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New Flyer MiDi


MAX BRT

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That comment implies other New Flyer buses are built using the imperial system, which I find impossible.

Canada also uses the metric system and I can't imagine New Flyer making one set of metric tools/fasteners/materials for buses made in Winnipeg and one set of imperial tools/fasteners/materials for buses assembled in Minnesota. :huh:

A lot of heavy machinery is built with imperial. Trucks, buses, etc., regardless of where it is built. Locomotives built by GMD in London or MLW in Montreal were always imperial, for instance.

Hell, I would bet you that a lot of the hardware in your house is imperial.

Just because we live in a metric society doesn't mean that everything instantly changed over.

Dan

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  • 1 month later...
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  • 1 month later...

I forgot to mention this before, but while traveling on I-94 in Wisconsin a couple weeks ago I spotted a MiDi headed eastbound. The sign was showing orange squares, and it was too dark to tell if there was any livery on it. I'm fairly certain it was white though. Demo or possibly a new one being delivered?

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  • 3 months later...

I stopped by the ABC Companies sales and service center in Faribault, MN yesterday to see what equipment was sitting around, I was not disappointed:

16384389901_8da6eeb586_t.jpg 15763674124_c528c80f02_t.jpg 16385203282_b45b85f426_t.jpg 15763675144_1a2e9252c5_t.jpg

I thought these were demo units at first since they were parked in front with a couple TX45 on display, but the person I spoke with said they were ordered by a customer and scheduled for pickup today. I don't know who the customer is, but black MD35 shouldn't be too hard to find somewhere eventually. Considering they have bike racks I have to wonder if they are bound for a college/university system somewhere in the Midwest. (I don't really see a casino, parking shuttle service, or hotel ordering them with racks) No idea what the numbers are, one had a paper with 45936, and the other 45937. Fleet number? VIN? Registration?

(Actually with a black base livery they might even be for Lorenz for the St. Thomas University connector line. Lorenz is a long time ABC/Van Hool client and was recently awarded the STU shuttle contract. There was also a Lorenz coach parked next to these possibly awaiting pickup. /speculation)

At any rate it was cool to see a couple in person :)

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NFI has finally announced a few MiDi sales. Nice to see!

(Thanks to Septa105R5 for the heads up in the NFI thread)

Martha Vineyard is ordering 4 MiDi MD30 and Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (also Massachusetts) is ordering 3 MiDi MD30 as well.

http://www.newflyer....s-vineyeard-rta

http://www.newflyer....rds-new-flyer-a

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  • 2 weeks later...

Cummins has recently released their new ISB 6.7G for applications that need a small, spark ignited engine.

http://ngv.com/cummins-westport-unveils-isb-6-7-g-natural-gas-engine/

Ratings up to 260 hp and torque up to 660 lbs-ft, and there should be a version that works for a Midi. I think there will now be a Midi CNG in the near future or other buses that need a small 6.7L cng engine.

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Cummins has recently released their new ISB 6.7G for applications that need a small, spark ignited engine.

http://ngv.com/cummins-westport-unveils-isb-6-7-g-natural-gas-engine/

Ratings up to 260 hp and torque up to 660 lbs-ft, and there should be a version that works for a Midi. I think there will now be a Midi CNG in the near future or other buses that need a small 6.7L cng engine.

Good info. I hope you are right about a MiDi CNG in the near future.

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I noticed on photos that the MiDi has smaller tires (shorter) compared to the competitor Vicinity bus.

Specs on both websites confirm this; the MiDi specs show 19.5 inch tires and the Vicinity shows 22.5. Quite a difference.

Anybody in the know care to comment on the advantages/disadvantages of having shorter tires, or what might be the reason for this big difference? I imagine it affects fuel economy, handling, clearance, and everything else.

PS: The EZ Rider II bus also comes in 22.5 inch tires.

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I noticed on photos that the MiDi has smaller tires (shorter) compared to the competitor Vicinity bus.

Specs on both websites confirm this; the MiDi specs show 19.5 inch tires and the Vicinity shows 22.5. Quite a difference.

Anybody in the know care to comment on the advantages/disadvantages of having shorter tires, or what might be the reason for this big difference? I imagine it affects fuel economy, handling, clearance, and everything else.

PS: The EZ Rider II bus also comes in 22.5 inch tires.

The Vicinity does not have dual tires in the rear either. I imagine it has more to do with the engineering of the chassis, and what they have room for. That is just a guess though. IIRC, the Blue Bird Ultra LF and Thomas SLF had the smaller size tires as well.

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I noticed on photos that the MiDi has smaller tires (shorter) compared to the competitor Vicinity bus.

Specs on both websites confirm this; the MiDi specs show 19.5 inch tires and the Vicinity shows 22.5. Quite a difference.

Anybody in the know care to comment on the advantages/disadvantages of having shorter tires, or what might be the reason for this big difference? I imagine it affects fuel economy, handling, clearance, and everything else.

PS: The EZ Rider II bus also comes in 22.5 inch tires.

In my practical experience with the SLF, the only real difference is in ground clearance. 19.5 rims brought the bus body too low to avoid some obstacles ( side to side comparison, I had champion solos, with 22.5 wheels at the same time)

The slfs had a particularly hard time in snow over 10 cm (I'm Canadian) with snow packing up underneath to the point where it impeded steering and suspension travel, in addition to forcing the lower body panels away from their mountings on the leeward side of the wheel wells.

Long story short, in snowy climates, a less "low" profile is beneficial.

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Thanks medic! Sounds like New Flyer is producing the MiDi with less snowy regions in mind. And all other things being equal (which of course they are not) the Vicinity would be the right choice for most Canadian routes.

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  • 1 month later...
  • 1 month later...
NFI announces the SEPTA order of MiDi buses. I believe our faithful SEPTA reporters on this board had already let us know.
The contract, valued at approximately $17 million, is for a total of 35 MD30 buses, 28 which are firm with options for an additional seven.
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NFI announces the SEPTA order of MiDi buses. I believe our faithful SEPTA reporters on this board had already let us know.
The contract, valued at approximately $17 million, is for a total of 35 MD30 buses, 28 which are firm with options for an additional seven.

nice thx for the info, too bad there is none of them in Greater Toronto Area yet.............this is not fine! ;)

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  • 2 months later...

Thanks to our own ABQ RIDE for noticing something interesting in the following press release!

http://www.newflyer....s-app/story.239

"According to the article posted, the joint procurement includes options for 35/40/60-foot Xcelsiors in diesel, hybrid, and CNG configurations, as well as MiDis in diesel and CNG configurations.

It looks like we could soon be seeing a CNG version of the MiDi (MC30 or MN30?)."

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