BusTalk

ripta42 · Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 2:01 pm Post subject:

Thanks! Wow, those rear ends are dreadful.

spiker97 · Joined: 30 Nov 2008 Posts: 2

I believe that it was a Palling product also, I'd have to look it up. DuPonTrolley has done a lot more with different vehicle types but this also looks interesting.

I never knew of the GM Propane demo before. That's a new one on me. I know that GM every now and then would do some experimental or bizarrely unusual stuff, but never knew of them experimenting with Propane power. Probably a way they were trying to get more vehicles in the Chicago market, which always had a lot of propane powered vehicles in that era - even though they dominated the market later with their myriads of 5307's.

Interesting stuff.

ripta42 · Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 9:05 am Post subject:

The GM Old Look/New Look was a gas turbine demonstrator. It was converted to Propane by the Chicagoland Historical Bus Museum, presumably for ease of maintenance and fueling. Also, according to the TDH3501 production list at OMOT, it originally had an Old Look front which was replaced at a later date by GM Engineering (probably a prototype 3301).

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 9:53 pm Post subject:

I would say that a TDH 3501 with a 'New Look' front clip would have been something to see!

I'm wondering whether there's a picture of it somewhere? However, I guess if I haven't come across it already, it may not exist.

Unfortunately, GM was known to destroy all evidence of its experiments so it's unlikely that we'll ever know!

Maybe one of you photo bugs can come up with a shop job that could be a reasonable facsimile!

Mr. 'L'

timecruncher · Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 8:23 am Post subject:

I think I have a photo. The bus is owned by a Chicago-area bus enthusiast, I may have a digital copy at home. I'll have to upload it to my server to post, though.

I'll try and get to it tonight and I'll update this post at that time.

timecruncher

ripta42 · Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 8:49 am Post subject:

From the first page of this thread:

http://www.chbmbus.org/0001.htm

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

I can't seem to open the picture of the "Frankenbus" I referred to several posts back, but I believe this is the bus I was referring to.

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 2:36 pm Post subject:

timecruncher · Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 2:59 pm Post subject:

That's the creature I was going to look for a photo of.

There is far too much ugly on that thing to make it useful whatsoever other than as an aberration of a city bus!

The TDH3501 models that were built during the late sixties were nice-looking buses, with a nod to the art-deco design of GM's original wartime design. They were good-looking buses and held up well with only middlin' maintenance.

The Bus Company (that was their name) in Hamilton, OH, ran some of them over half a million miles before having to do any major maintenance of any kind other than brakes and tire replacement as needed.

What I haven't seen a good photo of are the 3501 and 3714 units that MATS in Omaha has overhauled and use on their downtown circulator.

timecruncher

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 4:01 pm Post subject:

T. C.,

This is the best I can do so far on a MAT 3501 image - but if you give me a little more time I think I can come up with something better!

Enjoy.

Mr. 'L'

ripta42 · Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 4:06 pm Post subject:

Check out the bottom of this page:

18th National Conference on Rural Public and Intercity Bus Transportation, October 19-22, 2008, Omaha

timecruncher · Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 8:35 pm Post subject:

Thanks, Mr. Linsky. There isn't much to be found on these buses. Looks as if at least one is a 3201, I'm pretty sure there are a couple of 3301's and possibly a 3714.

I've seen the bad images on their sorry website. Apparently that's the best we can do from here.

I've not seen a good photo of any of these buses yet. Since I work for a peer transit agency, I even made a formal request to their marketing department for images of these restored buses, and didn't even get a reply.

Says a lot about a transit agency that won't even answer mail from colleagues in the business, eh?

timecruncher

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 3:06 am Post subject:

O. K., you've all asked for it!

This has to really be the extremest of the extreme!

Thanks to NorCal's photo gallery, we see D.C. Transit # 2000 tooling the streets of the nations capital, and comfortably 'air conditioned' to boot as noted by the snow capped lettering under the driver's window.

Of course, # 2000's unique feature is the genuine GM 'New Look' front clip along with what appears to be at least part of a 5300 'silver side' panel with the intake vent still intact.

The spoiler would be the engine cooling screen between the headlamps - but who's looking?

It may be extreme but it's awfully cute!

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

ripta42 · Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 7:16 am Post subject:

I'm completely at a loss for words...