Maybe he just didn't feel like turning around at Riverside
By adamg - 7/9/10 - 4:08 pm
Emily Bradford snapped this photo of an MBTA bus today - on the New York State Thruway in upstate New York.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozjN_bmfI5c#t=1m10s
Probably on its way out to a
Probably on its way out to a mid-life overhaul out at Midwest Bus.
http://www.midwestbus.com/remanufacturing.html
Correct, Midwest is
Correct, Midwest is overhauling 123 CNG buses for the MBTA at their facility in Owosso Michigan. The MBTA is overhauling another 176 of the same type in house at their own Everett Shops.
Midwest has done previous work for the MBTA, overhauling some of the remaining older high-floor RTS buses still in the MBTA fleet. City transit buses are considered fully depreciated after 12 years of service, but with a mid-life overhaul, a transit agency can get 15-18 years of service, maybe more, from a bus. The CNG buses Midwest is overhauling were built in 2003.
Yes indeed
NABI buses 2001-2124 are going to be rehabbed by Midwest Bus - full body repair, installation of bike racks, and new seating. They've come back and they look much better - you know it's a rehab when the number plate inside has been moved to the center. The ride I've had on them have been pretty good.
that's a loooooong drive
And...a hell of a lot of fill-ups. I'm guessing those things don't get very good gas mileage on the highway. Do they have more than one driver doing the trip, or more so they can drive it straight out? Michigan is a haul...20 hours?
The whole thing doesn't seem terribly efficient...
The busses run on CNG
The busses run on CNG (compressed natural gas). I'm going to assume thats not readily available on the way there, so I'll venture a guess that it will make it on one "tank". As far as the drivers its probably someone from midwest bus, or an outside hire.
The distance is actually a good thing as well since I believe buses, like trains, need a ton of testing miles put on them before they can be put into service. With a long drive such as this, they should be ready to be put on the road by the time they get back, or at least closer to it.
The bus in the photo is going
The bus in the photo is going to Midwest not from. The ones coming back usually arrive via a flatbed, and some of the ones going out are sent on a flat-bed as well, if the engine is shot.
The are places along the way where they can refuel the CNG tanks if they need to.
They run on compressed natural gas?
Also: I just realized what the bus photo reminds me of: seeing your teacher outside of school!
PS:Google sez CNG busses get ~360 miles to the fillup.
Instead of assuming, you could do some five-second research
Look, CNG stations locations: http://www.cngprices.com
I just made the drive last
I just made the drive last week (well, Detroit, not Owosso), and yes, it's loooooong. It took me a solid twelve hours and I was going 80 most of the way.
This mid-life overhaul (after
This mid-life overhaul (after just 6-7 years) will cost about $220k per bus. New diesel buses cost about $275k, and work a lot better.
Like Citizen Kane
Charlie on the M.T.A. was the name of the bus!