1200-series buses

GM “New-Look.”

This morning’s (Sunday, May 13, 2007; Mothers Day) Transit dream was about our old 1200-series buses.
The 1200s were a variation of GM’s “New-Look” buses, also called the “goldfish bowls;” called that because of their huge expanse of curved windshield-glass.
The “New-Look” buses hit the market in 1959, and lasted through 1977, when GM’s new “RTS” hit the market.
As such, quite a few “New-Looks” were still on the property when I started in 1977, and in fact 18 were ordered in 1976 — after which they became unavailable, much to Transit’s sorrow.
Most of our service was performed by Flxible “New Looks:” the 500-series, what I called the “Flxible-Flyers.”
Primary of the GM “New-Looks” were about 20 wide-100s, #s 151-171; and they were the 102-inch width.
A few 1000s and 1100s were left, and the 1200-series: #s 1201-1236; which I think were 1966. All had the 6-71 V6 Detroit two-cycle diesel; unturbocharged — and a two-speed automatic tranny. (500s too.)
The 1200s were smaller — probably only 30-35 feet (instead of 40) — and therefore a shorter wheelbase.
1200s were therefore easier to drive — not as much swing required.
They were generally relegated to westside routes, where you didn’t need as much capacity, and the vaunted 16-Crosstown route, which had many 90° corners.
The dream was about 1217, called the “pumpkin;” who knows why.....
1217 and 1231 were our Bicentennial buses; 1217 was navy-blue with white stars.
I used to call both 1217 and 1231 “the flags.”
I was loathe to drive either one, although inside they were the basic puke-green of all transit buses. (Our 1000s were baby-blue.)
By the time I started the 12s were already junk; worn to a frazzle.
A 12 was kind of a penalty-box: woozy performance and slow.
There also was a pretty fair chance a 12 would cripple; in which case you gotta placate angry commuters.
The 12s may have been our first buses without the low-air dingle; although that may have been the wide-100s.
What would happen is that a low reading on the gauge would cripple the bus. —Which is okay, but what if it’s an errant gauge? Once as an extra-man I drove a cripple back to the barns with the gauge screaming at me. Everything was fine except the gauge.
1217 and 1231 were eventually painted back to regular Transit colors; Bicentennial no more.
1217 had apparently been given a new motor when made a Bicentennial bus, which is why it lasted as long as it did.
In fact, I think 1217 was Transit’s final 12.
In the dream I was driving 1217, and it ran strong; like a Flxible-Flyer.

I drove Transit-bus for Regional Transit Service in Rochester, New York from 5/20/77 through 10/25/93 (the day before my stroke); 16&1/2 years.

RE: “puke-green......” Everyone in my family refers to light-green as “puke-green.”

The best buses I ever drove were the “Flxible-Flyers;” basic bus; hardly ever crippled. But compared to a GM-bus they leaned a lot in turns. May not have had anti-rollbars, whereas the GMs did.