08.12.2010

by:  Kevin Nicol

(click on photo to see large size version)

Thursday

The Bus History Association held their annual convention in Pittsburgh from June 10 to 12, 2010. Approximately 30 people attended and numerous garages and transit terminals were visited during the course of the convention.

For people who have never been to Pittsburgh, it is one of the more unique and interesting cities around due to unusual topography and numerous bridges and tunnels. The convention was officially Friday and Saturday but pre-convention activities were added for the Thursday prior to the convention. The main reason for the addition of the pre-convention activities was to allow the attendees to explore the busways of Pittsburgh. Previous conventions (MBS in 2000 and BHA in 1991) used buses chartered from PAT(Port Authority Transit) for a tour of the busway(s). However, PAT no longer does charters so it was felt that it was best to explore the busways via regular service vehicles.

PAT really went above and beyond in accommodating our group. We were presented with VIP passes which were good for unlimited rides on the system and also had that photography was permitted printed on the front of the pass. We started out our day by boarding the PAT Blue Line light rail vehicle at South Hills Village. The host hotel was the Crowne Plaza Pittsburgh South which is only a short walk away from the LRT station.

The shots of 4221 and 4233 were taken at South Hills Village while the shot of 4220 was taken at Wood Street station. All light rail lines (blue, red, brown) currently terminate at Wood Street instead of the normal Gateway Plaza. This is due to construction of the north extension underneath the Allegheny river to Heinz Field and PNC Park, scheduled to open in early 2012. As a result, Gateway Plaza is closed and all trains terminate at Wood Street.


Port Authority Transit 4221 - 10JUN10
Port Authority Transit 4233 - 10JUN10

After arrival downtown, the group boarded an EBA (East Busway – All Stops) articulated bus (Neoplan 3110) for the ride to the eastern end of the busway, Swissvale Station. After stopping for a few minutes at Swissvale, it was on to Oakland via an EBO (East Busway – Oakland) bus. Oakland is where the University of Pittsburgh is located so there is very good service to this part of town. While in Oakland, the attached shot of Gillig Advantage hybrid 5719 (2009 model) was taken.

Port Authority Transit 3110 - 10JUN10
Port Authority Transit 5719 - 10JUN10
After a quick photo stop in Oakland, it was on to the west busway…
Our ride on the West busway was cut a little short due to the fact that the G2 buses (West Busway-Oakland) were having schedule adherence problems. However, most of the group did get to go through the tunnel on the West busway before having to catch a bus in the opposite direction. After lunch at the Smithfield Cafe, it was onto Penn Station for the afternoon rush hour.

Penn Station is at the end of the east busway and all of the commuter operators depart from stops “C” and “D” at Penn Station. PAT EBA and EBO buses also go by this point in addition to some of the parking Flyer routes.

The shots attached with this message are of PAT buses just outside of Penn Station. Included are 5617 and 5428, both Gillig Advantage low floor buses. It would be possible to include every single color of PAT buses as their buses are painted in all colors of the rainbow.
Port Authority Transit 5617 - 10JUN10
Port Authority Transit 5428 - 10JUN10
Neoplan high floor artics (like 3074) are used mainly on the parking shuttles, most of which are peak hour only routes. The oldest buses in the fleet are NovaBus Classics from 1996, of which about 96 out of 171 are still active. Most are still painted in the original red, white and black scheme but a number have been painted in some of the newer colors.
Port Authority Transit 3074 - 10JUN10

40 Neoplan Metroliners from the year 2000 also are in the fleet. These buses are 45′ long and are used on a number of routes, including G1 and G2, the west busway routes. Finally, the last shot is of PAT 8630, an International STV cutaway vehicle, is seen in Oakland.
Port Authority Transit 8630 - 10JUN10
The BHA spent most of the Thursday afternoon rush hour at the back of Penn Station in Pittsburgh, stop “D” where the commuter operators depart from. The attached shots are taken during that time.

Fayette Area Coordinated Transit (FACT) services Fayette County which includes Uniontown and Perryopolis southeast of Pittsburgh. The equipment used on the Pittsburgh run is 30′ low floor Gillig Advantage buses. Two trips are scheduled to depart Penn Station during the PM peak period.
Fayette Area Transit 158 - 10JUN10

Beaver County Transit has a pretty extensive commuter operation to/from Pittsburgh to points north and west including Rochester, Beaver Falls, Aliquippa and Centre. MCI D4500 buses in two different schemes are used on the Pittsburgh service. BCTA also operates local service in Rochester/Beaver Falls and we did visit their garage during the Friday of the convention.
Beaver County Transit 317 - 10JUN10

Mid Mon Valley Transit services Charleroi, Speers and Donora, located south of Pittsburgh. Equipment used includes Nova RTS buses as well as newer low floor Gillig Advantage buses. MMVTA uses the south busway on the way out of town and thus are restricted with their vehicle height due to the Mount Washington tunnel, which has trolley overhead. MCI commuter coaches would be too high so they will continue to purchase suburban transit type buses for the immediate future.
Mid Mon Valley Transit 466 - 10JUN10

Westmoreland Transit services Greensburg and Delmont, located east of Pittsburgh. Equipment used includes MCI D4000 buses although we did see one of the new IC Corp cutaways being used on the suburban routes as well. A few of the older MCI buses are in the older paint scheme (white, blue and red).
Westmoreland Transit 111 - 10JUN10
Westmoreland Transit 231 - 10JUN10

New Castle Transit provides commuter service to/from New Castle, located north and west of Pittsburgh approximately one hour away. The commuter service started with one bus in 2000 and now eight buses are required to operate the commuter trips. The BHA attendees were really impressed with the passenger loads on the NCT buses. Quite a few left with standing loads and with the first stop scheduled for a park and ride lot off I79 near Evans City, passengers would be standing for at least half an hour.
New Castle Transit 3041 - 10JUN10

The success of the NCT service has resulted in the buying of a few used vehicles in addition to suburban Gillig Phantoms and Advantages that are used on the service. In the attached photo, bus # 3041 (serial 15GDD0917M1084232) is a 1991 Gillig Phantom, bought used in 2004. It previously had operated for Foothill Transit in California as their # F255.

Once the rush hour was completed, the BHA group headed off to the Duquesne Incline.

Prior to departing for the Duquesne Incline, the BHA group had a quick tour of the Greyhound depot, which is located across the street from Penn Station. The terminal had recently undergone some renovations and the tour was very interesting. While at the terminal, we observed a Mountain Line (Morgantown, WV) Gillig Advantage low floor bus. Mountain Line is now doing a commuter trip between Morgantown and Pittsburgh and there is talk that they hope to negotiate with PAT to use the stop at Penn Station like the other carriers.

One carrier that I did not mention in my last message was Washington City Transit (operated by GG&C Bus Lines). Unfortunately, the BHA missed the 3:30 PM departure which was an RTS. We saw the next departure at 5:15 PM but it was a cutaway vehicle. The attached shot of WCT 310 was actually taken three weeks earlier on Liberty Avenue after departing Penn Station on the 3:30 trip.

Washington City Transit 310 - 20MAY10


A shot of a Mid Mon Valley Gillig Advantage is also attached. Finally, Myers Coach Lines operates commuter service to Butler, located north of Pittsburgh. A Prevost H3-45 is seen prior to departure. There is talk that the Butler Transit Authority (which was visited during the Friday of the convention) is looking at taking over the service to Butler and using suburban buses, similar to what is done with New Castle.

Mid Mon Valley Transit 482 - 10JUN10

Myers Coach Lines - 10JUN10


The group then boarded a G2 bus (West busway – Oakland) to travel to Duquesne Incline. We had a Neoplan Metroliner which are pretty common on the G1 and G2 routes which is somewhat surprising due to their one door operation. However, it did provide a very comfortable ride.

The Duquesne Incline is one of two (Monongahela being the other) that are still operating, down from a peak of 17 at the beginning of the 1900’s. We rode the incline up Mount Washington from West Carson Street and then had a quick tour of the building and the operation. The attached cable shot shows the cable being wound as an incline is pulled up the mountain. The view of the incline is taken from the outside observation deck which provides a magnificent view of downtown Pittsburgh.

Duquesne Incline - 10JUN10

Duquesne Incline - Cables - 10JUN10

After our tour, we boarded a PAT 41E bus at the top of Mount Washington to travel to South Hills Junction where we transferred to a Blue Line light rail vehicle to return to the hotel. Even though it was a long day, it allowed the participants to explore all aspects of the PAT system.

Port Authority Transit 1907 - 10JUN10

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09.08.2009

Bus Industry Magazine – June 2009 has been mailed out to all members.

Features include:

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