Let’s talk about school buses. I bought one. It’s kind of weird to think about. The thing is MASSIVE. Not only is it long, but it’s tall. You really don’t think about it, until you’re looking at the security camera and you can’t really see anything else, because it’s SO BIG.
I bought the bus from a guy in London, KY which is in the southeastern part of the state. However, he had bought it and it’s twin from up near Cincinnati in Kenton County. Kenton is home to places like Covington and Erlanger. The first bus that I bid on was in New Jersey, in a borough called Hawthorne. I decided that I was going to name that bus, if I won it, Hawthorne. With that in mind, I’ve opted to name this bus Kenton.
Kenton is a 2002 AmTran (American Transportation Corporation) Rear Engine school bus. It is built on a International chassis, powered by the DT466 turbocharged diesel engine, along with a Allison 3000 Series Transmission. You may see me refer to the bus as a RE, which means rear engine. When the engine is in the front of the bus, it’s called FE. Which you’d assume means “Front Engine,” as I did, but it actually means “Forward Engine.” When I was looking for a bus, I really prefered the rear engine buses, mainly because of the improved ride quality, lower noise, and less heat in the driver’s area. While a FE was not a deal breaker, that’s what I wanted.
This bus was originally configured for 72 passengers, which assumed 3 (small) children per seat, 6 per row. I’ve measured approximately 27 feet from the back of the driver’s seat to the base of the engine compartment. The top of the engine compartment has an additional number of feet, but it’s raised fairly high. It may become something like a closet, or possibly have a TV entertainment center, etc.
For now, enjoy a few pictures of the exterior. I will be adding more pictures soon!
