5011

    The burned out wreckage in these pictures is the bombed-out remains of 5011, which once was a mighty Ikarus Artic. On the last day, it was running it's usual route S trip when the operator felt the rear brakes beginning to grab. Central Control advised him to go out of service when he got to the Aventura Mall. After this, in an odd and fatal move, instead of waiting for the service truck, he was instructed to bring the bus back to Central via I-95. The operator got on the Interstate and of course had to go with the flow of traffic, which was moving at 50+ MPH. The next thing he knew, a huge ball of fire engulfed the trailer section of the bus. As you can see, 5011 is a total loss. TOP- A front to rear view taken from the tractor portion of the bus. BOTTOM- The charred trailer section.
         The last time I spotted "Fitty-Leven"  was while I was in training, and we were going over the route E She was headed up Collins Avenue on the S, about to make the Gallahad Dade Blvd. U-turn.  This was in November, so it likely caught fire over the holidays. Her death was not in vain, however, as now all artics with grabbing brakes must be either towed in or driven in at speeds less than 25 MPH. May she rest in pieces. (Exterior shots are forthcoming.)