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Vol. 9, No. II OAKLAND, MARCH, 1967

Improved bus,with fast pick-up,morePower, to get trial on district linesAn improved diesel bus, promising faster acceleration, higher speeds and betterbraking, will be given a trial by AC Transit.

Developed by General Motors, the busis similar to .51-passenger models alreadya part of the district fleet.But "refinements" include more powerand greater pick-up, an improvement

which could speed up schedules, resulting in more efficient and economical useof equipment while providing faster service .General Manager K. F. Hensel, givenapproval by the board of directors to trythe bus on different network lines, expected to test the coach for several weeksbefore reaching a decision on its adapta-

bility Jor East Bay local service andtransbay freeway express lines .The bus has a dual range transmission,

which provides maximum speed for freeway use and a low speed for use on cert a i l ~ hills.

I t is powered by an eight cylinder diesel engine-two more cylinders than theengine now in use.Built into the engine is a Jacob's retarder, which automatically slows downthe speed when the foot is removed fromthe throttle, adding to braking action.

The demonstrator model also has animprovement in air suspension, and steering is easier for the operator, with moreefficient automatic returnability of thewheel.

EIGHT HORSES - GlenAshmore, lcadman at Emeryville maintenance department, looks over eightcylinder engine of demonstrator bus. Coach promises faster pick-up, higherspeeds, better braking.

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New appointments at divisionsR. M. Detloff, 54, assistant superinten

dent at Seminary Division for the pastfive years, has taken over as head of theEast Oakland property, with retirementof T. P. McLean.Detloff, who lives at852 Seaview Dr. , EICerr i to , went towork for Key Systemin 1941 as a streetcar operator and wasmade supervisor 2lj2years later, a post he R. M. Detloffheld until he went to Seminary as assistant superintendent in 1961.

Other supervisory changes, effectivewith McLean's retirement, include:

Transfer of L L. McDonald, 49, of30453 Hoylake St.,Hayward , fromRichmond Divisionto assistant superintendent at Seminary.He started drivingbus in 1945, left in1949 to return to Illinois, bu t came backin 1951 to again take

L. L. McDonald over the wheel. Subsequently, he has been a training instruc-

tor, supervisor and central dispatcher.Taking over as assistant superintendent

at Richmond will beL. H. Minear. 54, of2227 Manches terRd., San Leandro.Minear started onthe trains 39 yearsago, worked as aconductor, motorman and brakeman;worked on the ferrypier; moved to Oak- L. H. Minearland Terminal Railway to handle freightswitching started driving bus in 1941,then moved on to supervisor and centraldispatch.

W. T. Gauer, 48, 5847 Van Fleet St.,Ri chmond, whostarted as a bus driver in 1945 and hasbeen sitting at thecontrols of centraldispatch for the past2% years, moves into Minear's post asassistant superindent at EmeryvilleW. T. Gauer Division. He was

made a supervisor in 1949.~ ~ + ~ ~ ~ t ~ t ~ t ~ t ~ t ~ t ~ t ~ t ~ t ~ t ~ t ~ t ~ + ~ t ~ ~ t ~ ~ ~ t ~ ~ t ~ t ~ ~ t ~ t ~ t ~ t ~ t ~ ~ t ~ t ~ ~ t ~ ~ -I 7::UU ifJl#e a 4eMt t~ ~ W,od,:! w. Pa T c. ;ft;f'Tliet,t.le P. S . u ~ d I k,-IOi' R,o O. B~ ~ ~ U, da H. P8ui

Buses added to meet riding increaseNew service improvements, to meet

patronage increases, include:Addition of buses to transbay lines A(Kaiser Center N (MacArthur Blvd. ),W-l (Southshore), L-IB (EI Sobrante),and T (Treasure Island). Saturday nightservice also was inaugurated on Line 64( Southshore ) .

Other changes included extension ofmorning trip on Line 7 (Arlington Ave.)in to Richmond, and rerouting of Line15D to operate both ways on Aliso Ave.

The District's special bus service toGolden Gate Fields, Albany took to theReId again this month, with a new name-the "Pony Express ."3

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4

SURPRISE - Workers andpensioners turn out to say a"good-bye" to T. P. McLean,retiring superintendent ofSeminary Division. Highlightsincluded, below, left, presentation of retirement pin to"Mac" by R. F. Hensel, general manager. "Mac" in turn,gives pin to operator CliffordD. Robbins.

It was a record party-the first send-offof its kind in local memory and a specialgood-bye for a "special boss," T. P . Mc Lean, long-time superintendent of Seminary Disvision.

Fo r McLean, retiring after 44 years, itwas another "first.""I can't believe it. 1 thought 1 kneweverything that was going on and 1 nevereven caught anybody fooling around.They sure surprised me!"

The surprise party, planned fo r "Mac's"last day of work, brought over 1,000workers and pensioners to the divisionduring an all-day "open house."

Arranged by John Snydam, one of th eoperators, th e festivities began when"Mac" stuck the key in his door at 7:30a.m .

"The door Hew open and there were

r1

Form.35TRDd : . W /"1' 1967'Mr . 0:9 m ~ ~ r200

Plea.se report to my office at yourearliest convenience .I wish. to See you. personally . .eBri"9this sl iR with you.. 0", :3e6. 17- 1967de e%"""""",J cf )'''-''',''''- 4~ -II)$.:- -'I D i ,/d.A.J

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COMMAND POST - Wil-liam H. Coburn, Jr., left,AC Transit director, turnsa symbolic key, as well asbus, over to Berkeley Po-lice Chief William Beall.Use of bus as mobile po-lice post was arranged byBerkeley Exchange Club,headed by Richard O.Gretler, right, president.

Bus takes role with Berkeley PoliceOne of the District's surplus buses hastaken on new community importanceand usefulness-as a mobile commandpost for the Berkeley Police Department,ready to roll into on-the-spot action forany need.

The Board of Directors authorized saleof th e 36-passenger bus to the Berkeleydepartment for $100, in line with it policyNew workers welcomeTo AC Transit iobs

New District workers include:General OfficeAccounting: Bart Loughlin, Oakland.Emeryville DivisionMaintenance: John Dorsett, WalnutCreek; Alan Hood, San Francisco; James

Tracev, Livermore, service employees.Bu ; Operators: T. J. Smith, P. F. Shannon, E. A. Thibeaux, of Oakland; A. V.Martinez, Hayward; D. J. Duke, Alameda; C. C. Scott, San Francisco; Frank J or

dan, Herbert Driver, both Berkeley; S. B.\Vyke, \Valnut Creek.Richmond DivisionMaintenance: Harvey Connerley, Concord, service employee.Bus Operators : D . O. Franz, R. D.Weems, EI Sobrante; P. R. Flanders, SanPablo; A. G. Perry, EI Cerrito; S. F . Marian , Jr., Richmond.6

of cooperating with communities servedby the District.

The project was taken from there bythe Berkeley Exchange Club, as one ofits public services. The bus was paintedblue and white and equipped with aradio system. It can be readily moved tothe scene of any police problem to serveas a communication system.

The unit was turned over the BerkeleyPolice Chief William Beall by William H.Coburn, Jr., AC Transit director and amember of th e Exchange Club. Also onhand for th e presentation were the city'smayor, city manager, former mayor, firechief and members of the City Council,along with club officers and members.I In );icJlforioJlf IALFRED E. FRANCIS, 69, of 956 Elgin St., San Lorenzo, pensioned June 1,1962, from the Emeryville Division main

tenance department, died on January 14.A mechanic, he entered service in 1942.ALDEN S. TILESTON, 84, a memberof the accounting department from February, 1926, until retirement in 1955, died

February 3 in EI Cajon.SAVINO VALENZANO, 85, 5312 Manila Ave., Oakland, veteran Key Systemferry boat deck hand, died February 16.

Transportation veterans work last shift;Start traveling on their own time

The Freeway Train lost its first regulardriver this month when Ray W . Stanhopetook down his nameplate an d took upsome traveling on his own.Stanhope, of 16370 Ria Dr. , San Leandro, has been piloting the articulatedbus on most of its schedules. He broke inon street cars and buses in 1936 and hasbeen driving since. With retirement, effective May 1, he's planning "a couple oftrips, including one to New England, an dsome fishing .. ."Also fish minded are two other operators, who like Stanhope, are retiring fromSeminary Division.Both share a common fate: their wivescatch more fish than they do.Paul D . Coleman, 62, 135th Ave., SanLeandro, has a cruiser waiting on the SanJoaquin River and a record to beat-Hiswife, Gladys, won a derby with her catchof a bass.Coleman worked in early Key Systemdays, 1925-28, returned to oil fields, cameback to buses in 1942.George E. Plein, 64, 2540 77th Ave.,Oakland, moved away from the doubledecked buses and slick ice of St. Louis toto join Key System in 1945. He worked asa ticket collector in 1952, went to the

OVER AND OUT - Ray Stanhoperemoves nameplate as FreewayTrain "pilot."trains as a conductor in 1957 an d returned to driving after Key "broke myheart" by taking off the trains in 1958. Heand his wife plan traveling and fishing.Retiring from Emeryville Division isWilliam E. Hahn, 67, 2431 OverlookAve., Walnut Creek, a real "old-timer"with 41 years of service. Half of the District's b;other-team with longest numberof years in service, he plans to chase trout.Pensioned from maintenance departat Emeryville last month was V . C. Crum,63, 1602 50th Ave., Oakland, service employee, who went to work in 1946.

Firs t IrieDd 01 worlaers to l eaveThe man who was the first "contact"for thousands of workers, both KeySystem and AC Transit, retired this

month to prospect in different fields.As supervisor of em- ....,ployment, Martin L.Reite, 65, hired hundreds of men andw om en - inc ludingall of the women busdrivers. He joinedthe Key System in 1944 and was in-

volved in employment until switchingto the charter bureau in August, 1964.A mining expert by tradition-andexpectation-Reite is leaving to develop high-sounding paydirt in th ePinion range of Nevada. He also plansto sub-divide mountain property onHighway 88 in the Sierra Nevada and-a t sea level-to build a home on th eNorthern California coast.

The Reites live at 34.5 Glendora Circle, Danville.7

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At an adjourned regular meeting Feb.21, the Board of Directors: Adopted a policy of changing outside auditors every five years on a rotation basis, on motion of Director Rinehart. 'Waived rotation policy regardingpresent firm of auditors for the currentyear, on motion of Director Rinehart.At a regular meeting Mar. 8, the Board

of Directors: Retained Touche, Ross, Bailey andSmart to perform audit for 1966-67 fiscalyear, on motion of Director Rinehart. Adopted resolution urging StateLegislature to grant diesel fuel tax exemption to local transit operators, onmotion of Director Warren. Voted to support State Senate Bill

Publ ished monthly by theALAMEDA-CONTRA COSTA TRANSIT DISTRICTLatham Square Building 508 Sixteenth Street

Oakland, California 94612 Telephone 654-7878BOARD OF DIRECTORS

JOHN McDONNELL.Ward IIIWILLIAM E. BERK . Ward II

ROBERT M. COPELAND. . .RAY H. RINEHART ....WILLIAM H. COBURN, JR.WM. J. BETTENCOURT. . .E. GUY WARREN . . . . .

. President. Vice Presidenf

Director at LorgeDirector at large

Ward I. . . Ward IV. . . Ward VADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERSKENNETH F. HENSEL . . General Manager

ROBERT E. NISBET . . . . . . . . . AttorneyJOHN F. LARSON. . . . . . . . Treasurer-ControllerGEORGE M. TAYLOR. . . . . . . . . . SecretaryALAN L. BINGHAM . . . . Public Information Manager____________ ____________-J

108 regarding establishment of exclusivetransit lanes on freeways, on motion ofDirector Warren.Timetables put service on 'best read' list

AC Transit was in the "best read"class again last year, printing and distributing 1,792,000 pocket timetables -an increase of 5.2 per cent over the1,703,000 schedules printed in 1965.

The cost of printing the give-awayschedules totaled $15,394, an increase of1.2 per cent over year-ago.The Rand F Hnes led the transbayfield with 60,000 timetables printed for

each line.Timetables for express lines totaled16] ,000, with Lines 32 and 30 tying for

Alameda-Contra Costa Transit DistrictLatham Square BuildingOakland, California 94612

top place with 40,000 each.Biggest publishing job is done for locallines, with 1,117,000 schedules distributed during calendar year.

Safety mark toppedDrivers from two divisions "dunked"coffee and doughnuts this month for topping the safety goal of 12,750 miles peraccident. Richmond Division tallied 13,-071 miles per accident, while operators atSeminary rolled up a record of 14,525miles per accident.

GOODWIN SAMMEL U-5Return Requested 2018 CIIANNltW WAYB E R K E L ~ i . CA 94704