DaimlerChrysler Commercial Buses North America SLF 200
DaimlerChrysler / Thomas Dennis SLF 200 | |
---|---|
Thomas Dennis SLF 235 | |
Years of manufacture | 1999 to 2007 |
Length | 29 to 35 feet |
Width | 102 inches |
Power/Fuel | Diesel, CNG |
SLF CNG | |
Thomas Dennis SLF 232 CNG |
The DaimlerChrysler Commercial Buses North America SLF 200 (usually shortened to SLF) was a low floor midibus originally marketed by Thomas Dennis.
Dennis Specialist Vehicles and Thomas Built Buses entered into a joint venture known as Thomas Dennis to market a North American version of the Dennis Dart SLF with Alexander ALX200 body. The first few demonstrators and prototypes were fully built in England by Dennis and Alexander. Later buses were manufactured in England and then delivered to North America in a completely knocked down (CKD) form with final assembly at the Thomas plant in Greensboro, North Carolina in the United States. Full production at the North Carolina plant later commenced.
The early demonstrators and prototypes were more similar to the Alexander ALX200-bodied Dennis Dart SLF. Two obvious related features was the narrow European standard width and the integrated front and rear bumpers. Some production units would keep the same bumpers, but others would sport the thicker North American bumpers commonly found on other North American buses. Production units also used the North American 102 inch width.
The SLF was later re-engineered and marketed under the SLF 200 brand of DaimlerChrysler Commercial Buses North America (DCCBNA) in 2003 when the transit division of Thomas became part of DCCBNA. The SLF was sold via the Orion direct sales organization and through DaimlerChrysler Commercial Bus dealers. The engine compartment and dash area were reconfigured, and the SLF was made available with a Mercedes-Benz engine. All SLF buses under DCCBNA received the "SLF200" badge in lieu of the Thomas badge.
The SLF was initially offered in a 30 foot length (known as the SLF 230). A 35 foot length (known as the SLF 235) later became available in 2002. A change that was made for the SLF 235, but not the SLF 230 was the radiator was moved from the door side to the driver's side and was made larger. The larger radiator protruded into the passenger cabin and took up some of the space for the two rearmost seats on the driver's side. Therefore, those seats were moved up. A 32 foot long CNG-powered model, known as the SLF 232 CNG, later made available around 2001. The bus sported roof mounted CNG tanks in an enclosure, which took the place of the roof mounted HVAC unit. The unit was moved to the space behind the rear seats and therefore added length to the bus.
After the modifications done to the engine compartment of the 30 foot SLF 230 by DaimlerChrysler, the SLF 230 became the 29 foot SLF 229. The 35 foot SLF 235 and CNG-powered SLF 232 rear design remained relatively unchanged.
The SLF model is used by the American Public Transportation Association in their 30-foot diesel bus procurement guidelines manual to show the dimensions and other details of a 30-foot bus.
Specifications
Engine
Transmission
HVAC
- Carrier (rear mounted, on CNG models)
- Thermo King LRT I (roof mounted, on diesel models)
Axles
- Dana I-beam (front)
- Dana 19060S (rear)
Doors
- 42" Deans air operated slide glide front and centre doors
Glazing
- Gasket
- Bonded
Operators
Canada
- Greater Toronto Airports Authority LINK - Mississauga, ON
- Kingston Transit - Kingston, ON
- Regina Transit - Regina, SK
- Sarnia Transit - Sarnia, ON
- Sault Ste. Marie Transit - Sault Ste. Marie, ON
- St. Albert Transit - St. Albert, AB
- Strathcona County Transit - Sherwood Park, AB
- Timmins Transit - Timmins, ON
- York Region Transit - York Region, ON
United States
- ABQ RIDE - Albuquerque, NM
- Advantage Rent-A-Car - Los Angeles Airport, CA
- Annapolis Transit - Annapolis, MD
- Blue Water Area Transit - Port Huron, MI
- Bull Runner Transit - University of South Florida, Tampa, FL area
- Cedar Rapids Transit - Cedar Rapids, IA
- City of El Monte Trolley Company - El Monte, CA
- Dollar Rent-A-Car - Los Angeles Airport, CA
- Grand Valley Transit - Grand Junction, CO
- Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) - Cleveland, OH
- Greater Lynchburg Transit Company (operated by First Transit) - Lynchburg, VA
- Harvard University Shuttle Services - Harvard University, MA
- High Point Transit System (Hi-Tran) - High Point, NC
- Keeshin Charter Service (Coach USA) - Chicago, IL
- LexTran - Lexington, KY
- MET Transit - Waterloo, IA
- Montgomery Area Transit System (MATS) - Montgomery, AL
- MTA Maryland - Baltimore, MD
- North County Transit District - North San Diego County, CA
- Omnitrans - San Bernardino County, CA
- Riverside Transit Agency - Riverside, CA
- Santa Monica Municipal Bus Lines (Big Blue Bus) - Santa Monica, CA
- ShuttleBus - Biddeford, Saco & Old Orchard Beach, ME
- Space Coast Area Transit (SCAT) - Brevard County, FL
- Sun Tran - Tucson, AZ
- The Bus - Prince George's County, MD
- The Rapid - Grand Rapids, MI
- Thousand Oaks Transit - Thousand Oaks, CA
- Transit Services of Frederick County (TransIT) - Frederick County, MD
- Valley Metro - Roanoke, VA
- Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA) - Washington, DC
Demonstrator and engineering units
Below is a list of known demonstrators and engineering bues
Fleet number | Thumbnail | Length | Year | VIN | Engine | Transmission | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
30' | 1999 | SFD182AL6XGW13472 | Cummins ISB 175 hp | Allison AT-545 | |||
File:York Region Transit 9901-a.JPG | 30' | 1999 | SFD182AL3XGW13851 | Cummins ISB | Allison AT-545 | Bought by YRT and became 9901 | |
30' | 1999 | SFD182ALXXGW14124 | Cummins ISB 185 hp | Allison AT-545 | |||
30' | 1999 | SFD182ALXXGW14186 | Cummins ISB | Allison AT-545 | Sold to Regina Transit in 2003 | ||
35' | 2000 | SFD121AL1YGU10101 | Cummins ISB 260 hp | Allison B300R | |||
32' | 2000 | SFD241CL9YGU10102 | Cummins B5.9G 230 hp | Allison B300R |
| ||
35' | 2002 | 5DF235DB42JA32879 | Detroit Diesel MBE906 | Allison B300R |
| ||
29' | 2003 | 5DF229DA63JA38203 | Mercedes-Benz MBE904 | Allison | |||
29' | 2003 | 5DF229DAX3JA46594 | Detroit Diesel MBE904 | Allison 2000 Series | Submitted for Altoona Test May 2004 |