OK...i'll give the Nova's some time to "break' in. I have problems with new flyer's quality control. I guess it's hard to find good help i Winterpeg. As someone who works on these things, i would rather work (i install radio systems on city buses), i would rather install a Nova than a NF anyday. They system integration is much better on a Nova, and it works whin I hook up the the pre-installed components.

Also..I live RIGHT above a bus stop, and would rather hear (or rather NOT hear) a Quiet Nova, than a noisy NF...with the loud engines they bought and stockpiled a few years ago, so they could get around emission, and noise rules. The tchs running the Fuel Data Capture system for Coast Mountain Bus Co also say the Nova's a are much more fuel efficient.

This being said... both companys have a ways to go.

Now lets trash talk Orion. I have only worked on Orion V's, (80 or so) and they are older..much more complicated to install, but the quality seems to be good.

Well all I can assume is that the New Flyers you get there has a crappy engine/tranny combo. The Cummins ISL/ZF tranny the HSR uses is pretty nice and quiet, but throaty as well. I couldn't commit on the electricals, you're probably a lot more familiar with em than I am.

Haha not too hard to trash talk Orion's. TTC's VII's are an awesome batch to take a shot at. Engine fires anyone?

Posted by HypnoToad OK...i'll give the Nova's some time to "break' in. I have problems with new flyer's quality control. I guess it's hard to find good help i Winterpeg. As someone who works on these things, i would rather work (i install radio systems on city buses), i would rather install a Nova than a NF anyday. They system integration is much better on a Nova, and it works whin I hook up the the pre-installed components. Also..I live RIGHT above a bus stop, and would rather hear (or rather NOT hear) a Quiet Nova, than a noisy NF...with the loud engines they bought and stockpiled a few years ago, so they could get around emission, and noise rules. The tchs running the Fuel Data Capture system for Coast Mountain Bus Co also say the Nova's a are much more fuel efficient. This being said... both companys have a ways to go. Now lets trash talk Orion. I have only worked on Orion V's, (80 or so) and they are older..much more complicated to install, but the quality seems to be good.

Yeah lol, each company is different. STO got ISC or ISL/ZF on their LFSs and their newest have ISL/Voith and both are loud but not as loud as a ISL/B400R.

Orion, yeah we've had our fair share of problems with them. Our 1991 and 1992 Orions had premature rusting so they had to be retired. The Orion-Ikarus which wasn't Orion's fault was a rust bucket (it was Ikarus's fault as they did the body).

But I perfer anything old then anything new. They at least got style! The ISL has no style. The 6V92TA has style.

I'm actually going to be getting the chance to work on our (CTHA's) buses this spring. I'm really looking forward to that! 1 Old Look, 3 New Looks, and 1 Flxible Metro.
Sadly, all the buses we have around here in regular service are boring Gillig Phantoms (OK, so they're not that bad...) and Advantages (they're bad boring!). Most exciting things anywhere near here are TANK's last remaining Flxible Metros (6V92TAs) and an old '74 AM General 10240 they press into revenue servie when they're in a crunch...
-Cody

There were 6 or 7 Fishbowls sitting across the road from Crawford Metals in Belleville, all in various stages of disrepair. I posted pics on UER at some point of them, but who knows where the pics got to.

If I leave work before dark, I'll check them out tomorrow.

Here is our Fishbowls



Our Fishbowls looked great in their livery, I miss them.

When were they retired?

Yeah, that is quite an attractive livery.

I'd really like to know when they started building the Fishbowls with that roof-mounted exhaust exit... They're aimed so odd too... (kinda angled forward, and like 20 deg. left of vertical.)

-Cody

All the Fishbowls from my work are gone!!! Sad to say, they have all been scrapped, and are no more...save one, with a stupid looking wrap on it. I'll get some pix, in a few days, when i get back to the depot.

Posted by Stewie When were they retired?

April 18, 2007 was the day 8238 came off it's afternoon tripper and was retired
from service. After that Ottawa changed forever, mostly for the worse.

click to view

Quick shot of said fishbowls in Belleville... I'd love to rescue one.

(Sorry about the terrible quality... I was standing in a foot of snow in my running shoes, using the headlights of my Durango for light)

Posted by ExploringOhio Yeah, that is quite an attractive livery. I'd really like to know when they started building the Fishbowls with that roof-mounted exhaust exit... They're aimed so odd too... (kinda angled forward, and like 20 deg. left of vertical.) -Cody

I think it was either '68 or '73 there was a rumor that OC Transpo invented it than sold it to GM but there has been contradictory evidence against that.

that does kinda make sense, as I see them mostly on the Canadian-built buses... We (CTHA organization) own 3 fishbowls and both Candians have it, but the suburban coach built in Michigan doesnt... then again, it's also a '60 model! haha

-Cody

Posted by ExploringOhio that does kinda make sense, as I see them mostly on the Canadian-built buses... We (CTHA organization) own 3 fishbowls and both Candians have it, but the suburban coach built in Michigan doesnt... then again, it's also a '60 model! haha -Cody

Yeah lol

Also at CTHA, what other buses do you guys have?

Also where are those two Canadian Fishbowls from?

Also at CTHA, what other buses do you guys have? Also where are those two Canadian Fishbowls from?

Complete Roster (first 2 Canadian):

Bus 1980:
1981 GM (hint, no "C", and the year means it's Canadian built) T8H5307A. Current Colors: TANK (Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky). Obtained from TANK in 1998.

Bus 557:
1975 GM TDH5307A. Serial #204. Paint: Columbus Ohio Transit Authority. Obtained from COTA in 1998.

Bus 211:
1960 GMC SDH4501 (S=Suburban model). Serial #12 (early one!). Paint: Ohio bus Lines. Obtained from OBL in 1984. Ex-OBL and Queen City Metro (Cincinnati) bus #648

Bus 117:
1981 Flxible 870. Serial #93725. Paint: Queen City Metro. Obtained in 1998 from QCM.

Bus 1096:
1984 Fruehauf 28FT. Serial #25095. Paint: Wht/Grey. Obtained in 1996.

Bus 359:
1957 GMC TDH5105 (Old Look). Serial #2561. Paint: Cincinnati Transit (orange/cream w/ CTHA logo). Obtained in 1998. Ex-Kansas City Public Service #182, and Ex-TANK #815. Restored to Cincinnati Transit #359.

Bus 273:
1953 GMC TDH4512 (Old Look). Serial #134. Paint: The Green Line (Old Cincinnati carrier). Obtained in 1998. Ex-Harrisburg, OH #1283 and Ex-Lebanon County #300. restored in 1004 to CN&C Green Line #273.

-Cody
For more info, visit www.ctha.org

Also, now that I think of it:

TANK owns 2 vintage machines of their own:
An identical brother to CTHA #273: 1950 Green Lines Old Look

Also a 1974 AM General 10240D (8V71 DD with Allison V731)that ran in regular TANK revenue service until 1998, when they retired it. It still runs great, looks good, and is pressed into service at mass rush hours when a sub-bus is needed. Obviously the far-box still is present and working fine and dandy!

All Old Look s I write of have DD 6-71 engines and Allison VH (2-speed autos; speeds= 1. Turbine 2. Torque-Converter Lockup

New Looks: 1980=8V71 and V731
557 =(?) and either VS2-6 or VS2-8
211 =6V71 and (?)
Flxible: either DD 6V92 and V731 or a 5.9 Cummins/(?)

Ah okay thanks for the info!

Not a Fishbowl, but since someone mentioned Ottawa-Carlton Transpo, I guess this is what they replaced:

click to view

I'm standing on the roof of the last tram to run in the capital of Canada, fixing it's pole. (Ottawa Transportation Commission Line Car 25)

Posted by JimBoylan Not a Fishbowl, but since someone mentioned Ottawa-Carlton Transpo, I guess this is what they replaced: click to view I'm standing on the roof of the last tram to run in the capital of Canada, fixing it's pole. (Ottawa Transportation Commission Line Car 25)

Dunno. Looks like a model. If not, it's pretty cool.

Go to bera.org, use the "Search the Collection" function for Equipment Number "25". The painters will be flattered by your comment.

Is there any interest in having a New England regional Office Products Expo here? I could make the arrangements.

Unfortunately for this topic, we traded our Connecticut Co. Fishbowl for a tow, wrecker, or breakdown truck.