CUMMINS VTF555D-SERIES GILLIGS
Powered by the Cummins Diesel model VTF555 V-8 engine, the 555D was one of Gillig's least popular models. Only a handful were ordered, and the key drawback to the VTF555-series was the lack of available horsepower in the Cummins V-8 diesel engine. Production of the VTF-555D-series Gilligs began in 1977, with the last one rolling off the production line in 1979. As the engine was underpowered, many districts soon retrofitted existing units with the Caterpillar 3208, thus converting a VTF555D-Series Gillig into a pseudo-636D-series unit.
SHELTON SCHOOL DISTRICT BUS NO. 1-07 - WASHINGTON STATE
Shelton School District purchased 1-07 in February 1979, and it would serve to be the last Gillig ever ordered by the district. It was delivered in March, and the rugged, hilly terrain of Mason County and downtown Shelton was no match for the underpowered "Triple-Nickel" Cummins. Within a year, the district repowered 1-07 (then numbered just "7") with a Caterpillar 3208, which would remain with the bus until its retirement sometime in 2014. Prior to its retirement, the Shelton School District began retrofitting the bus with a modern thermostatic-controlled electric cooling fan system and a modified grille on the left rear corner.
Originally, this bus was equipped with a Spicer 6252 five-speed manual transmission. Sometime in 2008, it had been retrofitted with an Allison MT-743.
Sadly, this bus now sits in a floodplain.
TOPPENISH SCHOOL DISTRICT BUS NO. 4 - WASHINGTON STATE
This 1979 72-passenger Gillig, built in October of that year, is formerly out of Toppenish, Washington. It's serial number is 05289, and it appears that this Gillig was built immediately prior to Gillig adopting the black, split window design seen in later models due to the textured paint seen on the ceiling - which was also common in later Gillig Transit Coaches of this design. You'll note that this bus reads "CALVARY COMMUNITY CHURCH" along the sides; it now serves the small church just outside downtown Longview, and is bus number 4 now. It's unladen weight is 21,850 pounds and is gross weighted at 32,760.
POWAY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BUS NO. 109 - CALIFORNIA STATE
This is an extremely rare tandem-axle Gillig. The reason? Very few tandem-axle Gilligs were built with a rear engine configuration. This one was equipped with a Caterpillar 3208 diesel engine and a Fuller Roadranger 10-speed transmission. Unlike many other Gillig tandem-axles which had a 97 passenger capacity, this one had a 90 passenger capacity rating due to its engine location. The bus had originally been equipped with a VTF555, Eric Gregory photo
