Gillig Advantage Trolley Replica 922

Location: Central Avenue at 6th Street, Saint Petersburg, FL
Operator of Vehicle: Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority
Date of Photo: March 13, 2019

Yesterday, I wrote about advertising wraps on transit vehicles and how reactions to them in the transit enthusiast community can be mixed.  If there is one topic on which there is a certain amount of consensus, it is the general derision for buses that are made to look like trollies.  While there may be a certain aesthetic charm and appeal to the population at large with these vehicle designs, transit fans tend to prefer authentic trollies, streetcars, and trams over buses such as these.  The bus featured here is manufactured by Gillig.  Basically, Gillig offers a version of its standard Advantage low floor bus that is “[o]utfitted with solid oak seats, “brass” stanchions, cupola lighting, and cow catcher.”  Agencies that purchase these trolley replicas generally operate them on tourist oriented services.  In PSTA’s case, they advertise four “trolley routes” on their website where these vehicles can be found.

What do you think of trolley replica buses?

For more photos of Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority buses, please click here.