Working Magic tonight because I had Basics (Oh, joy, great joy!). Got back, took break, got on a bus and was told to take my break around 11:00 or midnight. Worked for me. So I went back to Pluto Park, took my break, and when I got back to Pluto, there was 4803 against one of the light poles, crawling with Transport managers. The bus is missing two panels: the one ahead of the rear wheel, and the one around the rear wheel. The light pole is tilted... from the ground up, starting with the four-foot-wide concrete block that supports the structure.
From what I gathered from someone I trust who saw the whole thing, the guy came into Pluto, as soon as he turned into the lot he gunned the engine and by the bus shack was doing at least 30 mph. Then, when he wanted to turn, he misjudged his distance from the pole and hit hard. From the damage I saw, I think he's lucky he didn't break windows. 4803 had to be taken out on a flatbed truck. I can't guarantee that he didn't damage the rear axle.
Later, at FIW I saw one of the responding managers, and asked what the excuse was. He said the driver didn't see the pole, to which I responded, "Yeah, and what if that was a person?" The manager just shook his head in agreement and drove off.
The icing on the cake? 4803 just got out of the shop... the body shop. They had just removed all the dings, scratches, dents, blisters and everything else on that bus... within the last week.
Now mind you, I appreciate the fact that the RTS (of which 4803 is one) is designed to be able to go forever and then some before you rebuild the engine. They have a neat, aerodynamic look to them. My love of the RTS stops right there. They are uncomfortable to drive most of the time, they often don't steer too well, and they usually don't ride nicely on the road. That said, 4803 was about the only RTS that starts in 48 that I would care to drive, as the rest of them are pretty crappy. And since I bring bus numbers up, here's your guide:
Any bus with a number starting 27 (2749): RTS
Any bus 4701 - 4814: RTS
4815 - 4885: Nova
4886 - 4952: Gillig
4953: Nova with Gillig engine and no MiMs box as Disney doesn't actually own it. A prototype.
4954 - 4962: Newest Gilligs in the fleet
Hybrid bus: Gone
So RTS's 4790 - 4814 I generally dislike driving because of the way they made them. But 4803 is the one bus in that lot that's okay to drive.
Back on topic. I really hope this idiot gets fired. There is no reason for that kind of negligence, or that lack of concern on a bus. Again, peoples' lives, both inside and out of the bus, are in your hands when you drive a bus... and that can literally be hundreds of lives. And I'll shut up, since I know I've said this part before. Saves my fingers some typing, too.
I was thinking... in that situation, it's probably best that I wasn't a responding manager. When it's guests, I can deal with stupid questions, comments, etc., but bus drivers don't have the freedom to leave their brain or common sense on the kitchen table when they walk out that door to work.
