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bsaund09
Top Member
USA
609 Posts |
 Posted - 06/09/2008 : 5:38:09 PM
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| hey yeah i thought that was bit odd makes you think maybe they were covering something up. This has been a sad day here in va. beach we lost our second driver to a heart attack he was a sped driver and was only 5 days from what would have been his retirement date. It seems this year in all the years I have been with the school divison we lost more active and retired drivers then I can remember but we honor their memory by continuing the job that I know most if not all loved and cared about very much. |
keep those buses rolling
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/schoolbushistory |
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Gini
Top Member
USA
1249 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2008 : 9:02:28 PM
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| sorry to hear your news Brian. what a terrible way to end the year, on such a sad note. it's hard having a year like that. |
1Peter 1:3 |
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bsaund09
Top Member
USA
609 Posts |
Posted - 06/12/2008 : 6:23:55 PM
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| well, not to sound down in the mouth but we had a transportation supervisor pass away today we had hoped he was beating the battle what a last week of school this has been. he was a well liked supervisor and showed much interest in his drivers he will be missed. |
keep those buses rolling
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/schoolbushistory |
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Gini
Top Member
USA
1249 Posts |
Posted - 06/13/2008 : 02:35:49 AM
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again Brian, i am sorry to hear about this latest loss that your system is going through. i can't imagine losing so many people from work like that, so close together. i hope this summer will be a time of healing for you.
on a lighter note (hope you don't mind Brian), i was reading about the elementary school down the street from me. they only have 6 bus runs out of the school, most of the kids are walkers, there's even a walkway under the road so the kids across the street can walk safely. yesterday (or the day before), the principal sent all the kids home on buses- due to a bear roaming through the neighborhood! a couple of days ago i received an e-mail notice from the manager of our condos about 3 bear sightings about half a mile from here. |
1Peter 1:3 |
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bsaund09
Top Member
USA
609 Posts |
Posted - 06/19/2008 : 1:19:57 PM
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| hey, they VAPT conference wrapped up today I got to drive some shuttles and meet some really nice folks from across the state of Virginia. I did get some pics of the demo buses hope to post soon. |
keep those buses rolling
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/schoolbushistory |
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722
Senior Member
United States
129 Posts |
Posted - 06/20/2008 : 5:31:30 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by bsaund09
hey, they VAPT conference wrapped up today I got to drive some shuttles and meet some really nice folks from across the state of Virginia. I did get some pics of the demo buses hope to post soon.
Hi Brian,
Were you one of the drivers on Tuesday night?, As I rode with several different drivers in both the FS 65's and the C2's. The driver's were very polite and professional. The whole Virginia Beach crew was top notch. You all have a very nice fleet of buses. What does the number 2 mean on the lower panel behind the door ?
Great Job Virginia Beach Drivers......
From one the RED ribbons
722
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Edited by - 722 on 06/20/2008 5:32:46 PM |
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bsaund09
Top Member
USA
609 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2008 : 1:24:54 PM
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| thank you , i was driving Bus 560 the first two days and by wednesday night I was back in my regular 546 the bluebird vision. The number by the door is the team number at the Oceana Garage where all buses are processed when they are new. It does help having the same guys working on the bus they remember it better. Our garage really does a job considering they only have just around 20 stalls to service the entire fleet of school autos. |
keep those buses rolling
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/schoolbushistory |
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bsaund09
Top Member
USA
609 Posts |
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IC RE 1629
Top Member
United States
5097 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2008 : 4:11:33 PM
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| The HDX and PWCPS C2 were at Sonny Merryman's Open House at their new Bristow location. I have more photos of those buses. |
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IC-RE
Top Member
USA
4117 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2008 : 1:16:39 PM
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| I believe old Williams Bus 2 is at the bottom of the florida church bus page http://floridachurchbus.com/ |
 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 - 06/22/2008 : 2:22:25 PM
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| Looks like it. I see old Loudoun 340 on there along with what looks like some old Fauquier Thomas Internationals. |
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BusFreak
Top Member
USA
798 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2008 : 11:46:05 PM
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| Man. All of those Virginia Conventionals, some even from the last 90s, make you realize how behind the times Virginia was in some parts with those stick/hydraulic buses out there. As far as I know, Virginia Beach was among the first districts to spec the diesel/auto/air combo in 1981 with Ford Blue Birds. Fairfax was probably right there with them, but the rest of the state really did fall behind. I'm sure one too many workers comp claims brought them to the modern day of the Allison. |
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bsaund09
Top Member
USA
609 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2008 : 04:08:27 AM
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| Getting automatics were a huge move for some districts not knowing exactly what to expect. We had a garage supervisor who would not mix a lift and automatic transmission for some reason it wasnt till he was gone Va. Beach bought auto lift buses.I think some just did not think the bus would have power to climb hills/mountains without a manual transmission. |
keep those buses rolling
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/schoolbushistory |
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Gini
Top Member
USA
1249 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2008 : 3:28:00 PM
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| bsaund09- we were told that SpEd didn't get automatics right away cos they were concerned about the E brake & hills, w/ the driver being out of the seat working the lift. |
1Peter 1:3 |
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bsaund09
Top Member
USA
609 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2008 : 5:53:52 PM
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| Gini yeah that makes sense we purchased the last stick bus in 1993 which was the last year for hydraulic brakes in Va. Beach. I remember seeing other cities around here with automatic sped buses long before the beach switched to them if I remember correctly the garage boss said it would cause to much strain on the motor{?} not sure why those motors were huge. |
keep those buses rolling
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/schoolbushistory |
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Gini
Top Member
USA
1249 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2008 : 8:41:50 PM
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SpEd usually got great motors in our buses, if they ordered one powerful enough for the big (3/4) lifts, the same engines went into the half buses as well. my 86 Ford half lift could really take off! surprised a few guys in their trucks when the light would turn green  |
1Peter 1:3 |
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bsaund09
Top Member
USA
609 Posts |
Posted - 06/24/2008 : 08:21:56 AM
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| I drove a short Ford Bluebird like 252 pictured on my flicker site and the thing would just zoom off when you gave it the gas that was the first short bus I ever drove . I dont think I ever drove a short gas bus just diesel unless it was at the garage the summer I worked there. |
keep those buses rolling
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/schoolbushistory |
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Gini
Top Member
USA
1249 Posts |
Posted - 06/24/2008 : 4:41:35 PM
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| Brian, that sounds like # 1200, my half lift. i drove a Chevette back then, & it was so funny to be driving a school bus that could zoom from a stop when my car couldn't. the half lift gas bus i had before 1200 was fast compared to bigger buses. |
1Peter 1:3 |
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poor_driver
Senior Member
162 Posts |
Posted - 06/26/2008 : 05:48:52 AM
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bsaund09
Love your updates. Actually i was looking at your pics when you uploaded to June 26 pics to my surprise!..thanks i must say this is the nicest collection i've seen on the net. |
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bsaund09
Top Member
USA
609 Posts |
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bsaund09
Top Member
USA
609 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2008 : 1:04:12 PM
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| They start year-round-school here tomorrow is that to soon or just the way the calendar falls.We start fall football practises the next week. Where do the summers go? |
keep those buses rolling
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/schoolbushistory |
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IC-RE
Top Member
USA
4117 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2008 : 8:00:34 PM
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| Summer DOES fly!! I start classes at college on Aug. 25, and Fairfax schools will be starting the following week, Sept. 2 |
bus 1980, a 2008 IC RE 300 for Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax, Virginia. |
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bsaund09
Top Member
USA
609 Posts |
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Gini
Top Member
USA
1249 Posts |
Posted - 07/25/2008 : 8:15:02 PM
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| cool! i like having the set to skim thru, & then be able to focus on the few i want to check closer. i also like being able to jump to different buses w/o having to go into a category. |
1Peter 1:3 |
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bsaund09
Top Member
USA
609 Posts |
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2006bbvision
Senior Member
USA
107 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2008 : 12:25:00 PM
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I found this just looking on Youtube this is a short Video from back in the 80's with a Arlington county school bus in I think it is bus 60.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cm-1qQDav8w |
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2006bbvision
Senior Member
USA
107 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2008 : 12:29:47 PM
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Bsaund09 I was wondering why does Va beach place the letter ( A) on the buses you guys retire but still keep the oringal number on the bus?
Does the A mean Activity bus? and are the still accountant for in the entire fleet number? |
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Bus 801
Advanced Member
USA
410 Posts |
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bsaund09
Top Member
USA
609 Posts |
Posted - 07/31/2008 : 03:53:51 AM
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| The A is just away of keeping extra spare buses floating around so that they dont run out because I believe one year they came very close to doing that. The A would indicate that the bus has been replaced by a newer bus. Some of the A buses are actually really good especially those old Fords i dont think they ever really die they just keep moving. |
keep those buses rolling
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/schoolbushistory |
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2006bbvision
Senior Member
USA
107 Posts |
Posted - 08/01/2008 : 09:21:58 AM
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| BSAUND09: |
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2006bbvision
Senior Member
USA
107 Posts |
Posted - 08/01/2008 : 09:32:47 AM
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BSAUND09: ON YOUR FLICKER photos Bus 227 I have seen that bus in person parked in Hilltop on time, and I am wondering if the mirrors were retrofitted our did Va Beach purchase the bus like that?
Also I notice in one photo a early 2000's Amtran IHC spec-ed bus How many of those models does va beach have in the fleet? I think it is great to have such a diverse fleet as va beach does I must say seems like the most diverse fleet in the state.
Not a lot of district purchase three different manufactures in one school year. |
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bsaund09
Top Member
USA
609 Posts |
Posted - 08/01/2008 : 2:39:46 PM
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| Bus 227 was converted to those mirrors around 2000 they are heated and not positive if controlled from inside or not if i get a chance maybe i can get pics from the inside. The year those early Amtrans came in were 1998 that was one of those years where they decide they really need to retire some older buses. They bought 4 Amtrans in 1998, 6 in 2002, and 5 more this year or the IC as they are called now. Until they bought the Amtrans in 1998 they had not bought a Ward body bus since 1973. |
keep those buses rolling
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/schoolbushistory |
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BusFreak
Top Member
USA
798 Posts |
Posted - 08/01/2008 : 10:24:34 PM
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227 used to park at Luxford Elementary School off of First Colonial road. Brian, any ideas why they decided to retrofit that one bus? it seems to me that the trend of remote rosco mirrors did not catch on, as no other buses in Virginia Beach have the remote mirrors until those new Visions.
PS...Nice pictures on SBC! Loving the interior pictures! |
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bsaund09
Top Member
USA
609 Posts |
Posted - 08/02/2008 : 03:18:42 AM
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| yeah the driver lived near first colonial rd. not sure why they picked that particular bus but those garage supervisors are always getting hit with salesman making a good pitch for something new on the bus. i believe they most likely provided those mirrors either very cheap or free because i dont think they would have bought them for just one bus. |
keep those buses rolling
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/schoolbushistory |
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2006bbvision
Senior Member
USA
107 Posts |
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Official Virginia School Bus Thread
