BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver:

Appreciate this info; I am reminded here of DE CAMP, New Jersey's oldest family-operated bus company.

Personally, I like that the "TRAILWAYS" name can still be seen on some buses, many years after "CONTINENTAL" was taken over by GREYHOUND.

Back in our day, the now-iconic "CONTINENTAL TRAILWAYS" name seemed to be something that would never vanish from the American scene.

In the late Jim Lehrer's book "A BUS OF MY OWN", he mentions hundreds of vintage bus depot signs (and cap badges) in his collection, reflecting back on countless big and small, long-defunct companies, including:

YELLOWAY

COLONIAL

GREAT EASTERN

ALL AMERICAN

TAMIAMI

ALAGA

ARKOMO

MKO COACHES

PICKWICK

BLUE RIDGE

GREAT FALLS

BOWEN

INDIANA MOTOR BUS

QUAKER CITY

QUEEN CITY

SAFEWAY

GOLDEN ARROW

EDWARDS

SAFETY TRANSIT

NORTH STAR

NORTHLAND

OVERLAND

INTERSTATE

TRANS-STATE

CAROLINA SCENIC

HARMONY SHORT LINE

GULF TRANSPORT

BROOKS

SUNNYLAND

SUNSET

SUNSHINE

DIXIE

LAKE SHORE

ARROW

ZEPHYR

NORTHWESTERN STAGES

KG LINES

TNM&O COACHES

NEW MEXICO TRANSPORTATION COMPANY

Mind-boggling to think of how many "independent" bus companies once criss-crossed the nation, back in the day, linking large cities, suburbs, hamlets, and even the most remote of areas.

Like the earlier railroads, the inter-city bus companies of old indeed helped shape this nation, beginning in the early 20th century, and ever-expanding as our systems of highways grew.......

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

These companies were (footnote) listed in a 1952 TECHE GREYHOUND timetable:

SOUTHWESTERN GREYHOUND LINES

PACIFIC GREYHOUND LINES

ATLANTIC GREYHOUND LINES

SOUTHEASTERN GREYHOUND LINES

DIXIE GREYHOUND LINES

RICHMOND GREYHOUND LINES

PENNSYLVANIA GREYHOUND LINES

NEW ENGLAND GREYHOUND LINES

GREAT LAKES GREYHOUND LINES

PENN. GREYHOUND LINES (IND.)

CENTRAL GREYHOUND LINES

EASTERN CANADIAN GREYHOUND LINES, LTD.

OVERLAND GREYHOUND LINES

CONTINENTAL TRAILWAYS

CROWN COACH CO.

SOUTHERN LIMITED

CONTINENTAL SOUTHERN LINES

NORTHWEST GREYHOUND LINES

FLORIDA GREYHOUND LINES

TAMIAMI TRAIL TOURS

KERRVILLE BUS COMPANY

TENNESSEE COACH COMPANY

WHITE EAGLE LINES

SMOKY MOUNTAIN STAGES

ALAGA COACH LINES

MISSOURI PACIFIC TRANSPORTATION COMPANY

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Connecting bus lines, as listed in GREYHOUND "Transcontinental Timetables" (EASTERN GREYHOUND) 4/57........

OKLAHOMA TRANSPORTATION CO.

CARLSBAD CAVERNS COACHES

M. K. & O. LINES

RED STAR WAY

NEW MEXICO TRANSPORTATION CO.

JEFFERSON TRANSPORTATION CO.

AUTOBUSES DE ORIENTE

TRANSPORTES DEL NORTE

ESTRELLA DE ORO

CROWN COACH CO.

SOUTHERN KANSAS GREYHOUND LINES

GREAT LAKES GREYHOUND LINES

EASTERN GREYHOUND LINES

SOUTHWESTERN GREYHOUND LINES

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Connecting bus companies (from GREYHOUND "Washington Local Service" TT, 1970):

BLACK BALL TRANSPORT

EMPIRE LINES

INTERMOUNTAIN TRANSPORTATION CO.

J.J. LAFFERTY STAGE CO.

NORTHWESTERN STAGE LINE

LAS VEGAS-TONOPAH-RENO STAGE LINES

GREYHOUND LINES OF CANADA

GREYHOUND LINES-WEST

SUN VALLEY BUS LINE

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Connections, as listed in a 1949 TT for "DIXIE GREYHOUND":

SOUTHEASTERN GREYHOUND LINES

SOUTHWESTERN GREYHOUND LINES

TECHE GREYHOUND LINES

CENTRAL GREYHOUND LINES

DIXIE GREYHOUND LINES

PENNSYLVANIA GREYHOUND LINES

ATLANTIC GREYHOUND LINES

TENNESSEE COACH COMPANY

SHORTY'S BUS LINE (interstate only)

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

These connections are listed in a 1961 TT for "EASTERN GREYHOUND"....

GRAY COACH LINES LTD.

GRAND ISLAND TRANSIT COMPANY

CANADA COACH LINES

GREYHOUND LINES OF CANADA

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

In 1933, the Greyhound Corporation included fourteen major companies that controlled its various subsidiaries.

Some were completely owned by the parent corporation; others were affiliates.

They were:

Completely owned:

CENTRAL GREYHOUND LINES

ILLINOIS GREYHOUND LINES

EASTERN GREYHOUND LINES (NEW ENGLAND
__________________________________________

Affiliated companies:

PENNSYLVANIA GREYHOUND LINES

EASTERN GREYHOUND LINES (DELAWARE)

PACIFIC GREYHOUND LINES

NORTHLAND GREYHOUND LINES

RICHMOND GREYHOUND LINES

DIXIE GREYHOUND LINES

ATLANTIC GREYHOUND LINES

CAPITOL GREYHOUND LINES

TECHE LINES

SOUTHLAND GREYHOUND LINES*

WESTERN GREYHOUND LINES*

*In 1933, these two companies were being liquidated; their routes were transferred to SOUTHWESTERN GREYHOUND

(source: 'THE GREYHOUND STORY"/Oscar Shisgall)

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

More "trivia" from the aforementioned book (the following information dates to 1941):

On April 1, 1941, the corporation acquired all the capital stock of EASTERN MICHIGAN MOTORBUSES, and changed its name to GREAT LAKES GREYHOUND LINES (these routes operated through lower Michigan)

On July 1, 1941, the Company acquired, through its its Richmond-Greyhound subsidiary, all the properties of the PENINSULA TRANSIT CORPORATION, covering routes from Baltimore and Washington, to Richmond and Norfolk.

TECHE LINES, operating in the South, was merged into the corporation-one of the year's most important deals.

An 80% interest in WESTERN CANADIAN GREYHOUND LINES, though negotiated earlier, became confirmed.

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Dateline, 1936:

1:

ATLANTIC GREYHOUND Corporation merged into itself the ATLANTIC GREYHOUND LINES, EAST COACH STAGES, and SAFEWAY TRANSIT LINES.

2:

GOLDEN EAGLE SOUTHERN LINES was brought into the SOUTHWESTERN GREYHOUND LINES.

3:

NORTHLAND GREYHOUND LINES merged itself with the NORTHLAND GREYHOUND LINES of Illinois, , a subsidiary.

4:

The last of the mergers affected the PENNSYLVANIA GREYHOUND LINES, into which merged:

BUFFALO INTERURBAN BUS LINES

MONTGOMERY BUS COMPANY

PEOPLE'S RAPID TRANSIT

PENNSYLVANIA VIRGINIA GENERAL TRANSIT COMPANY

PENNSYLVANIA GENERAL TRANSIT COMPANY.

5:

These companies merged into PACIFIC GREYHOUND:

GOLDEN GATE STAGES

KERN COUNTY TRANSPORTATION CORPORATION

PENINSULA RAPID TRANSIT COMPANY

UNION AUTO STAGES

PACIFIC AUTO STAGES

SOUTHERN PACIFIC MOTOR TRANSPORTATION COMPANY

PACIFIC GREYHOUND LINES

(Source: "THE GREYHOUND STORY", Oscar Schisgall)

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

From "REMINISCE" magazine (March/April 2005):

Several pages of GREYHOUND memories were submitted by readers; the feature is entitled "TAKE A GREYHOUND DOWN MEMORY LANE" (a b/w photo of a SILVERSIDES heads up the feature!)

One submission was from a retired GREYHOUND driver, Harry Messinger, of Salem, Virginia (a photo shows him with his collection of toy and model GREYHOUND buses, as well as other related memorablia)

Mr. Messinger worked for GREYHOUND for 34 years; the last 9 on which he served as a driver instructor.

He also remembers, back in the 70's, when all buses had signs inside reading: "THANKS FOR TAKING THE BUS TO SAVE ENERGY"; according to Harry, drivers were also requested to relay this message verbally to passengers as they debarked.

He also remembered when folks "dressed up" to ride the bus......

"NYO"

[traildriver]

NYO--
I recall those signs...if I recall correctly, they were signed by then POTUS, Jimmy Carter.

Greyhound had a joint project during that time period, in cooperation with the US Dept. of Energy, to develop alternate fuel buses. They had about a dozen MC-7's and MC-8's, with Allison Gas Turbine engines, that could burn almost any type of fuel. There were a couple initially on the Detroit-Indianapolis run, which connected Allison facilities at both ends. Later, several "Turbocruiser's"
were assigned to the Philadelphia-Washington run....

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver:

Appreciate the info!

You mentioned the Gas Turbines; recall the Gas-Turbine car experiments on the LIRR, many years ago?

I remember the railroad magazines at that time had much on them.

Also, recall GM's "Turbocruiser", a 4512 displayed at GM's "Powerama" exhibition, back in 1955; the bus had an experimental gas turbine engine, which, after exhaustive tests, was found to be very fuel inefficient and also ran quite hot, despite its quiet operation.

After the test, the bus reverted back to being a "straight diesel", and was sold to MARTIN LINES of Royal Oak, Michigan, whre it ran for many years.....

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Recalling gas turbine power on the LIRR (many rare old photos, information, etc., on this page).......

www.trainsarefun.com/lirr/gasturbinecars/gasturbinecars.htm

(courtesy: trainsarefun)

[traildriver]

Great link! Thanks for posting it. I have always been a 'fan', pardon the pun, of turbine power.
Loved the original United Aircraft Turbo Trains, and the later Turboliner's.

I also rode the first turbine powered intercity bus...Continental Trailways Silver Eagle, 29511, a 1969 model '05', with a Ford gas turbine.

It rolled out of the Port on American Buslines division trip #11--thru coach New York to Los Angeles at 2:00 PM, one summer afternoon. At the wheel, was veteran Pittsburgh driver, Don Martin. There were Ford and CTS technician's aboard, as well as various Company officials, and press, among the regular passenger's.

I rode it all the way to Effingham, Illinois, before returning to NYC...

I still have an aluminum souvenir keychain from that trip in my collection.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver:

You are quite welcome; I had the feeling you'd enjoy the link!

Speaking of "turbines", the long-defunct "KEY SYSTEM" had several modern turbo-electric ferryboats in their fleet, which connected with their electric trains at the KEY PIER, which closed in 1939, when all train service was rerouted to the new Transbay Terminal, via the Bay bridge.

I sure wish I had been with you when you rode aboard that turbine-powered "Eagle"; once again, my friend, allow me to say, you've done it all!

"NYO"