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Yellow/GM PGA-PDA

 
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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Joined: 18 Dec 2007
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Location: NEW JOISEY

PostPosted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 5:34 pm    Post subject: Yellow/GM PGA-PDA Reply with quote

Fellows:

A few years back, friends of mine snapped a few photos of a rusting (but certainly restorable) YELLOW (or GM) PGA/PDA somewhere in south Jersey.

No lettering or markings on the bus, which might have given clues as to its old owners.

As a very young lad, I can recall seeing these sleek and hulking buses in charter services on a number of occasions, and I recall the windowless rear ends were very much atkin to those used on Flxible coaches.

Did any New York-area company operate this type (either in regular or charter service) years ago?

I am also wondering how many survive today (IMHO, there can't be all that many)

I do know that both GREYHOUND and TRAILWAYS once operated these types at one time.

Appreciate any info.....thank you in advance.....

"NYO"


Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Thu Aug 25, 2016 8:04 pm; edited 3 times in total
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22279
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 5:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here is one (converted) survivor.....

http://www.classicbusdepot.com/bus-photos/118_0_1_0_C/

(courtesy: classicbusdepot.com)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22279
Location: NEW JOISEY

PostPosted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 5:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here is another magnificent (and rare!) survivor, this one being restored in GREYHOUND livery............

http://pacbus.org/roster/pbm1945.html

(courtesy: Pacific Bus Museum)
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traildriver




Joined: 26 Mar 2011
Posts: 2452
Location: South Florida

PostPosted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 9:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The reason for the rounded "bullet" rear end, besides style, was that unlike most rear-engined Yellow/GM Coaches, these did not employ the patented Angle Drive off a transverse mounted engine, but had a straight-in mounted engine. It 'stuck out' a bit in the rear, so the bulge was designed to accommodate them.
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
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Location: NEW JOISEY

PostPosted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 10:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

traildriver wrote:
The reason for the rounded "bullet" rear end, besides style, was that unlike most rear-engined Yellow/GM Coaches, these did not employ the patented Angle Drive off a transverse mounted engine, but had a straight-in mounted engine. It 'stuck out' a bit in the rear, so the bulge was designed to accommodate them.


traildriver:

And give the gentleman a cigar! Very Happy

The other long, long ago memory I have of these buses was that some had observation car-style illuminated drumheads mounted on the rear.

The last I ever saw was one in my town (I NEVER got to talk to its driver, or find out is exact "home" in town), close to 40 years ago.

This fearsome beast from another era was painted in army drab, and featured an illuminated drumhead that read "FADED GLORY".

The last I ever saw of this historic bus model was circa-1980, being serviced at the old "TRI-STATE DIESEL" station on Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen.

Sadly, I never saw it again.......

"NYO"

*I can also remember seeing the type up at Niagara Falls with my folks, during a weekend NYCRR excursion in July of 1966.......
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 9:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

On a related note, the original Flxible CLIPPER buses, while having the streamlined, rounded rears, still had engines mounted in the front, though now inside the body itself, dispensing with the old-fashioned, elongated front hood.

It was not until 1938 that the company introduced its first rear-engined CLIPPER, the Model 25-CR-98 in June of 1938.

These modern coaches were equipped with CHEVROLET 78-horsepower engines, mounted in-line at the rear of the bus......

"NYO"
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JimmiB



Age: 81
Joined: 19 Apr 2011
Posts: 516
Location: Lebanon, PA

PostPosted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 7:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 wrote:
Here is one (converted) survivor.....

http://www.classicbusdepot.com/bus-photos/118_0_1_0_C/

(courtesy: classicbusdepot.com)


What a great story that goes with this bus!
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22279
Location: NEW JOISEY

PostPosted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 8:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

JimmiB wrote:
NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 wrote:
Here is one (converted) survivor.....

http://www.classicbusdepot.com/bus-photos/118_0_1_0_C/

(courtesy: classicbusdepot.com)


What a great story that goes with this bus!


Jummy:

Agreed!

Personally, I would have restored this historic bus to its original "as built" configuration, but, even I am more than pleased to see this beautiful old bus still on the road....in ANY configuration!

Built like tanks.....sleek as thoroughbreds....... Wink
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 11:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

See also:

http://utahrails.net/buses/GM-PDPARLOR.htm

(courtesy: utahrails.net)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22279
Location: NEW JOISEY

PostPosted: Sun Aug 28, 2016 9:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

.....I sure wish our good and highly knowledgeable friend Mr. Linsky was still active here; his fathomless knowledge of all things buses indeed would have provided this topic with not only much in the way of historic data, but also, just as surely, some wonderful old photos to "sweeten the pot"......

"NYO"
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