BusTalk

MaBSTOA 15 · Age: 70 Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 1077

This is a Flxible issued flyer

frankie · Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 11:34 pm Post subject:

What is not mentioned is that all the 45 passenger buses plus the smaller capacity Flxettes were built in Evergreen, Alabama after Flxible's purchase of the Southern Coach plant. All Evergreen built Flxibles are distinguishable by their single headlights.

Frankie

roymanning2000 · Age: 76 Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 198

Back in the days when the Ohio Museum of Transportation had a discussion forum like this one, there was a discussion about the length of these buses. I am certain they were 35-footers but others insisted they were shorter. Since the ad states these were 45-passenger, I believe I was right about the 35-foot length.

Can anyone here verify the length of Avenue B's Flxibles? They only bought five in one order.

Roy

frankie · Last edited by frankie on Wed Sep 20, 2017 12:23 am; edited 13 times in total

frankie · Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 9:21 pm Post subject:

Here the example of the Avenue B 33 foot Flxible - a mirror image of the curb side. Below it is the driver's side of the shorter 30 footer. Unlike the curb side, the driver's side windows are full size evenly spaced:

roymanning2000 · Age: 76 Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 198

Frankie,

Thanks for the reply. I know what you're saying about the windows. I know the 35-foot Flxibles acquired by Dayton's City Transit Co. had one large and small window aft of the exit door. But the Avenue B buses were built in Evergreen, AL and buses built there had some differences from later ones built in Loudonville.

It seems strange to me that Avenue B would have bought 33-foot buses and then jammed 45 seats in them. Also, Cleveland bought 33-footers in the same year and the model numbers are completely different from the Avenue B buses.

I'm not arguing. Not completely convinced, though. I'm bullheaded like that sometimes. Very Happy

Again, thanks for the reply.

Roy

frankie · Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2017 1:22 pm Post subject:

Roy, one minor correction on my part. The smallest 30 footer should be 31 feet. As for the 33 footer, the original ad is in error as the actual number of seats is 38-41 depending if it has a rear door or not. Not 45 seats as quoted in the original ad.

The attachment below shows another original ad for the 33 footer including the proper number of seats.

I'm also attaching a specification chart of the Flxible new look showing length, passengers (seats) and model numbers. Courtesy of Dr. Ebert's book "Flxible - A History of the BUs and the Company" - Page 230.

Great discussion.

Frankie

MaBSTOA 15 · Age: 70 Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 1077

As New look production continued, Flxible updated the style of their buses both structureally and cosmetically unlike GM who simply updated their buses cosmetically. Leaving the exterior appearance the same from the 5301 to 5310 and the 4516-4523.

The buses compared to the Avenue B model are not the same dimensions. The updated version of the 35 foot; 45 passenger had a small window added to either side at the rear end. This made the bus, in my opinion, UGLY! it was not symmetrical like the GM buses. The Avenue B models were pleasant to look at.

After researching all available photos I can confirm that the Avenue B buses were in deed 35 feet/45 passenger buses!

The quickest way to confirm is to look at the pillar between the first and second windows. The pillar in the 35 footers was wider; in the shorter models the pillar is narrower. See the photos below.

The first photo is a 35 footer; the second photo is a 33 footer

MaBSTOA 15 · Age: 70 Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 1077

Here is another view of the Avenue B Flxible 35 footer/45 passengers.

The second photo shows a close-up of the stenciled information behind the front wheel.

MaBSTOA 15 · Age: 70 Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 1077

And another look at the Flxible 35 footer with air conditioning

traildriver · Joined: 26 Mar 2011 Posts: 2488 Location: South Florida

Didn't they build one even smaller...I think it was called the Flxette...?

MaBSTOA 15 · Age: 70 Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 1077

Shame that none of these Avenue B Flxibles are around. They would be a nice and rare addition to the Transit Museum fleet.

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

Many years ago the Town of Huntington bought 11 Baby Flx's numbered 201 -211. The last one disposed of was number 210. It was sold to a family who lived on the South Shore of Long Island. They took the bus to their farm in PA.

I had a picture of the bus in its new home, but can't locate it. Not sure if this is the only Baby Flx preserved.

MaBSTOA 15 · Age: 70 Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 1077

Speaking of preserving an Avenue B here is a perfect example rusting away somewhere in Pennsylvania.
It is a Mack C-45, number 414, ex-Bee Line

MaBSTOA 15 · Age: 70 Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 1077

a few more views...