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[Spencer]

So true everyone always says negative things about IC's. When they all have there problems.

[08 Thomas EF]

It just sounds as if the pin/hole could wear down and break, or cause the hole opening to get larger and loosen the door. But, you know everything, so I'll listen.

[08 Thomas EF]

Mrs. 2 (2008 EF) is still using bus 11. Not sure about the afternoon because of driver's ed. It was a "normal" day otherwise, though.

[Spencer]

All the buses are in service. That same driver from last week is still out. Also the rear heater was messing up again this morning so I tuned it in to the school district.
This Afternoon was the same as this morning except for the fact that they had finally fixed the crossing arm on my bus again so its working now once again yay!.

[bluebirdvision]

We have replaced those pivot points on our ICs. Less grease is always a good thing, that is why i'm glad they are using hiden hinges on the 2010 All Americans

[Spencer]

Do not get me started on today because my ranting will go on for ever. Anyways there are more issues and I have written everything up and turned it in the office and I hope they get in trouble because they deserve every minute of it.  Anyways it was bad and if you want to know you can PM me but I don't want to go ranting on here for ever for other reasons that I won't say.

[08 Thomas EF]

Bus 2 was back this morning, and bus 24 (identical to 25, 2000 TC2000FE) took bus 22 students instead of Mr./Bus 17. I'm not sure if Mr. 17 was driving bus 24 or if Mr. 24 was, but I doubt it was Mr. 17. Bus 24 only has a Kindergarten and Tech School route, so I never see it under normal circumstances. It was cool listening to its AT-545, though... bus 25's transmission sounds a little funky compared to the other 545s, but bus 24's is worse. It makes a three-step squeaking: once when it leaves 1st gear, then the engine RPMs spike for an instant, then the squeaking again as it engages in to second, then silence, then the usual 545 squeaking as it goes up through second gear. Its parking brake engaging sounded just like bus 9's, an extremely fast, strong burst of air... more intense than 9 used to be. Bus 25, however, is an extremely slow, gentle hissing that lasts for 3 or 4 seconds.

Mrs. P drove bus 12 on bus 20's route this morning, but he was back this afternoon.

[Jeff]

Brand new video from earlier today guys.  Let me know what ya think!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BylK0yVGfEU

[tatum]

I love that air horn!

[bluebirdvision]

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM memories! Thanks! I love the gauge sweep!

[08 Thomas EF]

Yesterday was completely "normal".

This morning, there was sporadic radio talk going on throughout the whole run. I gather that bus 20 and/or bus 24 was broken down, or got stuck in the snow or something. Mr. 20 was on the radio a lot, as was Mrs. E ("school base"), and Mr. 24. Mr. 18 and Mr. 7 were briefly involved. Mr. 1 was asked to do someone's Elementary run (Mr. 1 only has middle/high school and the middle school Late Bus). At some point, the Highway Garage said that they'd come out and "get him on his way." This is weird because Mr. 10 services the buses and deals with breakdowns, not the Highway Garage.

Now, Mrs. E had asked Mr. 24 if she could turn around "there", and Mr. 24 said yes. That makes me think that Mrs. E drove out in another bus for Mr. 24. Also, the Highway Garage could certainly pull a bus out if it were stuck in something. Furthermore, Mr. 20 arrived in his bus right on time, so it didn't seem like he had a problem. So I'm guessing that Mr. 24 got stuck in the snow or mud, the Highway Garage pulled him out, Mrs. E was worried about getting stuck along with him, and that Mr. 1 was asked to do Mr. 24's Kindergarten route.

Since I don't see bus 24 and bus 20 came on time, it was a "normal" day for my eyes, anyway!

[08 Thomas EF]

"Normal" morning today.

This afternoon, bus 22 (2005 CE200) was out, leaving Pam to drive bus 12.

[08 Thomas EF]

OK, so, about last Thursday morning's chaos....

Mrs. 25 just sent me a long Email explaining the whole thing. I'll try to summarize it.

As an overview, Mr. 20 and Mr. 24 pick up Tech School kids in our town. They meet, Mr. 20's kids get on bus 24, and bus 24 drives out of town to 2 of the tech schools, while bus 20 continues its high/middle and elementary runs. Then, Mr. 24 comes back to town and picks up a third tech school's students. In the afternoons, Mr. 20 goes out to pick up the first 2 schools' students to bring them home, and Mr. 24 goes out alter to pick up the 3rd school's students.

On Thursday morning, at the farthest point from our town, bus 24's (2000 TC, identical to bus 25) transmission linkage broke while he was turning around and he was stuck in the middle of the road. Mrs. E took bus 12 out to him. Mr. 20 gave his tech school kids to Mr. 18, who took them out to Mr. 24, who continued in bus 12. Mr. 24 would have been too late for the third tech school's run, so Mr. 20 did it. Meanwhile, Mr. 1 (who only has a high/middle school and afternoon middle school Late Bus run) covered Mr. 20's Elementary run.

The way the highway department worked in to this is that they towed bus 24 back to Mr. 10's garage.

On Friday afternoon, MORE problems. Bus 24 overheated on the highway coming back with his afternoon tech school students. Mr. 24 got it off of the highway and Mr. 17 went out for his students.

It was a bad week for bus 24... I guess that's what happens when we have one of the 2 oldest full-time buses doing such a long, hard route. Maybe Mr. 24 should have accepted bus 4 when he was offered it.

[08 Thomas EF]

"Normal" day here.

[08 Thomas EF]

I'm getting lonely here! I'd love hearing what's going on in everyone else's fleet.

Tuesday was another "normal" day. Pam pulled up right behind us (in bus 22, doing bus 16's route, as is part of the "normal" routine). She was kinda bouncing up and down... at first I thought she was listening to music or something, or she was cold. Then, as I walked by, I heard the air brakes hissing in sync with her bouncing... LOL. Apparently she was pumping the brakes for some reason. In my eyes, Pam has become someone who I have to mentally giggle at every time I see her. Every afternoon, as bus 10 pulls away, she's reading the newspaper, she looks up, seems surprised, throws the paper down, and jabs at the accelerator and drives up to the curb, eyes rapidly darting between the front and the crossview, sideview, and rearview mirrors. When she presses buttons/the parking brake knob, she does it with firm, dramatic motions. And that one day that we had an emergency dismissal because of the snow, she was using the accelerator to rev up the engine to warm it up. She's very safe, though... in the mornings, she uses the red override to close the door and leave the reds on (she's the only driver besides Mrs. 4 who uses the override), and waits until everyone is seated (many drivers let the middle schoolers move to the back after the high schoolers are off) before pulling away, which the drivers don't always do, our fleet, and First Student.

The thing about Pam that really impressed me was, the other day, when someone was walking alongside the bus down the road towards their, she waited to pull up to the curb until the person was out of the bus's danger zone. She's the only driver I've seen that; our other drivers, and FS drivers, just pull to the side to give them extra room.

Yesterday (Wednesday) was another snow day, and today was another "normal" day.

[bluebirdvision]

My day consists of getting up and watching the buses go by my house. Happy now?

[08 Thomas EF]

^ You get missed at 9:09 in the morning?! What time do you start? Is that normal, or a half day?

I forgot to mention that Mr. 18 (2001 AmTran FE) drove bus 12 yesterday afternoon.

Bus 18 is back today. Mr. 7 (2009 EF) drove bus 9 today. This afternoon, we had a half day when the middle school didn't, and there was no driver's ed, so I got to see all the buses. Mr. 20 drove bus 3 (2003 MidBus/Chevy diesel, only bus that I know of with tinted windows) this afternoon, which I thought was a good idea to save fuel when he only had a handful of kids on the bus. More drivers should do this. Although, in situations like this, bus 13 students always merge with bus 18.

Bus 1 was absent from the line (it is usually there on half days), as were buses 16 and 5 (I think they merge with other buses, but I'm not sure).

[02intlbluebird]

My regualr school starts at 7:30AM and once all the buses come to the high school, they get shuttled to the trade school. The trade school starts at 7:42 AM. All the buses make their way over to the trade school by that time. Our dismissal is normally 9:09Am and my town personally doesn't get to the high school on the other side of town until 9:28AM. I don't know about other towns.

My third (but first) class starts at 9:25AM on a normal day and I don't get in until 9:30AM.


So those three days we got to our first class so late.

[08 Thomas EF]

Thanks for explaining.

I've heard multiple instances now of people going to other school through the day. Here, we just have our one campus with its 6 buildings and that's it! If we want to go to the "tech school" for carpentry, hair styling, mechanics, etc., we have to go there full-time and take the academics there as well.

[02intlbluebird]

Yes, the good thing with my trade school that I am at is that we have seven schools that participate. If it was located at my school, I don't think other towns would come over.


This trade school is the best in my state. I would send you a link but privacy issues so I am not. I take building construction over there and I love it.

[08 Thomas EF]

Wow, lots of updates to post since the site's been.... I'll keep them short.

No school last week.

On Monday, bus 7 was back, so it was a "normal" day, as was Tuesday.

Yesterday, we had a 90-minute delay today because of about 4 inches of extremely wet, slushy snow. Our cars barely made it out of the partially-plowed driveway. Mrs. 4 was angry that school wasn't canceled; at one point the bus started to fishtail and she said, "The superintendent said the roads were fine -- I'd love to have him on this bus right now!" Also, Mrs. 4 was about 15 minutes early for a 90-minute delay; my other neighbor and I left right on time and we both missed it. We drove down to the cul de sac, found it at the end, and parked at the beginning with the few other cars that wait for it. My neighbor parked down at another housing development. In addition to that, bus 22 ('05 CE200) was out all day, so Pam drove bus 16 this morning on its route, and bus 12 on bus 22's route in the afternoon.

Today, I had a counseling appointment at 7:00 in the morning, and on our way out, I only got to see a couple of our buses: 2 and 22, which Pam was driving on bus 16's route again. It was a "normal" afternoon from what I saw.

[08 Thomas EF]

On Friday, Mrs. 14 (2001 AmTran FE) drove bus 12, and bus 14 was back in the afternoon. Mrs. E drove bus 18 in the morning and Mr./Bus 17 did its route in the afternoon.

Today was "normal".

[Spencer]

Everything was normal yesterday. All Buses and Drivers were here.

[08 Thomas EF]

In addition to the "normal" things, these two things happened on all 3 runs today: Mrs. 14 (2001 AmTran FE) drove bus 11 and Mrs. 25 ('00 TC) drove bus 12.

[02intlbluebird]

Our normal shuttle driver for our building construction class was covering for a route this morning in relations to the chaos we had with the storm so another driver subbed in for her. She had one of the new 2010 IC CE's with a MaxxForce 7 engine. That was was cool. The engine didn't have to push much to get going fast. The turn signal clicks sound cool too. I just don't think I would like all the fancy stuff it has tho. Alarms go off for everything, when the door opens, when you shift into drive, etc. I'd rather have something normal without this new technlogy. One thing I caught was that it clicks for the turn signals but not the hazards. I think it should click for both.

[bluebirdvision]

I think they need to be similar to a car, the click doesn't need to be as loud as the Vision (2008 2nd gen) and even the newer CEs are to loud. Why can't they be the same as the ones in my Dad's avalanche? Why do they go so overboard that you can hear them in the back of the bus. The 2011 Vision doesn't have a loud signal click thank GOD!

[Greg Faulkner]

Today bus 119 (1993 Thomas international) was in for 815, 122 (http://www.schoolbuscentral.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=30&listing=2179&listingmode=detail) was in for 565 and 136 (http://www.schoolbuscentral.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=30&listing=2280&listingmode=detail) was in for 177 (http://www.schoolbuscentral.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=30&listing=2180&listingmode=detail) yet again. Got some good pictures of 119 and 136 because they park next to the bus I ride 133.
136 used to do "boces" transport, now 184 does it and 136 subs.

[08 Thomas EF]

Kyle, our bus 4 doesn't have alarms for the door opening or going into Drive. The only time it reacts to the door opening is that it makes a loud, harsh beep if the door button is pressed before the bus stops moving.

[bluebirdvision]

^ that is how the 2009 CE-300 is that I rode too. It only beeped when she pulled the parking brake too soon

[08 Thomas EF]

^ Good thing Mr. 17 has his '04 CE200 and not a new CE, because he always pulls the parking brake when he's down to about 2 MPH and uses that to stop the bus. Mrs. 4 always waits until the bus is fully stopped before pulling the brake, so I've never heard the bus react to the parking brake, other then dumping the air tanks.

Bus 25 is back today, but Mrs. 14 is still in bus 11. I noticed during the mid-day route and the afternoon route that Mr. 10 somehow ripped his door-side side-view mirror in half. The lower half of the housing and lower pane of glass are gone, and the internal wires are exposed. It's a nasty sight, and I'm surprised he's still using the bus, although he does still have the one pane of glass over there. How the crossview got through this incident unscathed, I don't know. I'm starting to get concerned about Mr. 10; last year, over a 90-degree turn, a car smashed into his front end because the car (or he) was over the yellow line. Then, earlier this year, the rear bumper was bent perpendicularly to the emergency door because he backed into something, and now this.

[08 Thomas EF]

Mr. 10's mirror is still ripped apart.

Bus 14 is back. Mrs. 13 (2001 AmTran FE) drove bus 12 this morning, and Mr. 1 (2009 EF) drove it mid-day and PM. Lots of buses going out lately, one after another.... Must be inspections or something.

There's a new frost heave/collapsing in the pavement on our route.... The worst yet. I was about thrown up in my seat when we went over it! We need to repave that road, or get air suspension in the buses.... Preferably both.

[Greg Faulkner]

177 is still out. first 136 was in for it, then 187 yesterday, now 129 today. #122 was in for 563 yesterday but its back now. #122 was in for #569 today instead. #119 is in for #565 today aswell. Very pleased to see 129 back today. Havent seen it in a month or so.

[08 Thomas EF]

Mr. 1 is still in bus 12. "Normal" day otherwise.

There was about a half inch of light snow on the roads this morning. We were sliding a little bit at one stop, and the ABS system kicked in. ABS on air brakes sounds SO COOL!

[Greg Faulkner]

#565 was back. #184 was in for #569 and #122 did boces for #184. #187 was in for #177 again.

[RoadRunner44]

Selinsgrove's (Sharitz) second new School Bus was delivered on Thursday.  It is a 2011 Freightliner C2 and is identical to Bus 28's 2010 Freightliner C2, which was delivered at the beginning of the School year.  The new bus has been assigned to Bus 20.  I made changes in the "Fleet Roster" thread in the Bus Spot to reflect the changes since it has arrived.  I also submitted pictues... hoping they soon get approved.  ENJOY!!! 

[bluebirdvision]

I went to the bus garage yesterday and was told I stay away to long and to visit more. All the buses are in service with the exception of one IC (SURPRISED ME...... NOT! )

[Greg Faulkner]

Yesterday #565 was back. #184 was in for #569 today. #177 is Still out, #187 was in for it today. #119 did boces for #184.

[Spencer]

Everything for the past week has been normal. All buses and bus drivers have been in. The only day that was different was Friday morning when we rode one of the 06's to school because my driver had to be somewhere.

* note to Kyle we still haven't started using Zonar yet.

[02intlbluebird]

God, I have no clue really how things have been going. I have been working the last three days so I haven't been able to listen to my two way and hear the chatter. I have been so busy lately to even care. The only thing I noticed is that I passed by my old HS bus going to work yesterday. Her driver side cross over mirror has moved so the arm is straight out now over to the left like it should so you can see in front of the bus.

Spencer, do you know if they still do the pen and paper method?

[Spencer]

Yes they do Kyle we have books that say First Student Pre Trip Inspection on them and they fill those out. Then they have a count sheet which they keep track of the kids going to each campus but thats for contract requirements. Then they have there time sheet and there mileage report.


How ever they do use it to track the buses we just haven't started using it for inspections yet for some reason.  The system actually works to because they had people from Zonar come to the yard and install it. 

[08 Thomas EF]

Bus 1 is back, but now Mr. 18 (2001 AmTran FE) is in bus 12 again.

Mr. 20 washed his bus -- the EF's paint is holding up VERY nicely. It's gleaming like new. It's SO shiny that when he drove away, the sun shining on the rear of the bus reflected on to the ground in front of me.

[Greg Faulkner]

Bus #569 was back today. #187 is still in for #177. #119 was in for #825, #136 was in for #824 and #129 was in for #811. Got some nice pictures/video of #119 and #136 today.

[Spencer]

Everything was normal today. All buses we in, and I had a sub driver this afternoon and tomorrow morning as well. Outside of thy everything was normal.

[08 Thomas EF]

Mr. 18 is still in bus 12. Mrs. 13 (2001 AmTran FE) showed up about 10 minutes late in bus 9 (which is looking beautiful, like new, except for a few rust spots on the rear bumper). One of its riders told me 13 broke down with a flat tire. It was back this afternoon.

Buses 1 (2009 EF) and 25 ('00 TC) have been washed as well. They both look like new!

[Greg Faulkner]

Buses 825 and 824 were back in today. #129 is still in for 811 and 187 is still in for 177. #562 was out today, so the driver took #570, and 570s normal driver took 136. For once, I have an example of the switch!

[08 Thomas EF]

Mr. 18 is still in bus 12; "normal" day otherwise.

Now, bus 2 is washed as well. According to Mrs. 25, the washing of buses 2, 20, and 25 are thanks to Mr. 20 (he took all those buses to his house and washed them as birthday presents). Mr. 1 cleaned his own because he likes neatness... and probably pressure from seeing the others cleaned.

[Greg Faulkner]

#562 was back this afternoon, not in the morning though. #570 was out today, 119 filled in. #187 is STILL in for #177. Its been about a week now it's been out. #129 was in for #560 as #811 was back today. #122 was in for #817 and #178 was in for #813 aswell.

[08 Thomas EF]

Yesterday evening when I was going to sleep, I kept thinking that something happened with bus 11 yesterday.... Well, I was right. Mrs. 5 (2002 TC) pulled up in it this morning, and I remembered that she used it yesterday, too.

Mr. 18 is still in bus 12. Bus 7 has been washed now, too, so the first of our buses to pull up to the curb in the afternoon are three gleaming, like-new EFs.

[Greg Faulkner]

#119 was in for #559, #122 was still in for #817, #136 was in for #567.

[08 Thomas EF]

Mrs. 5 is still in bus 11 and Mr. 18 is still in bus 12. It was a "normal" day otherwise. Same on Friday.

It's been getting a lot warmer here, and the roads have improved a lot; the pavement isn't as hard and the frost heaves are going away, so bus 4's ride is getting plush and cushy again.

First Student had three buses out -- one 07+ IC RE, one 2002? International IC, and one 2004 FS-65 with a Cat engine -- this afternoon. The RE and FS-65 drivers both used '07+ CE200s, and the International IC driver used a '90s BB/International. I was surprised because their IC REs are out all the time; the International IC and the EF/FS-65 drivers have only been in spares for a day or two all year.

This morning, one of the Durham buses was parked at a local restaurant. I couldn't see if the driver was in the bus doing a post-trip or if she wasn't in the bus because it has deeply-tinted windows (and a white roof, and beautiful Durham lettering).