Greyhound seats and fleet questions

[railiner]

Since they already owned MCi, and could have total control of the design, they improved MCI to be better than the contemporary GM products, and kept all of the profits within the corporation. And as I mentioned, GM was leary of fighting the government further, so they decided to not fight back, and just quietly drop out of the market.

The Flxible Vistaliner, as well as the later HiLevel, and final Flxiliner, were nice buses, that offered the smooth Torsilastic suspended ride, but were not really competitive with the contemporary GMC PD-4104, '06, and '07 models.....exactly why, I can't answer, but not many companies bought them...

Continental Trailways perhaps bought the most, but as soon as they developed their own Eagle's, they stopped buying the Flxible's....

 

[Green Maned Lion]

Fascinating. So early Eagles were built in Belgium with Rolls-Royce engines? Wonder why they switched to inferior engines...

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

Aha! So they improved MCI to be better than GMC's later products! So, a MC-8 would be better than a PD-4905, I'm thinking.....

So how do you pronounce "Flxible"? Is it pronounced "felxible", "folxible", or "flexible"?

With Torsilastic, would a Flxible beat GMC, MCI, or Eagle in those days? I heard the early Eagles were crap compared to the later ones. Like Eagle 01 vs Eagle 10.

 

[Green Maned Lion]

From what I heard about it you pronounced it [un]fixible.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

Here's one for you, Railiner: https://www.flickr.com/photos/crazy4buses/420500719/sizes/o/.

And another: https://www.flickr.com/photos/thetransitcamera/14269248520/sizes/c/.

You know what that is, right?

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

From what I heard about it you pronounced it [un]fixible.

Torsilastic? They still got Flxibles in Portland, TriMet still has some of their Metros.

 

[railiner]

Here's one for you, Railiner: https://www.flickr.com/photos/crazy4buses/420500719/sizes/o/.

And another: https://www.flickr.com/photos/thetransitcamera/14269248520/sizes/c/.

You know what that is, right?

!

You know I do.........

 

[Green Maned Lion]

Several people have told me Flixible busses were garbage. I know nothing more on the subject.

 

[railiner]

Fascinating. So early Eagles were built in Belgium with Rolls-Royce engines? Wonder why they switched to inferior engines...

The earliest (from the 1956 pilot model, up until 1961) were built in Germany by Kassbohrer-Setra. Most came with MAN diesel's but the four Super Golden Eagle's (60 foot articulated) came with the Rolls-Royce power. From 1961 until 1974, the Eagles were built by Bus and Car (a Continental Trailway's subsidiary) in Belgium. At first they had Cummins diesel's, until GM released the Detroit Diesel 8v-71 to other manufacturer's. In 1974, Eagle opened up a plant in Brownsville, Tx.

Say what you will, but the 8v-71 was IMHO, the best bus engine ever produced, until its poor air pollution problem, inherent in two-stroke engines, sealed its demise...

 

[railiner]

Aha! So they improved MCI to be better than GMC's later products! So, a MC-8 would be better than a PD-4905, I'm thinking.....

So how do you pronounce "Flxible"? Is it pronounced "felxible", "folxible", or "flexible"?

With Torsilastic, would a Flxible beat GMC, MCI, or Eagle in those days? I heard the early Eagles were crap compared to the later ones. Like Eagle 01 vs Eagle 10.

Yes....the MC-8 was superior to the PD-4905, and the MC-9 was better than the H8H649 (the very last 'buffalo' made in 1980).

It is pronounced "flexible"

The Flxible had a better ride than the "air-ride's", but the Eagle also had the Torsilastic, and the Eagle was bigger, heavier, and had an extra axle. I believe the Eagle also had more 'travel' in their suspension than the Flxible, so it really absorbed rough roads, like nothing else on earth....

The early Eagles's did have some teething problem's, but each year they improved. The biggest improvement from the "01" to the "05", was the swapping of the drive and tag axle locations, opening up a lot more underfloor cargo space (the fuel tank was moved to in-between the tag wheels). However, the 05 did not ride any better than the 01......

 

[railiner]

Several people have told me Flixible busses were garbage. I know nothing more on the subject.

Flxilble's transit bus reputation was badly tarnished after they were taken over by Grumman....the Advanced Design 'Grumman 870' had serious design flaws, and the cracked frames, caused a big scandal.....

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

I just found misinformation about Greyhound: http://www.saukvalley.com/2014/08/04/greyhound-working-to-bring-service-back-to-dixon/a1o0nqk/.

I'll reply to the other posts later.

Edit: So, Greyhound does not serve any of those places listed as "stops" on that article. Don't know what's going on.

 

[railiner]

Yes.....you're right....GL hasn't run those routes in a long time. At one time, they were local stops on Greyhound's main routes to the West.....now they don't even serve Iowa or Nebraska....

Dixon's claim to fame is being the birthplace of President Ronald Reagan......

 

[jebr]

Probably just thinking of Burlington Trailways instead of Greyhound. All of those cities have service from BTW when searching from each city to Chicago on Greyhound's website (and all except Moline on Burlington Trailway's website.)

 

[railiner]

Perhaps it's Burlington Trailways that is going to enhance service to Dixon......some people don't know (or care) about the difference...to some old-timer's, "Greyhound" is generic for intercity bus.....

 

[Green Maned Lion]

Fascinating. So early Eagles were built in Belgium with Rolls-Royce engines? Wonder why they switched to inferior engines...

The earliest (from the 1956 pilot model, up until 1961) were built in Germany by Kassbohrer-Setra. Most came with MAN diesel's but the four Super Golden Eagle's (60 foot articulated) came with the Rolls-Royce power. From 1961 until 1974, the Eagles were built by Bus and Car (a Continental Trailway's subsidiary) in Belgium. At first they had Cummins diesel's, until GM released the Detroit Diesel 8v-71 to other manufacturer's. In 1974, Eagle opened up a plant in Brownsville, Tx.Say what you will, but the 8v-71 was IMHO, the best bus engine ever produced, until its poor air pollution problem, inherent in two-stroke engines, sealed its demise...

Good they may have been... But if Rolls-Royce power can make a BMC Farina a good car, it can make a decent product amazing.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

Yes.....you're right....GL hasn't run those routes in a long time. At one time, they were local stops on Greyhound's main routes to the West.....now they don't even serve Iowa or Nebraska....

Dixon's claim to fame is being the birthplace of President Ronald Reagan......

They do serve Ottumwa, Iowa, with Greyhound Connect from Springfield, Missouri. But that's it.

Probably just thinking of Burlington Trailways instead of Greyhound. All of those cities have service from BTW when searching from each city to Chicago on Greyhound's website (and all except Moline on Burlington Trailway's website.)

That's what I'm thinking, but still, misinformation is misinformation.

Perhaps it's Burlington Trailways that is going to enhance service to Dixon......some people don't know (or care) about the difference...to some old-timer's, "Greyhound" is generic for intercity bus.....

But Trailways is an old brand, and people would recognize that too.

On the topic of Burlington Trailways, at Denver Greyhound I repeatedly saw their run to Indianapolis, they were plain white Restyled J4500's, never seen them like that before. It used to be always D4505's, in the Trailways Big Red livery.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

Fascinating. So early Eagles were built in Belgium with Rolls-Royce engines? Wonder why they switched to inferior engines...

The earliest (from the 1956 pilot model, up until 1961) were built in Germany by Kassbohrer-Setra. Most came with MAN diesel's but the four Super Golden Eagle's (60 foot articulated) came with the Rolls-Royce power. From 1961 until 1974, the Eagles were built by Bus and Car (a Continental Trailway's subsidiary) in Belgium. At first they had Cummins diesel's, until GM released the Detroit Diesel 8v-71 to other manufacturer's. In 1974, Eagle opened up a plant in Brownsville, Tx.Say what you will, but the 8v-71 was IMHO, the best bus engine ever produced, until its poor air pollution problem, inherent in two-stroke engines, sealed its demise...

What about the 8V-92TA or 60-R? The 60-R has a lot les pollution and is still reliable.

Aha! So they improved MCI to be better than GMC's later products! So, a MC-8 would be better than a PD-4905, I'm thinking.....

So how do you pronounce "Flxible"? Is it pronounced "felxible", "folxible", or "flexible"?

With Torsilastic, would a Flxible beat GMC, MCI, or Eagle in those days? I heard the early Eagles were crap compared to the later ones. Like Eagle 01 vs Eagle 10.

Yes....the MC-8 was superior to the PD-4905, and the MC-9 was better than the H8H649 (the very last 'buffalo' made in 1980).
It is pronounced "flexible"

The Flxible had a better ride than the "air-ride's", but the Eagle also had the Torsilastic, and the Eagle was bigger, heavier, and had an extra axle. I believe the Eagle also had more 'travel' in their suspension than the Flxible, so it really absorbed rough roads, like nothing else on earth....

The early Eagles's did have some teething problem's, but each year they improved. The biggest improvement from the "01" to the "05", was the swapping of the drive and tag axle locations, opening up a lot more underfloor cargo space (the fuel tank was moved to in-between the tag wheels). However, the 05 did not ride any better than the 01......

I had always heard about the tag and drive axle positions on the Eagles. So the Eagle 5 had tag-drive instead of drive-tag like all the MCI's?

Do they measure wheelbase to the last axle, or the drive axle?

 

[rickycourtney]

On a whim I filled out the Greyhound survey (there was a link on my reservation) and I told them pretty much what I said here… the good and the bad parts of my trip (mostly that the seats are horrible).

To my surprise within minutes the "city manager" for Seattle sent me a nice email asking for more information, which I provided. He said he would pass my thoughts "up the chain of command."

No clue if anything will come of it but it least I feel "listened to." It's a sharp contrast from the discussion on the Amtrak Forum right now where someone is going on weeks for a response to their comment.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

Really? I submitted multiple surveys to Greyhound complaining about the sagging seats but received no response. On the topic of bags blocking the aisle, Kit repeatedly said that was not allowed, and that all carry-on bags must go on the parcel racks or underneath the seats.

I should fill out more surveys and see what happens. I really hope they will order some other kind of seats, seats that don't sag.

On the topic of seats, I find the wide headrests very important when trying to sleep, so I do not think Greyhound should order any seats with small, narrow headrests. So I think Greyhound should order one of the following:

http://www.amaya-astron.com.mx/EN/products/coach_seats/torino_g_plus/

http://www.amaya-astron.com.mx/EN/products/coach_seats/torino_vip/

If you could choose between those two, would you choose the G Plus or VIP? Both are available with different seat covers, patterns, etc.

 

[rickycourtney]

Between those two the Torino VIP would be my choice.

I wouldn't make it a requirement to have a flat headrest. I've never had a problem falling asleep in seats with them. I feel like they support your head better, although my only experience with a flat headrest are the awful Premier and Premier LS seats.

I have sat in the A2-TEN several times and I found them to be more comfortable than the Torino Standard.

 

[railiner]

American Seating used to make very comfortable seats, I like the ones with the winged headrests that kept your sleeping head from sliding off the headrests....

Yes, the model '05', and all subsequent Eagle's have the drive axle in the rear....the GMC 'buffaloes' also had their drive axle in the rear. In the case of the 'buffaloes', the tag axle was actually optional...you could order a 40 foot, two axle coach. .I do believe wheelbase is generally considered the distance between the front and rear wheel's, not between the drive and steering axle, as some might assume, since that more influences a vehicle's turning radius....

Yes, good catch, Swadian...I had forgotten about that token GL presence in Iowa, at Ottumwa, if it is actually GL and not a contract carrier...

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

Yes, the token presence in Ottumwa is actually GLI, on GTE, Richard has posted photos of Greyhound Connect cutaways made by GCA running the Spring-Ottumwa rural route, with a "MO" prefix. Not a "real" Greyhound bus per se, as it is not an OTRB, but still, Greyhound it is.

Regarding the Torino VIP, I really like how it comes default with "combo" seat covers, vinyl on the sides, and cloth velour in the center. The vinyl on the sides takes the damage and stains while the person actually sitting will feel the extra-soft comfort of cloth velour center.

OK now, what about this: http://www.amaya-astron.com.mx/EN/products/coach_seats/torino_vip/.

Versus this: http://www.amaya-astron.com.mx/EN/products/coach_seats/a-2ten/.

Seat covers notwithstanding again, but do remember the former has hybrid covers that combine the "best of both". Others' opinions?

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

Hey guys, so I found this Las Vegas Bus Sales vid of a 1995 MC-12 for sale, with NO rest in the engine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaU8zuL8gSc. And only 80,000 miles? I'm thinking it's either a scam or it's not an ex-Greyhound MC-12, but very few MC-12's very built for other operators.

Also, I found that old restored MC-7 Richfield has: https://www.flickr.com/photos/busboys/6154820020/in/faves-95851032@N07/.

It has this interior: https://www.flickr.com/photos/busboys/4204420443/in/faves-95851032@N07/.

Looks nice and cozy to me, more comfortable-looking than a new Greyhound with the sagging seats. And this is the only time I've seen nice curtains on a bus, all the other ones I've seen have been intrusive and dirty, more problems than rewards. Did all the old MC-7's have that interior?

Also, regarding TV's on Greyhound buses, I think they made the right choice not having them, sleeping is quite easy right now with no running lights at all inside, complete natural lighting at night. Flashing TV's would be a major annoyance, sound or not. Even a GPS map would be annoying. It would only be useful in the daytime. It would be useful to play announcements and safety procedures. But completely pointless and annoying when the bus is already cruising down the highway. So Greyhound might as well save the money like they are right now, and not add them to buses.

 

[rickycourtney]

Don't get me wrong... I think that the Torino VIP is an excellent seat. The big winged headrest and the "combo" seat covers are both really nice. But there's a reason why it's called the "VIP", the price is higher than the Torino Standard. I just don't see Greyhound spending the extra money for a little extra comfort.

Also, I'm not sure if you noticed but you can also order the A-2TEN with a winged headrest (go to the second page) but it's not as nice as the winged headrest on the Torino VIP. That being said... I think the standard (semi-winged) headrest on the A-2TEN is extremely soft and comfortable and much better than the headrest on the Premier and Premier LS.