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A Little History About The Neoplan Order; This will be feature on the site soon...
Topic Started: Dec 10 2005, 11:47 AM (6,540 Views)
Van2006ko
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The Neoplan order was the largest order in history of buses not just got septa but for Neoplan back in 1982. The order was made by Penn Dot for a massive order of 1000 Neoplans set to be used state wide. These Neoplan's were the An440 model, with SEPTA getting about 574 Neoplans out of this order. SEPTA was still used the buy Neoplan rule, and purchased in 1984 the 35 foot version of the Neoplan An440, and also in 1986 for placed a order of Neoplan this time sporting the four speed ZF transmission; a total 492 Neoplans were received in that order from 1986-1989.

Over the years in order SEPTA changes their specifications on their new bus order each year. The Neoplan AK’s 8275-8434 which was SEPTA’s first order of Neoplans had longitudes seating meaning all there seats face towards the aisle. A back door with a wheelchair ramp, which was very problematic, also sported a nine liter 6v92TA 253 MUI/Allison HTB 740 or 748 package. The 1983 order of Neoplan had these following changes. The seating arrangements on the BD order were single seating on the right of the bus RED and Blue hard plastic seats on the city transit units unlike the AK order. Plus after the problems with the AK’s SEPTA decided to leave out the W/C on the back door. As for the BM/BP/CD 1984-1985 order changes not much in the way of changes beside the transmission the exact type was a Allison but model is still questionable. As for the 1986-87 Neoplan DK-EB Order they feature ZF ECOMAT transmissions and a 6v92TA 253 DDEC engine. 1988 order SEPTA specified having wheel chair on the rear door and the 89 (EZ) changes has stain floors.

By the Early 1990’s, there was 1092 Neoplans that were in service. Making SEPTA the largest Transit authority in North America with mainly Neoplans. These buses dominated the streets of Philadelphia in the 1980's-late 1990's. Today there are about 100 of these units left in service. These units will be phrased out completely by the year 2007. by the trackless trolley order. In conclusion, it looks like the long Neoplan Era is Philadelphia is finally ending over 23 years.
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Mark
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Some corrections:

1] The AK's fleet numbers started with 8285 and ended with 8434. Deliveries started in the spring of 1982, and ended in late summer of 1982.

The CTD buses [8285-8410] had logitudal seating on the left side. The Suburbans [8411-34]has the longitudal seating in the rear on both sides.

The contract for the "Pennliner" buses was bid on in the spring on 1982, and was awarded by PennDOT in the summer of '82.

The "Pennliner" buses were 8435-8584, 8601-8875, and the AN435's 1301-25. SEPTA's total was 450 buses. Pittsburgh' PAT had 410 buses, and the rest was distributed to all of the smaller authorities.

Pennliner buses were delivered from spring 1983 thru winter 1985.
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CACrafter88bk2504
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The 1985 neo CD models(8726-8875) were delivered starting from November 1984 through March 1985. I remember the plate for 8875. It was manufactured on February 24, 1985. 8875 was the highest numbered of the CDs & it was a suburban at that. I rode this bus on the 95 from King of Prussia to Plymouth Meeting Mall on Saturday February 24,1996, on it's 11th birthday.

I also rode 8875 on a 99 to King of Prussia on Saturday August 24, 1996. 8875 started at Victory then went to Frontier when the 124/125 came about & stayed at Frontier until the summer of 1997, when it went back to Victory. 8875 was retired in the fall of 2001. I last rode 8875 on th e 117 to Granite Run on Tuesday July 24,2001 at 7pm from 15th Street in Chester. 8875 wore the current SEPTA livery upon retirement.
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Van2006ko
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CA, and Mark thank you for the information. I will revise it within the next few days, Than will upload this on to the site. '

Any more infomation to spear about the DK's-EZ's deilviry dates?


CA, you mention that there were several Neoplans that received three speed transmission. Do you know which ones received them?

As you can tell, finding information history about the Neoplans or about any other history on the that runed in Philadelphia is a pretty rare thing.
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CACrafter88bk2504
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1984 Neo BM transit model 8638 had a 5 speed automatic transmission.

8684 sounded like a Neo BD model. 8839 & 8840 for quite some time had 3 speed automatic transmissions.8846 had the dark grey stain floors, similar to the ones on the EZs.

I forgot. 8616 had a 3 speed automatic transmission for some time however with all of the aformentioned buses(except for 8684 & 8638), they had their trannies restored to 4 speed automatics upon retirement. 8846 was normal.
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CACrafter88bk2504
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The 1982 Neo AK transit, 8289, had a 3 speed automatic trannie upon retirement. 8289 & 8299 had the Neo DK & EB zf trannie shifters on the dashborads(buttons).
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CACrafter88bk2504
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1983 Neo BD sub 8563 had the 5 speed automatic trannie but 8563 had this feature where it it either completely skipped 3rd gear or it spent a short time in 3rd gear. If any of you ever rode the 8563, you know what I mean. I saw this bus mainly on the 105 but 8563 wasn't anything for rookies to play with.
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CACrafter88bk2504
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1983 Neo BD transits 8500 & 8524 had 5 speed autos but they dragged and whined in 2nd gear, then rushed through 3rd gear.
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CACrafter88bk2504
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Add 8512 to that list.
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Van2006ko
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CACrafter88bk2504
Dec 12 2005, 07:04 PM
1983 Neo BD sub 8563 had the 5 speed  automatic trannie but 8563 had this feature where it it either completely skipped 3rd gear or it spent a short time in 3rd gear. If any of you ever rode the 8563, you know what I mean. I saw this bus mainly on the 105 but 8563 wasn't anything for rookies to play with.

Oh yeah I think I have recall riding such a bus on the 105..I was pretty young than...

I recall riding a bus like that on the 103 once...the transmsision sounded so unusual...
There was another suburban bus which keeped in 1st gear for to long,.,,


That trends to happen when there is something wrong wit hit's torque lock up convector..

There is a nabi at Callowhill that sounds like it has a 3 speed transmssion; however, it's the torque convertor not locking up.

Ca, do you remember 5007 or 5272 was like before it's overhaul? Remember what it sounded like in the shifts?
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