BusTalk

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 3:39 am Post subject:

Even though the focus of the below photo is standing in a typical winter snow scene in the 'windy city', the weather has no relevance here but the oddities seen on fleet # 9219 certainly do.

# 9219 - a 1976 53 passenger GM Coach Model T8H-5307A and one of 1837 likenesses numbered in the 1000's, 7000's, and 9000's delivered to the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) in increments between 1972 and 1977, featured all sealed windows including the driver's side sash with only a custom made showcase type slider in the lower portion.

I wonder whether the sealed windows were meant to keep the cabin warmer in the winter or cooler in the summer but, in any event, it certainly reflected the confidence that the CTA had in GM Air Conditioning equipment at the time.

While the CTA's 1837 T8H-5307's might have been an all time record order for GM, it certainly was the largest of any one general production model and represented nearly half of the 3939 built.

Photo courtesy of '4509bus' and is available on eBay as item # 350972459434.

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

frankie · Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 6:54 am Post subject:

buslist · Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 1:40 pm Post subject:

buslist · Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 1:49 pm Post subject:

Dave Dearstyne posted this photo of what appears to be a 4521, with the oddity of a double wide rear exit door. Don't think I have ever seen that feature on a 35' 'bowl before.

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 3:39 pm Post subject:

buslist,

Now, Hudson Bus is about the best GM New Look oddity I've seen so far!

Thanks for sharing.

BTW; I expect to be in London in late April to visit cousins out in Southend on Sea and figured that if your in town maybe we can do lunch.

Many regards,

Mr. 'L'

roymanning2000 · Age: 75 Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 198

In the mid-sixties, the MBTA in Boston purchased a group of TDH4519's with the double-wide exit door. I'd be willing to bet that this Hudson bus is one of those. A number of Boston-area operators acquired MBTA fishbowls then they were retired.

Hudson, with several operating divisions in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine, had a varied and interesting fleet of buses. They were always a favorite of mine.

Roy

RailBus63 · Moderator Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 1063

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 4:46 pm Post subject:

More on Chicago's sealed window New Looks;

When I first looked at # 9219 above, I did notice what appeared to be a slightly larger glass (vertically) in the aft most passenger window but chalked it up to possibly an optical illusion.

However, in the recent find of another of CTA's like 9000's seen below, my original suspicions seem to be confirmed and made even more so by the fact that the sash in question appears to be hanging ajar.

I've searched my photographic library and found only one or two similar examples operating for other companies and am left to wonder why this oddity existed unless it was deemed as an emergency exit in lieu of the fact that their were no formal emergency doors and in spite of the fact that all passenger windows were of kick out design.

New photo below courtesy of '4509bus' and is available at eBay as item # 370998636695.

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

frankie · Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 11:58 pm Post subject:

It could very well be one of those "flapping" windows left open by passengers for heat relief that I mentioned seven threads above.

Frankie

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 2:33 am Post subject:

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2014 3:00 pm Post subject:

Seen on a very warm summer day in the late fifties in downtown New Britain, Connecticut with a heading of Osgood Heights is fleet # 26 - a 1953 37 passenger GM Coach modeled as a TDH 3714 operating for the New Britain Transportation Company, Inc.

#26's original owner, Wagner Service Company (a smaller property operating in the same geographical area), ordered the bus as their #10 and with under seat heaters in lieu of a Thermo-Matic system (quite unusual for operation in the Northeast).

The oddity here though are the two mysterious blue lights over the destination sign that were seen on all buses ordered for intra state service in Connecticut in that era - to date, I have no explanation as to what purpose they served.

The New Britain Transportation Company (affectionately known as NBT and now a division of CT Transit) was founded in 1920 and has continuously served its Nutmeg State namesake city and the surrounding towns of Plainville, Berlin and Bristol as well as portions of Meriden, Cromwell, Newington and Farmington.

Photo courtesy of the Motor Bus Society

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

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frankie · Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2014 8:01 pm Post subject:

Free-transfer · Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2014 12:00 pm Post subject:

Frankie is on to something here...I'm going to go with green lights.

(2) Any vehicle accommodating fifteen or fewer handicapped
students may use a flashing red light or lights during the time
such vehicle is stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging
such handicapped students, any motor bus may carry a purple
light or lights, any interstate public service vehicle may carry a
green light or lights, any taxicab may carry a lunar white light or
lights, and any interstate commercial motor vehicle may display
green identification lights, in front thereof, as the commissioner
may permit.

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 3:00 pm Post subject:

Firstly, let me apologize for placing the above New Britain oddity in this 'New Look' thread instead of in GM Old Look Oddities - I must be losing my mind!

Anyway, I'm on the right track here in presenting fleet # 826 - an early eighties 5300 series 53 passenger GMDD (Canadian) Coach for which I find no available production information on and which operated for the Green Bay Transit Company of Green Bay, Wisconsin.

As can be readily seen, # 826 has been altered to include a wheelchair access just forward of the rear door along with a square sash at its side to replace the original panoramic slider.

The all white body with the wide blue strip under the window belt trailing a narrower strip across the front clip is very reminiscent of the last New York MTA New Look livery.

Credit within frame.

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

frankie · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 3:27 pm Post subject:

Nice find Mr. L! That square sash looks like the same one used on the emergency door from the street side. All in all, very functional and it doesn't look bad at all.

Another oddity about this bus is the blue side panel containing Green Bay Transit that overlaps the bottom of the half moon window. Usually the bottom of that window is in line with the bottom of the top door windows.

Frankie