| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
truck451
Top Member
USA
509 Posts |
 Posted - 12/13/2009 : 4:36:48 PM
|
Is anyone aware of the Blue Bird Q-Series, CS, and TranShuttle commercial buses that they made?
I believe the Q-Series was a commercial version of the All American, the CS a commercial version of the TC/2000, and the TranShuttle a commercial version of the TC/1000
I think Blue Bird destroyed too much of a good thing by discontinuing the Q-Series, CS, and TranShuttle commercial buses |
|
|
Tatum
Top Member
United States
600 Posts |
Posted - 12/13/2009 : 5:47:16 PM
|
| Yes. There's a company by my town that runs Blue Bird coaches that are like mini charter buses. I like the look of them very much. |
 |
|
|
RichBusman
Advanced Member
424 Posts |
Posted - 12/13/2009 : 5:51:38 PM
|
They were junk. Transit systems are morons to order glorified school buses and put them in heavy street use.
And that is that. |
|
|
|
bus724
Top Member
USA
1609 Posts |
Posted - 12/13/2009 : 6:04:06 PM
|
Ditto. I've seen a lot of smaller transit systems (mostly universities) using school bus-type transits (All Americans, AmTran/IC REs, etc) and they never last more than a few years. Real transit buses, like Gillig, Orion, New Flyer, and the older GM/Nova RTS buses, GM/MCI Classics and Fishbowls, and Grumman/Flxible Metros are sold after 15-20 years with over 200K miles, ready to start their second or third lives.
From pictures I've seen, the CS series was based on both the All American and TC/2000 platforms, with both FE and RE versions available. The Transhuttle CS was based on the TC/1000. The Q-Bus appears to be a separate vehicle, although I'm sure many components were similar to Blue Bird's otehr products. |
|
|
|
truck451
Top Member
USA
509 Posts |
Posted - 12/13/2009 : 6:07:01 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by RichBusman
They were junk. Transit systems are morons to order glorified school buses and put them in heavy street use.
And that is that.
A glorified school bus is exactly what I would order if the Olympic Games were ever held in Detroit or anywhere else in Michigan, and after I'd call that they'd form their own in-house transit/shuttle system for all the athletes, officials, and the many other people linked to the Olympic Games
And after the end of the Olympic Games; the buses being auctioned off to various museums around the world as memorabilia from those specific Olympic Games to preserve
http://www.schoolbusfleet.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=20483 |
Edited by - truck451 on 12/13/2009 6:13:11 PM |
|
|
|
BBInt.10
Top Member
USA
1037 Posts |
Posted - 12/13/2009 : 6:13:44 PM
|
Well said Rich. I used to drive public transit, and one of the years they decided to buy four Amtran RE's, outfitted like transit buses, for $125K each, rather than two more Gillig Phantoms (what we had been running for transits) at $250K each. Their thoughts were that we would be getting twice as many buses for the money. The Amtrans were speced out very nicely... DT466, air brake, air ride seat, air ride suspension, AM/FM/CD, air horn, air conditioning, tinted transit windows, transit seating, rear door. The main problem we had with them was with the brakes... just not heavy duty enough for stopping every 100 yards for 12-18 hours a day. They would overheat and squeal like I've never heard brakes squeal before (or since). Also, those cheap white door switches would come off in your hand every once in a while because they weren't meant for such frequent use. Needless to say, next time we needed new transit buses, we went back with Gillig!
When we needed new coaches and put that out to bid, Prevost, MCI, and Blue Bird submitted bids. Blue Bird was the lowest but that bid was thrown out because they have a reputation for being such junk. |
If all your problems are behind you... you must be a school bus driver. |
|
|
|
tlj2741
New Member
United States
6 Posts |
Posted - 12/13/2009 : 6:52:52 PM
|
I wouldn't discount school-bus type buses completely for some mass-transit uses.
The bus company we contract with for our University shuttle system ran a TC2000 for ~11 years and 400,000 miles before retirement. In '06, it was replaced with a Thomas C2 which has 90,000 miles on it now and operates nine hours a day/five days a week. Last year we added a second daytime route and they put an '04 AARE on that route. This bus operates 12-16 hours a day, five days a week. Both buses are also used for weekend charters.
The benefit of using school-type buses for us instead of transit buses is parts commonality, ability to use the vehicles for other assignments and overall cost of ownership.
Our contractor operates school buses and coach buses. By using school-type buses for our transit service, most all of the parts are common with their school buses. Using this type of bus also allows it to be used for local college and HS sports events as well as private charters.
These buses are not spec'ed with any special seating, doors, windows, etc. The only specifications that are notably different from their school buses are color (white), absence of SCHOOL BUS markings and lighting and use of frost-proof glass.
If more expensive mass-transit buses were used instead, specialized parts would need to be stocked. The buses would sit unused for much of May-August when students are on break. Further, they would not be able (desirable) for use for anything other than moving people around town and campus. |
Edited by - tlj2741 on 12/13/2009 6:56:42 PM |
|
|
|
truck451
Top Member
USA
509 Posts |
Posted - 12/13/2009 : 6:55:24 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by BBInt.10
Well said Rich. I used to drive public transit, and one of the years they decided to buy four Amtran RE's, outfitted like transit buses, for $125K each, rather than two more Gillig Phantoms (what we had been running for transits) at $250K each. Their thoughts were that we would be getting twice as many buses for the money. The Amtrans were speced out very nicely... DT466, air brake, air ride seat, air ride suspension, AM/FM/CD, air horn, air conditioning, tinted transit windows, transit seating, rear door. The main problem we had with them was with the brakes... just not heavy duty enough for stopping every 100 yards for 12-18 hours a day. They would overheat and squeal like I've never heard brakes squeal before (or since). Also, those cheap white door switches would come off in your hand every once in a while because they weren't meant for such frequent use. Needless to say, next time we needed new transit buses, we went back with Gillig!
When we needed new coaches and put that out to bid, Prevost, MCI, and Blue Bird submitted bids. Blue Bird was the lowest but that bid was thrown out because they have a reputation for being such junk.
Once again; a school bus outfitted like transit buses are exactly what I would what I would order if the Olympic Games were ever held in Detroit or anywhere else in Michigan, and after I'd call that they'd form their own in-house transit/shuttle system for all the athletes, officials, and the many other people linked to the Olympic Games
And yes; I am imagining that the Olympic Committee would be in the type of "mood" to award Detroit or anywhere else in Michigan to be the host city of the Olympic Games.
1,000 FE Transits outfitted like transit buses, 970 wheelchair conventionals outfitted like transit buses, 920 non-wheelchair Type A buses or BEs outfitted like transit buses, and 800 wheelchair Type A buses or BEs outfitted like transit buses
And for the area in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where the Winter Olympic events that involve mountains would be held; 1,000 non-wheelchair RE transits outfitted like transit buses and an equal amount of wheelchair RE transits outfitted like transit buses |
Edited by - truck451 on 12/13/2009 7:02:05 PM |
|
|
|
Peter
Top Member
USA
1051 Posts |
Posted - 12/13/2009 : 7:56:09 PM
|
| OK. |
|
|
|
Tatum
Top Member
United States
600 Posts |
Posted - 12/13/2009 : 8:13:54 PM
|
I highly doubt the Olympic games will ever make it to Detroit. They have a better chance of stopping in New Orleans before going to Detroit.
*sarcasm* |
|
|
|
Lifestar Fe
Top Member
United States
519 Posts |
Posted - 12/13/2009 : 10:09:07 PM
|
My county's transportation system uses several Blue Bird Q buses and Xcels, along with newer low floor models and a bunch of commercial type A's.
Interesting to hear that schoolbuses just start falling apart after such frequent use...I would have guessed that they would hold up better!! I wonder if that is why the California "Utility Bus" idea didn't catch on...talk about a glorified school bus, this bus has got charter seats, overhead AND understorage, AC, 2 doors...all with the regular school bus package! The bus is a 2000 Thomas ER and was specd by the OST for a demonstration of how school and transit transportation systems could be combined. The bus is now used for state training classes.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/43535605@N00/4033290055/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/43535605@N00/4034046002/
Truck451, if what others have said is true, schoolbuses would probably make a good choice for Olympic games; about 1/2 as expensive as other buses, they could be resold to school districts (your not gonna get 2,000 buses into museums around the world!) as lightly used, new buses, and the use time wouldn't be long enough for them to fall apart! Why you would want FE buses though beats me...for transit, the easier it is to load the better. FE buses have that big doghouse... |
  |
|
|
|
AllAmerican
Active Member
15 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2009 : 08:33:00 AM
|
During the 1996 Olympic games that were held in Atlanta, several school districts chartered their school buses for the events. I was driving for a coach operator at the time, and our buses were used as shuttles for athletes. They were searched by bomb sniffing dogs before boarding, and the drivers were searched for weapons, so that was a bit different.
The school buses were used by attendees as shuttles from parking areas at a local college to the events, such as rowing at Lake Lanier, which had limited parking for the events. The only drawback was that the school buses were not air conditioned, and that was a bit uncomfortable for some in the hot August weather we had at the time. At the end of the events, the buses were usually trashed, full of empty water bottles, food and other garbage that had been dumped or spilled, and one driver even told me someone had urinated on the floor in his bus. Many of the attendees and athlets did not speak english, and either did not understand the no eating or drinking instructions, or just didn't care.
Although I enjoyed the events, I don't think I would want to participate in them again. There were many hassles, language barriers and disrespect for drivers and their equipment.
As far as I know, no new transportation equipment was bought for the events, other than maybe by MARTA, which is the public transit company in Atlanta. But the equipment that was used for the events were put into regular service once the events were over. Our coaches used during the events went right back into regular service, as did the school buses when school started just a few weeks after the events. Some of those school buses remain in service today, and the districts did not receive any special funding to purchase new equipment for the events. Charters were based on pricing, and were not handled differently than any other charter we operated, so I would be skeptical about buying new buses just for an olympic event.
|
Edited by - AllAmerican on 12/14/2009 08:39:05 AM |
|
|
|
truck451
Top Member
USA
509 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2009 : 09:16:01 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by Lifestar Fe
My county's transportation system uses several Blue Bird Q buses and Xcels, along with newer low floor models and a bunch of commercial type A's.
Interesting to hear that schoolbuses just start falling apart after such frequent use...I would have guessed that they would hold up better!! I wonder if that is why the California "Utility Bus" idea didn't catch on...talk about a glorified school bus, this bus has got charter seats, overhead AND understorage, AC, 2 doors...all with the regular school bus package! The bus is a 2000 Thomas ER and was specd by the OST for a demonstration of how school and transit transportation systems could be combined. The bus is now used for state training classes.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/43535605@N00/4033290055/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/43535605@N00/4034046002/
Truck451, if what others have said is true, schoolbuses would probably make a good choice for Olympic games; about 1/2 as expensive as other buses, they could be resold to school districts (your not gonna get 2,000 buses into museums around the world!) as lightly used, new buses, and the use time wouldn't be long enough for them to fall apart! Why you would want FE buses though beats me...for transit, the easier it is to load the better. FE buses have that big doghouse...
I would have them paint the buses in colors other than School Bus Yellow as their orgininal colors at the factory.
Colors that would allow them to develop a "color coded" transit system similar as to why the Monorail trains at Disney World have different colored "stripes" |
|
|
|
truck451
Top Member
USA
509 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2009 : 09:26:51 AM
|
To another extent; my mother would be also be a school bus driver, and would be one of the drivers voulenteering to drive the buses that I'd order for these Olympic Games.
My mother would probably also feel the same way about the buses being usually trashed, full of empty water bottles, food and other garbage that would be dumped or spilled, and maybe even urininating on the floor in his bus. Many of the attendees and athlets did not speak english, and either did not understand the no eating or drinking instructions, or just not caring; in addition to the many hassles, language barriers and disrespect for drivers and their equipment
We'd have a Toyota Land Cruiser as the family vehicle. If American; either an Excursion, a conversion van made out of a Ford E-Series/Econoline, or the Lincoln version of the Ford Flex; the Lincoln MKT.
We trash GM's management and boycott GM to various relatives of ours throughout the time of these Olympic Games.
We'd also think that having a Toyota or a Nissan is just as special and unique as having a Volkswagen/Audi, and that the rivalry between Toyota and Nissan in Japan being just as important as the rivalry between General Motors and Ford here in the states, in addition to Toyota being Nissan's most formidable competitor would be that important.
And also; the one and only grandparent that I care about in addition to being my favorite grandparent; my paternal grandmother would be living with us permanently during the time of these Olympic Games.
And last; we'd be saying to ourselves; can you believe the amount of traffic in this area; and how much of a "zoo" it is around here; during the times of these Olympic Games |
Edited by - truck451 on 12/14/2009 10:06:30 AM |
|
|
|
hardybusman
Advanced Member
United States
470 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2009 : 5:16:42 PM
|
| You have an interesting imagination |
Mr. Courtney Hardy
|
|
|
|
truck451
Top Member
USA
509 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2009 : 6:38:27 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by hardybusman
You have an interesting imagination
Thank you
You really have made my day |
|
|
|
bluebirdvision
Top Member
USA
952 Posts |
|
|
Steven A.Rosenow
Top Member
USA
1926 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2009 : 10:38:28 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by bluebirdvision
I personally will never own anything other than a General Motors vehicle, but that is for another thread....
And I'm sure there's others (as myself included) that will never own anything other than a Ford.
My '96 Taurus is less than 10K miles away on its original engine/transaxle from hitting 300,000 miles.
|
http://www.gilligcoaches.net |
|
|
|
truck451
Top Member
USA
509 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2009 : 6:32:31 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by Steven A.Rosenow
quote:
Originally posted by bluebirdvision
I personally will never own anything other than a General Motors vehicle, but that is for another thread....
And I'm sure there's others (as myself included) that will never own anything other than a Ford.
My '96 Taurus is less than 10K miles away on its original engine/transaxle from hitting 300,000 miles.
Same with me; with the exception of a Nissan, Toyota, Subaru, Mazda, Volkswagen/Audi, or a Mercedes |
|
|
|
hardybusman
Advanced Member
United States
470 Posts |
Posted - 12/19/2009 : 5:52:31 PM
|
| Steven, thats very impressive for a Taurus. Most transmissions didnt last halh that long let alone the engine. |
Mr. Courtney Hardy
|
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
Blue Bird Commercial Buses
