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GM "New Look Bus" still in service in Altoona Pa!!

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GM "New Look Bus" still in service in Altoona Pa!!
Posted by CandOforprogress2 on Monday, October 16, 2017 9:59 PM

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Posted by Overmod on Tuesday, October 17, 2017 5:37 PM

I wonder how many Fishbowls are still in service?

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Posted by SD70M-2Dude on Tuesday, October 17, 2017 7:22 PM

I remember seeing this gem and a few of her sisters when I travelled to Ottawa around the same time this article was written:

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/chrome-glory-old-bus-still-gleaming-in-outaouais

Closer to home, Edmonton Transit's lasted into the 21st century (all gone now), and they also had a unique 100-strong fleet of trolleybuses built out of New Look shells by the Brown-Boveri Company.  They lasted until the wires came down in 2009, and some were then sold to a city in Bulgaria for further service:

File:Edmonton BBC trolleybus 192.jpg

The ETS bus drivers I spoke to always preferred the GM (or electric) buses to anything else because of their raw power, they never had problems with hills.

This in comparison to the first Mitsubishi buses the city bought, which repeatedly stalled on the steep climbs out of our river valley.

Greetings from Alberta

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Posted by Paul of Covington on Tuesday, October 17, 2017 9:25 PM

   I liked the look of those buses from the first time I saw them back in the fifties.   I always thought the "face" looked like a jukebox.

_____________ 

  "A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner

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Posted by ROBERT WILLISON on Wednesday, October 18, 2017 10:04 AM

I wonder how many miles this bus has rolled?

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Posted by CandOforprogress2 on Wednesday, October 18, 2017 10:43 AM

Why did Edmonton trash there trolley bus system?

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Wednesday, October 18, 2017 9:44 PM

When the Atlanta Transit system ( later sold to MARTA ) first bought them it ran a publicity campaign.  A number of them came to ATL under wraps and ATS called it the "Arival of the City Slickers"  Had a big rollout campaign.  They helped speed the removal of the ATS electric trolley buses. 

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Thursday, October 19, 2017 6:42 AM

The Chicago Transit Authority had a sizable fleet of GMC "New Look" buses, they were matched by a similar size batch of Flxible Twin Coach buses of similar appearance.  Several suburban operators also had their own GMC's.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by ROBERT WILLISON on Thursday, October 19, 2017 8:22 AM

CSSHEGEWISCH

The Chicago Transit Authority had a sizable fleet of GMC "New Look" buses, they were matched by a similar size batch of Flxible Twin Coach buses of similar appearance.  Several suburban operators also had their own GMC's.

 

the cts ( Cleveland Transit system ) operated both the gm fish bowls and the flexible buses. Rode them both on the number 9 and 9 e heading downtown.

Sadly never thought to take any pictures of them.

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Posted by SD70M-2Dude on Thursday, October 19, 2017 8:39 PM

CandOforprogress2

Why did Edmonton trash there trolley bus system?

Both the bus fleet and the overhead lines were getting old and worn out, and would have required a major expenditure to refurbish or replace.  The trolleybuses were also considered to be more expensive to operate than modern diesel equivalents (probably due to the expense of maintaining the overhead lines).

In the end city council narrowly voted (7-6) to get rid of the trolleybuses and replace them with new diesel hybrids.  I was one of many who felt the decision to be short-sighted and wrong, but our opinions did not matter in the end.

At least a few of the buses have been preserved.

 

Greetings from Alberta

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Posted by CandOforprogress2 on Sunday, October 22, 2017 4:29 PM

Altoona Buses are run by private contrators who also run the School buses in town. Drivers are rather personable but a little rough around the edges. First day I got cussed out but once the the driver knew me she was cool. dealing with Adults and then dealing with school kids its hard to tell who is more mature.

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Posted by CandOforprogress2 on Sunday, October 22, 2017 4:30 PM

Altoona Buses are run by private contrators who also run the School buses in town. Drivers are rather personable but a little rough around the edges. First day I got cussed out but once the the driver knew me she was cool. dealing with Adults and then dealing with school kids its hard to tell who is more mature.d

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