Riding SEPTA Route 35

Filmed in 2001
And now, take a ride on a Neoplan AN435 aboard SEPTA Route 35, the Roxborough-Manayunk Loop (as it was before the current routing was established due to the use of 40-foot buses). Starting and ending at Wissahickon Transfer Center, the route loops through the neighborhoods of Manayunk and Roxborough, up and down the hilly and narrow streets that are characteristic of the area.
This ride was filmed not long before Eldorado Transmark buses (already in service on some Victory District routes) were assigned to Midvale District to replace the Neoplan 35-foot buses. We ride a full round trip filming from Ridge & Fountain, around the loop to Wissahickon Transfer Center, and back around the far side to Ridge & Fountain again.

[@JT-ng7je]

I don't think you know the joy this brings me. The AN435s were a staple of my childhood and more so the 35.

[@daniel022209]

I remember those 8000 series Neos had the chrome plated NEOPLAN emblem in the back of the bus.

[@jamesblyther1209]

Metro bus neoplan bus

[@darnell899]

​@@jamesblyther1209 WMATA had Neoplans too, and they were the 9500 models. And lemme tell you, when I was a little boy, I fell in love with those buses. I called 'em the Blue Red bus because of the seats on that particular bus, and the way those buses sounded when they rev up was like music to my ears.

[@christopheryanoski6899]

I'm not from Philly but up here in Hazleton they had 1983 AN435's and later on 3 second hand AN440's from CCTA. I noticed these have practically the same exact interior as the HTA units (outside of rear HVAC all forward seats being 2×2 and Duncan Faretronic VI fareboxes on the Hazleton units ). Brings back memories.

[@wook1990]

You are the real MVP! I feel like the 90s are back watching these classics!

[@jasoncrable6025]

I missed them

[@jasoncrable6025]

Them DD92 8000 SERIES I AM SO DISAPPOINTED THIER GONE

[@daniel022209]

@@jasoncrable6025 i wish they could create a much cleaner engine of this type. But the Series 92 has been out of production since '91, sadly.

[@jasoncrable6025]

@@daniel022209 yeah I missed those 8000 series I loved them a lot

[@daniel022209]

@@jasoncrable6025 me too!

[@franksanders9677]

Thank for this peace of history

[@trainman1971]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@christophercrafter2609]

3:06. Great catch.

[@darnell899]

I wish these Neoplans were still around, at least either being owned by private contractors or being sold at a public auction instead of being scrapped.

[@phillyzfynest7]

This. ❤❤❤

[@christophercrafter2609]

These sound EXACTLY like the 8600s and 8700s I rode on SEPTA'S Germantown depot routes when I was growing up. As a six year old boy back in 1987 I rode an 8600 on the 55 and little did I know that the landscape and equipment for the 55 would change a year later.

[@daniel022209]

It would have been interesting to actually see a 8000 series Neoplan on route 55. As SEPTA progressed into the early to mid 1990s, you commonly saw a 3000 series Neoplan on route 55 as well as route L.

[@kylesheaff7779]

I wish there’s more septa Neoplan an440 bus ride and Neoplan an435 bus ride too

[@christophercrafter2609]

Wow Joe you're the man. Damn you're good.

[@daniel022209]

Is that the driver's name?

[@phillyzfynest7]

Joe, hear the transmission? SEPTA modified thy HT748 to where the 2nd gear lock up thats famous in Alison's transmissions is barely noticeable. I wonder why they did that.

[@trainman1971]

I know, right?

[@daniel022209]

Third gear is still in there somewhere lol.

[@dez-ef5bo]

The SEPTA 1982 & 83 Ak-BD Neoplans sound different a different shift in the transmission

[@krtz23]

Yeah the 84-85s torque converter locks up kinda late in the second gear.

[@daniel022209]

​@@krtz23lol I liked it that way.

[@daniel022209]

Wow this is awesome!! I knew you had another gem somewhere bro. Awesome!! This bus sounds like it has a three-speed Allison HT747.

[@krtz23]

Its four speed. Second gear locks up for an second then shift

[@danielsamuels5857]

And plus, the transmission on the 1984 and 1985 Neoplans, including the 35 Foot ones, was HT748. Not 747.

[@krtz23]

@@danielsamuels5857 that it was

[@daniel022209]

@@danielsamuels5857 no, 1984 Neoplan BMs (8601-8725) had the Allison HT747. The CDs (8726-8875) had the Allison HT748 transmission.

[@krtz23]

@@daniel022209 remember seeing electronic shifters on the 8601-8875, 1301-1325 Neoplans. Ht748 is what they had. I'm pretty sure 8285-8584 had the HT747. The only main difference is one is mechanical and the other is electronic.

[@malachimuhammad-dy2ow]

That must be the Manayunk Roxborough Loop.

[@trainman1971]

In it's original form (plus the Wissahickon TC addition), yep.

[@danielsamuels5857]

Next up, can you please do the El Dorado buses back when they were brand new?

[@trainman1971]

I never did a dedicated ElDorado video. Just caught them in passing in videos when fairly new from 2002 onward.

[@desmonddeshawncannonjr2011]

What town is this?

[@trainman1971]

Philadelphia, PA

[@truckspotting7473]

@@trainman1971 I have a question.

[@trainman1971]

@@truckspotting7473 What's up?

[@truckspotting7473]

@@trainman1971 I noticed an old trash truck from Philadelphia in the video and if you don't mind is it alright if I use that part of the video cause those trash trucks are gone now

[@trainman1971]

@@truckspotting7473 Sure thing, go ahead!