BusTalk

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 4:17 pm Post subject: 'MORE RANDOM SHOTS FROM L.A.'

Just going through my vast collection and found a few odd shots taken in the last couple of weeks around West L.A.

Of course, no group of photos would be complete without my inspiration (Daisy the cat).

Enjoy.

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

Hart Bus · Age: 74 Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 1150

WCA: Thanks again for sharing. My two thoughts are that Crown buses still look ugly and their style hasn't been significantly updated in eons. Also the back of the orange (Metro Local) 60-footer looks horrid. I don't think the red (Metro Rapid) 60-footers look that bad.

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 1:07 am Post subject:

ECA,

There haven't been updates on the Crowns because they're out of business a good few years already.

They were taken over by a division of General Electric sometime around 1990 but eventually GE saw no great profit and closed down the factory and sold off all the fixtures and such.

Carpenter, another school Bus Manufacturer, did buy the dies but I have know idea what they did with them.

Pictured below is one tough looking Tri Axle Crown Model # A-426-11 built in 1982 and powered by a Detroit 6N-71 250 hp Diesel coupled with an Allison four speed automatic transmission.

Interestingly, many of the Crowns built from way back still run actively and are continuously upgraded with parts readily available from specialty houses.

Because they are built much like transit buses, they are less susceptible to the roll-over situations that we often see with conventional school buses.

Photo courtesy of the Crown Coach Fan site.

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

HwyHaulier · Joined: 16 Dec 2007 Posts: 932 Location: Harford County, MD

Mr "L" -

IMHO, that's the way a school bus should be. As long as there are morons who can't figure why one shouldn't put kids in the less desirable,
lowest cost designs, then run them on class trips and so on out on the "Big Road" runs, the Crown design provided good margins of safety...

................Vern..................

Cyberider · Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 501 Location: Tempe, AZ

I'm not a school bus fan but the Crowns are an exception. Especially a tri-axle with a Detroit Diesel. That's one nice bus. Mr. Green

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 5:05 pm Post subject:

For those of you who may have seen a post I inserted earlier concerning what I thought to be a later model Crown, please be advised that I have removed that entry because it was inaccurate information - the bus was actually a Gillig of very nearly the same design as a Crown.

However, I have reinstated the Gillig photo below (top) for your enjoyment.

Also pictured below (bottom) has to be the most unusual bus I have ever seen and it is a Crown!

I am uncertain as to whether Crown manufactured it or it was fabricated by others.

It is articulated and combines two double decked heavy dual rear axle jobs.

Must have been a sight to see on the road!

Crown photo from Crown/Gillig collection.

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

Hart Bus · Age: 74 Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 1150

Steve Carras · Age: 63 Joined: 05 Mar 2010 Posts: 63

I remember that bus from a few pictures.."Crownbaby site.." I posted on a newsgroup North Cal Bus Fans on it..

I have NO idea if that double deck double lengther IS an actual vehicle, and if it is, HOW many gears it would have. [DEFINITEFLY a ten speed with two speed real axle..I might guess.]