Portland TriMet 1990 Gillig Phantom #1455

[knightclassic1]

It's so rare that any buses older than 1991 sounds like this. This actually sounds just like newer Gillig Advantages (later 2000s models) in my hometown.

[knightclassic1]

How many of these 1990s are left as of Fall 2011? eh

[ClassicTVMan1981X]

@knightclassic1

Of course, not all 63 of these remain in service.

[ClassicTVMan1981X]

The route from SE 12th & Hawthorne to downtown on this line: SE Hawthorne, Madison, Hawthorne Bridge, SW Main to 6th & Taylor.

[brianbrwa]

The irony was that the 1400's were an emergency purchase to replace the crumbling AMG's in TriMet's fleet. They were ordered as cheaply as possible while still having Tri-Met's requisite Cummins L10 and Voith D863.

[ClassicTVMan1981X]

@brianbrwa

These also replaced the 1975 Flxible New Looks numbered 100-179.

[ClassicTVMan1981X]

You caught this on Rt 10-Harold from SE Madison St & 11th Ave, having come to that area via Rt 70-12th Avenue.

[Nabinut]

@ClassicTVMan1981X

Very good. I had just exited from Gillig 2110 and walked a block and a half and waited about five minutes. I skipped on a Flyer before this showed up.

[ClassicTVMan81]

There do not seem to be many L10/Voith-equipped buses left in the entire USA or Canada. Even these won't last much longer.

[Nabinut]

@ClassicTVMan81

That was why it was so important for me to visit Portland with emphasis on riding one of the 1400 series Gilligs being 20 years old and all

[qwandiddy]

@Nabinut And I'll say that Tri-Met 1990 Gillig Phantoms are considered as the Oldest Phantoms active in whole USA.

[ClassicTVMan1981X]

@qwandiddy

So too are the 1992 Flxible Metros (1701-1808).

[knightclassic1]

@ClassicTVMan1981X They could've kept some of their 1988-89 Flx Metro's in service, they were better.

[PortlandsTransport]

Bus is a piece of junk, and sounds like it too!

[ClassicTVMan81]

@PortlandsTransport

My dad don't like this variety, either.

[ClassicTVMan81]

However, not all 63 buses in this fleet are intact anymore. Of them: units #1401, #1407 and #1416.

[Nabinut]

@ClassicTVMan81

Yeah, I saw a video of 1416 used in a controlled explosion. But still to have only 3 retirements from a order 20 years old is amazing

[ClassicTVMan81]

@Nabinut

I remember riding #1401 in August of 1999 just before it was retired due to fire damage.

[qwandiddy]

@Nabinut Yes it is crazy amazing, my stupid hometown is in progress right now since 2 years now they just retired their 1996 Phantoms, and now retiring 1997-98 Phantoms now for those ugly boring ol Gillig Advantages. I'm so surprised that Tri-Met never ordered those damn things, New Flyers are better anyways.