The Gillig Phantom is a series of buses that was produced by an American manufacturer Gillig Corporation in Hayward, California . The successor to the long-running Gillig Transit Coach model line, the Phantom marked the transition of Gillig from a producer of yellow school buses to that of transit buses . The first transit bus assembled entirely by Gillig (from 1977 to 1979, the company assembled a few buses in a joint venture with Neoplan ), the Phantom was produced exclusively as a high-floor bus (with step entrance).
47-707: As operator needs shifted towards low-entry buses in North America, Gillig introduced the Gillig H2000LF/Low Floor . Initially produced alongside the Low Floor, in 2008, Gillig ended production of the Phantom to concentrate entirely on low-floor bus production. The final Gillig Phantom was produced in September 2008, with the final examples acquired by Sound Transit . Across its production,
94-549: A SAE J1772 CCS Type 1 connector, and an overhead pantograph ( SAE J3105 –1) connection is available. As tested by the Bus Research and Testing Center in Altoona , a 40-foot (12.2 m) battery-electric bus, with a gross capacity of 444 kW-hr (355 kW-hr usable) at 750 VDC, achieved a range of 129 to 187 mi (208 to 301 km), depending on the driving cycle (Manhattan and EPA HD-UDDS, respectively;
141-400: A 102-inch body width entered production. From 2005 onward, only the 102-inch-wide version was available due to stricter emissions and accessibility requirements. Transit versions of the Phantom were produced with a front entrance door and a mid-ship entrance door; two configurations of the latter were available. Transit operators typically opted for the standard width, while the wider version
188-652: A carpeted interior, luggage racks, and a central entry door, the primary design requirement of Hertz was a low-floor entry for those carrying luggage or with limited mobility. In 1996, the first buses for Hertz (named the Gillig H2000LF) entered production, with Hertz placing the H2000LF in service at Logan International Airport in Boston (expanding to other airports in the United States). Gillig would produce
235-592: A diesel-electric hybrid configuration with the Cummins ISB engine; hybrid models are identified by their roof-mounted battery pack. Hybrid models have been produced with Allison, BAE, and Voith series- and parallel-hybrid powertrains. In 2008, the Allison hybrid drivetrain was 81% more expensive than a conventional bus, which was partially subsidized by federal grants and expected savings in fuel and maintenance costs. The Gillig/Voith hybrid, branded DIWAhybrid,
282-412: A rarely ordered option. Both TheBus (Honolulu) and Sound Transit Express (for their 2008 Phantoms) had non-opening windows as part of their orders. The suburban version of the Phantom transit bus was offered throughout its production. Distinguished by forward facing seats (rather than perimeter seating and standee provisions ), these versions were configured for longer routes. In one configuration,
329-648: Is a mild parallel hybrid system using Maxwell ultracapacitor on-board energy storage, and was tested to have an observed overall average fuel consumption of 4.75 mpg ‑US (49.5 L/100 km; 5.70 mpg ‑imp ). The Gillig/BAE series hybrid , branded HybriDrive, had comparable fuel consumption, at 4.64 mpg ‑US (50.7 L/100 km; 5.57 mpg ‑imp ) (40-foot) and 3.96–6.14 mpg ‑US (59.4–38.3 L/100 km; 4.76–7.37 mpg ‑imp ) (40-foot, Manhattan and HD-UDDS driving cycles, respectively). The Gillig/Allison dual-mode (series/parallel) hybrid
376-621: Is available in 30, 35 and 40-foot (9.1, 10.7 and 12.2-meter) lengths. The vintage-style trolley appearance package exterior features include frameless bonded side windows, maintenance-free wood-like trim, ornate gold pinstriping, custom window and body graphic decals, roof cupola, functional solid brass bell, cow catcher, roof perimeter LED ropelights, and front center brass trolley lamp. The interior has solid American white oak seats, optional seat cushions, leather hand straps, brass handrails, stop request pull ropes, wood trim, and woodgrain wall panels and floor covering. In addition to conventional diesel,
423-546: Is offered with conventional diesel, diesel-electric hybrid, compressed natural gas, and battery-electric powertrain options. The model line is currently assembled by Gillig at its Livermore, California facility; prior to 2017, the vehicle was assembled in Hayward, California . The Gillig Low Floor began life in the mid-1990s as Gillig was approached by Hertz Corporation , who sought a shuttle bus for its airport locations (to replace its fleet of GMC RTS buses). Featuring
470-646: The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority (RTA); Gillig was responsible for the chassis, based on the Low Floor BRT/CNG, and Kiepe supplied the traction motor, battery, and trolley pole equipment. The contract was awarded by RTA in 2013 and the resulting buses featured "in-motion charging", using the trolley wires to charge an on-board battery that provided an off-wire range of up to 20 mi (32 km). This meant that buses could detour around stalled traffic and
517-771: The 6V71 from the Transit Coach). The Phantom school bus was available with several transmission choices; all of which were carried over from the Transit Coach: the Allison MT-643 and MT-647 4-speed automatics; the MT-654CR 5-speed automatic; and the heavier-duty HT-747 automatic. For school districts with mountainous terrain, the Phantom offered two manual transmission options: the Fuller Roadranger RT6610 and RT11610 10-speeds. To convert
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#1732782336123564-739: The Gilig Low Floor. Introduced in 2017, the Low Floor Plus is more mildly restyled compared to the Gillig BRT and BRT Plus. The Low Floor Plus features the headlights of the BRT and full-length roof fairings similar to the BRTPlus, but retains the same windshield and rear end cap as the traditional Low Floor model. The Gillig Trolley is a trolley-replica bus produced in collaboration with Cable Car Classics of Healdsburg, California . It
611-453: The Gillig BRT has projector headlights. The Gillig BRT is available with CNG, Diesel and Diesel-Electric Hybrid drivetrains. The Gillig BRT Plus is a variant of the BRT which features a full-length roof fairing which hides equipment which can include A/C units, CNG fuel tanks, or batteries. The Plus made its debut in 2011 with Long Beach Transit #1201, which is also the first Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) BRT produced. The newest variant of
658-547: The Gillig Low Floor range is equipped with three engines: the Cummins B6.7 diesel, Cummins L9 diesel, and Cummins L9N compressed natural gas inline-six engines. Throughout its production, the Gillig Low Floor has featured a range of Cummins engines along with Caterpillar and Detroit Diesel engines. Allison, Voith, and ZF automatic transmissions are available. Since 2004, the Gillig Low Floor has been available in
705-587: The Gillig Phantom was produced in three primary configurations. Alongside the standard transit bus, Gillig offered a suburban configuration (fitted with forward-facing seats) and the Gillig Phantom School Bus (adapted for school bus use). When introduced in 1980, the Gillig Phantom was offered in a single configuration: a 96-inch width and a 35-foot body length. For 1981, additional 30-foot and 40-foot lengths were introduced; in 1983,
752-581: The Gillig Trolley is available with optional power trains, including Allison hybrid-electric, all-electric, and CNG. School bus yellow School bus yellow is a color that was specifically formulated for use on school buses in North America in 1939. Originally officially named National School Bus Chrome , the color is now officially known in Canada and the U.S. as National School Bus Glossy Yellow . The original pigment for this color
799-406: The H2000LF for Hertz through 2005, as the design was replaced by standard Gillig Low Floor buses. In 1997, Gillig developed the H2000LF shuttle bus into the Low Floor transit bus. Several changes were made to the design, distinguished primarily by the reconfiguration of the entry doors (replacing the central entry with dual entry doors). Following the renaming of the model line, Gillig introduced
846-420: The Low Floor as an expansion of its product range, marketed alongside the step-entrance Phantom. During its production, the Low Floor has undergone several revisions to its body design. In 2002, the windshield was enlarged (with the use of a smaller destination sign) and the side windows were reduced in width. After 2003, the rear side split windows that were configured upside down were reconfigured to match
893-480: The Low Floor originally served as a second product range for the company alongside the Gillig Phantom . As transit bus operators shifted toward low-floor designs, the Low Floor has replaced the Phantom entirely, becoming the sole vehicle platform offered by the company since 2008. Offered in three body lengths and multiple body configurations, the Low Floor is offered for a variety of transit applications. It
940-492: The Orange County cycle fell in between). Observed energy consumption was 3.04 kW⋅h/mi (11.1 mpg‑e) (Manhattan), 2.27 kW⋅h/mi (14.8 mpg‑e) (Orange County), and 2.09 kW⋅h/mi (16.1 mpg‑e) (HD-UDDS). The Cummins TM4 traction motor had a rated output of 262.5 to 562.5 kW (352 to 754 hp). Gillig partnered with Kiepe Electric to build 45 "NexGen" trolleybuses for
987-414: The Phantom into a school bus, Gillig made a number of changes to the exterior and interior to comply with school bus design standards at both state and federal levels. While the most distinctive changes were the addition of school bus yellow exterior paint and the fitment of high-back forward-facing padded school bus seats, a number of other design changes were phased in as well. On the forward section of
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#17327823361231034-583: The Plus adopted a full-length body fairing to accommodate CNG tanks and hybrid equipment on the roof. In 2017, a Low Floor Plus was introduced, combining the roof fairing of the BRT Plus with the body of the standard Low Floor. A battery-electric powertrain developed by Cummins was made available for the Low Floor Plus variant starting in 2019. The launch client for the Gillig/Cummins battery-electric bus
1081-575: The body, the driver-side windshield was modified, switching from angled to vertically mounted glass. The quad headlights were replaced in favor of dual headlights (although quad headlamps remained an option). To properly meet design regulations, the Phantom School Bus was fitted with larger sideview mirrors, convex mirrors, and front cross-view mirrors. To give the school bus traffic priority, red warning lights (and amber lights, for Phantom school buses sold outside of California) were fitted in
1128-613: The conference, which was funded by a $ 5,000 grant (more than $ 100,000 today ) from the Rockefeller Foundation . The yellow-orange color, in three slight variants to allow for different paint formulations, was adopted by the National Bureau of Standards (now the National Institute of Standards and Technology ) as Federal Standard No. 595a , Color 13432. Dr. Cyr became known as the " Father of
1175-512: The equivalent color. However, cadmium is also an expensive and toxic heavy metal, so now many saturated-color pigments are now azo -based organics. In April 1939, Dr. Frank W. Cyr , a professor at Teachers College, Columbia University , in New York, organized a conference that established 44 uniform national design, construction, and safety standards for school buses in America, including
1222-449: The exterior body color. The yellow-orange color was selected because black lettering on it was most legible in semi-darkness, and because it was conspicuous at a distance and unusual enough to become associated with school buses and groups of children en route. Transportation officials from each of the 48 states, representatives from bus chassis and body manufacturers, and paint experts from DuPont and Pittsburgh Paints participated in
1269-586: The first of the 41 regular production models arrived in August 2019. The final bus was delivered in September 2020. The Gillig Low Floor series is currently and formerly available the following engine and transmission options: Gillig also manufactures four models of buses based on the Low Floor chassis: the Low Floor BRT, Low Floor BRT Plus, Low Floor Plus, and the Low Floor Trolley. All have
1316-406: The front and rear roof caps along with a side stop arm. As it served as a rear emergency exit, the Phantom School Bus was fitted with a rear window; as a requirement for rear-engine buses, the bus was fitted with a left-side emergency-exit door. A number of changes were focused on the sides of the body. As the vehicle was to be used for school routes and not for transit use, the rear curbside exit
1363-411: The latter becoming the most common on transit buses). While a mandatory design feature on the Phantom School Bus, a rear window was a rare option for transit/suburban Phantoms; Monterey-Salinas Transit and King County Metro are the only two transit authorities known to have ordered Phantoms with a rear window. On transit/suburban versions, several window configurations were offered; fixed side windows were
1410-568: The mid-ship entrance door is optional. Other options included on-board luggage racks (typically mounted above the seats). Introduced in 1986, production of the Phantom School Bus ended after 1993. In a fashion similar to the long-running Gillig Transit Coach School Bus , while available across the United States, sales of the Phantom School Bus were concentrated to operators on the West Coast. Although initially well-received, sales of
1457-610: The monocoque (unibody) chassis construction of the Phantom was largely untested in the school bus segment (with the notable exception of the Crown Supercoach ). As a consequence of using the Phantom chassis, Gillig was also forced to abandon the mid-engine layout offered by the Transit Coach. Gillig offered the Phantom School Bus in two body lengths during its production: 37 feet (78 passenger capacity) and 40 feet (84 or 87 passenger capacity). As federal regulations of
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1504-435: The rear part of the interior (behind the rear axle) is raised to provide sufficient space for the powertrain. The Gillig Low Floor is produced in three nominal body lengths in its standard transit bus configuration: 40 ft (12.2 m). Maximum seating capacity is 40 passengers for the 40-foot length. The turning radius of the Gillig Low Floor is 43 ft (13.1 m) (40 foot body). Currently (as of 2019 production),
1551-559: The rest of the side windows; frameless windows later became an option (with or without split openings). In 2005, the Low Floor model line was expanded by the addition of the Low Floor BRT, adding restyled front and rear bodywork and a front roof fairing; the Trolley Replica (not a trolleybus) restyled the standard Low Floor body as a vintage trolley. In 2008, the entry doors were revised, adopting larger glass panels (distinguished by squared-off corners). A suburban configuration
1598-399: The same engine and transmission options as the standard Low Floor. The Gillig BRT is a restyled version of the Low Floor with different front and rear fascias. It wears a more futuristic look than the standard model. It is available in the same lengths as the standard Low Floor model, although the front fascia adds roughly an extra foot of length to the bus. Instead of sealed-beam headlights,
1645-424: The system could be expanded without installing more overhead wire; to facilitate off-wire operation, the driver could move the poles up and down without leaving their seat. Four prototypes were supplied in 2014: two used diesel engines to operate off-wire, while the other two used storage batteries. The remaining 41 would be equipped with storage batteries; the prototypes would be tested for more than five years before
1692-523: The time did not permit the use of a 102" width body for a school bus, the Phantom School Bus used the narrower 96" body width of the Phantom (discontinued in 2004). For its 1986 introduction, Gillig offered the Phantom School Bus a range of diesel engines, including the Caterpillar 3208 V8 (school buses were largely the only Phantoms with this engine) and the Detroit Diesel 6V92TA (replacing
1739-469: The trolleybus propulsion system from its previous fleet, saving over $ 20 million from an all-new design. Gillig Low Floor The Gillig Low Floor (originally named Gillig H2000LF and also nicknamed Gillig Advantage ) is a transit bus manufactured by Gillig since 1997. The second low-floor bus design introduced in the United States (after the New Flyer Low Floor ),
1786-432: The vehicle dropped off at the end of the 1980s. As school bus production became increasingly competitive in the early 1990s, Gillig ended production of the Phantom School Bus after 1993, concluding 7 years of school bus production. Using much of the mass-transit Gillig Phantom as a donor platform, the design was the first fully redesigned Gillig school bus in 46 years. While used in mass-transit and motorcoach construction,
1833-507: Was Big Blue Bus , serving Santa Monica, California . A battery-electric Low Floor (29-foot) was tested at Altoona in 2018, using a drivetrain adapted from the BAE HybriDrive powertrain. Of the two body configurations for low-floor buses, the Gillig Low Floor is a low-entry bus (the front two-thirds to three-fourths of the interior is low-floor) with a low-step entry (nearly curb height) and integrated manual wheelchair ramp while
1880-430: Was monoclinic lead(II) chromate (" chrome yellow ") which had superior steel-protecting properties compared to other pigments. Due to lead chromate's toxicity, a result of both its lead and chromate content, and because of lead sulfide darkening after exposure to air, the pigment was initially replaced by a mixture of cadmium sulfide (" cadmium yellow ") and enough cadmium orange or selenium pigments to produce
1927-411: Was deleted (a design change also forced by regulations). In place of transit-style windows, narrower split-sash windows (required for school buses) were fitted to the body. To reinforce the body structure, Gillig added two full-length steel rails below the window line; unlike most school buses, the structure of the Phantom was additionally reinforced above the window line as well. The Phantom School Bus
Gillig Phantom - Misplaced Pages Continue
1974-579: Was introduced alongside the standard transit Low Floor (replacing the version previously offered on the Gillig Phantom). Distinguished by its lack of a rear entry door, the suburban Low Floor was configured with forward-facing seating, internal luggage racks, onboard Wi-Fi, and other passenger-related options. For 2011, the Low Floor BRT Plus was introduced. Coinciding with the introduction of CNG and diesel-electric hybrid powertrains,
2021-443: Was not factory-produced with a wheelchair lift; the transit-style wheelchair lift was deleted from the stepwell. As a result, the entry door on the Phantom School Bus was several inches narrower than its mass-transit counterpart. However, Gillig continued to offer a kneeling feature from the mass-transit Phantom as an option, allowing the driver to lower the front of the bus to curb level when loading/unloading passengers. The Phantom
2068-595: Was originally equipped with either a Detroit Diesel 6V92TA , 6V71 , or Cummins L-10 diesel engine , and was later available with either a Cummins ISB , ISC , ISL , or ISM diesel engine. The Phantom was formerly available with the Detroit Diesel Series 50 engine from 1993 until 2004 when Detroit Diesel cut production of the Series 50 engine. The Detroit Diesel Series 40 engine was available from 1995 to 2003. A liquefied natural gas fueled version
2115-406: Was produced beginning in 1992; it was later discontinued. A diesel-electric hybrid powered version was sold from 1996 to 2006; MTA in New York purchased a Gillig Phantom hybrid demo bus as well as diesels for MTA Long Island bus. From 2001 to 2003, King County Metro purchased 100 Gillig Phantoms to convert to trolleybuses . Purchased as "gliders" with no powertrain, the buses were fitted with
2162-593: Was similar, at 3.64–6.40 mpg ‑US (64.6–36.8 L/100 km; 4.37–7.69 mpg ‑imp ) (40-foot (12.2 m), Manhattan and HD-UDDS driving cycles). A fully electric configuration was introduced in 2019, with serial production commencing in 2020; it was developed as a prototype at the request of Big Blue Bus , (who was the lead customer for the model ) which had reduced an order of 20 CNG buses to 19 in order to test an all-electric powertrain system developed by Cummins (branded "Cummins Battery Electric System"). The buses use plug-in charging with
2209-463: Was specified by airport shuttle operators and rental car agencies. For either entrance, a wheelchair lift (integrated into the step entrance) was available as an option; if specified for the rear entrance, the wider width was configured. During its production, the exterior of the Phantom saw little change; an exception was the modernization of its destination sign (switching from a rollsign to an LED display). Dual or quad headlights were offered (with
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