BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Back in the 1950s, the Great Northern Railway operated a small fleet of the handsome and most unusual bus/truck combinations, known as a "BRUCK". These rare "cargo coaches" were built by noted truck builder KENWORTH (which also manufactured "conventional" coaches as well, many years ago). The restored coach seen here is indeed a rare and magnificent vehicle indeed!! http://homepage.mac.com/jon_snyder/gn/bruck.html

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here is another highly-unusual "cargo bus", this one operated by the Western Pacific. Note that this distinctive-looking bus could operate on both RUBBER and RAILS!! http://www.davesrailpix.com/odds/tx/htm/hns02.htm

[roymanning2000]

The Bangor and Aroostook had a bruck built by Crown back in the fifties. I seem to recall that the Northern Pacific may have had a similar Crown as well. Of course, I can't find a picture of either one right now.

Roy

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Hi, Roy: This is news to me!! Sure would love to see at least ONE pic!!!! John

[HwyHaulier]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Hi, Vern: Sorry! I've ALREADY been to PEARLE for an examination and FLUNKED royally(!!) (What?? You're so surprised??)<G> That railbus/railcoach certainly is an excellent illustration of the old adage: "necessity is indeed the mother of invention"!! John

[roymanning2000]

The Houston North Shore Railway was originally an interurban line. It was converted to the railbuses shown some time before World War II. Those look like Wayne bodies but, I might be wrong.

After the war, these railbuses were replaced by a fleet of six Twin 41-SRC railbuses. Basically, these were Twin 41-S transits on rail wheels. They also featured a big headlight mounted on the roof at the front. Wonder if they had an air horn? That would have been delightful to the ears of the engineer and passengers, I'm sure.

Roy

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Roy: Funny you should mention this! The Missouri Pacific operated six Twin Coach Model 38-S's as rail buses for thier suburban service out of Houston. The coaches looked basically the same as any other conventional postwar Twin Coach, with the exception of a massive locomotive headlight mounted on the roof, air horns, and a cow-catcher!!

Conventional wheel wells were also retained, shielding streel flanged wheels instead of tires. A test bus was tried out in 1947, and the other five went into service in 1948. They ran until 1961. It would be interesting indeed to learn what happened to these unique coaches after they were retired from rail service... John

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Speaking of the Missouri Pacific, scroll down the page to see a pic of a new 1946 GMC PD-2903, from Missouri Pacific Trailways. Some Flxible influence is evident in this model(!!) http://www.trainweb.org/screamingeagle/vehicle.html