Bus Sounds and Videos

[TransitGuru1981X]

Hi,

This is Benjamin Edge speaking, and I am a new member.

An addition that I would love to see at this site is media related to bus sound clips (MP3 preferred) and videos. Buses can be those that are historical (retired) and currently in operation.

My favorite buses, if pertinent to those in DC and around, are:
*WMATA 8700-8774, 8800-8874 - 1986 Flxible Metro "A" 40102-6T (powered by the Detroit Diesel Allison (DDA) 6V-92TA engine and the Allison V-730 transmission)
*WMATA 8775-8799, 8875-8925, 8950-8970 - 1987 Flxible Metro "B" 40102-6T - same powertrain as 8700-8774/8800-8874 except electronically controlled
*WMATA 8971-8975 - 1987 Flxible Metro "B" 40102-6C (powered by the Cummins L10 engine and the Voith DIWA D863.3-W7 transmission)
*WMATA 9201-9239 - 1988 Flxible Metro "B" 40102-6T - same powertrain as 8775-8799/8875-8925/8950-8970
*WMATA 9250-9275 - 1988 Flxible Metro "B" 40096-6C - same powertrain as 8971-8975
*WMATA 9276-9289 - 1988 Flxible Metro "B" 40096-6T - same powertrain as 8775-8799/8875-8925/8950-8970
*WMATA 5001-5080 - 1988 Gillig Phantom 30/96TB/6V-92 (powered by the Detroit Diesel Corp. (DDC) 6V-92TA DDEC engine and the Allison HT-748 ATEC transmission)
*WMATA 5150-5185 - 1989 Flxible Metro "B" 30096-6T - same powertrain as 8775-8799/8875-8925/8950-8970
*WMATA 9301-9413 - 1990 Flxible Metro "B" 40102-6C - same powertrain as 8971-8975
*WMATA 9421-9463 - 1990 Flxible Metro "B" 40096-6C, same powertrain as 8971-8975
*WMATA 9481-9498 - 1990 Flxible Metro "B" 35102-6C, same powertrain as 8971-8975
*WMATA 9601-9660 - 1992 BIA (Bus Industries of America) Orion V 05.501 - same powertrain as 5001-5080, around 2004, this fleet's powertrains were changed to DDC Series 50 engines and Voith DIWA D863.3 transmissions (still, I could be wrong on this very last bit)
*WMATA 9701-9785 - 1993 Flxible Metro "D" 40102-6C (powered by the Cummins L10 CELECT engine and the Voith DIWA D863.3-W7 transmission)
*WMATA 9801-9818 - 1994 Flxible Metro "D" 40102-6M (powered by the Cummins M11 CELECT engine and the Voith DIWA D863.3-W7 transmission)
*WMATA 9819-9835 - 1994 Flxible Metro "D" 40102-4D (powered by the DDC Series 50 DDEC engine and the Voith DIWA D863.3-W7 transmission)
*WMATA 5201-5245 - 1995 American Ikarus 436.06 (powered by the Cummins M11 CELECT engine and the ZF Ecomat 5HP-600 transmission; transmissions changed to Voith DIWA D864.3 units in 2001)
*WMATA 4000-4104 - 1995 Flxible Metro "E" 40102-4D (powered  by the DDC Series 50 DDEC engine and the Allison VR-731RH ATEC transmission)
*Fairfax Connector 7700-7732 - 1985 BIA Orion I 01.507 (powered by the Detroit Diesel Allison (DDA) 6V-71N engine and the Allison MT-644 transmission; entire powertrain changed to DDC 6V-92TA DDEC engines and Allison HT-748 ATEC transmissions in 1991)
*Fairfax Connector 7800-7809 - 1987 BIA Orion I 01.502 (powered by the DDA 6V-71N engine and the Allison MT-647 transmission; these were changed to DDC 6V-92TA DDEC engines and Allison HT-748 transmissions in 1993)
*Fairfax Connector 7733-7739 - 1987 BIA Orion I 01.507 (powered by the DDA 6V-92TA engine and the Allison HT-747 transmission)
*Fairfax Connector 7740-7761 - 1989-91 BIA Orion I 01.507 (powered by the DDC 6V-92TA DDEC engine and the Allison HT-748 ATEC transmission) (7740-7744 are '89s, 7745-7754 '90s and 7755-7761 '91s)
*DASH (Alexandria Transit Co.) 18-19 - 1986 BIA Orion I 01.507 (powered by the DDA 6V-92TA engine and the Allison HT-747 transmission)
*DASH 20-33 - 1991-92 BIA Orion I 01.507 (powered by the Cummins L10 diesel engine and the Voith DIWA D863.3 transmission)
*DASH 44-53 - 1998 Gillig Phantom C18B096N4 (powered by the Cummins ISC engine and the Voith DIWA D863.3 transmission)
*DASH 54-58 - 1999 Gillig Phantom C21B096N4 (powered by the Cummins ISM engine and the Voith DIWA D863.3 transmission)
*(Montgomery County) Ride-On 5102-5256 - 1979-81 TMC Citycruiser T-30 (powered by the DDA 6V-53T engine and the Allison MT-643 transmission; most of the fleet saw an engine change to the Caterpillar (Cat) 3208T when rehabbed in 1990; 5470 was known to be among the last unrepowered TMCs operated by R-O)
*Ride-On 5257-5297 - 1984 BIA Orion I 01.502 (powered by the DDA 6V-71N engine and the Allison MT-644 transmission)
*Ride-On 5300-5356 - 1989 Gillig Phantom 30/96TB/3208T (powered by the Cat 3208T engine and the Allison MT-647 transmission; engines changed to Cummins C8.3 units in 1995)
*Ride-On 5500-5538, 5540-5545 - 1991-92 BIA Orion I 01.502 (powered by the DDC 6V-92TA DDEC engine and the Allison HT-748 transmission) (5500-5526 are '91s, 5527-5538 and 5540-5545 are '92s)
*Ride-On 5546-5547 - 1993 BIA Orion V 05.503 (same powertrain as 5500-5538 and 5540-5545)
*Ride-On 5360-5397, 5400-5409 - 1994-97 Gillig Phantom S50T3596 (same powertrain as WMATA 9819-9835, except for them being longitudinally mounted) (5360-5362 are '94s, 5363-5377 '95s, 5378-5397 '96s and 5400-5409 '97s)
*Ride-On 5550-5566, 5572-5579 - 1996, '98 Orion V 05.503 (powered by the Cummins M11 CELECT Plus engine and the Voith DIWA D863.3 transmission) (5550-5566 are '96s, 5572-5579 are '98s)
*Ride-On 5997-5999 (nee 5567-5569) - 1996 Orion V 05.503 CNG (powered by the Cummins L10G Bravo engine and the ZF Ecomat 5HP-590 transmission)
*Ride-On 5800-5801 (nee 5570-5571) - 1995 Orion VI 06.501 CNG (same powertrain as 5997-5999; these two buses were intended for a French Canadian transit agency, but were instead delivered to R-O in 1997)
*Ride-On 5410-5423 - 1999 Gillig Phantom C18B096N4 (powered by the Cummins ISC engine and Allison B-400R5 WTEC transmission)
*Ride-On 5704-5725 - 1999 Orion V 05.501 (same powertrain as the high 5300s)
*Ride-On 5802-5821 - 1999-2000 Orion V 05.501 CNG (same powertrain as the high 5300s, except for having EGR and being CNG-fueled)
*Ride-On 5580-5624 - 2001 Orion V 05.503 (same powertrain as the high 5300s)
*Ride-On 5900-5917 - 2003-04 Orion VII 07.502 CNG (same powertrain as 5802-5821, except for 4-speed Voith DIWA D864.3E)
*Ride-On 5918-5933 - 2004 Orion VII 07.502 CNG (powered by the Cummins C Gas Plus engine and the Voith DIWA D864.3E transmission)
*Ride-On 5934-5957 - 2005 Orion VII 07.502 CNG (powered by the Cummins C Gas Plus engine and the ZF Ecomat 6HP-592 transmission)
*Ride-On 5822-5836 - 2005 New Flyer C40LF CNG (powered by the Cummins C Gas Plus engine and the Allison B-400R6 WTEC transmission)
*Ride-On 5726-5746 - 2008 Gillig Low Floor G29D102N4 (powered by the Cummins ISL diesel engine and the ZF Ecomat 6HP-594 transmission) (these buses broke Ride-On's five-year affair with buying CNG fueled buses)
*Ride-On 5001-5006 - 2008 Gillig Low Floor G29A102N4 (same powertrain as 5726-5746)
*MTA Maryland (MTAMD) 3001-3205 - 1975 Flxible "New Look" 53096-8-1 (powered by the DDA 8V-71N engine and the Allison VS-2-8 transmission)
*MTAMD 3301-3401 - 1979-80 GMC RTS II T8H-603 (powered by the DDA 8V-71N engine and the Allison V-730 transmission) (3301-3360 are '79s, 3361-3401 are '80s)
*MTAMD 3501-3581 - 1982 Grumman/Flxible 870 "B" 40102-6T (powered by the DDA 6V-92TA engine and the Allison V-730 transmission) (one of these was converted to L10/Voith ca. 1988)
*MTAMD 8301-8380 - 1983 Flxible Metro "A" 40102-6T (same powertrain as 3501-3581)
*MTAMD 3706-3710 - 1986 Neoplan USA Transliner AN-440/A (powered by the DDA 6V-92TA engine and the Voith DIWA D863.3 transmission)
*MTAMD 8731-8740 - 1987 Flxible Metro "B" 40102-6C (powered by the Cummins L10 diesel engine and the Voith DIWA D863.3-W7 transmission)
*MTAMD 8741-8760 - 1987 Flxible Metro "B" 30096-6T (same powertrain as UMD 30-35)
*MTAMD 9201-9250 - 1992 Flxible Metro "C" 40102-6TL (powered by the DDC 6L-71TA DDEC engine and the Allison V-731 ATEC transmission)
*MTAMD 9426-9430 - 1994 Flxible Metro "E" 40102-6M (powered by the Cummins M11 CELECT engine and the Voith DIWA D863.3-W7 transmission)
*MTAMD 9501-9510, 9601-9620 - 1995-96 American Ikarus (NABI) 436 (powered by the Cummins M11 CELECT Plus engine and the ZF Ecomat 5HP-600 transmission) (9501-9510 are '95s, 9601-9620 '96s)
*University of Maryland (UMD) 30-35 - 1987 Flxible Metro "B" 30096-6T (powered by the DDA 6V-92TA DDEC engine and the Allison V-731 ATEC transmission)
*UMD 36-37 - 1987 Flxible Metro "B" 30096-6C (powered by the Cummins L10 diesel engine and the Voith DIWA D863.3-W7 transmission)
*UMD 38-41 - 1988 Flxible Metro "B" 30096-6C (same powertrain as 36-37)
*UMD 4291-4791 - 1991 Flxible Metro "B" 30096-6C (same powertrain as 36-37)
*UMD 7001-7701 - 2001 Gillig Phantom C21B096N4 (powered by the Cummins ISM engine and the Allison B-400R5 WTEC transmission)
*UMD 8005-8705 - 2005 Gillig Low Floor G21B102N4 (powered by the Cummins ISM engine and the Voith DIWA D864.3E transmission)

~Ben (TransitGuru1981X)

[WMAveteran]

Very impressive list and specifications! How did you ever find the time to accumulate all of that information?

[Tritransit Area]

Hi Ben, a great list!  It was actually very educating to see the various engine specs.  There are a couple inaccuracies, like WMATA's 1992 Orion Vs actually were repowered to a Voith transmission rather than an Allison, but it'd be awesome to see such a list added to the site.

Personally, I'm trying to find recordings of the TMCs in action as well as the Ride-On '89 Gillig Phantoms.  I wasn't aware the engines in those buses were switched as well!

And the WMATA 8800s were actually Metro As? I thought they were Bs, but at least now I can say I've ridden every type of Flx Metro outside of the C series (since B-more MTA hides them so well!).

Thanks for the list - hopefully we can find more recordings out there.  I know Tristan has a wonderful collection of them.

[TransitGuru1981X]

Hi Ben, a great list!  It was actually very educating to see the various engine specs.  There are a couple inaccuracies, like WMATA's 1992 Orion Vs actually were repowered to a Voith transmission rather than an Allison, but it'd be awesome to see such a list added to the site.

Personally, I'm trying to find recordings of the TMCs in action as well as the Ride-On '89 Gillig Phantoms.  I wasn't aware the engines in those buses were switched as well!

And the WMATA 8800s were actually Metro As? I thought they were Bs, but at least now I can say I've ridden every type of Flx Metro outside of the C series (since B-more MTA hides them so well!).

Thanks for the list - hopefully we can find more recordings out there.  I know Tristan has a wonderful collection of them.

The reason I said that the Orion V's WMATA had operated used Allison HT-748 transmissions, that was judged by a recording Marcos Ruiz had given me back in 2006 (he recorded that back in 1998, six years before the powertrain changes on these buses took place). That bus # was 9623. To hear an Orion V with a 6V-92TA and Voith, just watch this video of a Markham Transit 1991 Orion V as a sample:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLomSlSh_5w

And also this one (an Oakville Transit 1990 Orion V):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNUCgLzFaY4

Sorry, but I don't know the obvious differences that the "A" and "B" Flxible Metros have. What would they be? I cannot seem to find photos showing these differences.

Thank you again...

~Ben

[Tritransit Area]

You were right that the 9600s were delivered with Allison HT-748s.  However, they were repowered to the DD50/Voith powertrain at a later date. 

I'm not sure what the visible differences were between the Metro As and Metro Bs.  I thought that the 8800s were Metro Bs, but I guess, according to wikipedia, they may be Metro As. 

How did 8775-8799 manage to get built before 8800-8874, though?

[TransitGuru1981X]

I'm not sure what the visible differences were between the Metro As and Metro Bs.  I thought that the 8800s were Metro Bs, but I guess, according to wikipedia, they may be Metro As. 

How did 8775-8799 manage to get built before 8800-8874, though?

Might it be that the 8700s were delivered with suburban seating and the 8800s onward with transit seating? Much like NJ Transit's Flxibles: their 1000s (PA1300-PA1449, 1450-1464, 1700-1720 and 1750-1976 had transit seating and the 2000s-3000s (2000-2518, 3500-3605, 3700-3791) had suburban seating.

~Ben

[MetroLinerXLZ]

One noteable difference between Metros A and B is the destination sign. The B series accomodated a larger electronic destination sign, while the A series accomodated a much smaller sign.

Also, Metro B's built after 1988 had a flat rear interior wall which NONE of the A's had.

Last thing to note. The A series was built untill around late 1986. After that untill 1992 was the B series.

[TransitGuru1981X]

One noteable difference between Metros A and B is the destination sign. The B series accomodated a larger electronic destination sign, while the A series accomodated a much smaller sign.

Also, Metro B's built after 1988 had a flat rear interior wall which NONE of the A's had.

Last thing to note. The A series was built untill around late 1986. After that untill 1992 was the B series.

Montigue,

I don't know if the A and B revisions can be judged by the destination sign type. TriMet in Portland, OR had ran 1988 and '89 Metro B's (500-549, 550-637); both of these fleets had the smaller destination signs on the front. I'll show you:

TriMet 525 (1988 model, Zack Willhoite photograph):


TriMet 569 (1989 model, seen with 434, a 1972 Flxible New Look now owned by Les Hoffman; Zack Willhoite photograph):


WMATA 8754 (1986 model)


WMATA 8950 (1987 model)


~Ben

[btconet]

Interesting.  I'm trying to search my own memories as an Operator of the differences between build years, but it's a bit compllicated since my yard only had a handful of 1986 models, but plenty of 1987 and 1988 models.

Interestingly, it's a bit complicated as there are a whole host of rather minor differences between years, and I'm not always exactly sure what changed when, and if the changes are related directly to the "A" or "B" status, are other universal refinements through the years, or are merely variations in the spec at my particular property.

The two things I seem to recall being different between the 86 models and 87s were a black interior panel around the destination sign instead of buff, and the use of spring throttled accelerator pedals instead of air throttles (though Cummins L10s continued to use air throttles for years afterwards, and our 86 models may have had springs as well). 

In 1988 or 1989, the steering column changed from a larger wheel with a gnurled adjuster knob in the middle of the shaft to a smaller wheel with a sprung knob 1/3 of the way down that didn't pull the whole column forward like the old one did.  Also in 1988, I think a number of controls (chime, 4 ways) was moved from the left side to the front.

In 1989, the left side driver's window went from a smaller pane below a horiontal strip, above which was a sealed window, to a sliding version similar to those used by customers.

In 1990, the WC setup was greatly simplified to a 4 position dial from the array of buttons and switches.

In 1992, the C models moved the transmission switches forward, and changed the Operator pedestal to a solid one instead of the slightly elevated "suspended" platform with the "perforated floor."

[Tristan]

Regarding sounds, I am currently working on a big release (my first in almost two years) of new and classic bus recordings; my current collection is available at http://transit.tecsbrain.org/recs but it will be moving into the Media Library here.  I will go through the list you posted and see how much of it I have.

[WMAveteran]

Regarding sounds, I am currently working on a big release (my first in almost two years) of new and classic bus recordings; my current collection is available at http://transit.tecsbrain.org/recs but it will be moving into the Media Library here.  I will go through the list you posted and see how much of it I have.

Excellent!  I look forward to the new release.  Thank you.

[Tristan]

Any requests?  All I don't have is the 9600s before repower...I had some but lost them years ago......they weren't that good anyway.  If it's any consolation, I do have 5546, but it sounds a bit different from what I remember of the 9600s.

[TransitGuru1981X]

Any requests?  All I don't have is the 9600s before repower...I had some but lost them years ago......they weren't that good anyway.  If it's any consolation, I do have 5546, but it sounds a bit different from what I remember of the 9600s.

I still hope that you have both DASH 18-19 and 20-33 in your stash (18-19 use DD 6V-92TA/Allison HT-747; 20-33 use Cummins L10/Voith D863.3).

[MetroLinerXLZ]

As most of y'all know, I do have my own set of recordings that I upload from time to time (in rotational format).

But for others who may not know, I also do have my own set of audio recordings of various transit agencies. They can be found here:

http://www.savefile.com/projects/648674

[Tritransit Area]

Any requests?  All I don't have is the 9600s before repower...I had some but lost them years ago......they weren't that good anyway.  If it's any consolation, I do have 5546, but it sounds a bit different from what I remember of the 9600s.

Ride-On's 1989 Gilligs, please!!!