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The 2007 Bus Roadeo; Who is going?
Topic Started: Aug 6 2007, 11:35 AM (2,628 Views)
philabob1
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I was also there for a short time. I was a little disappointed that other properties didn't send any buses, as in the past, but it was nice to see 800 there as well as the two representatives of the historic fleet.

I'm still puzzled by 4300's 'parentage'. A number of Roadeos ago, 4185 appeared as the 'museum' new look, and 4300 is suspiciously too much like 4185 to me in several respects. 4300 originally was saved to be the crew bus for Red Arrow rail crews and was painted orange (4459 was given the same treatment when it retired from revenue service), and one other 4300-series bus as I recall was saved for a similar purpose.

Why I think 4300 is not 4300 is this. The street-side center window on the group that included 4300 (the first SEPTA bus purchase, 4250-4334 and 1200-1214) was one-piece. The only new-looks that had the openable center window were in the 4150-4249 group (the last PTC purchase). Those below 4150 had an emergency door at that location, those 4250-up had the sealed window.

Other oddities are less obvious. The side sign box has been removed. The interior color is sand, used on the '74 Flxibles only - the GM's always used the bluish green. The front dash color (maroon) is not what the GM's had (I can't recall the GM's color, though). The seats are oddballs - the '74 Flx's had this color pattern (brown seat, sand frame) but they were all hard-plastic 'cushions' by then, as I recall. The seating arrangement is different from PTC/SEPTA GM's - the wheelwell seats in the rear were two-seaters with two cross seats either side just behind the center door and one either side in front of the back bench. 4300 has no front and rear numbers (front would be in the white 'lip' under the windshield, rear would be between the license plate recesses, with another mounted on a plate inside the rear window). The 'Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority' lettering was in the gold area just below the window rather than in the belt rail. The destination card guide was a smaller card in the inside of the side sign glass. The inside front sign cover is different - the 'cranks' were oriented toward the curb side to match the route number/destination sign split area (on 4300, the cranks/view glass are in the center, which would be more appropriate for a two-curtain half-and-half arrangement).

I'm not criticizing as I'm glad SEPTA saved one of these buses, whatever liberties were taken. I wish it would have kept one of the green old looks, but... One fellow I spoke with at the event noted that there is a private owner in NE Phila who bought a Davy Crockett and is restoring it. I'd like to get a peek at it.
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TRANSIT_FREAK
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Ha next time we can set a meeting place i am really looking forward to meeting you guys.
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Tritransit Area
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philabob1
Sep 15 2007, 04:56 PM
I was also there for a short time.  I was a little disappointed that other properties didn't send any buses, as in the past, but it was nice to see 800 there as well as the two representatives of the historic fleet.

Quote:
 
I was only there for about 45 minutes this morning. Its a shame we didn't set some type of meeting place. I do think I saw atleast one of this site's admins around the bus area. TT 800 looks pretty cool. Not a single NABI or one of the old Neos.


What? That's pathetic! First, there are FOUR historic buses - there should have also been a Flxible new look (6569) and a Volvo B-10M artic (7011). I noticed the last couple of times I rode by Germantown on the 23, I didn't see any of the historic buses. As I didn't take the time to walk around like I used to, I just figured they were in a place that wasn't obvious to see them. I hope they didn't do something stupid, like get rid of them. I did hear that 7011 was removed from Allegheny to Midvale (scrap yard?)

Not a Neoplan or even a NABI? What's up with that? That's RIDICULOUS! I'm sure one of the divisions could have brought a NABI, even Frontier (which is usually responsible for the Champion). I mean, they brought a Trackless Trolley down there for crying out loud (yes, I know it has a diesel engine, but its the principle)!

Also, as the Neoplan is in its last year, you'd think they would bring one down as some sentimental thing. What, they aren't thinking of restoring any for a historic fleet? ARE YOU CRAZY [SEPTA]? The Neoplans are/were the HEART AND SOUL of the SEPTA bus fleet!!!!! They WERE SEPTA! To just toss them aside would be an offense to the recent history of SEPTA, not to mention a personal slap in the face/punch in the gut to me...

I can't believe not even DART First State or Greyhound showed up this year. Did the Philadelphia School District come by? I'm guessing not...somebody used to come by with this crown bus (why i never got pictures of it i'll never understand).

At least 800 showed up. I wish I could've gone inside to test out that rear door - I think it is automatically passenger operated (due to that big yellow hand on the door).

Besides that, I'm not even disappointed I didn't make it. SEPTA's Roadeos used to be so good, something i'd look forward to every year. i'll never forget my first two years, where they had various properties visit, including motorcoach operators such as Starr and Krapfs, and of course, Greyhound itself. I remember a few years ago this guy even brought his restored DC Transit (or was it A&W) GMC Fishbowl. It was painted to its original colors, but I was delighted to learn that it used to run out of my home division in DC area, Montgomery. It was quite nice signing it for my home routes down there- I think there are pictures in MSN groups.

As for the pictures, please consider adding them to the photogallery. All you have to do is post those URLs in the URL upload, and the pics will be uploaded from there.

All in all, I'm really disappointed. This Roadeo used to be one of the best things SEPTA ever did - redeeming factor, if you will. Now with this and the recent fare "restructuring" it's no wonder I have so little respect for the agency nowadays. Oh well, at least it has many modes to keep me entertained...to the trolleys tomorrow! :)
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TRANSIT_FREAK
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these are some great pictures man i really love 800
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TheOneCalledA1
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Here are the two historic buses:

http://www.fgmgaming.com/septa/09-15-07_0927.jpg
http://www.fgmgaming.com/septa/09-15-07_0928.jpg

The only interesting buses there were 800, 4462, and 4300.

All photos of the Roadeo uploaded.
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TRANSIT_FREAK
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will the buses be there tommorow where will 800, and the RTS be ? is anybody going picture hunting
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Jayayess1190
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TheOneCalledA1
Sep 15 2007, 08:27 PM
Here are the two historic buses:

http://www.fgmgaming.com/septa/09-15-07_0927.jpg
http://www.fgmgaming.com/septa/09-15-07_0928.jpg

The only interesting buses there were 800, 4462, and 4300.

All photos of the Roadeo uploaded.

Could you please upload the videos to Youtube or Google Video, the files won't play for me.
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TheOneCalledA1
Too smart for you idiots
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http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=36...184442326&hl=en

My first video won't load for me.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2...325675136&hl=en

Hmm. Also, turn your volume up to hear.
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Jayayess1190
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Thanks!
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philabob1
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Quote:
 
As for the pictures, please consider adding them to the photogallery. All you have to do is post those URLs in the URL upload, and the pics will be uploaded from there.


I only store photos on my hard drive. Is there a way I can e-mail them to you or another way you can walk me through to get the photos to the gallery? Thanks.
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