This portion of the Photo Gallery contains images of Gilligs bearing the 855D or 855DT model number designation. These buses were considered the workhorses of the Gillig Transit Coach line, and for good reason. They were equipped with the most powerful diesel engines and often were paired with a 10-speed Fuller Roadranger transmission - and all were midship-mounted. The engines these buses were equipped with were the largest engines available, and all bearing the Cummins name. Usually, the engines were the Cummins NHH 250, NHHTC270, NHHTC290, or NHHTC335. Most however were equipped with either the NHH250 or NHHTC270. The "855" comes from the fact that these engines had 855 cubic inches of displacement. They were also the largest engine Gillig ever offered at that time, and it is believed that production of the 855D series Gilligs began as the 743D series was being phased out due to new State of California-enacted emissions regulations.
Shelton School District Bus No. 25.   Shelton, Washington (retired)

This 1977 Gillig , serial number E-3829, was one of two tandem-axle Gilligs formerly owned by the Shelton School District in Washington State. It was equipped with a Cummins NHH250 and a Fuller Roadranger RT-910 10-speed transmission. Fully loaded in a 3x3 seating configuration, this bus had a 97 passenger capacity. In August 1998 this bus was retired and purchased with the intent to fully restore the bus. More information can be read in the "My Former Gillig" section of the website. (All photos by Steven Rosenow)

Right-front  one-quarter view (with doors opened outward)
Right-rear one-quarter view (covered in snow after a severe snowstorm)
Inside view (from just behind the front row of seats)
Dashboard view (from driver's perspective)
Dashboard view (from passenger perspective - standing up)
Data plate (recreated facsimile - created from reference based off of real-world counterpart)

NEW, NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN PHOTOS! (ADDED March 27, 2009)

In late February, I had been asked to help in assisting my mother to clean out an old storage locker in which she was vacating. In the process of cleaning it out, amongst a stack of old photos I had found, I discovered some photos I had taken of #25 that I had thought were lost forever in a move.

Some of these photos were taken the day I bought it, and one was taken when the bus was still in service.

The first photo, a black-and-white image, was taken five weeks prior to the end of the 1997-1998 Shelton School District school year. At the time, Shelton School District was still using it in active duty service. Three weeks after this photo was taken, the Shelton School District suddenly retired #25 along with her sister, bus #19, and moved them to a location adjacent to the fence outside the bus lot itself.

Black and white, left side view.

The rest of the photos were taken after purchase.

Right front view, taken after a good wash job.
View from same angle. This was taken the day I brought it home.
Right rear view, taken after bringing it home
Interior view, looking @ the dash from a sitting position. Note the older metal-framed seats.

These photos are scans from 4x5 photos from 35mm film rolls, at 1200 dpi. Resizing and further enhancement done in Adobe Photoshop.

Campbell Union High School District Bus No.'s 14, 15, and 16 (retired)

These buses were originally part of Campbell Union High School District's bus fleet, and were retired in 2006. These images are from the internet auction website eBay, and the respective listings these buses were in. They were all sister buses.

Bus 14 is a 1978 Gillig 855D-13 78-passenger capacity Gillig. Serial number E-5096, equipped with a Fuller RT905 5-speed manual transmission, dual air brakes, and had 185,757 miles on it. 

Bus 15's serial number was E-5097, and was identically equipped, and had 178,770 miles.

Bus 16's serial was E-5098, and had 198,303 miles.

Bus 14 - rear-end closeup
Bus 14 - instrument panel photo
Bus 14 - right front closeup.
Bus 14 - front head-on view
Bus 14 - interior view looking back

Bus 15 - Right front view
Bus 15 - instrument panel photo
Bus 15 - front head-on view
Bus 15 - interior view looking back
Bus 15 - left front view
Bus 15 - rear head-on view at close range

Bus 16 - instrument panel photo
Bus 16 - stepwell and front end view
Bus 16 - interior view looking back
Bus 16 - left front view
Bus 16 - rear head-on view


Sonora Union High School District Bus No. 29, Sonora, California

This Gillig is a 1977 Gillig 855DT-15 manufactured on August 17, 1977. Its serial number is E-4284 and it is equipped with a Cummins NHHTC270 diesel engine, a Fuller RT910 10-speed transmission, and a Williams Exhaust brake. More about this Gillig can be seen by clicking on the Sonora Bus 29 Chassis Component Parts Record PDF file in the Downloads section.

Bus No. 29 - front view
Bus No. 29 - right front view
Bus 29 - left front view

UPDATE: AUGUST 22, 2007

Sonora Union High School District retired #29 some time ago and was sold to fellow Gillig enthusiast Pat Young, who took these post-retirement photos.

Right rear view
Left rear view
Rear of bus
Left profile
Right front view
Left front view


Washington State spec'd Gillig, bus no. 253 - Retired.

This bus is a late '70s, early '80s Gillig formerly owned by an unidentified school district in Washington State (yet the number of black-out patches likely indicates a former Central Kitsap School District unit). It is pictured here at the Stokes Auction location in Port Orchard, Washington waiting for its new owner. 

253 - left front view
253 - left front view #2
253 - left front view #3
253 - front head-on view
253 - left-side profile


Bus No.  11.   Cabrillo Unified School District, California (retired)

This bus is a 1973 855D-series Gillig, serial number E-1357. It was owned by Cabrillo Unified School District in California and was equipped with a Cummins NHH250 and an Eaton/Fuller RT905A 5-speed manual transmission. Other features included PerLux Fog Lamps, Williams Engine Exhaust brake, single air brake system and a 100-gallon fuel tank (Photo provided by Trina Falk)

Right-front one-quarter view

Images from Trader Online

Bus 1-20 - 72-passenger capacity unit equipped with a Cummins NHHTC290 and an automatic transmission.

Right three-quarter view

Bus 52 - A 78-passenger Gillig with a Cummins NHHTC290 and a five-speed manual transmission.

Right three-quarter view

Former Idaho Transit Gillig.

This Gillig was built along with five others as part of a State of Idaho Department of Energy contract in 1972  originally placed into service at the National Experimental Laboratories 50 miles west of Post Falls, Idaho, this Gillig was used as personnel transport until it was sold with another Gillig at a surplus auction.

It was later purchased with the intentions of converting it, but the new owner fell ill and had to give up his project. It ended up going back into service as a firefighter transport bus shuttling troops back and forth from the firehouse to the staging areas if needed. It was later sold again, and again the intentions were to convert it into an RV.

After its subsequent purchase, the new owners destroyed the engine without having any firsthand knowledge of how to run a diesel engine. An intake valve broke as a result, and tne engine subsequently received an extensive overhaul. Afterwards, the conversion work began, first by removing the large AC unit at the back of the bus and by removing the interior.  Afterwards, spray foam was applied to most of the inside, new panelling installed, and conversion work continued.

This bus is 40 foot long, has over 660,000 miles on it, and is equipped with a Cummins NHH250 and a five-speed manual transmission. (Information provided by Aaron Gold)

Right front view
Left front view
Instrument panel (quite odd looking for Gilligs of that era)
Interior view looking back
Right front closeup view
Left profile view

Oregon highway coach Gillig

The photos of this Gillig, built along with eleven others and as part of the five as part of the Department of Energy contract with Idaho, was submitted in photograph form several years ago. It was powered with a Cummins NHH220 and a Spicer 5-speed manual transmission. At last word, this Gillig was, albeit unforutnately, being converted to an RV. It is unknown whether or not this Gillig, or the 10 others built along with it, still exist. (Photos added November 20, 2006)

Left front view
Instrument panel photo (note the sharp contrast in style compared to a Gillig Transit Coach school bus dashboard)
Stepwell photo
Right front view
Front head on view
Interior view looking back
Left rear view
855D- Series Gilligs
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