As much as I like the Series 60, I don't see it as an improvement over the 8V92 except for fuel mileage.

My 8V92 would pull the hills with the same results as the Series 60 at the same speeds. I don't know if I was at one with the bus, but I do know in both coaches anticipation is required, and that the six speed transmission in particular needs to be in performance mode at least, or like the five speed needs to be manually shifted.

"Balls to the wall" is how I attacked the hills. In the 8V92 I increased my speed as I got near the bottom of the hill to keep the revs up. Forth gear in my bus at 2100 was 55 MPH. If I dropped below 55 to about 50 or 52 I dropped it into 4th and left it there until I bumped into the governor so it would not "hunt" back and forth between 4th and 5th gear.

It just so happens on the current bus 4th tops at at 55 also, but I have 5th and 6th available if the bus needs them. Same techniques as driving the 8V92, except at the bottom of the hill I gain speed in 5th instead of 6th gear and manually downshift the same way at the same speeds.

Foot to the floor the entire time.

My pyros never exceeded 1100 as I recall. I don't know if that was DDEC controlling that or if it was just the way the bus was set up.