BusTalk

[frankie]

This one defies explanation! A combination of reality and heavy photo-shopping, this TDH-3610 is posed by the "infamous" Hillwood sign. One can have a difficult time distinguishing what is real and what is not, but nevertheless, a head scratcher for sure.

Frankie

Photo source unknown - used for educational purpose only

[Mr. Linsky]

frankie,

Here comes your resident forensic pathologist on this one!

The 'Hillwod' sign on the hill and the 'Greenfield' destination are or were both land development projects in the Plzen, Czech Republic!

The 'Master' beer ad amidships is out of Prague, Czech Republic.

While the bus itself is not the worst copy of a GM Old Look it is by no means of GM heritage and probably made in Russia (in fact, there is so much difference that I really don't know where to begin!).

The placement of the driver's windshield wiper transmission, the standee sashes, the over sized floor vents under the windshield, the odd lights built in under the headlamps, the rear markers that don't match the front bullets and the very odd wheels would all be a very good start!

I could go on and on but I think the point is made here.

BTW; I know of no American property that ever used two different fleet numbers (Except the 'DCers' that were brought up to New York during the '870' crises!).

Also BTW; a little clearer version of your photo attached.

Best Regards,

Mr. 'L'

[bill937ca]

That looks like a virtual image. Pure computerized visual fantasy. The links are web sites on virtual railroading.

http://virtualrailroader.com/

http://alfredbarten.com/

With virtual modeling you can go down city streets from the 1940s and 1950s in a Mack C-45 if you choose and work at it.

[JimmiB]

I'm sure you are correct Bill. The standee windows not only look like a computer drawing, but probably would not be structurally sound. The marker light, wheels and tires and the window sashes are obvious drawings which really show up on Mr. "L"s lightened picture.

[Mr. Linsky]

I'm new at this virtual business so give me a helping hand here;

Am I incorrect when I say that somewhere down the line a real bus was used as a model for the virtual image?

Exactly how does the process work?

Thanks,

Mr. 'L'

[bill937ca]

Driver training simulators are a form of virtual reality. Basically these are video games which allow you to drive a city bus as in the case of City Bus Simulator 2010 - New York. There is usually a set of controls which you control with your mouse or a joy stick and you make decisions on what you do. There is some degree of background but don't expect 100% reality.

Someone has sat down, programmed the game, created visual images from the ground up including surfaces (road or track), vehicles, background and foreground structures and character and brought them to life.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_Bus_Simulator

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_simulation_game

I've tried a Japanese train simulator, but that is it as far as my experience goes.

[Mr. Linsky]

In a shot taken at a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) property (date unknown) we see fleet number BW 134 - a 51 passenger 1950 or 1951 GM Coach Model TDH 5103 and one of 100 originally purchased by the Chicago Motor Coach Company (CMC) but acquired by CTA in 1952 as part of its takeover of that company.

These CMC buses became part of CTA's Boulevard Division and retained their original fleet number's 601 to 650 (1950) and 651 to 700 (1951) but were eventually repainted to CTA's familiar Croydon Cream over Everglades Green livery and received new push open rear doors and custom directional signals (as seen in the scale model below).

# BW134 is viewed readying for the crusher after its second life as a customized service vehicle in CTA's maintenance department.

Photo courtesy of '90mac' and is available at eBay as item #111164182609.
Model photo provided by ST.-PETERSBURG TRAM COLLECTION

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, New York

[Mr. Linsky]

Frankie pointed out something very interesting in a GM Old Look oddity seen in an ad posted on another thread by bill937ca in which the rear of an Air Conditioned 5105 demonstrator is shown with a second illuminated license plate well built into the lower right engine panel as seen in the upper photo.

I must admit that I had never noticed this on any Old Look until now but in perusing my vast photograph department I found at least one other on a 4512 operating for the Allentown Suburban Lines of Allentown, Pa. also shown below.

There were transit companies that required a second license plate such as the Omaha and Council Bluffs Street Railway Company that operated back and forth between Nebraska and Iowa so this second license well was obviously an available extra cost option.

Upper photo thanks to member bill937ca
Lower photo available through 'Vintage-Vault75' on eBay.

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, New York

[Mr. Linsky]

I'm beginning to think that Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) had more work Buses than most properties had buses altogether.

Here's another of their stable of such vehicles in the form of fleet # BW-44 - a 51 passenger 1950 or 1951 GM Coach Model TDH 5103 and one of 100 originally purchased by the Chicago Motor Coach Company (CMC) but acquired by CTA in 1952 as part of its takeover of that company.

Of most unusual notes which can be seen in both images below are the replacement of the original angled windshield with what would be reminiscent of a Crown Coach like configuration, the original CMC engineered front bumper that wraps around the lower panel under the driver's side window and two illuminated destination sign back light bulbs in both images.

The 40 foot long 102 inch wide 5103 can easily be differentiated from its nearly identical successor 5105 by the porcelain GM badge under the windshield and the strips below the cowl of the Diesel fresh air intakes over the rear quarter windows.

A couple of logical questions here would be; why were these buses, which were obviously involved in on street operations, painted in such dark colors instead of eye catching emergency hues and why are their fleet prefixes 'BW' instead of 'WB' (for Work Bus?).

Photos (2) courtesy of '90mac' and are available on eBay as item # 111164182862.

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, New York

[NorthShore]

The bus is a GMC TDH-5502, a model only CMC had. It has wide front door and four pairs of windows between the doors.

[NorthShore]

The bus is a GMC TDH-5502, a model only CMC had. It has wide front door and four pairs of windows between the doors.

[frankie]

[bill937ca]

[Mr. Linsky]

Sorry about the error on BW-44 model - I must have been asleep at the switch!

Regards,

Mr. 'L'

[Mr. Linsky]

We're coming to you once again from the 'Windy City' circa 1970 where we see a freshly painted 1945 or 1946 44 passenger GM Coach Model TD-4506 operating for the Leo Catholic High School of South Chicago but originally purchased by either the Chicago Motor Coach Company (CMC) or Chicago Surface Lines (CSL).

The standout oddity on our focus is the CMC designed replacement bumper that wraps around to the very vulnerable lower panel under the driver's side window.

Leo's bus is seen in school colors standing on the athletic field at South Sangamon and West 79th. Streets.

Leo Catholic High School, founded in 1926, is a private academy catering to no more than 140 students from grades 9 through 12.

Photo courtesy of David Wilson.

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, New York