The drivers at Metro, which back then it was Bi-State complained about no power steering. Back in 1958 when these fishbowl buses were first developed, power steering wasn't even thought of yet on most buses. The other down side to the fishbowl buses were the different sizes in the windshield wiper motors. The wiper motor on the passener side was smaller than the one on the driver side. Although they were good in the snow.
Those fishbowls outlived their usefulness. Vancouver started retiring theirs in the early '90s. The "old body" models were a lot more robust; the "fishbowls" were rattletraps.
Me, too, adelgado, me too. With their 2-speed Allis.Autos & 4-speed Spicers (the latter, trnasit style, being more common on the SUBURBAN models that suuplemented all the Scneicruisers and other GM Intercity/Greyhound buses.)
My city had these fishbowls since 1974; all but one had retired and was replaced with MCI Classics. One Fishbowl in my city remained until the last one was also retired in 1993 or 1994(I think). I've never got the chance to ride on the Fishbowl buses that D-dot owned years ago.
The transit service in my area stopped using those fishbowls around 13 years ago, and replaced them with 30ft. Phantoms. You're lucky to still have a few oeprating. I miss those fishbowls.
Take as many pics as you can. I should've taken pics when the local transit company in my city took the fishbowls out of service...that was 20 years ago. I miss that loud exhaust, and just not seeing the buses anymore. I don't like those low-floor buses..not that unique.
The vast majority of the GMC buses that are retired are sent to Paterson Compound (which is where the pictures of the buses behind a chain link fence were taken) to be parted out. As for selling any, there isn't much of a market for high floor buses anymore, though at least 3 of Edmonton's GMC's (951,983 and 992) have been spotted running in Saskatoon.
@ETBMichael I guess the Paterson Compound is where they get scrapped. Back in the days when these buses first rolled off the assembly line, there were no glare control systems set up on these. GMC seemed to be too lazy to install something like that. All they installed on them was just a screen or a dark curtain. The buses built before then had as many as three switches so you could use only the bright mode to pick up and drop off passengers and the dimmer mode for driving.
While these 50 are running try to make more videos of them and take more pictures. Where are the 170 buses being stored that have been taken out of service. Why are thet not trying to rehab them and sell them to other systems.
I do not prefer to ride on these or other Canadian buses because many of them had the 6V71N and to me the 8V71N is better power-wise and sound-wise.
ClassicTVMan1981X 5 months ago
The drivers at Metro, which back then it was Bi-State complained about no power steering. Back in 1958 when these fishbowl buses were first developed, power steering wasn't even thought of yet on most buses. The other down side to the fishbowl buses were the different sizes in the windshield wiper motors. The wiper motor on the passener side was smaller than the one on the driver side. Although they were good in the snow.
Streetcar1743 6 months ago
No, people who can't spell "reck the eirth."
mechanicalmusic 1 year ago
I love the old buses like the one at 1:05, those ones rocked! they basically had couches in them! I was mad when they got rid of them
Flightkid9 1 year ago
Those fishbowls outlived their usefulness. Vancouver started retiring theirs in the early '90s. The "old body" models were a lot more robust; the "fishbowls" were rattletraps.
DeserTBoB93535 1 year ago
Saskatoon shold do the same thing
shaneinkster 2 years ago
Not anymore. The last of these buses in Edmonton was retired on November 19, 2009. :(
ETBMichael 2 years ago
Keep the new low floor buses but get rid of the fishbowl busses cos they reck the eirth
shaneinkster 2 years ago
The Fishbowl buses Rock! The earth was JUST FINE when they ruled the streets!
ukkfayooyay 2 years ago
Nice pics
WMATAvids 3 years ago
why they got rid of the low floors
jamin108 3 years ago
ETS isn't getting rid of the low floors, but they're in there as the replacement for the venerable old GMC's.
ETBMichael 3 years ago
@ETBMichael
Maybe the very old ones.
ClassicTVMan1981X 5 months ago
Me, too, adelgado, me too. With their 2-speed Allis.Autos & 4-speed Spicers (the latter, trnasit style, being more common on the SUBURBAN models that suuplemented all the Scneicruisers and other GM Intercity/Greyhound buses.)
SteveCarras 3 years ago
If I owned a bus cpmanyI woul;d have MCI Classics and put in 2 speeds in 'em.:)
SteveCarras 3 years ago
These newers buses have no character as did the old GMC's.
I remember them fondly.
adelgado75 3 years ago
My city had these fishbowls since 1974; all but one had retired and was replaced with MCI Classics. One Fishbowl in my city remained until the last one was also retired in 1993 or 1994(I think). I've never got the chance to ride on the Fishbowl buses that D-dot owned years ago.
baul104 3 years ago
The transit service in my area stopped using those fishbowls around 13 years ago, and replaced them with 30ft. Phantoms. You're lucky to still have a few oeprating. I miss those fishbowls.
CitylinkRider 4 years ago
Nice picture of ETS Buses,
and I got the video from end to end on Route 8,
if you don't mind then check them out
jackieliem2007 4 years ago
Take as many pics as you can. I should've taken pics when the local transit company in my city took the fishbowls out of service...that was 20 years ago. I miss that loud exhaust, and just not seeing the buses anymore. I don't like those low-floor buses..not that unique.
jerone2003 4 years ago
The vast majority of the GMC buses that are retired are sent to Paterson Compound (which is where the pictures of the buses behind a chain link fence were taken) to be parted out. As for selling any, there isn't much of a market for high floor buses anymore, though at least 3 of Edmonton's GMC's (951,983 and 992) have been spotted running in Saskatoon.
ETBMichael 4 years ago
Big shame. They should be rebuilt and runned 8 more years and used for service increases.
newflyer500 4 years ago
@ETBMichael I guess the Paterson Compound is where they get scrapped. Back in the days when these buses first rolled off the assembly line, there were no glare control systems set up on these. GMC seemed to be too lazy to install something like that. All they installed on them was just a screen or a dark curtain. The buses built before then had as many as three switches so you could use only the bright mode to pick up and drop off passengers and the dimmer mode for driving.
Streetcar1743 6 months ago
While these 50 are running try to make more videos of them and take more pictures. Where are the 170 buses being stored that have been taken out of service. Why are thet not trying to rehab them and sell them to other systems.
newflyer500 4 years ago