Flxible 3695-3699

[2200fan]

Hi,

This is probably one for the old timers. (like me..) I was looking at the roster of retired buses and saw these apparently had V8 diesels instead of 6's like the rest of the 3600's. I was going to school downtown in the early 70's and saw them on State st on the Archer Express expressway runs. I remember these had a very distinct exhaust sound, It was very different from a standard 3600. I also vaguely remember talking to an operator who said these buses would reach VERY high speeds on I-55. He told me they eventually converted them back to 6 cylinders as some operators were getting HUGE speeding tickets. I never rode one personally but gotta believe with the extra power and no a/c they'd get up and go. I did ride a regular 3600 that had a broken governor on an outbound Jeffery Express one morning. I was the only passenger and this operator was FLYING down the Outer Drive. I was sitting in the back but estimate his speed at 65-70 mph, he was passing everybody!

Does anyone have any more info on these?

Thanks!

[michaeldavio]

I remember those buses growing up on the South side. They some type of vent toward the right and left rear side. I remember those buses being fast but I also like the buses 3678 thru 3694 (with the plastic blue seats). I was so sad when they retired those new look flxibles and new look gmcs.

[MVTArider]

Those buses sound cool IMO thats the best part of the bus ride is going really fast on the highway or arterial street and passing some cars :)

[2200fan]

I'd love to hear more about these, I know someone here has info.

I'm a north sider so I never rode many 3600's, I did however ride many 3800's on the 151 Sheridan w/the plastic seats. The 37/3800's were my favorite "new look" buses.

As for fast buses, did you ever ride a Marmon-Herrington trolley bus? I think they topped out around 45-50 mph but they had great pickup. I rode a lot of these on the 77 Belmont, a a skilled operator could beat cars away from the light.

[Busjack]

I'd love to hear more about these, I know someone here has info.

I'm a north sider so I never rode many 3600's, I did however ride many 3800's on the 151 Sheridan w/the plastic seats. The 37/3800's were my favorite "new look" buses.

As for fast buses, did you ever ride a Marmon-Herrington trolley bus? I think they topped out around 45-50 mph but they had great pickup. I rode a lot of these on the 77 Belmont, a a skilled operator could beat cars away from the light.

I did a couple of times, but they weren't fast, because, being trolleys, they couldn't pass another, and basically couldn't deal with heavy auto traffic either. So, even if an electric motor could take off faster than diesel (they claim that with regard to all electric automobiles), it isn't like you could run a Marmon on Lake Shore Drive or an expressway (also given that there were no wires there). Maybe you could make up a bit of time on the west part of 77 or 80, but other than that...

I remember some 3600s being swapped back and forth between 52nd and Archer. However, unlike some 3200s, which were documented to have AC, I didn't know that there were any differences among the 3600s, although Bill V. does state that the last few had F2DV8C-401-1 engines.

[2200fan]

I did a couple of times, but they weren't fast, because, being trolleys, they couldn't pass another, and basically couldn't deal with heavy auto traffic either. So, even if an electric motor could take off faster than diesel (they claim that with regard to all electric automobiles), it isn't like you could run a Marmon on Lake Shore Drive or an expressway (also given that there were no wires there). Maybe you could make up a bit of time on the west part of 77 or 80, but other than that...

I remember some 3600s being swapped back and forth between 52nd and Archer. However, unlike some 3200s, which were documented to have AC, I didn't know that there were any differences among the 3600s, although Bill V. does state that the last few had F2DV8C-401-1 engines.

Maybe I should have said quick instead of fast. I rode a lot of these on 77 Belmont and live just off the same street. Electric motors can make peak torque @ 0 rpm if desired, the claim about faster takeoff is very real. If you rode one during off peak traffic hours, you'd have experienced this firsthand.

Regarding the 3600's, the "C" in the model # means Cummins. I really wish I could have rode one, Cummins makes some strong engines! Aren't there any older operators here who remember these? I thought there'd be someone here who knows these buses.