When fully loaded, these buses could not climb bernard street to the south hill of Spokane. Some of us would get off and walk up to get on again. This was especially bad when Lewis and Clark High School let out. They would often double up buses when school let out. One time a new bus was following, and when the first bus was floored and couldn't go any further, they had us overload the new bus, which made the hill, then we separated between the two buses again.
OK. I drive for a Transit System where many of these buses still run and we are paid by the minute, so I guess I never worried about it that much. Either way, I used to get both newer Low Floors and the old Fishbowls on a run that I used to drive late last yuear and I always still got back to the garage at the same time regardless of the vehicle type I had on that run.
They ride nicer and handle nicer than the new crap buses of today. I know... I drive the newer stuff for a living and we still have lots of these old GM buses in service and I highly doubt anything of today will last 30+ years of service compared!
I work with a museum that has a 1964 TDH-4519 that was upgraded to a VS2-6. It flares going into overdrive also. Not sure if it due to being worn or fluid levels since it leaks a bit.
