Playmobil School Bus

[bonniebeth]

 

[Luis]

I'm friends with Playmobil on FB and never saw that - I probably need to subscribe

[bonniebeth]

Thank's for the pictures of your white & orange version school bus, Panos! I prefer the yellow & black version myself, because it looks like the ones here in the USA. I just hope PM is listening to us !

Apparently, they were listening to us, huh?

[Bill Blackhurst]

Yep! We may have more influence than we think!

[flatcat]

In the UK (or at least round my way) School buses are usually either the school's minibuses, or coaches hired from local coach companies to do the school run, usually with multiple school drop offs

There is however a bright yellow American schoolbus round our way that I sometimes see in the mornings, but I havent yet worked out which school it serves

Damo

Ah, btw, I spotted the bus again.

It's a bluebird (if this means anything?) in yellow, but the divers seat and doors are on the correct side, so perhaps it is an export?

Although there can't be much demand for yellow US school buses in this country!

Damo

[Alison01326]

Damo, this is what ours look like down here http://www.showbus.com/gallery/sw/truro5.htm but I have to admit although there was a huge fuss when they were introduced, I haven't seen one in ages. They normally hire the mankiest, oldest coaches they can find!!

Having said that, for the benefit of our non UK members, travelling to school by bus is far from the norm. If you need to catch a bus to school or college, you get a normal service bus and use a free bus pass from the County Council if you are eligible (otherwise you pay your own fare). http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=7544

Bit irrelevant to the launch of a new Playmobil bus, but it's always interesting to know what goes on in other countries (or it is to me  )

[naflibomyalp]

Having said that, for the benefit of our non UK members, travelling to school by bus is far from the norm. If you need to catch a bus to school or college, you get a normal service bus and use a free bus pass from the County Council if you are eligible (otherwise you pay your own fare).

Where I live everyone has to catch a bus to get to school and whilst the area I live is classed as the countryside we are not isolated by any stretch of the imagination.  Primary schools are common in every village however high schools and colleges all require a bus.  From my village alone there is at least 6 different buses just for school children-it makes the one bus stop VERY busy in the morning! 

They normally hire the mankiest, oldest coaches they can find!!

This is very true!  We have an ancient double decker bus that is freezing in the winter- it is also breaks down quite frequently.

I like the new playmobil bus but I don't think I will be buying it-my klickies can just walk!

naflibomyalp
 

[Alison01326]

This is very true!  We have an ancient double decker bus that is freezing in the winter- it is also breaks down quite frequently.

It sounds like the one I used to get to college on nearly 30 years ago!!  Wouldn't be surprised if it's the same one  I can picture it now - it was a Leyland Atlantean (for all you bus anoraks!)

Interesting that you have lots of buses. I suppose different local authorities allocate their funding in different directions. Your part of the country may also have roads that are actually big enough for a bus to drive along 

[Wesley Myers]

For those who have not, or will not, read the other thread on the "shcool" bus:

Okay, just so we know what type of bus it is supposed to be (the school bus).  It is a Girardin Micro-Bird.  It is (and was) made in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada by Girardin Mini-bus Inc.

It was bought by Blue-Bird in the USA and remarketed as their own. 

Here is some info about the company:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girardin_Minibus

The specific model is based on the first one used on the Ford Canada E-350 frame as well as GM Canada's frames.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%2700-%2702_Ford_E-350_School_Bus.JPG

Here is the latest model made here in Canada by Girardin (you will notice the roof isn't as curved at the front anymore, so the Playmobil model is of the ones made until 1999 - you will also see the front end of the Playmobil one does not resemble the grills on either the Ford Canada or the GM Canada base model versions.  Most likely so they would not have to pay royalties.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Blue_bird_micro_bird_by_girardin_1.jpg

They were also made in Brantford, Ontario, Canada from 1975 - 2007.

http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?archive=true&e=699460

Blue-bird figured they could make the school buses in the USA, so they tried that for less than two years before coming back to Canada to admit they needed Girardin to make them for them (see news release below)

FORT VALLEY, Ga. (October 19, 2009) – Blue Bird and Girardin are pleased to announce a joint venture between Blue Bird and Girardin Minibus. This new partnership, effective October 14, 2009, will consolidate Blue Bird and Girardin Minibus Type A bus products and distribution into one entity. “Girardin’s complete Type A bus line is a perfect complement to Blue Bird’s complete Type C and D bus product lines and ensures our Dealers can offer our mutual customers the best in a complete family of Blue Bird school and activity bus products,” said Greg Bennett, President and CEO of Blue Bird Corporation.

The new entity, located in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada, will be named Micro Bird, Inc. and will be exclusively responsible for the design and fabrication of all Blue Bird Type A school buses, activity buses and commercial buses,” offered Steve Girardin, President of Micro-Bird, Inc. All Type A products, branded Blue Bird Micro Bird® by Girardin, will be exclusively distributed and supported by the Authorized Blue Bird Dealer Network.

The combination of Blue Bird’s 80+ years and Girardin’s 50 years in the bus industry make for a strong and driven partnership, and everything derived from it will be of great benefit and success to Blue Bird, Girardin, our Dealers, and most importantly the customer.  The Blue Bird and Girardin teams have initiated efforts to successfully integrate products and processes to ensure a smooth and transparent transition for customers.

Blue Bird, Girardin and their Dealers have, over the years, built and earned strong reputations for quality and leadership which will continue with the new Blue Bird Micro Bird® by Girardin.

As found on: http://www.blue-bird.com/pressrelease.aspx?item=2009

[Wolf Knight]

Thank you for this info Wesley! I read it in the other thread. Boy, did this guys mess the school word... I guess they did not go to school