Gillig Phantoms and Advantages

This shot shows you the front step area of the bus... Kinda tacky, but it seems to have the "Lift U" wheelchair lift as the rest of the buses have.

This shot shows the interesting green color that Port Authority chose. It really is not bad in the light, however all the "ride" decals have got the attention of people already... I also understand that these buses will be in 6 designer colors, different from anything else we have.

This is the front end of the bus. Notice the unit number box in front. I thought we had gotten rid of the unit numbers...maybe they're making a comeback!

This shot shows the front entry way into the bus. yes, that floor IS purple!

Basic rear to front shot. I apologize for the dark picture, but the battery on the coach was disconnected and very little light was available.

Front to rear shot. I do like the seat colors. They are a lot nicer than the pinkish red in the 5XXX series low floors, and WAY better than vinyl.

This is the part I see daily... The drivers area. I like the way they set this up. The only 2 things I saw that I did not care for are the way they put the HVAC controls right on the dash behind the steering wheel, and the headsign controls, which is a Twin Vision unit, are located in the center of the overhead panel above the driver. Like the older Flxibles. May be a reach for some. I was hoping that it will be re-located, but it doesn't seem like it.

Here are the designer colors for the 1500 series...green, pewter, blue, copper, burgundy, and plum.

1503 dressed in blue with "connect"all over it.

"Move"out of the way, here comes 1508!

1514 awaits to "connect" you to life. Unfortunately, the state budget may pull the "plug" on that connection for a lot of folks.

I found this baby tucked away in the back corner of 23 row, May I present Gillig 5201, in all her hidden glory... Time to "gogogo" inside and look around!

This is where I spend my day. I like where everything is laid out here, although I understand there is some griping about the Clever device control box placement, just above and to the right of the transfer cutter.

The overhead drivers area is, from left to right, radio, climate control (which will ROAST A TURKEY), camera control, mike, domelight. I understand that the clever device box will take the spot of the camera controls.

The passenger area in 5201 is laid out nice, and these colors are nice. I liked the orange party lighting above each step, It looks nice in the dark. I do not like the "swing bar" on the first roof hatch, but i was told they will NOT be on production models.

If you look above the windshield in the picture, you will find the cluster of warning lights. I think this is a great place to hide them. I believe there are 40 lights in this array.

A simple shot of the left side of 5201

Now, lets go back to the little 1500 series.

This is 1503, in the pleasing metallic blue color that everyone likes, as it awaits to go out for evening service.

Just a side view of the bus from above.

1508 earlier the same day.

1514 just coming in from a trip on the ML Flyer.

1521 sitting on 6th Avenue downtown, loading passengers for the 41E.

1527 on the 41A route, from Wood St. onto 6th Ave.

1504 on Liberty Ave, on the 1D Mt. Royal.

Phantom 1508 on Rt 500 heading to St. Clair, sitting on 5th Ave.

Brand new bus, 1511, that won't "move, move, move"... Broke down at 9th and Exchange way, downtown.

1513 in a staged shot Commonwealth Ave, in Pittsburgh...Yours truly at the helm!

Interior shot of 1513.

Passenger side view of 1513.

1515 sitting at Ross Park Mall, preparing to go out on the 1D.

Another shot of 1515, same location.

1509 coach on the 54C route, shown at Allegheny Center.

1505 at Kennedy Center.

1512 sitting on recovery at West View Plaza, waiting to go, go, go.

1512 Preparing to take a ride on the Perrysville, 11D.

1523 sitting on Mt. Washington at the old Foodland.

1529 coming off the Smithfield St Bridge.

1502 on the Fineview...Shot in downtown.

1521 turning from Wood St onto 6th Ave.

1535 on layover at Olympia shopping center.

1517 and 1527 at a undisclosed, top secret location...

Let's move on to the 52-5300 series Advantage coach...

5219 sitting at Ross Park Mall before beginning the 1D Mt. Royal

5273 sitting at Manchester shop at delivery... not even dirty yet!

5209, pretty in PINK, sitting on recovery at West View Plaza.

5209 sitting at the Mall at Robinson

5205 at Robinson Town center. Incidentally, all the foreign languages on the 52XX buses all mean the same thing..."Welcome to the Neighborhood"

5211 at the Highland Park Zoo terminus, on Rt 500.

5211 passengers side view, still at the Zoo.

5217 on Fort Duquesne Blvd. Bus is awaiting departure time for run. Notice the two cars sitting behind the bus who fail to understand the meaning of "flashers"

5220 sitting on a side street on the 21F in the Apple Hill plan of homes.

5220 preparing to start a 21B Kenmawr, sitting at Kennedy Center.

5221, the "Silver Bullet" Movin & Groovin at Kennedy Center.

5223 being delivered by Gillig to Ross Division, its new home.

5245, a Collier Division coach, sitting at the Mall at Robinson, for whatever reason.

5229 laying over at the 62nd St Loop on the 500.

5362 running up Liberty Ave.

5217 sitting at West View Plaza.

5303 rcovering along the East Busway.

5348 on Liberty Ave, Downtown Pittsburgh.

537X Hybrids

5371, a new Diesel Electric Hybrid, rolling up Liberty Ave.

5373 turning a bend in town. check out the riddles on the side.

5374 headed up Liberty Ave, with a piece of the puzzle missing off the front...

5372 is another Hybrid, location is not known.

5374 on Grant St.

5373 on Liberty Ave. One of the Electric Hybrids.

5375 stopped on the busway near Penn Station.

5371 at the Brushton terminal at night.

5372 sitting in East Pittsburgh.

5374 in East Pittsburgh, relaxing...

The 54-55XX Series!

Here is the 54-5500 line. The are identical to the 5200's buses, with a few minor changes to the colors and the interior. The most striking difference is the fact that the Allison Transmission has been replace by a VERY smooth shifting ZF transmission.