Bus and NYCT DOB are holding a combined event.
Here were the buses I saw on display:
FACCO 1263 (1931 Yellow Coach double decker)
"NYCO 2969" (actually BOT 4789; 1948 GM TDH-5101)
FACCO 3100 (1956 GM TDH-5106)
NYCTA 100 (1959 GM TDH-5301)
NYCTA 2151 (1962 GM TDH-5301)
NYCTA 8928 (1968 GM T6H-5305A)
NYCTA 5227 (1971 GM T6H-5305A rebuilt by Blitz)
NYCTA 7340 (1973 Flxible 53102-6-1)
QSC 275 (1994 TMC RTS-06)
JBI 3865 (1994 TMC RTS-06)
TCC 621 (1979 GMD T8H-5307A)
NYBS 1502 (1982 GMD T8H-5308A)
LL 3006 (1988 MCI TC-40102A)
NYCT 5739 (2002 NF D60HF, assigned to GH and painted in SBS livery)
NYCT 2185 (2001 MCI 102DL3WSS, the "9/11 Bus")
NYCT 870 (2000 NF C40LF)
NYCT 6766 (2006 Orion VII HEV)
NYCT 3800 (2008 Orion VII HEV Next Generation)
There were several interesting road trucks, including a single-axle Kenworth T-800 wrecker, a Mack MR-600 emergency response truck and other support vehicles.
The Roadeo buses appeared to be 1998 NovaBus RTS-06's in the 9350-9699 series, contributed by Flatbush and Grand Avenue Depots.
Free historical bus rides were given on NYCTA 100 and LL 3006.
The bus buff table (manned by Eddie Crew and friends) had some very interesting historical info in 3 large 3-ring binders; free DOB notepads and bus maps were available for the taking (no Insider's Guides or Vintage Bus Guides were seen).
I had an excellent time today, and if you plan to go tomorrow, I hope you enjoy it as well.

[Mr. Linsky]

Bob,

Very concise report (as usual) - thanks for sharing - wish I could have been there.

Floyd Bennett Field brings back memories because that's where I learned how to drive a bus in 1959.

BTW; by my reckoning, two vintage buses have not been listed - the Green Line RTS # 10,000 and the Fifth Avenue Coach Yellow model 735 (1936 Queen Mary double decker).

Hope they're both O.K.!

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, NY

[Mr RT]

JFK folks were working on 10001 last week.
They must have found something that kept her home.
When I saw her she was up on a lift with the motor running.

[Transbustuser104]

I beleive that Museum Bus #3758 could not make it out to Floyd Bennett Field because she has more mechanical problems again!

[Q65A]

I was very glad to have taken rides on NYCTA 100 and LL 3006.
These buses were in tip top shape, and both of them rode beautifully.
I have ridden aboard many a Fishbowl in my days, so hearing that 6V-71N inside NYCTA 100 brought back some good memories; I never thought a Fishbowl ride would be so sweet. I suppose that somebody is getting old ...
On the other hand, although I twice had been "behind the wheel" of LL 3006 (as an observer only, of course, during the 2006 and 2007 MTAB Roadeos at Belmont Park) I had never ridden a Classic before.
LL 3006 did not disappoint me; that bus rode like a big limousine!
There were 2 other passengers aboard along with me. These guys appeared to be DOB employees and were very knowledgeable about NYCTA bus history & operations. (The young B/O at the wheel of 3006 also was quite knowledgeable about MTAB buses and NYCT subway car history.) I heard these guys saying that 3006 had received a very thorough and costly rebuilding during its restoration (including replacement of all bulkheads). I must say that whoever rebuilt the unit did a terrific job. Seeing NYCT 3800 was very interesting as well. As with most busfans, I've seen plenty of online photos of the Orion VII HEV NG, but the unit really looks better in person. I am always keenly interested in the layout of the operator's compartment on all buses. Although 3800 was not open for public inspection, I did peer through the B/O's side window for a while to scope out the dashboard and switch panels. Like the Gillig LF, the NG has a sawtooth-type overhead switch panel installed along the top edge of the B/O's side window. On 3800, this panel contained the booster blower vent, destination sign controller, passenger chime housing, and what appeared to be a Thermo-King IntelligAire climate control touchpad. The LH side switch panel appeared to be virtually identical to that used on nearby NYCT 6766 (a slightly older HEV) with the following exceptions:
1. A rocker type dimmer switch replaces the old rotary knob.
2. There are 2 remote mirror adjustment controls instead of only 1.
3. The WCL key switch is moved forward slightly to accomodate the second mirror adjuster.
The front instrument panel also is very similar to that used on current NYCT Orion VII HEV's, with the exception of the following items:
1. The 24V voltmeter has been eliminated, leaving only the air gauge and speedometer, plus the large rectangular central telltale panel.
2. The RH switch panel has all 6 switch positions occupied, including the extreme LH switch on the upper row (I could not read the label on this new switch from where I was standing).
I also noticed that TCC 621 had a keyed "run switch" on the LH switch panel. I know that some late model Fishbowls had used this switch as optional equipment. Another interesting observation: TCC 621 sported a dash mounted decal informing shifters and B/O's that 621 and various service vehicles were to be fueled at a Texaco station located on Astoria Blvd. (probably not far from LGA Depot). Perhaps the veteran Fishbowl prefers a different flavor of diesel than what the depot usually serves

[Transbustuser104]

Did anyone say if Museum Bus's #'s 3758 and 5117 had mechanical problems agaim?