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LBDboater
Advanced Member
USA
279 Posts |
 Posted - 09/30/2007 : 06:02:29 AM
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| Here in Bedford County we have been all Thomas since at least 1990. Talk about manufacturing loyalty. We also have Sonny Merryman right here in town. Actually, we've been Thomas since '86. |
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IC RE 1629
Top Member
United States
5097 Posts |
Posted - 09/30/2007 : 3:49:06 PM
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Well former Fauquier County bus 101 is for sale in Amissville, VA. It's a 1990 Thomas International with a manual tranny and hydraulic brakes. Only 6 seats still remain in the bus. The bus is in pretty good shape, no visible rust or damage. Only damage I saw was a small dent in a rub rail on the driver's side. The bus is selling for $3000 dollars.
I took photos of the bus today. Sorry, no interior pics, the bus was locked. |
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IC RE 1629
Top Member
United States
5097 Posts |
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bsaund09
Top Member
USA
609 Posts |
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bsaund09
Top Member
USA
609 Posts |
Posted - 10/04/2007 : 6:16:40 PM
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| Well, I am going to answer my own question about newport news i went through the history auctions and found severval buses from the 80s on there being sold in 02 and up. nice pics to. |
keep those buses rolling
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/schoolbushistory |
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IC-RE
Top Member
USA
4117 Posts |
Posted - 10/04/2007 : 8:32:12 PM
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| Today I was on Campus (GMU) and Williams Bus Lines BRAND new Thomas C2 drove by me. It was bus 17, it was the first C2 that I have actually liked the looks of!!! It was so new that it even had Temporary tags!!!! It also has warning lamp visors on it |
 bus 1980, a 2008 IC RE 300 for Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax, Virginia. |
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2006bbvision
Senior Member
USA
107 Posts |
Posted - 10/04/2007 : 8:40:46 PM
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| Wow I can remember riding on at least 3 of those buses listed on there, it is so sad to see the RE'S goes I just wish they would keep them in service for 2 more years. they are only 93-94's |
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IC RE 1629
Top Member
United States
5097 Posts |
Posted - 10/06/2007 : 06:51:25 AM
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A nice Loudoun CE:
http://flickr.com/photos/kellyweist/1483681886/
I love the different font used for lettering the bus. It looks really nice. I used to have photos of two of the full size CE's with this lettering, but I lost those photos. |
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poor_driver
Senior Member
162 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2007 : 09:57:16 AM
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Chesterfield over the years have had Amtran and then it look like they went to mostly Thomas from about 1994-2006. I went through Midlothian the other day and saw that they are now purchasing IC's CE and Thomas c2's. I thought this was quite strange considering around here we consider Chesterfield county to be the thomas vista capital. It was kinda strange seeing CHESTERFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS on the side of an IC CE instead of a thomas.
After they stop making the vista they started buying the Thomas EF, but now that i'm seeing the C2's and the CE's, i guess the transit style buses are on their way out. I can't help but wonder how Sonny Merryman is feeling knowing that most of the bigger school districts are going to either the IC or the bbvision. They are still quite a few up in nothern va getting them and the smaller counties here and there. I wonder.. |
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poor_driver
Senior Member
162 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2007 : 03:05:59 AM
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YET Another sighting
As of October 9, 2007 i saw that chesterfieid has quite a few 78 pass visions also..I guess they're trying them all out to see who they will stay with for the next 10 years or so forth. |
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pbfreak30
Senior Member
USA
171 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2007 : 1:17:11 PM
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| well around here sonny is getting all the action, all the counties right near here(bedford,Campbell, and Amherst) are all getting thomas's |
ARROW transportation RP..the best out there! |
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bsaund09
Top Member
USA
609 Posts |
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BusFreak
Top Member
USA
798 Posts |
Posted - 10/14/2007 : 10:51:22 PM
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Went down to Chesapeake this past weekend (Indian River High School), and saw a TON of area buses! I saw chesapeake's new and old(not as new) visions for the first time, and it amazes me how diverse Virginia fleets are! Chesapeake was represented with a variety of visions, both old(er) and new, which is odd to me, because they have been all Thomas ERs since the early 90s up through two years ago! I only saw one chesapeake ER, which was the newer model.
Newport News had a little bit of everything there, except for what I am used to seeing from them (the TC REs). They had a few Visions, some IC CEs, some Thomas EFs, and a few AmTran Genesis. Something about their fleet I never noticed was a badge on the back of every bus that says "State Law Stop..." I have never seen that on any other Virginia public school buses! When did that start for Newport News?
Virginia Beach was also represented well with a TON of every one of their generations Thomas FS-65s. I also saw one of their 93 Blue Bird Internationals, which I had thought were nearing retirment by now! They are SOLID buses though, and it doesn't surprise me that they are still rolling. Tallwood HS actually pulled in with quite a few buses, including a special ed bus! I have never seen a short or lift bus on a field trip not involving a special ed student, but this was a short AND lift bus (98 Blue Bird International).
I also noticed quite a few Thomas ERs (MVP and HDX) from districts who have always had bare bone conventionals, like York County and Isle of Wight County. I'm guessing that these were bought as "trip buses," because they were spected out fairly well with luggage bays, etc. Something interesting that i only see in Virginia are rear engine transit buses with only ONE roof hatch! Arlington County has a bunch, as do most of the districts in southern Virginia! Nottoway has a beautiful, maroon Thomas HDX activity bus VERY well spected with only one hatch. To me, the second hatch adds to the safety.
NC had a bunch of activity buses represented, including the new Currituck County C2 (pictured on School Bus Central). Also seen for the first time was Elizabeth City's late 90s Thomas ER (not MVP) activity buses! I had never seen a transit activity bus in North Carolina before, as they usually share the same basic specifications as the state bid. These were pretty big buses too, looking to be either 84 or 90 pax.
It's always interesting to go to fall band functions, because you always get to see a huge variety of buses from the state. It's cool to see what everyone else's fleet is up to these days. |
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bsaund09
Top Member
USA
609 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2007 : 7:27:37 PM
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| Good hunting there BusFreak it is a cool thing to see when you havent seen them in a while like that. Do you remember which '93 you saw from va. beach? Tallwood is transporting a special needs student to the band competitions this year.The '93s are probaly our best spares on the line i really dont care much for the 95s and the 94s are still widely assigned onto regular routes as the beach continues to add drivers to the "standby list".Chesapeake still had right many Fords left the new ones they got will most likely send them to the spare line.I didnt see anything odd at Salems event most of the buses were the same as we see every week I guess TOB circuit doesnt allow much variety. |
keep those buses rolling
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/schoolbushistory |
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BusFreak
Top Member
USA
798 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2007 : 9:12:27 PM
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Brian,
I wanna say that the 93 was 193 from Tallwood, but I could be wrong. I really diddn't look at the numbers. It was quite intersting though! Man, I'm starting to miss that area, although I do think that transit ERs would have taken off better in the area had the shop mechanics been more open-minded. The type Ds in this area are starting to live up to their potential!
Salem and TOB have a long history together...but you're right...the circuit doesn't allow much variety anymore! |
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722
Senior Member
United States
129 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2007 : 6:10:10 PM
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Arlington County specifications require "Two" hatches on all school buses. There are about 7 buses that have this oddity in their fleet.
If you notice, Arlington has two hatches even on it's 42 & 54 passenger special needs buses. I agree, two hatches is always better than one, especially when evacuating special needs students. In an emergency that would require this hatches to be used, time is of the essence.
Maybe in the future, two hatches will become the state requirement on larger buses. But until then the DOT formula on the required number of exits will be the norm. Fairfax's right hand emergency door is a option but they use two hatches in the roof also, if I am correct.
Did you know, that several 1996 model 66-passenger conventionals had side and rear emegency doors along with one hatch to meet the DOT formula ?. Look around you will find them. I have seen several Blue Birds built this way. |
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BusFreak
Top Member
USA
798 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2007 : 11:36:03 PM
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| Every 95 64+ pax school bus I've ever seen has a side e-door. Virginia Beach actually has two generations of these buses, Blue Bird Internationals purchased in the spring of 1995, while the second purchased in early fall of 1995 also includes the roof hatch. The first 95s did not have the roof hatch! |
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IC RE 1629
Top Member
United States
5097 Posts |
Posted - 10/18/2007 : 08:13:41 AM
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I'm trying to piece together a fleet history for Loudoun County, much like I did for Fairfax County. Could anyone help? Here is what I have so far:
1995 Thomas International
1996 Thomas International
1997 Thomas Saf-T-Liner MVP ER
1997 Thomas Minotour
1998 Thomas International
1998 AmTran RE
1998 Blue Bird TC/2000 RE
2000 AmTran RE
2000 Thomas Minotour
2001 Thomas Minotour
2001 Thomas Saf-T-Liner MVP ER
2001 AmTran RE
2002 IC RE
2002 Thomas Saf-T-Liner HDX
2002 Mid Bus Guide
2003 IC RE
2003 Thomas Minotour
2003 Thomas Saf-T-Liner HDX
2004 IC RE
2004 Thomas Minotour
2004 Thomas Saf-T-Liner HDX
2005 IC RE
2005 Thomas Minotour
2006 Thomas Saf-T-Liner C2
2006 Thomas Saf-T-Liner HDX
2008 IC CE
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ICBuses
Active Member
United States
15 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2007 : 06:09:38 AM
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Bit of a correction here, Thomas and Internationals are 2 different types of buses. 3 main manufacturers are Thomas, IC (International) and Blue Bird.
quote:
Originally posted by IC-RE
I have seen several buses when I travel towards west Virginia, I know in Nelson County they have late 90's Thomas Internationals spec'ed to bare minimum, and most likely with mannuel transmissions and mannuel doors. it is a whole different scene here in Fairfax, we spec our buses amazing! Same thing next door in Loundon and In Arlington.
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"When you cut me I bleed School Bus Yellow with Black lines in it." GH |
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busgeek++
Advanced Member
United States
253 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2007 : 07:38:38 AM
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| He means a Thomas bus on an International Chassis. |
Buses are not a way of life, they are life |
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bsaund09
Top Member
USA
609 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2007 : 08:41:03 AM
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| Does anyone know if the rear stop arm has been legally approved on Va owned school buses I thought I heard where they did. Does anyone know about the new speed allowance on interstate travel now for Va own school buses? |
keep those buses rolling
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/schoolbushistory |
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disneynuts
Advanced Member
USA
220 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2007 : 08:49:32 AM
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Buses may travel up to 60 MPH on roads that the speed limit is 60 MPH or above.
The rear stop sign is an option. |
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IC RE 1629
Top Member
United States
5097 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2007 : 11:06:18 AM
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IC-RE and I went to Loudoun's main lot in Leesburg and got many great photos! We weren't able to get many interior photos this time. Lots of C2's and CE's in the Loudoun fleet now. Also got pics of two BE's (626 and 678).
Also, anyone want to respond to this?
quote:
Originally posted by IC RE 1629
I'm trying to piece together a fleet history for Loudoun County, much like I did for Fairfax County. Could anyone help? Here is what I have so far:
1995 Thomas International
1996 Thomas International
1997 Thomas Saf-T-Liner MVP ER
1997 Thomas Minotour
1998 Thomas International
1998 AmTran RE
1998 Blue Bird TC/2000 RE
2000 AmTran RE
2000 Thomas Minotour
2001 Thomas Minotour
2001 Thomas Saf-T-Liner MVP ER
2001 AmTran RE
2002 IC RE
2002 Thomas Saf-T-Liner HDX
2002 Mid Bus Guide
2003 IC RE
2003 Thomas Minotour
2003 Thomas Saf-T-Liner HDX
2004 IC RE
2004 Thomas Minotour
2004 Thomas Saf-T-Liner HDX
2005 IC RE
2005 Thomas Minotour
2006 Thomas Saf-T-Liner C2
2006 Thomas Saf-T-Liner HDX
2008 IC CE
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Edited by - IC RE 1629 on 10/20/2007 12:35:58 PM |
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Bus 801
Advanced Member
USA
410 Posts |
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IC RE 1629
Top Member
United States
5097 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2007 : 3:31:21 PM
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| 1995 is as far back as I know there bus history. I'm trying trace there bus history as far back as possible. I'm not sure what the oldest buses are they have in service today. I'll ask and get back to you. |
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IC-RE
Top Member
USA
4117 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2007 : 4:24:46 PM
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| They definitley didnt have any Thomas MVPs that were older than 1996 because all of them has single headlights not double like the pre 96 MVPs |
bus 1980, a 2008 IC RE 300 for Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax, Virginia. |
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IC RE 1629
Top Member
United States
5097 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2007 : 5:17:01 PM
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| I should add 1994 AmTran Ford's to the list. Looking back at some of my old photo logs, I remember taking a photo of atleast one 1994 AmTran Ford they had. Those have since been retired. |
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Bus 801
Advanced Member
USA
410 Posts |
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IC RE 1629
Top Member
United States
5097 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2007 : 6:39:33 PM
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They have a bunch of photos at their central office. I'll have to take pictures of them sometime. I looked for the photos today, but couldn't find them. They must be away in storage right now. Loudoun just built a brand new state of the art dispatch center and did some other renovations at the central office.
The new dispatch center is sweet! I wanted to take a closer look at all the fancy gear they had, but didn't get the chance. They have tons of computers and radio equipment there! It makes even the most advanced 911 center look like junk! Our dispatch centers are very bottom of the line compared to what Loudoun has. They also have atleast two dispatchers on duty at all times. Weekends, nights, holidays, 24/7/365! |
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Bus 801
Advanced Member
USA
410 Posts |
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IC RE 1629
Top Member
United States
5097 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2007 : 6:50:33 PM
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| I don't recall. It's been two years since I last saw those photos. I'm going to ask my Loudoun buddy if he knows anything about Loudoun's history and if I can some images to post. I'll also ask my aunt who works at a Loudoun school if she can look thru some old yearbooks to find old photos of buses. Be patient, this could take a few weeks. |
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Drew19
Top Member
USA
651 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2007 : 07:43:27 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by IC RE 1629
I don't recall. It's been two years since I last saw those photos. I'm going to ask my Loudoun buddy if he knows anything about Loudoun's history and if I can some images to post. I'll also ask my aunt who works at a Loudoun school if she can look thru some old yearbooks to find old photos of buses. Be patient, this could take a few weeks.
Loudoun also has some Thomas HD's think they were 00 or 01. And they did not have ac, some of them do have ac. |
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IC RE 1629
Top Member
United States
5097 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2007 : 06:37:22 AM
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Did anyone hear about the accident in Fauquier today? Bus 38 got into an accident involving another vehicle. 15 students and the bus driver transported with minor injuries.
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/1007/466852.html |
Edited by - IC RE 1629 on 10/25/2007 06:53:10 AM |
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IC RE 1629
Top Member
United States
5097 Posts |
Posted - 11/03/2007 : 07:32:02 AM
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http://flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=1793870997&size=o
Two Arlington County buses blocking the highway. This photo was taken during the last Marine Corp race.
How many buses does Arlington County have? |
Edited by - IC RE 1629 on 11/03/2007 09:39:07 AM |
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IC-RE
Top Member
USA
4117 Posts |
Posted - 11/03/2007 : 09:59:59 AM
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| thats a cool shot! |
bus 1980, a 2008 IC RE 300 for Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax, Virginia. |
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Topic |
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Official Virginia School Bus Thread
