Antonio: will phone Calgary Transit Monday ,will get back to you soon.
If I have to ,I’ll buy a couple.What I would like to get is the buses that it replaced…something that ran around 1955.Does anyone know a source?
Mike,
Man! I’m sorry to say that you missed it by a few years!
American Precision Models made a beautiful looking GMC “Old Look” coach in HO scale which is what you’re looking for! I have one in the New York City “green and tan” scheme. (Same type that Ralph Kramden from “The Honeymooners” drove).
The prototypes ran well into the 1980s in some North American cities.
The only suggestion I have is to go to this website: MTCWCC@aol.com The gentleman is Bill Cawthon of the "1/87th Club. He would very likely know where you can get the older GMCs if any are available.
Here’s the website for the 1/87th Club: http://www.1-87vehicles.org
You can also check Ebay.
Hope this helps!
Antonio: go to www.natransit.com click on our divisions :click on Calgary Ab also Moose Jaw Sask. for info on t6h’s.
[8)]
Tatans that was nice! [:)][:D][8D]
I went to Divisions as you indicated, and then clicked on the Oct 18 photo link. Beautiful shot of a green and white fishbowl in new condition running in 2004! I downloaded and saved it.
I love the U.S, but why does it seem that when it comes to transit Canadians seems to do it right?! They’ll make equipment last YEARS!
I worked 15 years at a transit company here in Florida. Management’s ongoing attitude: “Well, newer buses are always more efficient.” So around the mid 80s management sold the whole fleet of New Look Flxibles and Fishbowls. When mechanic’s in the maintenance dept. asked if one of the older buses could be “preserved” they were looked at like drug addicts! (Yet, the transit company in Miami (Metro Dade) restored a GMC Old Look bus—nice job![:D][8D]
Funny, when we bought the new replacement buses, we spent weeks fixing defects and electronic glitches! The Flxible Metro series buses always had leaky windows and the GMC RTS’s, while tough, were a pain to fix after a collision! Doors needed frequent adjusting.
Talk about efficiency? We racked up some MAJOR overtime!! Great for us, but I’m sure John & Jane Q. Public didn’t appreciate it. But since it was “only taxpayer’s money” the company could spend money like it was water!
The MTC ran fishbowls for a long time…and the Northwest Airlines company shuttle at MSP International Airport is a fishbowl…carries workers to the shops and back.
Antonio: Calgary Transit presently runs @ 197 GMC’s (1977-1982 models) and plans to run them as long as they last, which sounds like they might be around for a 100 years. I believe they even added power steering along with other modifications, c’mon up and go for a ride ! !
Thanks!
But one thing Tatans: Wasn’t the last year of the GMC “Fishbowl” 1976? And the RTS model replaced it ? (The RTS body style looks like an RV----Yuck!)
Any info?
Did you know that site has a area for making paper buses? Take note, those who want buses…they could work for backgrounds.
Hey, I’m interested. How do you access it?
Antonio, drop a note to Calgary Transit at e-mail address: TPCT043@calgary.ca I’m sure they will be more than happy to respond with the correct answer, I’m a guy that thought all buses were the same(shame on me)
Tatans,
No shame on you!
As modelers we’re constantly learning!
When I first got into model railroading a GP40 and a U-Boat looked the same to me until a friend started teaching me what was what.
Plus, I continuously read books and magazines.
Cheers!
will there be any painted for TTC. in toronto or would that have to be custom painted?rambo1…
Hope this link works.
http://www.natransit.com/index1.htm
Rambo1
Go to page one of this thread. On one of my posts you’ll see three web links. Each one is a fishbowl bus in a color scheme. From what I can tell two of them look like transit colors from California. [8D]
Looks like its nothing that an airbrush can’t handle!! And as for decals, there are vendors now that make custom decals for modelers. If you’re a “technical type” with computers you can probably make your own decals.
Cheers!
Guys,
An update!
Well, according to the Walther’s web site, they’re now due in September 2005!
Good Goobly! I can understand the frustrations that some of you all post at times about promised products due at on a certain date! (can anyone say: Soundtraxx Tsunami?)
My LHS already ordered these last year. The owner, Kevin, did drop me the hint that I shouldn’t hold my breath in waiting for these buses. I see now what he was talking about!
Just going to have to wait a little longer!
I remember starting a “storm” a year ago February when I brought up the subject of - arghhhhhhh - transit buses for my HO layout. We had quite a bit of fun with it. Anyway …
Seems like I spoke with Walthers about these “Fishbowls” at least 6 months ago … and they are still unavailable. You gotta know there’s interest … what in the blazes is going on with production?
My Can-Am HO layout now features two 1950’s buses and some North American “tour” buses (Wild) for my city scene, which is supposed to be somewhere between 1990 and present date. Now that I’ve heard about Calgary still running the Fishbowls, I don’t feel as if I’ll be out of synch ordering 2 or 3. I KNOW that I saw one of these operating in Toronto not that long ago … Actually, I don’t give a rat’s patoot about being out of synch - it’s MY layout! So, where are the Whites and Macks?[;)][;)][;)]
Never ceases to amaze me just how much good stuff is available on these forums!
See ya! [tup]
Well if you want one cheaper and are into scratchbuilding you could always by Aerotrain cars from Bowser and put the nose on them! These busses were the basis for the Aerotrain coaches. I’m surprised nobody recalled that.
Mike -
Good news… bad news. Pirate Models does indeed make a 50’s transit bus, typical of the GMC busses that served many cities in the 50’s & 60’s. The bad news … they cost almost $70! They are available from Walthers. I bought one about a year ago and it is definitely a kit for someone with a lot of time to kill – cast metal with a lot of clean up work. Check out the Walthers listing. Have fun.
Mike
I’m quite happy with the new offering, as the red-and-silver scheme is very close to the pre-2002 scheme (in the fictional history of my line) paint scheme for the metropolitan transit line. So I’ll just say the old buses just weren’t worth the bother of repainting as they are near retirement (like the F40s on my layout) so it’s all good. They will also offer some depth past the Road Champs buses that are currently serving my layout.
~METRO