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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 (6,541 Views)
thelemaque87
Transit Fan
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MichaelB
Dec 13 2005, 01:18 PM
Bus 8413 had the larger front destination sign like all the 3000's did. The reason for this is that somewhere in the early 1990's, 8413 was involved in a serious accident along US 422 while deadheading back to Frontier from Royersford after working the 99. When the bus was rebulit, the destination sign was replaced with the newer model same as the 3000's all used. At that same time, the front inside panel above the windshield was repainted from white to black. This was done to reduce glare from the interior lights at night. (In time, all the 8285-8875 & 1301-1325 groups had that panel repainted.)
Hey!!! Back in 1996, I saw Neoplan BD 8413 on Chelten Ave operating on route 26!!! SEPTA must have been doing some assignment changes for NEOPLAN so everyone could get their own personal experience with the entire fleet. Mine was with Southern on Neo AK 8363 on route C going to City Hall. 8363 absolutely roared like a lion!!! Let me tell you.
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CACrafter88bk2504
Transit Historian
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thelemaque87
Sep 11 2010, 11:25 PM
Hey CA, the Neo AK 8289 was a bus that I wish I got on when I was young. I remember that routes R, K, J, and 26 ran out of Comly during the peak hours back in 1996 to 1997(retirement stage). I saw the 8289 ran past me several times but unfortunately, I couldn't hear the engine due to bad timing. I remember I was on Neo CD Transit 8815 (Comly bus) on route K and the 8289 went past me real slow on Chelten Ave. By the way, there was a handful of Neos on Chelten Ave back in the 90s. Do you remember how good the 8289 was? in terms of speed.....how did the engine sound? cuz I never rode on any of the 8200 series Neos that ran out of Comly.
If you got the right driver, a bus like 8289 could go as fast as it wanted to go. The same for 8299.

Actually, Comly eventually lost their remaining Neo AKs by the 4th week of September of 1996. They were mvoed to Frankford. The numbers, as time went on, were:

8289, 8299, 8309, 8314, 8315, 8317, 8322, 8325 through 8328, 8335 through 8337, 8341, 8348, 8354 and 8355. 18 surviving Neo AKs from Comly. 8326 kept it's original front panel(all white, with original signage) and original livery until the very end.

By that time, Southern still had:

8358, 8362, 8363?, 8364?, 8366 through 8383, 8384?, 8385, 8386?, 8389?, 8392 through 8394, 8396, 8402 through 8408 and 8410. 8409 may have been retired sometime before 1996. I spotted this bus on the 7 in June 1994, with everything original. The Southern buses were FAST buses. 8406 and 8410 kept everything as is and orignal until the end. They were mainstays on the G, 2, 5, 7, 12, 17 year round, and the C, 47, 57, 68 and 108 during rush hours. At that time, they ran the newest buses on the 37, which were the Neo EZs and Neo EBs. Keep in mind that Southern still had their Neo CD order(8756-8772, 8780-8788) at that time.

By that time, Frontier still had:

8412 through 8414, 8416-8417, 8419, 8421, 8424 through 8427, 8432 through 8434. 8425 and 8432 got the SEPTA livery in which the bus was all white however the original red blue red with SEPTA logos on both ends of the bus still existed. 8432 got repainted on the outside but not on the inside. 8425 got compeltely overhauled first, then got the enwer livery as time went on, in fact, right before retirement. I rode 8425 on the 97 on Saturday July 20, 1996. 8425 was indeed a Frontier bus that had talent. I was sorry to see them discard the vehicle.
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septa105R5
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Super Transit Expert from Wayne (Main Line) to King of Prussia
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Those 8000's series Neoplan were the best as those has Allison HTB 740 and Allison HTB 747 transmission and you can hear the higher RPM of it as the bus acclerates much higher than those with ZF transmission
Edited by septa105R5, Sep 12 2010, 11:44 AM.
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Tritransit Area
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Gosh I remember those 8000s. They sure could roar! Oh, the days of seeing (and riding) buses like 8698 on the good old 105.

Of course, I must admit that the 3000s were always my favorite. NOTHING could compared to that funky gear shift, and they could roar nicely with the right driver.
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NeoArtic7101
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rest in peace to all AN440's that ran the Philadelphia area streets
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CACrafter88bk2504
Dec 13 2005, 08:06 PM
When the 1980 GMC RTS buses, as well as the 1982 Neo AK transits & subs were delivered, they all had the boxy radio antennas on the roof & they had the round hazard lights on the roof(help get police orange lights) with silver chrome shaping.

Several of the 1983 Neo BD transits had the boxy antennas on the roof(radios) & round hazard lights as well. Most of the Neo BD transit fleet & all of the Neo suburban fleet(BD) had the short square radio atennas on the roof & squarish hazard lights on the roof.

Neo AKs 8326,8406,8410,8419 & 8432 were all retired with their white panels above the windsheild & original hood engine covers. Neo BDs 8456,8468,8472,8491 & 8513, as well as 8547 & 8552 were retired with the engine covers silmilar to those on the Neo DKs.

Neo BM transits 8605,8614,8615,8618,8621,8622,8624,8625,8626,8627,8628,8630,8631,8637,8639,8642,8643,8647,8651,8 w658 were all retired with their original engine hood covers, as was 8660.
8622 also was in the current SEPTA livery and also retired with its original "ripple" engine vent. Last time I rode it was on the 23 from Broad and Erie to Germantown Depot in March 2001.
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NeoArtic7101
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rest in peace to all AN440's that ran the Philadelphia area streets
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Tritransit Area
Sep 12 2010, 07:39 PM
Gosh I remember those 8000s. They sure could roar! Oh, the days of seeing (and riding) buses like 8698 on the good old 105.

Of course, I must admit that the 3000s were always my favorite. NOTHING could compared to that funky gear shift, and they could roar nicely with the right driver.
My favorie Neoplan of all time (besides 7101) was 8394. I used to see that bus all the time on the 23. That bus would roar around that corner from the top of the hill @ Mt. Pleasant to the Acme @ Sedwick... and every time I would see that bus (at age 11) I would hop on and ride it....

I also loved 3284, but from personal experience. I used to go to Emlen and SEPTA "adopted" that school and every field trip, we would have SEPTA charter buses and the school never paid for it. I remember in 1st grade riding (when it was at Germantown) 3436 to the zoo, it was a great ride thru the side streets in Mt. Airy/Germantown and on the "Sure Kill" Expressway. Man those were the days.

I also remember the old yellow roto-meters on some of the Neo's, esp. 3344, which was an oddball to me, but gave Neoplans personality. The 1092 Neoplans all had personality. I love the New Flyers, but nothing compared to the AN440 that ruled the streets of Philadelphia and the surrounding areas. For all the "new school" enthusiasts out there... take it from the old school. Ain't nothing like a Neoplan.
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thelemaque87
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CACrafter88bk2504
Sep 12 2010, 04:51 AM
thelemaque87
Sep 11 2010, 11:25 PM
Hey CA, the Neo AK 8289 was a bus that I wish I got on when I was young. I remember that routes R, K, J, and 26 ran out of Comly during the peak hours back in 1996 to 1997(retirement stage). I saw the 8289 ran past me several times but unfortunately, I couldn't hear the engine due to bad timing. I remember I was on Neo CD Transit 8815 (Comly bus) on route K and the 8289 went past me real slow on Chelten Ave. By the way, there was a handful of Neos on Chelten Ave back in the 90s. Do you remember how good the 8289 was? in terms of speed.....how did the engine sound? cuz I never rode on any of the 8200 series Neos that ran out of Comly.
If you got the right driver, a bus like 8289 could go as fast as it wanted to go. The same for 8299.

Actually, Comly eventually lost their remaining Neo AKs by the 4th week of September of 1996. They were mvoed to Frankford. The numbers, as time went on, were:

8289, 8299, 8309, 8314, 8315, 8317, 8322, 8325 through 8328, 8335 through 8337, 8341, 8348, 8354 and 8355. 18 surviving Neo AKs from Comly. 8326 kept it's original front panel(all white, with original signage) and original livery until the very end.

By that time, Southern still had:

8358, 8362, 8363?, 8364?, 8366 through 8383, 8384?, 8385, 8386?, 8389?, 8392 through 8394, 8396, 8402 through 8408 and 8410. 8409 may have been retired sometime before 1996. I spotted this bus on the 7 in June 1994, with everything original. The Southern buses were FAST buses. 8406 and 8410 kept everything as is and orignal until the end. They were mainstays on the G, 2, 5, 7, 12, 17 year round, and the C, 47, 57, 68 and 108 during rush hours. At that time, they ran the newest buses on the 37, which were the Neo EZs and Neo EBs. Keep in mind that Southern still had their Neo CD order(8756-8772, 8780-8788) at that time.

By that time, Frontier still had:

8412 through 8414, 8416-8417, 8419, 8421, 8424 through 8427, 8432 through 8434. 8425 and 8432 got the SEPTA livery in which the bus was all white however the original red blue red with SEPTA logos on both ends of the bus still existed. 8432 got repainted on the outside but not on the inside. 8425 got compeltely overhauled first, then got the enwer livery as time went on, in fact, right before retirement. I rode 8425 on the 97 on Saturday July 20, 1996. 8425 was indeed a Frontier bus that had talent. I was sorry to see them discard the vehicle.
Do you remember that fading "Popvision" advertisement on the back of 8289 before it retired? I used to wonder how come it never changed like all the other Neos.
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Van2006ko
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For those who haven't checked around the site:

http://www.philadelphiatransitvehicles.info/history/neoplanhistory.php
http://www.philadelphiatransitvehicles.info/history/neoplanhistory_II.php
http://www.philadelphiatransitvehicles.info/history/neoplanhistory_III.php
http://www.philadelphiatransitvehicles.info/history/neoplanhistory_IV.php
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septafan
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Da Real deal Bus Driver @ Southern
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Hey van and Tritransit imagine if i got my hands on a neo, hmmmmmm! B)
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thelemaque87
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septa105R5
Sep 12 2010, 11:38 AM
Those 8000's series Neoplan were the best as those has Allison HTB 740 and Allison HTB 747 transmission and you can hear the higher RPM of it as the bus acclerates much higher than those with ZF transmission
Which Neos do you remember had the HTB740 and HTB747?
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