BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver:

Personally, I always felt that the 4014 (always one of my favorite buses!), on both GREYHOUND and TRAILWAYS, was pretty much in the shadow of the more-stately SCENICRUISERS and EAGLES.

It was clear that the iconic, highly-distinctive SCENICRUISER and the handsome EAGLE were the "trademark" buses of each company; the 4104, I've always felt, was the bus industry's version of the 727; sort of a "jack-of-all-trades" conveyance, but still very much in the shadow of the 707 and the DC-8.

The 4104, as time went on, found a strong niche in not only intercity fleets, but also, in the fleets of suburban commuter companies and charter outfits.

GREYHOUND, of course, had the "upper hand", so to speak, regarding the SCENICRUISER; the company had it in service a few years before the first EAGLES "flew".

Even today, many history-minded enthusiast picture a SCENICRUISER, first and foremost, when thinking of a classic "hound".......

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

......when one thinks about, the 4106 was, for all practical purposes, simply a modernized version of the 4104.

Though its lines were more angular than the earlier 4104, it is easy to see where the "inspiration" came from.

Again, like the 4104, the 4106 was pretty much an "unsung hero" for many years, even though they were a part of many intercity fleets through the years,

Also, again like the 4104, the 4106 also found quite a bit of work with commuter and charter companies; way, way back in the early NJT years, I can remember riding "inherited" 4104's and 4106's on the former ORANGE & BLACK's rush-hour "RIVER ROAD EXPRESS".

I remember it being a treat to ride them to/from the PABT, and, like any GM product, the smooth sounds of those powerful engines at work was indeed a sweet symphony.......

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

....if ever there was an "unsung hero" in the GREYHOUND (and TRAILWAYS) fleet. it was the 4103, which, IMHO, is easily one of the most underrated highway coaches ever built.......

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_PD-4103

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

......ditto GM's "Buffalo Bus" (which I long ago dubbed the "Scenicruiser, Jr."/"Baby Greyhound").......

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Buffalo_bus

[traildriver]

Very few commuter bus companies acquired new GM 'parlor coaches'. PS only bought them for their long haul routes to Fort Dix, Atlantic City, Cape May, or Allentown, Pa. Main reason besides the higher cost, was the lack of seating that 40 foot Suburban's provided.

When the 40 foot parlor came out the PD-4903 'buffalo', that changed things.
And when GM effectively exited the business, that made the MC-9 Commuter, the new 'king' of commuter buses....

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Further on DeCamp's "parlor coaches"......

DeCamp purchased 4104's, but, oddly enough, skipped over the 4106's in the 1960's; as I had mentioned in my previous posting, after the 4104's, the next parlor coaches purchased by the company were the "Buffalos".

INTER-CITY rostered 4106's, as did PSNJ.

Like the earlier 4104's, the 4106's were once quite popular with TRAILWAYS......

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

From "THE BUS WORLD ENCYCLOPEDIA TO BUSES" (Stauss), regarding the 4104.......

".....while GM and GREYHOUND were developing the unique PD-4501 'SCENICRUISER", GM constructed a bus which incorporated some of its features, such as picture windows, air suspension, optional air-conditioning, and full silversiding......"

"......GREYHOUND bought the first one, and eventually operated 1,253 of the 4104 'Highway Travelers'......."

"......the 4104 was the first of of many GM buses to feature slanting window pillars, a design theme which remained with the intercity line until its end in 1980, and also used on all 'New Look' transit buses......"

"......5,065 4104's were produced during the production run which lasted until 1960......"

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Regarding the later 4106 (from the aforemtioned "BUS WORLD ENCYCLOPEDIA").......

".....the PD-4104 was restyled to create the 4106; this bus was the first to use the new Detroit Diesel 8V-71. It was also the first bus to have a combined heating and cooling system, with the compressor driven by the engine....."

".....GREYHOUND and TRAILWAYS both operated substantial numbers of the 3,226 4106's that were produced between 1961 and 1965......"

"NYO"

[traildriver]

[traildriver]

One unique feature of any 4106 registered in New Jersey, was the requirement to have an emergency door. Only NJ still required them. The rest of the states accepted the large push out escape windows as sufficient. When the 4107 came out, NJ dropped that requirement....

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"Buffalos"........

In the early 80's, I started seeing "Bison" (I do not know if these were originally PS/TNJ buses, or from some other company) on the former ORANGE & BLACK "River Road Express"; I rode them often enough to get "the feel" of them, and always pretended I was on a long-haul jaunt via a SCENICRUISER!

My first "Bison" trip was with my folks in 1973, when we took a "PARKER TOURS" week-long trip up to Canada (bus was "DATTCO")

I also remember SHORT LINE operating "Bison"; if memory serves me correctly, MANHATTAN LINES also ran them.

Ahhh, memories.......

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

In "AMERICAN BUSES" (David Jacobs, 1985) there are a few photos of local and out-of-state "Bison" photos, including these companies:

SCENIC HAWKEYE STAGES

LIBERTY

In the chapter dedicated to GREYHOUND, only MCI buses are represented; TRAILWAYS, all EAGLES.

By the late 1960's, EMPIRE STATE TRAILWAYS (WESTERN NEW YORK MOTOR LINES) was operating PD-4903's in through service between Buffalo and New York, with ADIRONDACK TRAILWAYS*.......

"NYO"

*Information from "TRAILWAYS BUSES" (William A. Luke)