Flxible Metro VTA 9289

[MVRTA108]

Wow its been so long since seeing the LED sign say 2005 lol

[qwandiddy]

Sounds just like Tri-Met Portland's Cummin Flexs, same year model too.

[ClassicTVMan1981X]

@qwandiddy

Of course, these being 1992 models, they used to have the L10E Cummins. TriMet wisely chose to retain the L10E units on theirs.

[jamin108]

This is a very good video and i love the way the bus sounds thanx for posting 5/5

[greenboy623]

No, 54 still takes Hollenbeck north to Mathilda, but it dun go south of De Anza now. Cue in the 53, once an hour, weekdays only, and stops at 5:30. Brilliant. *groan*

[greenboy623]

Hey it's the old route 54! Like before the stupid VTA screwed everything up! Yay! I miss that route. Damn them.

[Stealthguy06]

I can imagine it now! "Line 54, Sunnyvale, Fair Oaks Avenue"

[ClassicTVMan81]

How many of the 1992 Flxibles did VTA change over from the original L10 to the ISM (besides this one)?

[bonnevillessei]

i wish you were sitting in the back of the bus to get a better sound of the motor and trans... :-(

[ClassicTVFan82]

How much different does the former Cummins L10 sound in comparison to its succeeding brother, the M11/ISM?

[bearchoirfan]

The L10 has a much stronger bass.

[ClassicTVMan81]

Cummins plans to kill the ISM for 2010 by replacing it with a 12-liter version of their ISX twin-cam engine.

[bearchoirfan]

That could be named ISN or something, and surely Euro-V as the ISM is already Euro-IV compliant.

[ClassicTVFan82]

Do these also sound like WMATA 9801-9820?

[Sulaco516]

D.C. MetroBus Flxible Metro buses 9801 thru 9818 have a Cummins M11E (the ISM is often known as the M11) with the same Voith DIWA 863.3 transmission, so yes, the Flxible Metro used by SCVTA shown in this clip probably does sound the same.

D.C. MetroBus Flxible Metro buses 9819 and 9820 have DDC Series 50 with Voith DIWA 863.3.

[ClassicTVFan82]

Yeah, those two along with 9821-9835.

[HKT120]

VTA has also M11 Metros namely 9301 to 9350. They also sounded similarly. But the ISM sounds more stronger and the M11 sounds softer...

[Sulaco516]

Okay.

[bearchoirfan]

For those Dennis Tridents in Hong Kong with the M11 + 863.3 propulsion drive, the sound is much softer. That's probably 'cos Asian operators tend to put more affection on their service fleets. The overrevving at first gear in buses with the D-3 series transmission in North America won't occur in Hong Kong, for example.

[ClassicTVFan82]

TriMet's 1992 Flxible Metro C's roof-mounted exhaust plumbing has been retrofitted to curved upward street-L tips (as had their 1988-89 Metro B's #500-637, all retired as of 2004) for protection from the rainy weather Oregon sometimes has.

When new, all of TM's 1988-89 Metro B's originally were delivered with roof-mounted *straight* exhaust pipes.

[krudmonk]

VTA =/= Muni

[travelplus1]

You were going over highway 85 at Saratoga Sunnyvale Road.

[Sulaco516]

What engine was originally in Santa Clara VTA Bus 9289?

[ClassicTVFan82]

It was the Cummins L10 CELECT (280 hp) from the inception of this fleet through 2004.

[TheTransitMan123]

Nice!!! They sound great! Those buses have Voith 863 engines, right?

[MetroLinerXLZ]

They have Cummins L-10 engines. The TRANSMISSION is the Voith D863.

[HKT120]

These Flxibles do sound like the Dennis Dragons with the same combo in Hong Kong.

[MetroLinerXLZ]

WAIT, CORRECTION!!! They have Cummins ISM engines, as these were repowered about 7 years ago (?).

[ClassicTVFan82]

Yes, these were repowered with ISM engines around 2004. The original engine was indeed the Cummins L10 CELECT.

[ClassicTVFan82]

The air conditioning unit seems to mask out the powertrain's sound some.

[HKT120]

Yes, it's because VTA's Flxibles have roof-mounted AC units.

[bigken6005]

Sounds a bit like WMATAs 9700 Flxs.

[Jayayess1190]

Nice video, but VTA is in San Jose.

[jdeandre]

Wow! A Flx with an ISM. Don't believe I've ever heard of that anywhere. Good video.