Greyhound seats and fleet questions

[mightyjoe1201]

Was just in NYC for the day and saw x3-45 #86222 and blue g #7265. I think those are the numbers. Now got a question. Does greyhound have any j4500's? I swore I saw one pass us going they other way in the blue greyhound livery.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

Yeah, Greyhound has some J4500s. They have 8 ex-Coach America and 4 ex-Americanos J4500s.

The 102DL3 didn't always have Amaya Patriot PT. They started off with FAINSA Brasils, which were replaced by the Patriots starting in 2004.

Original interior: http://www.angelfire.com/ca5/busfan/6950int.jpg.

 

[rickycourtney]

Hmm... so the FAINSA Brasils lasted in some cases around 6-8 years. That's not a very long life on those seats considering the same seats are now 12-14 years old.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

I guess when Greyhound started replacing the seats in the 102DL3s in 2004, the G4500 seats of the same type were too new to be replaced. Greyhound was planning early retirement for the G4500s but ended up not doing it for whatever reason. They retired some G4500s in 2009, presumably to replace them with X3-45s, but halted it because the G4500s had wheelchair lifts and the MC-12s didn't. So the MC-12s were retired first, the last leaving in 2012. Then Greyhound resumed replacement of the G4500s, but lack of funds must have halted that again and the better G4500s were saved and rebuilt instead.

Hence you have the current situation of old FAINSA Brasils in Greyhound's G4500s. The same seats equipped the late-model MC-12s, 102D3s, and 102DL3s, but all those buses got new Amaya Patriot PTs starting in 2004. Before 1996 or 1997, Greyhound used National Seating. The MC-12s with Nationals were prematurely retired and replaced with G4500s.

 

[rickycourtney]

So I rode a pair of Sound Transit's D4500CL coaches yesterday, one a 2008 model year, the other a 2010. Both were equipped with 57 American Seating model 2095 seats. They were reasonably comfortable. Much better than the Premier, but not nearly as good as Amaya's seats.

Also interesting the 2008 coach tended to shutter quite a bit as it idled at a stop, while the 2010 drove much more smoothly.

Sound Transit also opted for a solid surface headliner which had a design kind of like marble, presumably to hide any grime. It's in my opinion, a much nicer look than the brightly colored carpet.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

The 2008 rattling and the 2010 not rattling may be an example of MCI's inconsistency in construction these days. Their roof in now segmented and glued, unlike the old roofs that were riveted. Other parts are also increasingly glued instead of riveted or welded. This can lead to increased rattling.

Did the D4500CTs tilt much when turning? When I ride D4505s, I notice that some of them tilt much more than others, especially when turning at high speed. The 102DL3 barely tilts at all. The D4505 also brakes much rougher than both the 102DL3 and X3-45, though Van Hools are the roughest when stopping fast.

I agree the 2095 is much better than the Premier, but still much worse than anything from Amaya, FAINSA, or National. The American 2004 is probably the second worst after the Premier. It was very hard when I tried it out in Las Vegas.

 

[rickycourtney]

The rattling actually seemed more like an issue with the drivetrain (either the engine or transmission), but the build quality of the coach could certainly have increased the rattling sounds.

I honestly didn't notice much leaning, but I wasn't really paying attention to that. It was a very comfortable ride overall, especially when you compared to the transit buses Sound Transit has converted for commuter service. My only major issue with these buses is that you can't really use them on a service with intermediate stops and loading wheelchairs is a difficult process.

I'm not sure why you'd find the 2004 much more uncomfortable than the 2095, seeing as they are a part of the same 2000 series family of seats.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

The 2004 is narrower, but I didn't find it much worse than the 2095. Still, all of these are bad.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

Greyhound just unleased a new ad campaign proclaiming "LEATHER SEAT, FREE WI-FI, AND POWER OUTLETS ON EVERY BUS." Sounds like the White G4500s are gone or all in storage.

 

[mightyjoe1201]

I'm going to the museum of bus transportation in Hershey, PA on Saturday for their annual spring fling. There are supposed to b buses from all over there. Greyhound sometimes brings some brand new ones. If I can I'll get some pics for you guys of the outside and inside if they let us get on them to look.

Swadian, if one if their reps are there I'll try to find out about the white g' s for you.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

I saw some pictures on Flickr of a bunch of White G's at Greyhound Dallas Maintenance Center. I think they were still operational, but just in storage. Most of them were in terrible shape. Admittedly, even though those things are huge dirty and unreliable POS's, they still have better seats than the new buses.

Here's #7039 that someone caught in DLD: https://www.flickr.com/photos/48017564@N03/17422867822/sizes/l.

 

[rickycourtney]

Greyhound just unleased a new ad campaign proclaiming "LEATHER SEAT, FREE WI-FI, AND POWER OUTLETS ON EVERY BUS."

Where did you see this? Link?

 

[railiner]

I'm going to the museum of bus transportation in Hershey, PA on Saturday for their annual spring fling. There are supposed to b buses from all over there. Greyhound sometimes brings some brand new ones. If I can I'll get some pics for you guys of the outside and inside if they let us get on them to look.

Swadian, if one if their reps are there I'll try to find out about the white g' s for you.

I'll be there, weather permitting....I'll be wearing a white T-Shirt, with a blue PD-3751 'Silversides' on it....the only day of the year I'll wear it...

 

[mightyjoe1201]

I will have a hat with a gm old look on it that says Quinn's transit. I couldn't tell you what kind of clothes other then jeans I'll have on. I'll b the younger guy with a short beard and fat. Lol

 

[mightyjoe1201]

Watching our local news there was an academy bus involved in a deadly wreck on I 380 herd in north east pa. The bus driver and several passengers were killed

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

I couldn't find a link, but I got a screenshot of the ad.

If you guys ever see me, I'll be a younger, thin Chinese guy with a buzzcut. Don't know what I would be wearing on that day, though. Probably jeans or khakis for a casual occasion. If I'm traveling on Greyhound and in a good mood, I'll have my handmade Greyhound fan stickers.

Greyhound Ad.pdf

 

[rickycourtney]

I couldn't find a link, but I got a screenshot of the ad.

Well it's about time! I knew this promotion was coming eventually. I applaud Greyhound for their effort to really refresh and modernize the fleet (despite the questionable decision to go with the Premier seats).

 

[rickycourtney]

Totally off topic, but I had to share.

I spotted Boeing's newest product in Seattle today. I think it's a 7B7-400.



If you don't get the joke, look closely at the panel just in front of the rear tires.

It's actually a D4000, owned by Boeing, that was being used to transport people to a private event at the Seattle Aquarium.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

I see remarkable parallels between the Premier seat and the G4500 bus. Both were products designed and built with Greyhound's needs in mind and both were highly touted, but both failed miserably. Some G4500s have made a comeback as the Blue G4500, but others are FUBAR. The Premiers are probably going to have to hang on till they get replaced.

In the future, I hope Greyhound will no longer order Premiers. Greyhound has no orders this year so far. They may make an order later this year, as the White G4500s still haven't been replaced; they were simply put into storage and are still being photographed.

Boeing's D4000 looks like an older one to me. It still has the double roof trim, suggesting a riveted roof, instead of the D4000CL, which has a bonded roof with single trim.

 

[mightyjoe1201]

Was at the Museum of Bus Transportation in Hershey, PA for their spring fling. Greyhound had x3-45 #86666 there. First time I got to see the inside if one if their prevosts. I was surprised there was absolutely no damage on the outside of the bus or the inside. Sorry I didn't get any pics. There were so many cool buses there that I was beside myself. Lol

 

[railiner]

It was a great show, wasn't it?

Sorry I didn't get to meet you there, but I did run into quite a few people that I did know, and many that after talking 'bustalk', knew a lot of other people in common...

The highlight to me was not part of the Museum collection, but instead, the 'visitor' in the driveway....the former Continental Trailways (Continental Central Lines), Silver Eagle model '05', 13542 in amazing original condition. It was almost like it was hidden away in a barn for thirty years, and just pulled out. Almost every last detail was original.

And its proud owner drove it all the way from Larkspur, Colorado....

Another treat was getting to 'drive' Burlington Trailways driving simulator, to see how well you can avoid hitting sudden obstacles. An amazing piece of equipment, set up in one of their old 'D' models.

Another interesting visitor was an MC-6 Supercruiser, although modified into a motor-home.

Some manufacturer's were represented with a new VanHool TX45, a Volvo 9700, and a MCI J4500. There was as mentioned, GL's X-3. And there was a new Capital Area Transit transit bus, and there were some school buses, as well.

The 'star' inside the museum was the Scenicruiser that was formally deeded over from ABC Bus to the Museum last night. Part of the agreement is that the current paint scheme "Faribo Lines" (honoring an ABC principal) never be altered, so it cannot be painted over into its original Greyhound livery....

I did not even get a chance to get over to the Annex, as I had to get back home early. I did score a few goodies at the sales tables to add to my collection....

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

Wow, #86666? What a number! Did you try out the seats? They're really uncomfortable. But #86666 is brand-new and hasn't been broken in yet, so maybe the seats haven't started sagging yet. Shouldn't be any damage on a brand-new one.

I dropped by the Greyhound RNO terminal today. Trio of buses there, D4500 #6611 and D4505s #86312 and #UT86398 at Gates 1, 3, and 4, respectively. #6611 should be going out on the 1314 to Denver, #86312 on the 8317 to San Francisco, and #UT86398 on the 1308 tomorrow to Salt Lake City. I'm not sure what #UT86398 was doing at Gate 4; that's the San Francisco Express gate and it's a Utah-owned D4505. Also, both the D4505s had their doors open. I've got pictures, I'll post 'em later.

The station interior was clean and deserted, but the loading area was quite dirty. Greyhound should have someone clean it up. They did improve the station interior. Got rid of the old storage lockers and replaced them with a Refreshment Center. There's also new boarding lines with boarding groups ABCD (boarding number blocks). This is for all schedules, not just Greyhound Express.

Is the show open to everyone or just industry people?

 

[mightyjoe1201]

It was a great show. I think I may have passed u briefly. I was getting on the shuttle to go over to the annex. There were do many great buses there.

I was going to take my god son in the simulator but we never made it in. Lol. I was surprised to see that the "D " it was in was a manual transmission. All the other d models I've seen were automatics.

I wad thrilled to finally get to see a mc6 in person, only ever saw pics of them.

I hope you got to see my bosses old look

 

[mightyjoe1201]

Swadian, it's open to the public. If you are out east here next year when they have the spring fling you should drop by. Check out their website for the museum. Its bus museum.org. you'll enjoy what you see

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

What kind of manual was it? A Fuller T-11607D? Greyhound Canada had some 102D3s and 102DL3s with that transmission. All have been sold off, though. The ones with manuals also have silversides.

Probably won't be able to get out east much, but I could try. Used to live in Philadelphia.