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PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?

Posted by RailBus63 on Tue Jul 31 22:54:45 2012

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Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) 1994 Flxible Metro #1426 (ex-Golden Gate Transit, same number) on Meeting St. in Charleston SC:

CARTA1426_071012_JDevlin

CARTA 1994 Flxible Metro #1433 (ex-Golden gate Transit, same number), same location:

CARTA1433_071012_JDevlin

CARTA 1996 New Flyer D35HF #3406, Mary St. transfer center:

CARTA3406_071812_JDevlin

CARTA 2010 New Flyer D35LFR #3503 on Meeting St. in Charleston:

CARTA3503_071812_JDevlin

CARTA 2011 New Flyer D35LFR #3512, Mary St. transfer center (note the revised headlight and turn signal arrangement):

CARTA3512_071812_JDevlin

Enjoy!

Jim D.

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(264675)

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Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?

Posted by r33/r36 mainline on Tue Jul 31 23:19:17 2012, in response to PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?, posted by RailBus63 on Tue Jul 31 22:54:45 2012.

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I didn't know Fixibles was still running in service, I thought they went the way of the Fishbowl... Nice photos!

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(264676)

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Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?

Posted by RailBus63 on Tue Jul 31 23:20:10 2012, in response to Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?, posted by r33/r36 mainline on Tue Jul 31 23:19:17 2012.

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Thanks!

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(264678)

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Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?

Posted by Edwards! on Wed Aug 1 00:48:19 2012, in response to PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?, posted by RailBus63 on Tue Jul 31 22:54:45 2012.

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HEY...always ENJOYED carta..I remember the old SCEG days,the old GM/FLXIBLE FISHBOWLS..before the numbering system and the Mark Clark expressway.

THE only thing i didnt like was the early shut down..got stranded a few times missing the last Mount Pleasant bus/West Ashley connection on Meeting street.

Thanks for the pics.

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(264679)

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Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?

Posted by Aaron1992 on Wed Aug 1 04:32:20 2012, in response to PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?, posted by RailBus63 on Tue Jul 31 22:54:45 2012.

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Any interior pictures of the D35LFR

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(264682)

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Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?

Posted by New Flyer #857 on Wed Aug 1 07:58:56 2012, in response to Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?, posted by r33/r36 mainline on Tue Jul 31 23:19:17 2012.

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Omaha, where I am staying until tomorrow, still has them, and with new orange LED signs - looks cool. Looking at these Charleston SC pictures, it reminds me of the assortment of bus models here.

Did Charleston ever decide to run a bus out to Folly Beach?

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(264685)

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Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?

Posted by AMoreira81 on Wed Aug 1 08:46:33 2012, in response to PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?, posted by RailBus63 on Tue Jul 31 22:54:45 2012.

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I just find it impressive that they're running buses that old still in service.

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(264686)

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Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?

Posted by RailBus63 on Wed Aug 1 08:54:13 2012, in response to Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?, posted by New Flyer #857 on Wed Aug 1 07:58:56 2012.

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I thought I saw a notice somewhere about weekend service to the beach.

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(264688)

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Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?

Posted by RailBus63 on Wed Aug 1 08:55:14 2012, in response to Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?, posted by Aaron1992 on Wed Aug 1 04:32:20 2012.

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No, I didn't get to ride any CARTA buses other than the trolleys.

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(264689)

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Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?

Posted by RailBus63 on Wed Aug 1 08:56:13 2012, in response to Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?, posted by AMoreira81 on Wed Aug 1 08:46:33 2012.

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The Flxibles are used rush hours only for the 'CARTA Express' routes, but the New Flyer D35 high-floors are used in base service.

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(264704)

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Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?

Posted by New Flyer #857 on Wed Aug 1 14:16:31 2012, in response to Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?, posted by RailBus63 on Wed Aug 1 08:54:13 2012.

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I can't believe if they don't do it. I was there in 2007 and the bus (#31 IIRC) ran up to the last stretch before actual Folly Beach. Even if it ran every hour or two I would think it would get patronage.

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(264705)

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Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?

Posted by New Flyer #857 on Wed Aug 1 14:18:03 2012, in response to Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?, posted by AMoreira81 on Wed Aug 1 08:46:33 2012.

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Here in Omaha, they are sparse on the weekends, but you can find them more easily on the weekdays. You can tell they are least preferred but they have no problem using them.

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(264707)

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Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?

Posted by Edwards! on Wed Aug 1 14:22:13 2012, in response to Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?, posted by AMoreira81 on Wed Aug 1 08:46:33 2012.

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you think thats something...?

SCEG ran fishbowls until they were falling apart..
they were hot as hell in the summer,even though the had AC..they rarely ran it!
My route[Dorchester Road] was every hour from downtown[Meeting/King and Broad] to the "heights"..and it was lousy.When the "newer buses" came in,it was a joy to behold,especially when CARTA took over..

Still..they are long in the tooth now..and replacements are needed BADLY..though the D35s are holding up pretty well.

The ONLY PROBLEM with CARTA is the service hours outside of downtown..especially in North Charleston and Mount Pleasant..

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(264708)

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Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?

Posted by Edwards! on Wed Aug 1 14:24:35 2012, in response to Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?, posted by New Flyer #857 on Wed Aug 1 07:58:56 2012.

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last time i was there..there was a special that ran there..wasnt too often..but they had SOME service.

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(264711)

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Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?

Posted by Dekatyou on Wed Aug 1 14:59:02 2012, in response to Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?, posted by r33/r36 mainline on Tue Jul 31 23:19:17 2012.

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How about Lion Trailways of NJ?

Lion Trailways may have a couple of Flexibles (owned by NJ Transit) and has been using as shuttle bus.







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(264714)

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Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?

Posted by RailBus63 on Wed Aug 1 15:24:28 2012, in response to Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?, posted by Edwards! on Wed Aug 1 14:22:13 2012.

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Down the coast, Palmetto Breeze has route which operate one trip a day using MCI cruisers that look to be just a few years old, but CARTA had to go shopping for 15-year-old Flxibles to get their express service rolling.

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(264721)

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Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?

Posted by B53RICH on Wed Aug 1 17:34:19 2012, in response to PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?, posted by RailBus63 on Tue Jul 31 22:54:45 2012.

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First photo, bus ad, "EXPRESS YOURSELF."
NYCTA used the same line some 30+ years back on the Q46 (then the Q44A) to promote the limited service on that route. 5305A fishbowls in the 4400 series had those ads.

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(264722)

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Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?

Posted by bond007 on Wed Aug 1 17:37:43 2012, in response to PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?, posted by RailBus63 on Tue Jul 31 22:54:45 2012.

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I was there around Christmas 2011. Are Charleston's 3400-series of buses the last D35HF's active in this country? Thanks!

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(264735)

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Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?

Posted by D40LF on Wed Aug 1 21:01:34 2012, in response to PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?, posted by RailBus63 on Tue Jul 31 22:54:45 2012.

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is roof mounted a/c on the only option for new flyer diesel buses (besides the xcelsior)???

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(264738)

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Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?

Posted by Joe Saitta on Wed Aug 1 21:22:53 2012, in response to PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?, posted by RailBus63 on Tue Jul 31 22:54:45 2012.

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Great shots! Last photo - are those streetcar tracks and, if so, why are they there?

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(264743)

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Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?

Posted by RailBus63 on Wed Aug 1 21:48:32 2012, in response to Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?, posted by Joe Saitta on Wed Aug 1 21:22:53 2012.

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Thanks! I believe that track is an old railroad track - the adjacent Charleston School of Law is located in an old passenger station, so maybe it was left for historical purposes.

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(264745)

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Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?

Posted by RailBus63 on Wed Aug 1 21:49:46 2012, in response to Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?, posted by bond007 on Wed Aug 1 17:37:43 2012.

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They may be. Only a few other agencies had them (MARTA, AC Transit and Lee Tran in Florida) and CARTA's group were the last ones built.

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(264749)

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Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?

Posted by Joe Saitta on Wed Aug 1 22:12:34 2012, in response to Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?, posted by RailBus63 on Wed Aug 1 21:48:32 2012.

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Thank you. It does look more like trolley track rather than railroad track; it appears grooved.

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(264760)

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Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?

Posted by busdude2 on Thu Aug 2 05:46:51 2012, in response to PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?, posted by RailBus63 on Tue Jul 31 22:54:45 2012.

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Wow I always loved those huge destination signs.

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(264774)

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Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?

Posted by bond007 on Thu Aug 2 16:59:54 2012, in response to Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?, posted by RailBus63 on Wed Aug 1 21:49:46 2012.

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And Lee Tran's buses are actually some of the earliest D35LF's.

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(264983)

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Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?

Posted by mtancct on Wed Aug 8 22:08:10 2012, in response to PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?, posted by RailBus63 on Tue Jul 31 22:54:45 2012.

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Nice photos!!!

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(264984)

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Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?

Posted by RailBus63 on Wed Aug 8 22:20:05 2012, in response to Re: PHOTOS: Charleston SC - are these the last Flxibles left on the East Coast?, posted by mtancct on Wed Aug 8 22:08:10 2012.

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Thanks!

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