View allAll Photos Tagged schoolbus
Daun Services 18, Chilton, Wisconsin, 2014.
Ah, the infamous Thomas Vista! These 1990s Type-B monstrosities from High Point were distinguished by their strange styling, their noisy interiors (with an invasive engine doghouse intruding into the passenger compartment), and an awkward driver's position.
Why exactly did they exist? I don't know. I can't imagine that a Vista would have cost less than a conventional bus of the same capacity, since they rode a unique International chassis that had to be amortized over fewer units than a "normal" chassis-cowl. Thomas was swallowed up by Daimler in 1998, and the new regime's first order of business was to have the Vista axed.
By the mid-2010s, surviving Vistas in school fleets were getting so few and far between that any example still clinging to life had to be photographed, in spite of its faults. This one was living out a second existence supporting an advertising tarp...which was a sure sign that its route days were over.
The last IC RE that I will probably built. This one turned out quite well...perfectly straight...which can be a challenge.
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My first and probably last attempt at type A school buses. I've never been a big fan of them and it was hard to stay motivated in the build process.
Pictured is a 1973-77 International Loadstar with a Wayne body that was owned by the Barberton City Schools near Cleveland, Ohio. Photo by Gavin Berwald.
It's been a while since we've seen a Carpenter logo on a bus around here. This was one of several seen at Mike and B at Newcomerstown, Ohio. This was the only such Carpenter emblem Adam and I had ever recall seeing, however. This bus was in the area where it was being stripped for parts before being scrapped.
Pictured are two retired Michigan School Buses that are on the sales lot at TESCO bus sales in 2002. The bus on the left is a 1987-88 International S-Series with a Carpenter body. The bus on the right is a 1989-90 International 3800 with a Thomas body. Michigan didn't adopt 8-way flashers until 1991. Many, but not all of the buses that were to remain in service for a few years were retrofitted with 8-way flashers however it still wasn't uncommon to see Michigan buses with 4-way flashers well into the mid 2000's. By comparison when Ohio adopted 8-ways in April of 1978 few if any buses were retrofitted and they ran out their lives with the 4-way flasher systems, in some cases for 20 years or more.
This is the oldest active bus in my current fleet of model buses. It's in terrific condition as well. It was build just a few years after I started using an exterior film called monokote that gives it a glossy finish. Before that the exteriors were just posterboard.
SLS28 (SK17HJU) on route V289 about to finish its journey towards West Croydon. This bus is usually found on route 410.