From: ce11son@yahoo.ca   
      
   On Wed, 24 Feb 2016 20:27:09 -0800 (PST), hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:   
      
   >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?   
   >   
   Grant Money Meters Co. :-   
   http://www.johnsonfarebox.com/fare37b.jpg   
   in   
   http://www.johnsonfarebox.com/gallery4.htm   
      
   AND   
      
   http://www.streetcarmike.com/nopsi_buses/nopsi_gmc1940_interior_jan1971.jpg   
   in   
   http://www.streetcarmike.com/nopsi_gmc_oldlook.html   
   seems to be a clearer picture.   
      
   Also -   
   http://www.google.co.uk/patents/US2746675   
   describing the features   
      
   >I tried searching and can't find anything.   
   >   
   They seem to be revealed more easily if you Google for   
   johnson box grant   
   (The simpler boxes used around 30-40y ago by London Transport were   
   generally described as "Johnson boxes".)   
      
   >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.   
      
   --- SoupGate/W32 v1.03   
    * Origin: LiveWire BBS -=*=- UseNet FTN Gateway (1:2320/1)