BusTalk

[traildriver]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Just reflecting....

The 61st anniversary of the death of President John F. Kennedy (cannot believe it is now that long ago now) has just passed, and it saddened me greatly to see that there was next to no coverage about that tragic day in American history; brief mentions of that dark day were about ALL you could find........how soon we forget........sad.

America not only lost a great leader on that horrific day, but also, saw the curtain fall on the innocence we all took for granted.

When I think back to that long-ago November of 1963, I also fondly recall how (in my area) commonplace Old Looks, MACKS, WHITES, and ACF-BRILLS still were.

The legendary SCENICRUISERS and the flashy, iconic EAGLES were still the backbones of the GREYHOUND and CONTINENTAL TRAILWAYS fleets.

The sleek, stylish, always-humming "Port-of-Authority" was still light-years away from being shamelessly desecrated.

New Jersey was still served by the mighty PSNJ, as well as a number of colorful, now long-gone, suburban carriers.

Your's Truly was just shy of seven in November of 1963, but I can recall it all as though it were yesterday.

Bus-wise, 1963 was indeed a paradise for a certain avid little bus enthusiast growing up in northern New Jersey, one who now is pushing 68(!!).........

"NYO"

["1 JOURNAL SQUARE"]

[Cyberider]

I remember that day distinctly, too. I was at school on the playground when it was announced over the PA. A sad day for our country, indeed.

On the other hand, speaking of 1963 in general, it was still a good year for buses even though the New Looks were taking over runs of the Old Looks. A good year radiowise for me, as well, as that was the year I got my first amateur radio license.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

Indeed, ALL of us old enough to recall that tragic day can still easily where they were, when the news of the President's assasination came over the wires.

We lost a great President, a mentor, a forward-thinker, and a friend.

His untimely death affected all of us, in so many ways.

In my general area (Union City, in Hudson County), Fishbowls/New looks would not appear until later in 1966/1967.

The now-defunct NHBL (Noth Hudson Boulevard Lines) operated a diverse fleet of several models of Old Looks, two models of MACKS, and two models of WHITES.

NJT today operates NABIS (aka "insipid little shoe boxes") on the Kennedy Boulevard's two routes today)

Headways are a far cry from what they were in my day, for certain.

"INTER-CITY" operated suburban Old Looks, ACF-BRILL C-44s, and WHITE 798s and 1150s on the now long, long gone #97 (with so much colorful diversity abounding, it is NO WONDER I loved buses as much as I did!

The nearest Fishbowls in Union City back then would have been (across town to the east) the ones recently assigned to the #44, which then served both Palisades and Park Avenues.

I called these flashy, futuristic buses "Jetson" buses!

"NYO"

["97 JERSEY CITY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Just was thinking of this...........

I've been wondering how GREYHOUND drivers felt about driving ex-TRAILWAYS Eagle coaches........did they have good experiences behind the wheel of an EAGLE, or did they prefer their MCIs?

As always, appreciate info................

["EXPRESS"]

[traildriver]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver:

Good response; what you say indeed makes a lot of sense to me.

Too, we have to recall that, when the ex-TRAILWAYS Eagles entered GREYHOUND's "kennel", there were still some veteran drivers "on the road" who had, in earlier years, driven SCENICRUISERS, 4104s, and 4106s; so, here again, these time-honored "vets" might not have been all that enamored with ANY bus that was NOT built by General Motors, regardless of manufacturer.

Indeed, as the years rolled by, more of more of the highway coaches then in use became more "generic", with the once-commonplace variations falling by the wayside.........

"NYO"

["SCENICRUISER SERVICE"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Further........

Just now thing about how PGL Bay-area drivers felt about piloting SILVERSIDES in East Bay commuter service, especially as these big buses were indeed NOT designed for suburban commuter operations...........

"NYO"

["E OAKLAND"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Going further back........

Also wonder about drivers who drove on routes where FLXIBLES were then being used used; it had to have been a totally NEW experience for these drivers, going from a FLXIBLE to a GM-built bus............

"NYO"

["FLXIBLE"]

[traildriver]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver:

I guess appearances ARE deceiving; to me, any time I see a photo of a SILVERSIDES they (at least through my eyes) seem much larger than the average transit/suburban coach.

Especially in later years, these big handsome buses had indeed become pretty popular with many charter operators........

"NYO"

["CHARTERED"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Thinking.....

I've seen, over the past several years, "later day" photos of ex-GREYHOUND Scenicruisers now operating for TRAILWAYS.

Wonder how drivers, long accustomed to their iconic EAGLES, felt about driving a GM-built bus, especially a bus that had long been the flagship of their foremost competitor?

In the book, "GREYHOUND SCENICRUISER" (McNALLY/RAYMAN) there is a photo of a SENICRUISER now running for TRAILWAYS, at the depot at Tyler, Texas, circa-1982.................

"NYO"

["CHARTER"]

[traildriver]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver:

The caption below the aforementioned photo reads:

".....Trailways 182 (PD-4501-745) in Tyler, Texas, circa-1982......"

I am not disputing your comments; indeed, you know far more of the intercity bus industry than I ever will!

The bus is painted in the then-current "Big Red" livery.

Still, considering the fact that GREYHOUND took over TRAILWAYS, it indeed DOES seem a bit ironic, seeing a "Scenic" attired in TRAILWAYS paint (except, of course, in my vintage toy bus collection!).....

"NYO"

["DALLAS"]

[traildriver]