I used to almost break my neck trying to get to the front door as a child to hear the Neoplans on Route 114 or 122 (When the 122 was running down 9th Street in Chester). I miss hearing those engines! Thanks for the video post!
I drove them...the 3000 series was the best they made...some had those dark blue soft seats ...and were fast...believe me it was a vast improvement over the clapped out junk I drove out of Allegheny when I got hired in 1978...
These are the Buses that made me park my car and motorcycle, the Neoplan AN440 destined for SEPTA, #3000-#3490 series, the BEST DAMN BUSES TO EVER TO WORK THE STREETS OF PHILADELPHIA, DAMMIT!!!
Mt trackless buddy drove them for along time. He called them a fine piece of German engineering. We had 3427 on our farewell charter, it ran super supreme.
@starchedownon84s Thanks. If those buses are still hanging there that would make my LIFE! It really upset me that none of them appeared to be retained for the historic fleet.
I used to catch this bus everyday on the K or the L bus or the 70 with my mom back in 1996-2004 . my last neo was bus number 3429 on RT 3 in 2008....back in the 5th grade I always got on the 3 on this model
@starchedownon84s They were a huge part of my childhood too! Back in their final year or two of service, I made my way out to Frankford as much as I could to ride, photograph, and record them.
@UniqueRON814 im from AC me and dad go to the Chester burn center i remember on top of the transportation center waiting for the train to come. i use to leave my dad walk down the platform and look at all the neoplans below. i remember making front of the weird noise it made after second gear. when two neoplans were leaving the terminal turning i love listening to their takeoff. i think this bus was the only reason why i came to philly lol
I'm amaze of how this bus can deliver such excellent performance and endurance. Even being past its prime it shows the buses how its done aha. I miss these buses much especially the 8800's.
Its a shame that SEPTA's maintenance technicians were just starting to get to A-1 status in the 80s. If they properly kept those 8000 series NEOS in good shape, they would lasted at least 20 years and their retirement phase would have begun in 2002 to 2009. The AKs took a massive beating after their delivery. Drivers often turned in their New Looks and RTS coaches for Neoplan because they were easy to maneuver and soon after, some AKs ended up having transmission trouble. Thats why 8289 and 8299 had retrofitted the dashboard Allison console with a ZF to help it shift gears better and they kinda sounded like a ZF too but they sported Allison HT740s. 8289 had a three speed Allison upon retirement and 8299 had the four speed and it didnt survive until November of 1996 which was two months after Comly sent Frankford its surviving AK fleet.
I drove those buses and also worked inside as a blocker >>SAW the chewing gum and wire they used to keep them on the street GOD FORBID we did not make the LINE. AM or PM.
@@Steve-vl5mg jeeezz!!! SEPTA from what I hear was in bad place back then in terms of management. They hired a guy from San Francisco, CA to assume the management operation at the authority but he left after about two weeks. Btw, what depot did you work at?
You should've been around when PTC's Old look GMC Buses were running. Best sounding engines I've ever heard. Too bad they couldn't preserve some like New York City did.
Awwww yessss I miss hearing the neos shift.....that 1st and second gear Is iconic......take me back to bein a teen in philly
I used to almost break my neck trying to get to the front door as a child to hear the Neoplans on Route 114 or 122 (When the 122 was running down 9th Street in Chester). I miss hearing those engines! Thanks for the video post!
That ZF transmission is making the 6v92 play music to our ears.
Its crazy how the sound of a bus can give u memories....miss riding on neo's.
Man if only i could have driven one
I drove them...the 3000 series was the best they made...some had those dark blue soft seats ...and were fast...believe me it was a vast improvement over the clapped out junk I drove out of Allegheny when I got hired in 1978...
These are the Buses that made me park my car and motorcycle, the Neoplan AN440 destined for SEPTA, #3000-#3490 series, the BEST DAMN BUSES TO EVER TO WORK THE STREETS OF PHILADELPHIA, DAMMIT!!!
You could hear 2 or 3 blocks way in Chester. Rode it on Route 117, 119 when after they had the Nabi i glad they still on Rts 117, 119
@Bastranz When I first heard this video over my bro's house I almost started crying!
These buses were a part of my childhood. thanks man.
Miss these buses also and the Rts
Mt trackless buddy drove them for along time. He called them a fine piece of German engineering. We had 3427 on our farewell charter, it ran super supreme.
WOW I LOVE THAT SOUND OF THE NEOPLANS
Great recording. These tanks lasted forever. I'm just mad that I never got to ride one of these beast.
I enjoyed this sound clip and pictures! Very good work!
@Bastranz I feel you I used to ride em' on the 2 bus and every now again on the 79 going back and forth to middle school.
@starchedownon84s Thanks. If those buses are still hanging there that would make my LIFE! It really upset me that none of them appeared to be retained for the historic fleet.
I meant the old look GMC Buses that ran from 1955-1976. The green and white ones with the orange stripe around the middle.
I used to catch this bus everyday on the K or the L bus or the 70 with my mom back in 1996-2004 . my last neo was bus number 3429 on RT 3 in 2008....back in the 5th grade I always got on the 3 on this model
@Bastranz not sure. my info line maybe bs ing me but i will look into it for you though.
@starchedownon84s They were a huge part of my childhood too! Back in their final year or two of service, I made my way out to Frankford as much as I could to ride, photograph, and record them.
@UniqueRON814 im from AC me and dad go to the Chester burn center i remember on top of the transportation center waiting for the train to come. i use to leave my dad walk down the platform and look at all the neoplans below. i remember making front of the weird noise it made after second gear. when two neoplans were leaving the terminal turning i love listening to their takeoff. i think this bus was the only reason why i came to philly lol
Used to ride these all the time on Route 52 in the late 90's and early 2000's
I'm amaze of how this bus can deliver such excellent performance and endurance. Even being past its prime it shows the buses how its done aha. I miss these buses much especially the 8800's.
Its a shame that SEPTA's maintenance technicians were just starting to get to A-1 status in the 80s. If they properly kept those 8000 series NEOS in good shape, they would lasted at least 20 years and their retirement phase would have begun in 2002 to 2009. The AKs took a massive beating after their delivery. Drivers often turned in their New Looks and RTS coaches for Neoplan because they were easy to maneuver and soon after, some AKs ended up having transmission trouble. Thats why 8289 and 8299 had retrofitted the dashboard Allison console with a ZF to help it shift gears better and they kinda sounded like a ZF too but they sported Allison HT740s. 8289 had a three speed Allison upon retirement and 8299 had the four speed and it didnt survive until November of 1996 which was two months after Comly sent Frankford its surviving AK fleet.
I drove those buses and also worked inside as a blocker >>SAW the chewing gum and wire they used to keep them on the street GOD FORBID we did not make the LINE. AM or PM.
@@Steve-vl5mg jeeezz!!! SEPTA from what I hear was in bad place back then in terms of management. They hired a guy from San Francisco, CA to assume the management operation at the authority but he left after about two weeks. Btw, what depot did you work at?
we shouldering them back to life
@Kerbee they have 2 an440's in storage un touched @ midvale in the bus storage area amongst the flyers and nabi's that are in service.
Missing these buses right now I use to catch the 64 and the 7 like these buses to my job love hearing the 64 taking off Rip Neoplan An440 :'(
@Nekosys Thanks! :)
@starchedownon84s Are you sure about that? Which numbers are they?
You should've been around when PTC's Old look GMC Buses were running. Best sounding engines I've ever heard. Too bad they couldn't preserve some like New York City did.
I missed the neoplans. What ever happened to them? And how fast did they go?
Scrapped.
And maxed at around 65-70, but an ungoverned one could push 80-90.
it will be missed. my favorite bus is gone
The showing the other buses of Septa's fleet how its done I meant.
these buses were Septa!!
3:10 O.O
Are they still around or have they been cut up too? Do you know of any plans for them and are they visible from the street?
55-60 mph for the most part. Some reported going faster.
:'(