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C.HARDY
Advanced Member
234 Posts |
 Posted - 11/07/2011 : 4:46:29 PM
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| ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY :) I've got it posted on bsaunds flikr. Bryan the school I work for has a Prince Wm. GMC but its a 90 model Thomas 34 passenger. They trade most of their in to the dealer towards their new buses. I would love to see some those pics!! |
"Hardybusman" |
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Tatum
Top Member
United States
600 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2011 : 11:17:33 PM
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Mr. Hardy, I heard that your school has a new addition to the fleet. It seems like you have a nice bus with a new engine inside of it. ;)
I hope she treats you well! :D |
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C.HARDY
Advanced Member
234 Posts |
Posted - 11/08/2011 : 3:25:34 PM
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| Boy news travels FAST!! It's not new by any means but its perfect for a shuttle we will be doing and I think it will be fine. It's a little rough around the edges but mechanically sound and tight driving. Met an awsome "bus nut" in the process. Super nice and honest man that knows buses inside and out. |
"Hardybusman" |
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Carson
New Member
9 Posts |
Posted - 11/13/2011 : 4:33:47 PM
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| Sorry for bumping, but I live in Manassas Park, VA. I was wandering if anyone knows of a Virginia School Bus Photo Site? Thanks in Advance! |
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C.HARDY
Advanced Member
234 Posts |
Posted - 11/14/2011 : 02:59:07 AM
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| Check out Flickr.com and search "school bus history" bsaund09 has over 1600 pics. |
"Hardybusman" |
Edited by - C.HARDY on 11/14/2011 03:00:12 AM |
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Carson
New Member
9 Posts |
Posted - 11/14/2011 : 3:06:46 PM
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| Thanks! |
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Tatum
Top Member
United States
600 Posts |
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BusFreak
Top Member
USA
798 Posts |
Posted - 11/14/2011 : 7:59:26 PM
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| Goodness, those aren't even 10 years old yet! I heard that they liked to ride down the road a bit crooked, but aren't bad little busses! Surprise to me too, as the rest from that era in VA beach are all the 4 cyl Mercedes Thomas FL65s... |
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bsaund09
Top Member
USA
609 Posts |
Posted - 11/15/2011 : 3:26:54 PM
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| Yes, they are trying to let the GMCs go first I saw them bringing them in to the garage on Thursday from the overflow lot. They are really good buses and low mileage to but there is something about getting parts for these buses that are the issue . We had this same deal back in 1986 when Dodge quit making parts for those early mid to 70s school bus line of vehicles . |
keep those buses rolling
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/schoolbushistory |
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C.HARDY
Advanced Member
234 Posts |
Posted - 11/15/2011 : 4:40:46 PM
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| He paid good money for them.I watched them and believe they sold for over 4k a piece. You dont often see Va. buses at Taylor Bus. GM likes to consider a vechicle obsolete after 10 years old and since these arent produced anymore it is tough to get parts. Normal car dealerships cant get them and the medium duty departments dont seem to stock many. I work on a 1995 for a local school and go through the same thing each time it shows up for work. |
"Hardybusman" |
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Dennis S
New Member
2 Posts |
Posted - 11/19/2011 : 09:40:16 AM
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| Hello Everyone. I am new here and I have read all the post on this thread. I must say we have some of the most knowledgable people here pertaining to VA buses. I grew up in Spotsylvania county. Seen many different buses over the years. I even remember when the county was growing so fast they had absolutely NO spares and if a bus broke down the bus had to sit and wait for another bus to empty out or the repairs were done right there. And I remember when Spotsy got 4 buses from Henrico county that Henrico had retired. Everyone called them "the junkyard buses". I remember they were Internationals. They were put on regulars runs. Still no spares. Today they have plenty of spares partly because of lack of drivers. |
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BusFreak
Top Member
USA
798 Posts |
Posted - 11/19/2011 : 7:58:41 PM
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Hi Dennis, Boy has Spotsylvania come a long way with the buses they are ordering. They went from being one of the last ones to get Automatic transmissions in the state to ordering 77 passenger buses with tinted windows, automatic transmissions, and LED lighting! I know they still have some of those 5 speeds running around on quite a few runs. I bet part of their driver shortage is because the newer drivers are starting out their driving career with the possibility of getting a knee replacement from those clutches! I remember the first time I saw a Spotsylvania bus in person was in 99 in Virginia Beach. I was shocked that it was a near new Thomas Internation with a stick shift! Virginia Beach had been getting automatics since the early 80s, and even still, I thought those weren't fancy compared to some of the others in the area.
Site note, does anyone know if Harrisonburg City is still getting Rear Engine buses with A/C? The last buses I knew them to get were mid 2000s IC REs. |
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Dennis S
New Member
2 Posts |
Posted - 11/20/2011 : 09:23:18 AM
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| BTW, I used to be a substitute driver for Prince George County. All they had at the time were Fords. Although they did get 5 new Thomas Internationals while I was there, but they were not happy with them and never got any more. Now they have Fords and Freightliners as far as I know. They did not start getting automatics until 1990 (Thomas Fords). |
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Tatum
Top Member
United States
600 Posts |
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bsaund09
Top Member
USA
609 Posts |
Posted - 11/22/2011 : 5:43:45 PM
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| no that is an old va. beach bus they sold 5 a few weeks ago the number sold was 958 they added the 18 after sell.the stickers on the inside are all va. beach. |
keep those buses rolling
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/schoolbushistory |
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Tatum
Top Member
United States
600 Posts |
Posted - 11/22/2011 : 5:57:36 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by bsaund09
no that is an old va. beach bus they sold 5 a few weeks ago the number sold was 958 they added the 18 after sell.the stickers on the inside are all va. beach.
According to unedited pictures I have of that bus, it says Isle of Wight Academy on the side...
Maybe it was purchased by Isle of Wight Academy after being sold off by VA beach? |
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C.HARDY
Advanced Member
234 Posts |
Posted - 11/23/2011 : 07:20:18 AM
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| Wow Isle of Wight Academy just bought that bus this summer. That doesnt make any sense...... That is an old Va. Beach, they bought two buses this summer. A pusher and that GMC. Both came from Sonny Merryman. |
"Hardybusman" |
Edited by - C.HARDY on 11/23/2011 07:26:14 AM |
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Tatum
Top Member
United States
600 Posts |
Posted - 11/23/2011 : 09:25:40 AM
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C.HARDY
Advanced Member
234 Posts |
Posted - 11/23/2011 : 12:30:44 PM
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| Hmm they musy have retired their old number 18 a 1990 GMC Bluebird. I wonder why they traded this back to SMI? Thats their stock number on the door. |
"Hardybusman" |
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bsaund09
Top Member
USA
609 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2011 : 3:35:09 PM
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| Good question yeah i did think that 958 went out with the trades last spring not sure why they d get rid of it so soon. I just dont remember the orginial number if i did might have a clue as to why. |
keep those buses rolling
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/schoolbushistory |
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BusFreak
Top Member
USA
798 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2011 : 1:24:15 PM
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| Does anyone know if the FS-65s that Northhampton county has are 5 speeds? They were up there with SPotsylvania as being one of the last to get automatics (If they are currently getting automatics). Does anyone know if they are still getting stick shifts? |
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C.HARDY
Advanced Member
234 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2011 : 4:49:31 PM
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| Thats a good question. I would like to know if they still operate any gas engines. I'm not sure what year they went to diesel. |
"Hardybusman" |
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bsaund09
Top Member
USA
609 Posts |
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bsaund09
Top Member
USA
609 Posts |
Posted - 11/26/2011 : 08:38:32 AM
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| Although I am not an authority on Northhampton County seems as though I was told they have autos now . I cant see having a gear shift in the floor of a C2. |
keep those buses rolling
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/schoolbushistory |
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BusFreak
Top Member
USA
798 Posts |
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C.HARDY
Advanced Member
234 Posts |
Posted - 11/27/2011 : 06:56:25 AM
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| I know the newer diesel they have are automatic. I've seem a couple myself but didnt know when they switched. Do they still have any gas buses left Brian? The C2 is the only bus available with a manual transmission option any more. |
"Hardybusman" |
Edited by - C.HARDY on 11/27/2011 06:58:03 AM |
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bsaund09
Top Member
USA
609 Posts |
Posted - 11/27/2011 : 09:18:11 AM
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| wow, Thomas that is almost to scary maybe we should get some of them lol. I am not sure if Northhampton has anymore gas buses they have really been getting more new buses . |
keep those buses rolling
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/schoolbushistory |
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IC
Top Member
USA
3410 Posts |
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BusFreak
Top Member
USA
798 Posts |
Posted - 12/03/2011 : 9:15:10 PM
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Wow Bill,
Please tell me you are a part of that video in some way. That is hilarious!
Are you still driving for the county? I'd imagine you're in a brand new bus by now...oh wait, FCPS hasn't seen one of those for a while...
LOL Long time since we've heard from you, so I hope you are well. |
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ltrain2010
New Member
7 Posts |
Posted - 12/04/2011 : 01:30:47 AM
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| Just out of curiousity, any Waynes from the late 80s still in service down in VA? Up here in the midwest I see one around here and there. |
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IC
Top Member
USA
3410 Posts |
Posted - 12/04/2011 : 1:12:02 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by BusFreak
Wow Bill,
Please tell me you are a part of that video in some way. That is hilarious!
Are you still driving for the county? I'd imagine you're in a brand new bus by now...oh wait, FCPS hasn't seen one of those for a while...
LOL Long time since we've heard from you, so I hope you are well.
Yeah, I'm still at it. Everything's great!
No, I wasn't involved in that video, but I know some of them. It's a year or two old, but I just noticed somebody put it on Youtube.
I'm still in my 2007 ICRE, they're the best buses they have IMO. Unfortunately with that defective paint it looks like hell, but it runs GREAT. It's my last bus. They are saying that they are going to be buying some new buses next year, but most of them will be small buses. I don't care, I wouldn't take a new bus anyway. The new ones don't run near as well as my '07! |
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C.HARDY
Advanced Member
234 Posts |
Posted - 12/04/2011 : 3:36:16 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by ltrain2010
Just out of curiousity, any Waynes from the late 80s still in service down in VA? Up here in the midwest I see one around here and there.
Man, I dont know of any Waynes left around here in central VA. |
"Hardybusman" |
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Tatum
Top Member
United States
600 Posts |
Posted - 12/04/2011 : 3:40:09 PM
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| The Field School of Charlottesville operates a BEAUTIFUL recently repainted 1995 Wayne Lifeguard if that counts. :) |
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old_school
Active Member
United States
29 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2011 : 1:40:22 PM
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| Virginia beach getting rid of 2006 cng buses? i wonder why brian? publicsurplus.com |
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Tatum
Top Member
United States
600 Posts |
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Topic |
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Official Virginia School Bus Thread
