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  1. Stalliongrad
    Calls for Police and Emergency Service generally fall into a category of 3 tiers which are known as Codes.
     



     

    LAPD Ford Crown Victoria responding Code 3


     
    The severity of the call is what determines the type of police or emergency response.
     
    Code 1 Response: These are usually calls to the police which are "Non-Emergency" in nature. Someone may call the police because their neighbor's stereo is too loud or something similar. Dispatch will assign a unit to respond Code 1. A Code 1 response involves no police lights or siren and the officer or officers will drive normally to the complaint location. If while on the way to a Code 1 a more serious call comes in those officers may be redirected to more serious emergencies.
     
    Code 2 Response: Calls typically involving the potential for violence or medical attention but still haven't escalated to an extreme emergency provoke a Code 2 response. An argument outside of a bar which turned into a minor fist fight might call for a Code 2 response. During a Code 2 response officers use less intrusive light bar patterns and occasional taps of the manual siren activation button. The officers have a much more rapid pace but are not inclined to seriously disturb traffic flow.
     
    Code 3 Response: Code 3 response calls are those of the most serious nature and involve people in extreme distress. Calls of this nature include people with dangerous weapons such as Guns and Knives. Domestic Violence calls, Motor Vehicle Accidents and other extreme often life threatening emergencies. Officers responding Code 3 have lights and sirens activated and demand right of way on all roadways they must use to arrive at the complaint location. Code 3 response has to potential to cause accidents because some motorists and pedestrians may not hear or see the police car responding. Officers are trained extensively on Code 3 response because of this. When approaching intersections officers are trained to switch the siren function from "Wail" (long drawn out sounds to capture public attention from far distances) to "Yelp" (Short bursts of sound to capture attention close by). Some departments teach officers to cut the siren off when surrounded by large amounts of traffic as some drivers panic when hearing sirens close behind them.
     
    "Blues and Twos": Is the term for Code 3 response in the United Kingdom involving activating the blue lights and sirens (which in the past only had two tones). British Code 3 response is often much more calculated as pedestrian traffic is much heavier in most British cities. British Police Vehicles often feature "Battenburg" markings which make them easier to see and feature "Zebra" caution chevrons which are sometimes found on fire engines and construction vehicles as well.
     



     

    Police Vehicles of the Greater Manchester Police (Note Side Battenburg Markings and Rear Zebra Chevrons)


     
    Code 3 Response is the most visible aspect of police work the public is familiar with but its intent is sometimes often misunderstood. Each police department has different guidelines for Code 3 response but it is mostly uniform around the world.
     


    LAPD Crown Victoria Responding Code 3


     

    (This example displays LAPD Code 3 School of Thought:


     

    1. Wail Siren to attract attention from a distance



    2. Switch to Yelp Siren to attract attention close by



    3. Cut siren off when surrounded by traffic not to startle motorists



    4. Resume siren when clear)


     




     


    Massachusetts State Police Responding Code 3


     




  2. Stalliongrad
    NYPD Counter-Terrorism Officers at a staging area on West 59th St


     

    Practiced primarily by the NYPD, Surge Drills are spontaneous and random large displays of force used by the police to deter acts of Terrorism and Crime. The use of Surge Drills began after the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York City as a means to prevent further acts of terror.
     
    Surge Drills generally involve anywhere between 7 to 20 (but can include as many as 80) Patrol Vehicles each crewed by 2 Officers. The patrol cars often respond to a staging area Code 2. Before being led by a commanding officer to patrol various areas of the city Code 2.
     



     

    Counter-Terrorism Officers of the NYPD Transit Bureau


     
    The entire premise of Surge Drills is that random large displays of police force will discourage someone from carrying out acts of terror or crime. If an Mugger is preparing to rob someone and 7 police cars appear around the corner, he is not likely to rob anyone. A terrorist getting ready to place a bomb in a trash can may think twice if he hears the sound of approaching police sirens.
     




     

    An NYPD Surge Drill


     
    The effectiveness of this tactic is often disputed as a waste of police manpower, time and energy and often contributes negatively to public opinion of the police as a whole. The public is also split on the use of Surge Drills with half of the public supporting them, saying Surge Drills make them feel safe. Others say Surge Drills are evidence that we have given in to our fears of Terrorism and that living in a Police State is now the new norm.
     

    NYPD Surge Drills


     




     





  3. Stalliongrad
    The Flag Carrier for the United Kingdom, British Airways is the largest airline in the UK and one of the biggest in Europe and a pioneer in innovations with plane travel.
     




     
     
     

    British Airways Aérospatiale-BAC Concorde SST Landing at London Heathrow Airport


     

    Type: Private with some Public Funding
     
    Fleet Size: 295 Aircraft
     
    Routes: 188
     
    Air Operators Certificate Number: 441
     
    Call sign: Speedbird
     
    IATA Designator: BA
     
    Hub: London Heathrow Airport and Gatwick Airport
     
    Alliance: Oneworld (Founding Member)
     
    Manufacturer and Powerplant: British Airways is a longtime customer of Boeing incorporating almost all major Boeing flagship models for procurement all the way back starting with the Boeing 707 and 747 models. It expanded its fleet in 2007 when it placed orders for Boeing 777-200s and Boeing 787 Dreamliners. British Airways has also procured from Airbus placing orders for Airbus A380s at the same time. British Airways aircraft are usually fitted with General Electric GE-90 Engines but opted to switch to Rolls-Royce Trent 800 Engines on its fleet of Boeing 777s. British Airways is the worlds largest operator of the Boeing 747 with 54 in registered operation.
     




     
     
     

    British Airways Boeing 777-200ER at London Heathrow preparing to leave for Sweden


     

    Fare Collection: British Airways tickets are sold at its Terminals where it has presence as well as online. Its boarding passes prominently display its company logo as well is the logo of its air alliance Oneworld. If any special arrangements are requested and paid for they will be displayed on the boarding pass to make flight attendants aware of your requests.
     




     
     
     

    A British Airways Boarding Pass for a flight from London to JFK International Airport, New York City


     

    Frequent Flyer Program and First Class Arrangements: British Airways frequent flyer program is known as the Executive Club. Its perks typically include priority boarding, some discounts and access to the "Concorde Room" lounge at British Airways Terminals in London and New York City. First Class is offered on flights hosted by Boeing 747, 777 and 787s when they launch as well as Airbus A380s. First Class passengers receive a 6 by 6 "demi-cabin" (similar to an office cubicle) which feature a bed, a 15-inch wide screen TV and power hookups for various carry on electronics.
     




     
     
     

    British Airways First Class (Airbus A380)


     

    Livery and Tail Flash: British Airways livery feature blue running paint on the under body of the aircraft as well as the British Airways logo in its own company typeface and the recognizable company "ribbon". Most aircraft use the standard "Union Jack" Tail Flash but some aircraft on dedicated routes to certain countries may have "ethnic" tail flashes as a celebration of friendship and communication. Some tail flashes were designed for special events or causes such as the 2012 Olympic Games which were hosted in London.
     




     
     
     

    British Airways Airbus A380 arriving at London Heathrow Airport


     

    Innovations: Along with Air France, British Airways operated one of the only commercial Supersonic Aircraft in existence the Concorde. Concorde's top speed was twice the speed of sound at mach 2.04 and British Airways operated this aircraft for 27 years until its retirement in 2003. British Airways used Concorde for Trans-Atlantic flights mostly to and from London Heathrow, JFK Airport in New York City and Washington Dulles Airport in Washington DC. British Airways Concorde flights also went into France via Charles De Gaulle Airport as well as some flights to Barbados.
     


    British Airways Concorde Leaving London Heathrow with Full Afterburners Activated


     
     
     




     
     
     

    British Airways Boeing 777 Leaving Sydney, Australia


     
     
     




  4. Stalliongrad
    Official State Cars are vehicles which carry Heads of State and represent industrial prowess when taken abroad.


     

    Purpose: These vehicles transport heads of state by ground and are typically escorted by several other vehicles of similar type in a motorcade. In countries with domestic auto industries the vehicle is also an area of national pride.
     
    By Nation:
     


    United States:


     
     
     
     
     




     

    Manufacturer: Cadillac (Currently), Lincoln and Chrysler
     
    Maintenance and Management: United States Secret Service and White House Military Office
     
    Current Vehicle: Cadillac DTS on a GMC Top-Kick Medium Commercial Truck Chassis. Chevrolet Suburbans are used when the President travels in certain countries with largely unpaved roads.
     
    Development: The Presidential Limo was designed by General Motors with input from the Secret Service and several Defense Contractors
     
    Defense: Classified Armor, CBRN protection from chemical weapons attack, military grade countermeasure systems to include radio signal jammers and smoke grenades. Subdued Police Lights, Bullet Proof Glass. Run Flat CTIS tires,The Secret Service "Nuclear Football" a suitcase which contains nuclear launch codes is handcuffed to a Secret Service agent and is never far away from the president is rumored to have a special compartment in the trunk but unlikely.
     
    Registration: The Presidential Limo carries Washington DC License Plates. In 2006 the DC Department of Motor Vehicles changed "Washington DC" to "District of Columbia" on issued license plates the Presidential Limo follows suit by carrying these plates as well. Currently the Presidential Limo is registered as "800=002". Several Copies of this license plate were made at the request of the Secret Service to be used on Decoy Limos to confuse potential terrorists and assassins Special License Plates are carried during inauguration ceremonies. The switch to regular license plates was seen as a move to push for DC Statehood as the license plates carry the slogan "Taxation Without Representation" like all DC License Plates do.
     
    Debut: 2009
     
    Expected Replacement: 2016, The Secret Service began accepting bids to build the next limo and received bids from General Motors (Cadillac) and Chrysler. Ford was expected bid after it unveiled a new Lincoln Continental prototype. Because General Motors is largely still owned by the Federal Government it is likely the replacement will be a Cadillac XTS.
     




     
     
     
     
     

    United States Secret Service Cadillac DTS


     
     
     
     
     

    United Kingdom:


     
     
     
     
     




     

    Manufacturer: Bentley (Currently), Rolls Royce
     
    Maintenance and Management: Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace
     
    Current Vehicle: Bentley State Limousine, Jaguar XJ's are used by the Prime Minister, Land Rover Range Rover's are used by the Royal Family on non-official trips.
     
    Development: The State Limousine was designed by Bentley and its premier limo division Mulliner Coachworks. It was built by Bentley to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. It is one of the rarest cars in the world as only 2 were built.
     
    Defense: Classified Armor, Kevlar-Reinforced Run-Flat Tires, Bulletproof Glass, CBRN chemical weapons protection. Subdued Blue Police Lighting
     
    Registration: The State Limousine does not carry license plates
     
    Debut: 2002
     
    Expected Replacement: Not Expected.
     




     
     
     
     
     

    British Monarchy Bentley State Limousine during the Wedding of William and Kate


     
     
     
     
     

    Japan:


     
     
     
     
     




     

    Manufacturer: Toyota/Lexus (currently), Nissan
     
    Maintenance and Management: Imperial Household Agency
     
    Current Vehicle: Toyota Century Royal
     
    Development: The Japanese Imperial Household Agency requested a new limo to be used by the Emperor and high ranking members of the Imperial House of Japan. Toyota built a special version of the Toyota Century and called it the Century Royal. 5 were ordered but due to the high cost for each only 4 were built.
     
    Defense: The Century Royal has standard CBRN protection as well as undisclosed protective measures.
     
    Registration: The Century Royal does not carry license plates but does display the Imperial Chrysanthemum
     
    Debut: 2006
     
    Expected Replacement: Not Expected
     




     
     
     
     
     

    Japanese Imperial Household Agency Toyota Century Royal


     
     
     
     
     

    Vatican City (Holy See):


     
     
     
     
     




     

    Manufacturer: Kia Motors (currently), Mercedes Benz (Currently), Ford, SEAT, Hyundai
     
    Maintenance and Management: Gendarmerie Corps of the Vatican City State
     
    Current Vehicle: Kia Soul and Mercedes Benz M-Class
     
    Development: Pope Francis has often been dubbed "The Peoples Pope" due to his simplistic nature and simpler standards. He often rode the bus while he was still a Cardinal. During his visit to South Korea he elected to use a Kia Soul instead of the Mercedes Benz. A Kia Sedona was modified to be the new Popemobile during his trip across South East Asia. The Popemobile is designed and manufactured by various hosts and the Pope uses one of any number depending on security concerns and the size of the crowds attending his audiences. While in Vatican City he has been seen driving a standard Ford Focus from the Vatican City motor pool.
     
    Defense: Most Popemobiles feature bulletproof glass ever since the assassination attempt of Pope John Paul II. However most Popemoblies are Open Air Convertibles
     
    Registration: The Popemobile is registered in Vatican City as "SCV 1". SCV meaning Status Civitantis Vaticanae or Vatician City State. The Pope's personal Ford Focus is registered as "SCV 00919"
     
    Debut: 2015
     
    Expected Replacement: Not Expected, Current fleet exceeds 20 vehicles
     




     
     
     

    Vatican City State Kia Soul transporting the Pope in South Korea


     
     
     
     
     

    People's Republic of China:


     

    Manufacturer: FAW Group
     
    Maintenance and Management: People's Liberation Army
     
    Current Vehicle: Hongqi L7
     
    Development: Hongqi (chinese for "Red Flag) is the Luxury division of FAW Group and it designed the L7 for President Hu Jintao's Troop Inspection Ceremony for the 60th Anniversary of the Republic. The L7 and its larger twin the L9 are part of the Presidential and Executive VIP motor pool in China.
     
    Defense: Rumored to have standard CBRN protection all other details undisclosed and classified.
     
    Registration: During the 60th Anniversary Parade the Limo was registered as "02009" as a celebration of that year.
     
    Debut: 2009
     
    Expected Replacement: Hongqi has pushed new models out but the Chinese Government is not expected to update its current fleet soon.
     




     
     
     

    People's Liberation Army FAW Hongqi L7s during China's 60th Anniversary Military Parade


     


    President Obama Arriving at Ground Zero


     




     


    Queen Eilzabeth II arrives in the State Bentley


     




  5. Stalliongrad
    The Los Angeles County Metro is the 3rd Largest Transit Authority in the United States and carries over 1,352,000 people a day.
     



     

    LAMTA NABI LFW 45-C


     
    Type: Public, Owned and Operated by the County of Los Angeles
     
    Fleet Size: 2,472 Low-Floor and Articulated Buses
     
    Routes: 170 Bus Lines, 4 Light Rail Lines, 2 Heavy Mainline Rail Lines
     
    Manufacturer and Powerplant: LAMTA procures most of its fleet from NABI and a minority from New Flyer. The overwhelming majority of its fleet is CNG powered by engines supplied by Cummins Westport and transmissions from Allison. LAMTA has recently placed an order for 25 buses from Chinese heavy vehicle manufacturer BYD. The BYD K9's are all electric and will be delivered sometime next year.
     



     

    LAMTA BYD K9 being decorated for Earth Day


     
    Fare Collection: The Contactless Card Payment System in Los Angeles is know as TAP Card which stands for Transit Access Pass. It is produced and jointly administered with Xerox. In 2013 LAMTA held a contest to redesign the previously bland looking card to appear more vibrant.
     



     
    Livery: The LAMTA uses a variety of different liveries which each denote several different types of service. LAMTA MetroLiner is a BRT service which uses dedicated bus lines and has a total of 27 Stations MetroLiner buses are typically painted Silver. Metro Local is normal bus service along regular routes and these buses are painted Orange, Metro Rapid operates limited stop service on the cities most busy streets and these buses are painted Red. Metro Express bus service operate longer routes and make use of the highway network. Express buses are painted Blue.
     




     

    LAMTA New Flyer Xcelsior XN40


     
    Innovations: The LAMTA operates a CNG majority fleet in one of the most traffic congested areas of the country. Its clean air initiative is one of the most successful in the country and LAMTA works directly with manufacturers such as New Flyer and Cummins to make even more fuel efficient and clean air engines. The LAMTA is also well known for its campaigns to get people out of their cars and on to public transit. A free transit week was proposed to reduce smog emissions every year around earth day.
     

    Metro Local NABI LFW


     




     

    Metro Rapid NABI LFW


     




  6. Stalliongrad
    For almost 20 years, Somalia has been without an effective government while the civil war continues. Basic Emergency Services have been absent from the entire country and especially in the capital city Mogadishu.
     

     

    Volunteers Begin Training For The New Mogadishu Fire Service


     
    Location: Mogadishu, Somalia
     
    For the past 20 years the Somali Civil War has continued on and the City of Mogadishu has changed hands many times. Al-Shabaab, the Al-Qaeda sponsored terrorist group provided no emergency services during its administration of the city. The fighting between Al-Shabaab and the Islamic Courts Union/African Union Coalition destroys the city and sometimes starts fires because of the use of explosives by both sides. During the Ethiopian Occupation, large amounts of Landmines, Grenades and RPG Ammunition were brought in by the Ethiopian Military to combat Al-Shabaab. After years of attempting to quell the war on behalf of the Somali people, the Ethiopian military withdrew leaving behind thousands of dangerous weapons which fell into the hands of militants and eventually started fires.
     



     

    Members of the Mogadishu Fire Service Training on their Fire Engine donated by the British Fire Services


     
    Because of the high cost of maintaining and operating emergency services. the responsibilities of emergency services have fallen on AMISOM, The African Union mission to Somalia. When a fire in Somalia, AU forces send fire fighters to save life and property, but unfortunately because support comes from across the border it can take a very long time to respond and when they arrive many lives and property are often lost. The reestablishment of the fire service by the Somali people with the support of the AU is a big step in the right direction.
     



     

    Members of the Mogadishu Fire Service train to put out Airplane fires in Kenya with UN forces


     
     
     




  7. Stalliongrad
    HMX-1 also known as Marine Helicopter Squadron One, is the elite helicopter aviation unit of the United



    States Marine Corps.


     




     

    President Obama boards a Sikorsky Aircraft VH-3D "Marine One" for the first time as President


     
    Type: Military, elite aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps
     
    Fleet Size: 35 Helicopters of 4 different types
     
    Routes: 1 regular, provides service to the White House, Marine Corps Base, Quantico and Andrews Air Force Base on an as needed basis. "Marine One" sometimes travels with the President as he travels abroad as the helicopter can be loaded on to larger aircraft such as the C-130 Globemaster.
     
    Manufacturer and Powerplant: Most of the Helicopters used by HMX-1 come from Sikorsky Aircraft. The most recognizable VH-3D Sea King and the newer VH-60N, which is a variant of the "Blackhawk". As one of the responsibilities of HMX-1 is to test new Helicopters for the entire Marine Corps, pilots of HMX-1 were among the first to fly the Lockheed V-22 Osprey.
     



     

    HMX-1 Sikorsky Aircraft CH-35E Super Stallion


     
    Fare Collection: Not Applicable, complimentary service provided to visiting foreign ambassadors, diplomats and other VIP's who have meetings with the President at the White House.
     



     

    



    Artists Depiction of a Sikorsky VXX (no official designation given) Next Generation Presidential Helicopter. President Obama suspended the VXX program claiming there was no current need to update the current fleet which is still currently at average age, the VXX program is estimated to cost $1.24 Billion and the contract was given to Sikorsky Aircraft.


     
    Livery: Aircraft of HMX-1 are notable for their Marine Corps Olive Green drab paint. Helicopters of the "Whiteside" detachment transport the President, Vice President and other VIPs, helicopters without the white markings perform other duties. When carrying the President any one particular helicopter is given the designation "Marine One" or "Marine Two" when carrying the Vice President and only bear the Presidential and Vice Presidential seal when they are on board.
     



     

    HMX-1 Sikorsky Aircraft VH-60N awaiting the President's arrival from Air Force One


     
    Innovations: Living in Washington DC the sight of HMX-1 is one of the more interesting things to see. Initially founded as a standard Marine Corps unit tasked with landing on Islands as a faster means of deployment, their role was extended under President Eisenhower as a means to transport the President faster around the Washington DC/Maryland/Virginia area faster. Its about a 45 minute drive from the White House to Andrews Air Force Base where Air Force One is Stored. The Secret Service and the White House Military Office prefer the use of HMX-1 over Presidential Motorcades because of the added degree of safety for the President and because Motorcades are a logistical irritant and cause traffic delays for hours after the President has passed through an area. HMX-1 also tests new Helicopters before they are put into regular service with the Marines. All helicopters carrying the President are equipped with Military Grade countermeasures and jamming technology. All members of HMX-1 must pass the extremely extensive background check known as "Yankee White". Yankee White is the most rigorous background check in the United States. Members of the Military, Secret Service and the Private Sector who have any contact with the President or Presidential Assets must pass. Yankee White ensures "unquestionable loyalty to the United States" with questions going back to childhood and the Government interviewing your past neighbors about your morals and character. Overseas and at home, HMX-1 fly 4 helicopters all at once when the President is in the air to confuse potential terrorists. After evaluating the V-22 Osprey HMX-1 determined the airframe is too "unpredictable" and the President is not allowed to fly in one, only in an extreme emergency would this change.
     

    HMX-1 Sikorsky VH-60N


     




     

    Marine One During the Clinton Administration


     




  8. Stalliongrad
    The Freightliner Business Class M2 is a Medium Duty Class 7 truck that has dominated its segment since its introduction. The M2's ease of flexibility and customization while retaining core performance have earned it high marks in the haulage industry, with some trucks surviving well beyond their service life expectancy. Freightliner is an American subsidiary of Daimler-Mercedes-Benz and many have speculated this German influence to be the reason for the extremely well received build quality.
     



     

    Freightliner M2 Factory Demonstrators


     



     

    Manufacturer Quick Facts:


     

    Founded: 1942



    Main Office: Portland, Oregon



    Industry: Trucks, Commercial Vehicles



    Notable Product: Cascadia, Columbia, Century, M2, FL, FS


     



     

    Freightliner M2 Factory Demonstrator in Class 5 Beverage Truck Configuration


     

    Model Quick Facts:


     

    Truck Class: Produced in Classes 5 to 8



    Vehicle Length: 106 or 112 Inches



    Axle Configurations: 4X2, 6X4, 4X4, and 6X6



    Engine Options: Cummins ISB or Cummins ISL, Detroit Diesel DD13 I6 (112 Variants only), Mercedes-Benz MBE900 I4 (No longer offered)



    Assembly: Mount Holly, North Carolina, United States


     



     

    Freightliner M2 Factory Demonstrator in Class 8 Semi Truck Daycab Configuration


     
    Overview: The M2 began production in 2002 to replace Freightliners aging FL platform which was introduced in the 1990's. Mercedes-Benz took over ownership of Freightliner in the 1980's and ceased selling its own trucks in favor for its newly acquired subsidiary. Mercedes-Benz wanted a medium duty truck which could be adapted to fill many different roles without the need of drastic redesign. The FL platform was the product of that thinking. The FL platform however was plagued with being a good idea executed poorly. The M2 was developed as its replacement.
     



     

    Freightliner M2 Factory Demonstrator in Class 7 Dump Truck Configuration


     
    Driving Experience: As the M2 is a more refined product over its predecessor the M2 handles better than its competitors in this segment. However, early examples of the M2 were not as refined and many still used Mercedes-Benz Engines which were considered vastly underpowered for the various types of work the trucks were being asked to perform. This caused the M2 to gain a reputation for being slow. The current incarnation of the M2 has the Engine and Chassis components are American products while the suspension retains its German influence.
     



     

    Thomas Saf-T-Liner C2 Factory Demonstrator


     
    The M2 chassis comes available in a bus configuration known as the C2. Freightliner and Thomas Built Buses entered into an agreement in which Freightliner would supply the C2 chassis to Thomas and Thomas would build its famed Saf-T-Liner School Bus body onto it creating a very safe low cost school bus sold under the Thomas brand as the Saf-T-Liner C2. The Saf-T-Liner School Bus body uses fewer rivets as its created as one piece making the body more rigid. The agreement between Thomas and Freightliner has been extremely successful as the C2 sells just as well as its M2 counterpart. The Saf-T-Liner C2 can be found in the fleets of School Districts nationwide. Newer variants of the C2 and M2 can be altered to run on CNG or Propane.
     



     

    The C2 and M2 have very low dashboards which improve front visibility, making the chassis even more suited for School Bus applications


     


    Freightliner M2 "Sport Chassis" are variants marketed towards individuals, the M2 comes as a pickup truck as well. These are often used to tow Racecar trailers, Horse Trailers etc.


     




     


    Thomas Saf-T-Liner C2 For Sale


     




  9. Stalliongrad
    Oshkosh Truck builds sophisticated heavy duty trucks for the military and other industrial applications


     

    .


    U.S. Army Oshkosh Heavy Equipment Transporter M1070A1 pulling an M1A2 Abrams MBT


     

    Manufacturer Quick Facts:


     

    Founded: 1917



    Main Office: Oshkosh, Wisconsin, United States



    Notable Product: FMTV, HET, M-ATV, MTVR (United States Marine Corps/United States Navy), HEMTT, LVS


     



     

    US Navy Oshkosh MTVR


     
    Oshkosh Corporation is one of the largest heavy truck manufacturers in the United States and owns many subsidiaries. The largest and most well known being Oshkosh Defense, which builds vehicles for the Military according to very specific Department of Defense requirements and requests. Oshkosh Defense developed its own patented suspension system known as TAK-4 which enables Maximum Traction, Power and Comfort even over the harshest road surfaces and off road driving situations. Oshkosh Corporation also owns Pierce Manufacturing which builds Fire Engines in for the North American market. Most U.S. Fire Engines also use military grade TAK-4 suspension systems which enable Fire Trucks to drive over potholes with no issues.
     



     

    Oshkosh Defense won the contract to replace the AM General HMMVW (Left) which were not protected against Improvised Explosive Devices with the Oshkosh M-ATV (Right)


     
    Oshkosh has won more bids for the Department of Defense than most of its competitors and many of its vehicles find work even when they are sold in to the civilian private sector. The TAK-4 suspension has proven useful for trucks performing logging work and other heavy duty off road work. Oshkosh entered into the Homeland Security segment with the Oshkosh TPV, a vehicle marketed toward Federal and Local law enforcement agencies as a SWAT truck with advanced capabilities.
     



     

    Oshkosh TPV (Tactical Protector Vehicle) Factory Demonstrator


     


    United States Marine Corps MTVR


     




     

    Oshkosh HET's (British Purchased) Transporting Challenger 2 MBT's


     




  10. Stalliongrad
    Temsa is a Turkish Light Truck and Bus Manufacturer known for its well built low cost unit options, only recently entering the North American market in 2009.


     



     

    Academy Bus Temsa TS-35 at 7th and Jefferson Streets NW, Washington DC (Smithsonian Air and Space Museum)


     

    Manufacturer Quick Facts:


     

    Founded: 1968 but didn't begin building buses until 1984 when it entered into an agreement with Mitsubishi Fuso.



    Main Office: Adana, Turkey



    Notable Product: TS-35, TS-45


     
    Termomekanik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş was abbreviated to Temsa for English and non Turkish companies to better pronounce. Temsa is notable for gaining market share in North America in the fiercely competitive market for Small and Medium sized coach buses surpassing domestic giants such as Prevost and MCI in that market.
     



     

    Temsa TS-35 Factory Demonstrator on display by the U.S./Canada distributor CH Bus Sales


     
    Temsa builds its own bus frames and bodies and incorporates engine and drivetrain technologies from other sources to make them compliant in various regions of the world. The North American variants typically come equipped with an Allison Transmission and a Cummins ISX Turbodiesel. European Variants come with MAN or DAF diesel engines coupled to ZF Transmissions. In a partnership with Mitsubishi Fuso, Temsa builds the Mitsubishi Canter light truck series in the Middle East under license. The TS-35 and 45's were built specifically for the North American Market.
     



     

    Temsa released a larger vehicle the TS-45 to compete with the North American bus giants


     
    Temsa models are most notable for their much sharper turning radius as compared to their North American or European counterparts. Most streets in Turkey and the Middle East are very narrow. The turning radius was not altered for any of the exported variants and this as been a major selling point for the Temsa brand in North America. Drivers are able to maneuver the buses down streets other buses would have difficulty entering.
     



     

    The Temsa Safari is a Touring Coach for the African, Middle Eastern and European markets


     
    Temsa's lower cost of acquisition has enabled smaller van companies to finally purchase new buses instead of used ones. And allowed existing bus companies to expand their fleets to tackle smaller trips without using larger buses than needed.
     


    Academy Bus Temsa TS-35


     




     

    Temsa TS-35 Drivers Orientation Video


     




  11. Stalliongrad
    Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Waste Management operates the largest refuse trucking fleet in the country. Together with its main rival Waste Management moves more than half of all garbage and recyclables in the U.S.
     



     

    Waste Management Mack MRU613 Front Loader on a McNeilius Refuse Body


     
    Type: Private
     
    Service: Waste Collection, Recyclables Collection, Environmental Services
     
    Fleet Size: 26,000 Trash Collection Trucks
     
    Terminals: 367 Waste Collection sites, 346 Transfer Stations, 293 Landfill Sites, 16 Waste Powered Energy Power Plants, 146 Recycling Plants, 111 Landfill Natural Gas Sites, 6 Power Plants
     
    Routes: Residential, Municipal and Commercial waste collection in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico
     



     

    Waste Management Autocar MSL celebrated as WM's 1000th CNG powered vehicle


     
    Manufacturer and Powerplant: Waste Management trucks come from Mack, Volvo, Freightliner and Autocar. Waste Management did enter into an agreement with Mercedes-Benz to test the Mercedes-Benz NGT for use in North America with mixed results. As a commitment to its pledge for a better environment, Waste Management no longer procures diesel powered Vehicles and has agreements with Cummins and other engine manufacturers to convert the remaining diesels in the fleet to run on Compressed Natural Gas.
     



     

    Waste Management Mercedes-Benz NGT Econic on display at Waste Expo 2012


     
    Fare Collection: Waste Management maintains agreements and contracts with thousands of Cities, Municipalities and Private Companies for Trash Collection, Recycling and Waste Treatment services. Waste Management began providing services to private citizens as well with its new "Bagster" service. Customers can purchase a bag which can be filled with up to 3,000 pounds of waste and Waste Management will collect the bag for a $140 fee. The service has been extremely popular with private contractors who previously rented dumpsters which were expensive and required permits.
     



     

    Waste Management sometimes gives away coupons for the Bagster which sell for around $40


     
    Livery: The iconic Green and Yellow trucks of Waste Management are one of the most recognizable symbols of American Suburbia. Waste Management's PR division is extremely creative and savvy. Giving the trucks a "Clean" appearance despite the dirty work they perform. The trucks have also been known to run advertisements for movies which feature heavy equipment or machinery. A Waste Management truck had a role in a recent Transformers movie as "Junkheap" a decepticon taking the form of a WM truck. Waste Management also sponsored a NASCAR in the distant past, inspiring UPS to follow suit.
     



     

    Waste Management Dodge Challenger competing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series junior leagues


     

    Waste Management Collection Operations


     




     


    "Bagster" Pickup


     




  12. Stalliongrad
    The Metropolitan Police Service serves the area of Greater London and has been at the front line of the fight against crime for over a hundred years


     



     

    Metropolitan Police Vauxhall Astra Incident Response Vehicle (IRV)


     
    Agency Quick Facts:
     
    Formed: September 29, 1829
     
    Policing Style: Commonwealth
     
    Jurisdictional Authority: Greater London, United Kingdom (609 sq mi)
     
    Size of Watch: 7.4 Million Residents
     
    Headquarters: New Scotland Yard, Victoria, London
     
    Oversight and Accountability: Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime
     
    Authorized Strength: 48,000 Police Officers, Special Police Officers, Civilian and Volunteer Staff
     
    Police Stations: 180
     
    Commonly referred to as the Met, the Metropolitan Police Service polices the area of Greater London. Being one of the oldest and largest police services in the world, the Met has over the course of its history been shaped into one of the most professional services and its tactics and organization have laid the frame work countless other police agencies in and out of the UK.
     
    Patrol: The Met's organizational structure divides responsibility and various tasks into 3 brackets. Territorial Policing, Specialist Crime and Operations and Special Operations. These departments are supplemented by a large civilian support staff which operate primarily under the control of Scotland Yard.
     
    Territorial Policing handles the day to day police service for the Metropolitan Police Service District of Greater London. The 32 boroughs of London are each assigned a Borough Operational Command Unit (BOCU) and each one is led by a Chief Superintendent. Because of the high concentration of Government buildings in the City of Westminster its BOCU is led by a Commander. Each BOCU provides police officers and PCSO's to carry out Patrol, Respond to Emergencies and organize Safer Neighborhood Teams. Detectives are also attached to BOCU's.
     
    Specialist Crime and Operations is made up of Officers and Civilian Support Staff focused on fighting and investigating specialized areas of crime such as homicide, Gangs and Organized Crime and rape. This unit also provides support to the Territorial Policing staff with specialized equipment and units such as the Air Support Unit, Dog Support Unit and the Territorial Support Group (TSG) (CO20)
     
    The Specialist Crime and Operations branch also organizes the Specialist Firearms Command (SCO19) which is frequently referred to as London's equivalent to American Police SWAT teams. These Armed Officers provide assistance to the normally unarmed Territorial Service.
     
    Specialist Operations provides more focused types of policing that differs from normal policing. Specialist Protection (SO1) is a unit that provides protection to public officials and visiting heads of state from threats of terrorism. Royalty Protection (SO14) provides protection to the Monarch and the Royal Family. The Diplomatic Protection Group (SO6) provides security for the many diplomatic missions and embassies in London. The Special Escort Group (SEG) provides mobile protection for VIPs during motorcades.
     
    Rank Structure and Uniform: Metropolitan Police Officers carry the rank of Police Constable and are sometimes simply called PC's.
     



     
    Rank is identified on the officers shoulder boards. Constables wear standard black shoulder boards with their identification number and the designation of their borough code. Officers above the rank of Sergeant do not have numbers and are addressed by name. Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) do not have rank structure but do carry their identification number and designation on their uniforms which are slightly different from regular police officers. As PCSOs are civilians with limited police powers their uniforms are similar but lack many of the details.
     



     

    President Barack Obama shakes hands with PC Michael Zamora outside 10 Downing Street the residence of the Prime Minister.


     


    Officers on foot patrol typically wear the iconic custodian helmet and officers on mobile patrol wear a standard cap. Although most police agencies in the UK have abandoned the use of the helmet the Met continues to use them but has searched for alternatives, even wearing baseball caps for a short period of time. Like most post 9-11 police agencies the appearance of in London has changed. The Iconic image of the "bobby on patrol" is gone due to the modern equipment officers carry today. The Met issues its officers a "Strike Vest" which provides ballistic protection from knives and physical assault. The vest typically carries anything from Body Cameras and Two-Way radios and handcuffs. Although not every officer is issued a taser, those who have been trained and issued one carry it on the vest as well.


     


    Fleet: The Met operates a fleet of over 8,000 police vehicles which have been categorized based on the types of duties they are assigned to perform. They are procured from foreign and domestic suppliers.


     



     

    Metropolitan Police BMW 525 Estate Area Car


     
    Area Cars: are used for standard patrol and respond to emergencies. Area Cars also may perform pursuit duties as well because they are larger and have bigger engines. Area Cars are typically Large 4 door sedans or the estate (Station Wagon) version. Depending on the size of the borough there typically aren't many area cars on patrol and are used to increase police presence in certain areas when the need arises. Because Area Cars carry out pursuit duties officers driving these vehicles must be trained in high speed pursuits and must occasionally be re-certified to perform pursuit duties.
     



     

    Metropolitan Police Ford Focus Incident Response Vehicle (IRV)


     
    Incident Response Vehicles: Supplement the work of officers on foot patrol. They are primarily used for patrol and emergency response. IRV's are normally smaller hatchbacks which can maneuver through the crowded and narrow streets of London. IRV's typically carry two officers who assist officers on foot patrol in the same assigned area. Although IRV's are not suited for pursuit duties they will pursue if necessary until an Area Car can assist and take over the pursuit.
     



     

    Metropolitan Police Skoda Octavia VRS ANPR Interceptor


     
    Roads Policing Unit: Traffic units have the primary responsibility of enforcing traffic laws. Traffic cars are typically painted with the high visibility battenburg markings to be more conspicuous to road users. Traffic Cars are also fitted with Automated Number Plate Readers (ANPR) to track the license plates of passing vehicles for infractions or wanted persons. They can also help find stolen vehicles. Traffic Units also respond to emergencies like Area Cars do if needed. Traffic cars are often high performance versions of standard police cars.
     



     

    Metropolitan Police Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Public Order Van of the Territorial Support Group (TSG)


     
    Public Order Vans/Carriers: Transport groups of officers to a scene all at once rather than the need for multiple cars. Vans of the TSG are called public order vans and feature riot shields. TSG officers respond to emergencies where standard officers on patrol are severely outnumbered and a large disturbance has the potential to get out of hand quickly. Vans that do not feature the riot shield are simply called Carriers. Carriers also transport specialized equipment and dog units.
     



     

    Metropolitan Police BMW 525 Armed Response Vehicle (ARV) (Note the Yellow Placards)


     
    Armed Response Vehicles: Transport Armed Police officers to active shootings and scenes where individuals are carrying dangerous weapons. Because of the sensitivity of time when Armed Response is needed ARV's are high performance police cars in similar specifications to pursuit area cars. The only notable difference are the Yellow Placards on the exterior of the vehicle which denote the officers inside are armed. ARV's typically carry at least 3 officers at a time.
     



     

    Metropolitan Police BMW 5 Series DPG ARV's


     


    Diplomatic Protection Group: vehicles are used by officers of the DPG who provide security for embassies, figures of government and other VIPs. Their police vehicles are painted red to denote they do not perform normal policing duties. DPG Officers are armed as well and as such the DPG uses ARV's


     


    Tactics: The Met has its own driving school and all officers operating a police vehicle must attend and pass. The Met has its own protocol regarding the use of "Blues and Twos" (Sirens and Lights, Commonly called Code 3 response in the US) Met police response is often seen as the most professional because of the extremely challenging driving environment that is London. When more than one police vehicle is responding to an emergency each car should use a different siren tone to gain more attention to alert the public of the urgency. When police vehicles cant pass through heavy traffic the lights and sirens are terminated until the traffic flow is restored. During radio communications while in pursuit any change in direction is repeated 3 times to avoid confusion.


     


    On foot, The Met utilize a system known as IC Codes to describe persons of interest. IC Codes are used to describe quickly the apparent visual ethnicity of a suspect.


     


    IC1 - White Northern European



    IC2 - White Southern European



    IC3 - Black



    IC4 - Asian ( it is important to note that in the UK "Asian" refers to the Indian Subcontinent. This code would refer to Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshi individuals)



    IC5 - Chinese, Japanese or South East Asian



    IC6 - Arabic or North African



    IC9 - Unknown


     

    Radio communication using these codes is common. Officers may be told to respond to reports of a burglary involving IC1 males. This means they have an idea of who they are looking for. This system of racial and ethnic classification has been controversial since it was implemented.


     

    Officers of the Special Escort Group taking a British Ebola patient to hospital in London


     




     


    Metropolitan Police TSG Response


     




  13. Stalliongrad
    Intended as a last minute fix to prevent the disappearance of the passenger train in America, Amtrak has been "America's Railroad" since the early 70s.
     




     
     
     

    Amtrak Siemens ACS-64 Sprinter on Northeast Regional duties


     

    Type: Public
     
    Service: Passenger
     
    Fleet Size: 430-500 Locomotives, 2,210 Passenger Rolling Stock
     
    Routes: Continuous United States except the States of Wyoming and South Dakota, Ontario and Quebec, Canada
     
    Manufacturer and Powerplant: Amtrak with its government funding is able to keep its locomotives and rolling stock current.
     
    Trackage Rights, Right-of-Way Agreements and Class: Amtrak operates over almost all Class I railroads in the U.S. however outside of the Northeast Corridor, Amtrak runs on privately owned track. Outside of the NEC Amtrak passenger trains are only given a short window of time where they are granted Right-of-Way priorities. If Amtrak trains miss this window they can be caught behind slow moving freight trains which causes major delays and fines.
     




     
     
     

    Amtrak EMD (Caterpillar Diesel) AEM-7 on Northeast Regional duties en route to Philadelphia


     

    Fare Collection: Tickets for Amtrak service are sold at rail stations where it has a presence. During the early years of Amtrak it was envisioned that all Amtrak stations would be "grand union stations" but this approach was abandoned when it was discovered it would not be economically feasible. Amtrak does own such stations but not many. Amtrak allows some of its NEC "competitors" to sell tickets alongside theirs.
     




     
     
     

    Amtrak NEC tickets from Boston to New York City


     

    Livery: The first years of Amtrak are called the "Rainbow Era" because Amtrak was formed in a large acquisition of local passenger rail companies. Because the rolling stock provided to Amtrak came from different companies they all had different liveries which made early Amtrak trains look like rainbows. In keeping with its branding as "America's Railroad" Amtrak livery has always maintained Red White and Blue on black or silver backdrop. Livery on Amtrak rolling stock can also vary depending on the location. Amtrak paint schemes are called Phases which change after a few years of service. There have currently been 5 phases. Amtrak passenger coaches "Amfleet" are still used heavily in the NEC because they fit underneath of catenary (overhead wires) and they do not need to be modified to be used with different locomotives. Amtrak service on the West Coast often uses its own train sets and unique paint schemes.
     




     
     
     

    Amtrak General Motors Diesel EMD F40PH in Phase III Livery


     

    Notable Routes/Service:
     





     

    The Acela Express is the only high speed service in the United States. Servicing only the NEC connecting Washington DC to Boston with high speed trainsets capable of speeds of 150 MPH. The Acela is however plagued with not being able to achieve these speeds because the Acela shares much of its route with slower commuter trains. Ridership has remained consistently high due to the ease of short trips by train over flying. Amtrak has plans to improve the service by adding more high speed train sets. Amtrak has been approached by Japanese industrial giants, Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Kenki Sharyo (all of whom have built at least one series of the famed Japanese Shinkansen "Bullet Train"s) to negotiate potentially exporting these models to America. Shinkansen claims these trains could connect Washington DC and New York City in under 30 minutes permitting exclusive High Speed Track Rights would in theory enable this to be a reality. It is rumored Amtrak is currently in negotiations to test new Shinkansen W7 Train Sets if given Federal Approval.
     




     

    Amtrak Cascades links 18 cities in the Pacific Northwest utilizing specialized train sets to handle the steep mountain grades. Amtrak Cascades carries the most passengers in the Amtrak network outside of the NEC or California.
     




     

    Amtrak's Northeast Regional is the busiest in the network carrying over 8 million passengers a year. Connecting Boston to Richmond, Virginia with over 35 stops in between. The service operates 18 trains a day and covers 600 miles in 12 hours.
     




     

    The Pacific Surfliner is one of the two routes operated by Amtrak California. The line connects San Luis Obispo and San Diego and most of the 350 mile route stays close to the Pacific coastline which gives an amazing view. This is Amtrak's heaviest used line outside of the NEC.
     


    Acela


     
     
     




     
     
     

    Northeast Regional


     
     
     




  14. Stalliongrad
    The Orient Express was a long distance luxury touring train traveling across Europe as far as London to Istanbul. It was the most luxurious way to travel Europe in the late 1800's
     



     

    The Orient Express alighting passengers


     
    Type: Private, service provided by Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (International Sleeping Car Company) Founded in 1872 by Georges Nagelmackers in Belgium
     
    Fleet Size: The original train consisted of 7 American Imported Pullman Railcars. 1 Baggage Car, 1 Sleeping Car with 16 Beds, 1 Sleeping Car with 14 Beds, 1 Dining Car, 2 more sleeping cars with 14 beds and baggage car at the rear.
     
    Routes: The Orient Express route changed many times, The farthest western terminus has consistently been London. From London the train proceeds to Paris, France where the route had 3 different points to choose from. Proceeding south took the train into Switzerland and Italy on route to Istanbul, Sometimes from Paris the train would proceed straight to Zurich, Switzerland then to Vienna, Austria then to either Istanbul or Athens. The most stable route however was from Paris to Munich then Vienna, Budapest, Bucharest then finally Istanbul.
     



     

    Orient Express poster featuring the 1888/89 winter Timetable


     
    Manufacturer and Powerplant: Georges Nagelmackers, the son of a banker, traveled to the United States when he was 23. While on a train he was impressed by the American Pullman railcars and ordered a luxury train set to be imported to Europe. The train set did not feature its own locomotive. The National Railways of each (major) country along the route took charge of the train at the end of each leg. The British leg featured British/American Pullman cars different from the set used on the mainland.
     



     

    British Railways No. 35028 "The British Pullman" pulling the Orient Express


     
    Fare Collection: Tickets for this ultra-luxury service always since the trains inception sell out the year before the train begins the journey. Tickets were only available at the major train stations along the route. The 2015 Orient Express rates are currently, $9,270 for a double cabin and $17,840 for a cabin suite. Tickets come in a fancy envelope simply holding one of these envelopes in public during the 1920's was a way to "Flex" ones wealth as only the wealthy could afford to ride on the Express.
     



     

    VSOE Boarding Invitations


     
    Livery: The original train featured blue and gold trimmed Pullman railcars featuring the company name and coat of arms. Sometimes various railways along the route would substitute the train set with their own rail cars for various reasons. During WWI and WWII the route was temporarily interrupted as the Germans closed the border along the route as well as any other country under its influence. The Germans attempted to carry out their own version of the service but was not successful. The British Pullman cars are brown in color and each car features its own name.
     



     

    British Pullman "Lucille" on the Orient Express


     
    Innovations: Originally started by a wealthy "playboy" (of his era) the train started as an experiment to see if a train could complete a 2000 km journey and return around the same time the next day. The service operated for 126 years before ending in 2009. After such a legendary pedigree many companies operate today using the same name claiming to be the original Wagons-Lits. Georges Nagelmackers envisioned a touring train that was accompanied by hotels along the route which his company also owned. This service was only for the elite and featured things that in the 1920s were considered luxury. No other trains provided meals, beds and even a toilet. The only thing missing were full showers which the train never had. Service was impacted by the changing landscape of Europe several times WWI, WWII and the Rise and Fall of the Iron Curtain (communism) and still emerged as a desirable service. The Orient Express was about the Journey and not the destination.
     
    VSOE (Venice Simplon Orient Express) is the spiritual successor to the original service provided by the Wagons-Lits company although VSOE claims to be the original it isn't.
     

    VSOE in Romania


     




     

    VSOE leaving Paris


     




  15. Stalliongrad

    Prologue

    By Stalliongrad,

    Often in this nation of "politcal freedom" the voices of those who embrace the educated pursuants of Communist and Socialist thought are shunned for expressing our beliefs and our stance on current issues. I find this to be extremely contradictory to one of the founding ideas this nation was founded on. Even here a place i am proud to call a second home online i and other comrades are attacked by both sides of spectrum. Here i and other comrades will work to establish a bastion of truth for the Revolution. We will share our thoughts without fear of retribution. We have no enemies, just because our views differ doesn't mean we cannot be allies in pursuit of a better society. Here we will show the world why the Revolution is stronger than it ever has been before.
     
    Stay Tuned Comrades!!!
  16. Stalliongrad
    The Liver Run was an iconic undertaking by the Metropolitan Police Service of London.


     
     
     



     

    Artists Depiction of a Metropolitan Police Service Rover SD1 3500


     
    Location: London, United Kingdom
     
    Date: May 8, 1987
     
    On May 8, 1987 the Metropolitan Police Service were given the responsibility of rushing a donated Liver from Stansted Airport in Essex to Cromwell Hospital in Kensington, London. The Metropolitan Police had only 35 minutes to cover 29 miles and had to cross Central London on a busy Friday afternoon rush hour to deliver the organ in time. It should be noted that in 1987 there was only 1 police helicopter and on this day it was down for repairs and there were no Air Ambulances back then.
     



     

    Metropolitan Police Rover SD1 3500



     
    4 Police Officers and 2 cars were assigned this task. The patient at Cromwell Hospital had already had a transplant but her body was rejecting the new liver. The second replacement liver was deemed suitable. The doctors at the hospital began the surgery under the assumption that the police would be on time. The Metropolitan Police at this time used the iconic Rover SD1 for traffic duties and they were equipped with powerful V8 engines.
     



     

    Map of London


     
    The route had been carefully planned so that other Police assets would be available to the officers on the Liver Run. The majority of intersections were manned by police officers to allow the two police cars to pass. But as they got closer to the center of London the traffic became more dense and progress began to slow. The officers had been told if they didn't arrive at exactly 12:30 they were to abort the run. Despite all that was working against them the officers arrived at Cromwell Hospital with 5 minutes remaining. The patient survived and made a full recovery thanks to their efforts.
     




     

    The Liver Run


  17. Stalliongrad
    Marcopolo is a Brazilian manufacturer of Highway Coaches, Transit Buses, School Buses and Bus Frames for other Chassis. It dominates the South American market and has subsidiaries in emerging markets all over the world.
     

    Manufacturer Quick Facts:


     

    Founded: 1949 in Caxias do Sul, Brazil by Nicola & Sia Ltd



    Main Office: Caxias do Sul, Brazil



    Notable Product: Paradiso G7 1800, Paradiso 1600, Paradiso 1200


     



     

    Marcopolo Paradiso 1800 G7 Factory Demonstrator


     
    Marcopolo builds nearly half of all bus bodies in Brazil and most buses in South America. Bus Travel in South America is extremely common and has much higher ridership than Air Travel at a similar cost. The demand for long distance highway coaches is very high but most private companies cannot afford to buy expensive American, Canadian or German models. Marcopolo builds luxury long distance highway coaches at a much lower cost. Marcopolo builds all of its buses for "emerging markets" where it sees most of it success
     

    .


    Privateer Marcopolo Paradiso 1800 G7


     
    Marcopolo's business strategy has been extremely successful because of its innovation at cost reduction. Marcopolo has varies agreements and alliances with other manufacturers with similar interests such as Tata Motors of India. Marcopolo at one point had a 20% stake in New Flyer of Canada.
     



     

    Privateer Marcopolo Paradiso models at the Marcopolo Dealer and Maintenance Yard


     
    Marcopolo builds bus bodies and frames for mounting onto separate chassis. This method is often cheaper and is the main reason why their products have a lower cost. The Marcopolo Paradiso 1800 is mounted on a Volvo Chassis while the Paradiso 1200 is mounted on chassis from Mercedes-Benz or Scania.
     



     

    Greyhound South Africa Marcopolo Paradiso 1800 G7


     
    Although it has abandoned hopes of North American Market Share, Marcopolo did try in the late 90's to sell its buses in North America and Europe. It enlisted the help of Mexican Bus and Truck Manufacturer DINA and Motor Coach Industries to sell in the U.S. and Volvo with assistance in Europe.
     



     

    Privateer Marcopolo/DINA Viaggio 1000


     
    With the help of DINA, Marcopolo was able to make the Viaggio compliant with US DOT regulations and with assistance from MCI was able to set up a distribution network. The Viaggio remains the only DOT legal model built by Marcopolo for use in the U.S. Few can still be seen in use by smaller bus companies. Newer Marcopolo Paradiso models are not DOT compliant but are allowed for temporary visits because they are frequently used by Mexican touring companies.
     



     
     

    Privateer Marcopolo Paradiso 1200 on a Mercedes-Benz Chassis



     



     

    Privateer Marcopolo Paradiso 1800 G7 on Scania chassis in Chile


     




     

    Privateer Marcopolo 1800 G7


  18. Stalliongrad
    Setra Kassbohrer is a German manufacturer of Transit Buses and Highway Coaches. It is a wholly owned by Daimler-Mercedes Benz and represents the majority of Mercedes Benz Diesel business interests in regions where it would be difficult to get market share alone.
     

    Manufacturer Quick Facts:


     

    Founded: 1951 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany by Otto Kassbohrer



    Main Office: Stuttgart, Germany



    Notable Product: S417, S500


     



     

    Canadian Armed Forces Setra S417


     
    Setra began building buses in 1958 with its first model the Type S, Since then all Setra models carry this designation. Setra is an abbreviation for the German word "selbsttragend" which means "Self Supporting". This refers to the construction of Setra buses which are unibody integral instead of the "Body on frame" designs which were very common.
     
     



     

    Setra S417 and S500 Factory Demonstrators


     
    Setra's presence in North America has largely been dictated by parent company and primary shareholder Daimler AG-Mercedes-Benz. In 2012 Mercedes-Benz Diesel acquired large controlling interests in Motor Coach Industries (MCI) saving MCI from bankruptcy. Setra buses are sold through MCI's large distribution network in the North American market.
     
     
     



     

    Rutgers University/Academy Bus Setra S417 (Note the Mercedes Benz badging)


     
    Setra has struggled to gain market share in North America due to the highly established domestic market for highway coaches sold in its caliber. Setra buses cost twice as much as MCI or Prevost models in similar specifications. Setra often relies on upselling its "German Engineering" to justify the high cost of acquisition and maintenance
     



     

    Setra K 2014 Factory Demonstrator offering led by the new S500


     



     

    Privateer Setra S417 Double Decker


     
    Setra's closest competition comes from Van Hool of Belgium. Van Hool also builds and sells European style coaches and buses in North America but isn't reliant upon one distribution source. Van Hool also builds Double Deckers which are becoming popular in North America.
     
     




     

    University of Maryland Setra S417


     




     

    Setra S516 Factory Demonstrator


  19. Stalliongrad
    The Big Bus Company is a London based company which provides sightseeing tours in major and capital cities all around the world.
     



     

    Big Bus London Leyland Olympian


     
    Type: Private, owned by the Maybury Family, 30% Stake owned by the Al-Fahim Group of Abu Dhabi
     
    Fleet Size: 150 Double Decker buses in known operation in London, World Fleet Size undisclosed.
     
    Routes: Sightseeing Tours provided in 17 World Cities
     
    Manufacturer and Powerplant: The bulk of the Big Bus fleet consists of older London or Hong Kong Spec double deckers which have been converted to "open top" configurations. These buses come from primarily British manufacturers such as Leyland, Dennis and AEC. Following the investment from the Al-Fahim company newer Chinese buses from Ankai were purchased for the World Fleet.
     



     

    Big Bus Hong Kong Ankai HFF6110GS-2


     



     

    Big Bus Washington DC Alexander Dennis Enviro 500 Open-Top


     
    Fare Collection: Tickets can be purchased from Travel Brokers or from Big Bus and they are typically valid for an entire day. Allowing tourists to "hop off" the bus at one attraction and "hop on" again when they want to visit another.
     




     

    Big Bus Muscat Bus Tickets


     
    Livery: Big Bus London and the World Fleet all maintain the same Burgundy and Gold/Cream Paint scheme. The company coat of arms is usually festooned on the bus along with the city name the bus is touring. The "B" in the Big Bus logo is often customized and unique to each city. If you look closely you can see the Washington Monument in Big Bus Washington DC Insignia.
     



     

    Big Bus Abu Dhabi Ankai HFF6110GS


     
    Innovations: The company provides unique tours specific to each city while still maintaining a service that is uniform and the same across the world. Tours are provided in different languages in provided headsets to accommodate all passengers.
     

    Big Bus Abu Dhabi Video


     




     

    Big Bus Washington DC Video


     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlUJhpQu1Fo

     

    Big Bus Hong Kong Video


     




  20. Stalliongrad
    The Maryland Transit Administration provides transportation services in the State of Maryland. Although most public transportation is provided at the county and city level, the State of Maryland provides transit services in cities and counties that elect for the state to provide service, or are unable to pay for their own transit network. Independent cities such as Baltimore and Annapolis, the state capitol also have transit networks organized and run by the state.
     
     



     

    MTA Maryland New Flyer Xcelsior XDE


     
    Type: Public, Service provided by the State of Maryland
     
    Fleet Size: 774 Low Floor Transit Buses, 68 Motor Coaches for long distance service
     
    Routes: 80
     
    Manufacturer and Powerplant: The State of Maryland has been a long time customer of New Flyer. Older NABI and Neoplan models are being phased out of service. In 2008 Gov, Martin O'Malley announced MTA's commitment to Hybrid technology and pledged a full hybrid fleet by 2014.
     



     

    MTA Maryland New Flyer DE41LFR


     
    Fare Collection: Currently there is no contactless card payment system available on MTA Maryland services, however there is one in the works. Called the Charm Card (reference to Baltimore-Charm City) It will be available in the coming years and available on MTA Maryland services. The card will also be valid in Washington DC to be jointly used with WMATA's SmarTrip cards. Likewise SmarTrip will be valid on MTA Maryland buses as well.
     



     

    MTA Maryland Charm Card


     
    Livery: MTA Maryland buses and light rail vehicles were unpainted and remained white with only the Maryland Department of Transportation seal and the Flag of Maryland. with the purchase of new vehicles, a new Blue and Green ribbon paint scheme was adopted.
     



     

    MTA Maryland New Flyer XDE60


     
    Innovations: MTA Maryland provides commuter bus service for people who live in the suburban areas of Maryland who work in the metropolitan areas of Washington DC and Baltimore. As an incentive to keep these people from driving and help reduce traffic during rush hour MTA Maryland offers a "Guaranteed Connection" service for passengers connecting from MTA Maryland's MARC train service to bus service. If the Train is late arriving at a station, Buses are ordered to wait until the train arrives so that passengers wont miss their bus connection. MTA Maryland operates some of its commuter bus lines but contracts most of them to charter bus companies in a unique public private venture.
     



     

    MTA Maryland MCI D4500


     

    MTA Maryland Buses at work


     




     
     




  21. Stalliongrad
    The Société de transport de Montréal or Montreal Transit Corporation operates transit services in Montreal. It is the 4th heaviest used system in North America after New York City, Mexico City and Toronto.
     



     

    STM NovaBus LTS Articulated


     
    Type: Public
     
    Fleet Size: 1,845 Low Floor buses
     
    Routes: 220 Regular Service Routes, 23 Night Bus Routes
     
    Manufacturer and Powerplant: STM sources its entire fleet from NovaBus which is also based in Quebec. Its fleet is powered by Diesel and Biodiesel engine powerplants.
     



     

    STM NovaBus LFS


     
    Fare Collection: The Contactless Card Payment System in Montreal is called OPUS Card. OPUS Card replaced the older magnetic contact fare cards previously used prior to 2008. It is used almost all transit agencies in the Province of Quebec. Unique in that it can hold and identify 3 different types of fares such as day, month and weekly passes it was delayed two years due to various complications.
     



     

    Starting in 2015 OPUS cards can be loaded while at home


     
    Livery: STM uses upbeat themes of blue and yellow which combine in some areas to make green set on a white unpainted backdrop. STM does frequently sell the sides and exterior of its buses for advertising space.
     



     

    STM NovaBus LFS


     
    Innovations: STM as an entity is relatively young being founded only in 2002. The previous organization was founded in 1861 as the first railways in Montreal. STM was founded to replace the older organization. Formerly STM provided regional transport for the entire region, STM does still however connect to other public systems throughout the area.
     



     

    STM NovaBus LFS Articulated


     

    STM Buses at work


     




  22. Stalliongrad
    The Battle of Hoth was the most decisive victory of the Galactic Empire during its participation in the Galactic Civil War. (GCW)
     



     

    Rebel Alliance soldiers preparing the trenches


     
    Conflict: Galactic Civil War
     
    Date: 3 ABY (After the Battle of Yavin)
     
    Location: Echo Base, Hoth
     
    Imperial Objectives: The Empire's main objective during this conflict was to lower the planetary shield generators, which were raised when the Imperial Fleet exited Hyperspace too close to the Hoth System. The planetary shield generators protected the planet from orbital bombardment, had these generators not been in place the battle would not have taken place because the Imperial Navy would have attacked from orbit. Major General Maximilian Veers was in command of the ground effort, tasked with the objective of destroying the generators so that the planet would be susceptible to orbital attack. The size of the Imperial Fleet (8 Ships including the Executor SSD) gave the Empire superior numbers along with the 9 AT-AT walkers gave the Imperial side the strategic tactical advantage.
     



     

    Major General Maximilian Veers led the Imperial invasion from the front aboard AT-AT Blizzard 1
     
    Rebel Objectives: After suffering heavy losses at the Battle of Yavin, Rebel leadership under the direction of Senator Bail Organa and Luke Skywalker had chosen Hoth as a contingency plan in case Yavin was ever lost. It was at this stage the Rebellion was able to construct one of the last major strongholds. Loosing Hoth would send the Rebel forces into disarray. After Rebel forces were able to detect the presence of the Imperial Fleet, The planetary defense grid was raised and evacuation of the base commenced. Rebel Leadership did not once consider the option of holding Echo Base immediately knowing they would be severely outnumbered. Rebel numbers were important to protect evacuation of Echo Base was the Primary Rebel objective. Protecting escaping transports was a secondary objective, which they were able to do with the use of Ion Cannons. When hit, Imperial Star Destroyers were temporarily unable to target, fire or maneuver. General Carlist Rieekan was in command and at the time insisted on protecting the transports until the last possible moment.


     



     

    General Carlist Rieekan remained in the Echo Base control room during the battle monitoring the progress of escaping Rebel transports.


     



     

    Map of Hoth detailing the Battle of Echo Base



    Initial Assault: Rebel Forces spent hours preparing trenches and readying turrets for the impending Imperial invasion force. All in vain due to the Imperial use of Probe and Sensor droids which managed to slip past and collect information. The Imperial landing zone stood a few miles away from Echo Base and the Shield Generator. 9 AT-AT walkers each given a call-sign Blizzard (collectively known as Blizzard Force) began making their way toward the base. Major General Maximilian Veers commanded from the front aboard AT-AT Blizzard 1. Echo Base was home to 3 airfields each hosting a squadron of Snowspeeders and X-Wing fighters which were mobilized before the battle began. The first volley of shots were fired from Imperial AT-AT walkers of Blizzard Force which after a short trek encountered the first series of Rebel trenches and Snowspeeders of Rogue Squadron. Imperial Snowtroopers disembarked from Blizzard Force walkers and began assaulting the trenches and tunnels while being covered by the AT-AT and smaller AT-ST walkers. Imperial Turbolasers were extremely effective against Rebel Snowspeeders and defensive fortifications.


     



     

    Artists Depiction of the destruction of the Rebel Shield Generator



    Rebel troops committed to the evacuation were initially successful at distracting the Imperial Forces long enough for Rebel GR-75 Transport ships to escape. 17 of 30 Transports were lost which accounted for half of the Rebel Forces heavy losses. As Imperial forces destroyed the Generator and turned their attention to the base itself, Rebel Forces were still committed to firing the Ion Cannons to protect escaping transports. After the Cannons were destroyed or rendered inoperable, the crew assigned to those stations began their evacuation they were however too late as Echo Base was infiltrated by Darth Vader and 501st Legion snowtroopers.


     



     

    Darth Vader and the 501st Legion arrive on Echo Base



    Final Retreat: The final transports to evacuate were escorted by the last remaining X-Wing fighter escorts available. They were located on small landing pads outside of Echo Base toward the rear. There were many Rebel Soldiers who were not able to make it aboard the last escaping transports and were taken prisoner by the Snowtroopers who defeated them.


     
    Outcome: Decisive Imperial Victory, Rebel Loss of Echo Base.
     



     

    Artists Depiction of the Rebel Defeat at Echo Base


  23. Stalliongrad
    The Mercedes-Benz Citaro is the most commonly used low floor transit bus in mainland Europe. Introduced in 1997 the Citaro is produced in 5 countries and comes in 6 different variants .
     



     

    Mercedes-Benz Citaro Factory Demonstrator


     




    Manufacturer Quick Facts:


     

    Founded: 1926 by Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler



    Main Office: Stuttgart, Germany



    Industry: Luxury Vehicles, Commercial Vehicles, Military Vehicles, Diesel Engines. Financial Services



    Notable Product: Actros, Citaro G, Sprinter, E-Class, S-Class, C-Class, Unimog,


     



     

    Mercedes-Benz Citaro Factory Demonstrator


     

    Model Quick Facts:


     

    Vehicle Length: (Urban) 12m Twin Axle, 10.5 Twin Axle (Citaro K), 15m Tri-Axle (Citaro L) 18m Tri-Axle Articulated (Citaro G), 20m 4 Axle Articulated (Citaro GL), 12m Twin Axle (Citaro LE)


     

    Engine: Mercedes-Benz OM Diesel Engines, Mercedes-Benz Euro IV Engines


     
    Overview: The Citaro can be found in service with fleets all over Europe, Asia and Latin America. The Citaro's ability to be customized to the exact specification of the customer have made the brand extremely adaptable to many different types of driving conditions. Intercity and Suburban applications are the most common.
     



     

    BVG Mercedes-Benz Citaro in Berlin, Germany


     
    Driving Experience: Mercedes-Benz is well known for its extensive testing of all of its vehicles before beginning mass production. The Citaro was taken on extremely rigorous testing trials in Scandinavia to ensure that its suspension would be able to compensate for rough and bumpy road surfaces without compromising the drivers ability to control the steering wheel. The results learned from off road experiences in Scandinavia have gone in to the finished product and the suspension was calibrated to compensate for those results.
     



     

    Mercedes-Benz Citaro Fuel Cell Hybrid Factory Demonstrator


     
    The unfortunate side of the extensive testing is that Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles tend to be much more expensive than their rivals such as Van Hool. Mercedes-Benz however dominates the commercial vehicle market through acquisition of competition. German heavy vehicle manufacturer MAN is a subsidiary of Daimler Group. Mercedes-Benz has not sought to export the Citaro to North America due to heavy competition and differences in emissions and vehicle length standards. Mercedes-Benz owns American truck manufacturer Freightliner as well as the Canadian bus manufacturer Orion (now defunct). Mercedes-Benz sells highway coaches in North America under its Setra brand.
     



     

    MTA Mercedes-Benz Citaro G (on loan from Mercedes-Benz)


     
    In 2008 the Mercedes-Benz Citaro was tested in New York City as a template for what would eventually become the Orion IX. As Mercedes-Benz closed down Orion's operations the Orion IX was never completed.
     
    Summary: Its use worldwide and extremely customizable frame have earned the Citaro a place among the transit greats. The Citaro will be taken out of production once its replacement has been declared finished, although most speculate the next bus will use most of the lessons learned from the Citaro.
     
     
     

    Mercedes-Benz Citaro Promotional Video


     




     
     

    Mercedes-Benz Citaro Testing in Norway


     




  24. Stalliongrad
    Sistema de Corredores de Transporte Público de Pasajeros del Distrito Federal. or simply called Metrobus, is a BRT system in Mexico City which began service in 2005.
     



     

    Mexico City Metrobus DINA Brighter


     
    Quick Facts:
     
    Type: Public, Owned by the Federal District of Mexico City
     
    Fleet Size: 304 Articulated and Bi-Articulated Buses
     
    Routes: 5 Dedicated Bus Rapid Transit lines
     
    Manufacturer and Powerplant: The bulk of Mexico City Metrobus fleet is sourced from Mexican heavy vehicle manufacturer DINA. Other models are sourced from Volvo, Mercedes-Benz and Marcopolo.
     



     

    Mexico City Metrobus DINA Brighter


     
    Fare Collection: Fare is collected with the use of a contactless smartcard that has not been given any official branding akin to the way American, Canadian or European smartcards are branded. As is common practice on BRT systems this is the only way to pay for use of the system.
     



     

    Mexico City Smartcard


     
    Livery: Mexico City Metrobus is known for its bright red paint scheme.
     



     

    Mexico City Metrobus Volvo 7300


     
     
    Innovations: Bus Rapid Transit systems are similar to streetcars and light rail service in the sense that the bus does not service stops at the side of the road but services purpose built stations. The entire network is separated from normal traffic and utilizes its own dedicated bus lanes. This practice makes buses as fast and reliable as trains. In Mexico City it has helped reduce carbon emissions by getting people out of their cars and on the bus.
     



     

    Mexico City Metrobus Volvo 7300


     
    Driving Dynamics: Drivers of BRT vehicles have it a bit easier as BRT routes are usually straight lines with very few turns. As they drive in bus only lanes for approximately 90% of the route they do not have to worry about traffic at all.
     

    Mexico City Metrobus Volvo 7300 Bi-Articulated


     




  25. Stalliongrad
    MCI is an industry leader in the design and manufacturer of highway coaches for the North American market primarily in intercity and sightseeing tourist operations.


     




    MCI J4500 Factory Demonstrator


     

    Manufacturer Quick Facts:


     

    Founded: 1933 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada by Harry Zoltok



    Main Office: Des Plaines, Illinois, United States



    Notable Product: J4500, D4500, D4505, G4500, E4500, A and B Series, MC-9, MC-12


     

    Plagued with an extremely extensive history involving changes in ownership MCI has been owned by almost every one of its competitors at least once in its history. Greyhound, General Motors, and DINA have all had controlling stakes in MCI. In 2012 MCI entered into an agreement with Daimler-Mercedes-Benz which has eased and relaxed financial uncertainty.


     



     

    Greyhound MCI MC-12


     


    MCI is probably best known for its "Silverside" highway coaches that were a staple of bus transport for over 30 years, in fact MCI highway coaches being constructed from high grade steel had lifespans upwards of 35 years if other mechanical components were changed and maintained. MCI coaches were the most used models by the major bus transport carriers. Their coaches were synonymous with highway travel for years.


     



     

    Greyhound MCI G4500


     


    MCI has always maintained a majority market share for highway coaches in North America, leading only Prevost of Canada. This near monopoly of the market has led to repeat customers for decades. MCI's next generation of highway coaches include improved safety enhancements such as strengthening of the bus frame as well as crosswind detection to prevent rollover accidents.


     



     

    Greyhound Canada MCI 102DL3


     


    MCI's biggest competitor Prevost with Volvo assistance has gained a significant amount of market share. MCI also faces competition from European coach manufacturers Van Hool, and Setra K. This has caused MCI to rethink many of its design offerings which many considered bland and dull. Exterior styling is a very important aspect of Highway Coach acquisition, operators want their buses to amaze their passengers. This new thinking from MCI is reflected in its new flagship model, the J4500. In order to remain ADA compliant, MCI has begun factory installing Wheelchair lifts and securement stations as a factory option. Previously highway coaches didn't have this option and those that did had them installed by a third party at a high cost. MCI's philosophy of creating an interior that feels like a "plane on wheels" however has always been prevalent in all of its designs across all eras of its existence


     




     

    Peter Pan Bus Lines MCI J4500


     




     

    Greyhound Canada MCI MC-12


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