YouTube has a film, professionally made by GMC, showing the conversion   
   of the Philadelphia transit system from streetcar to GMC diesel bus.   
      
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29i_DTIEGNg   
      
   One question:  Phila used a particular type of farebox, I think   
   called a Grant.  (seen at roughly 17:55).  Anyone know any details   
   about this farebox?  I tried searching and can't find anything.   
      
   The film touts the advantages of buses over streetcars.   
      
   However, the film fails to explain certain things:   
      
   . The film touts the standardization of an all bus fleet.  But the   
     fleet wasn't standardized--they had different sizes of GMC buses,   
     plus retained some older models.  They also got 'new look' buses in   
     a few years, which were a more modern design.   
      
   . The diesel bus carried less passengers than a streetcar.  This was a   
     problem on heavy trunk routes.   
      
   . The film compared a modern bus to a 40 year old streetcar.  Modern   
     streetcars, such as PCCs, performed well and were popular with riders.   
     The PCC car had better acceleration than the buses shown.   
      
   . Streetcars had twice the lifespan of a diesel bus.  The buses shown   
     had a lifespan of about 15-20 years.  Some PCC cars, which pre-dated   
     those buses by ten years, remain in service to this day, in both Phila   
     and San Fran.   
      
   . The film says buses made streets more attractive.  But buses, especially   
     of that generation, had a nasty exhaust odor.   
      
   . The film fails to point out that PTC was owned by GM and associated   
     automotive suppliers, who appointed the management who bought the GMC   
     buses.   The buses were fueled and got tires by the associates.   
       Many employees of that era complained that the new management was   
     excessively focused on cost control, at the expense of maintenance and   
     passenger service.  The new management had many labor problems and   
     quarrels with the city government.   
      
   . Converting to bus did nothing to alleviate downtown traffic congestion.   
      
   . The films touts the move of the general offices from downtown to a   
     remote location.  But there were certain administrative functions   
     that were best performed downtown.  PTC officials had to waste time   
     traveling downtown.   
      
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