BusTalk

barta14 · Age: 34 Joined: 27 Mar 2011 Posts: 10 Location: Reading, PA

Hello all,

I posted a bit a few months ago, but haven't been active since. I recently bought an October 1960 Russell's Guide from a current employee of Russell's - the book was in their archives (complete with an old typewritten label reading "Permanent File--Please Return"), so it's in perfect shape.

I also recently picked up a 1951 edition of the Mass Transportation's Directory on eBay - a guide to local and some intercity bus service. I'm interested in scanning both these books and making them available online for bus historians or people like me who are merely curious. Not sure where to start, though.

Would anyone have any advice on how best to scan these? Is there a busfan-oriented website that would allow me to host the images? And are there any specific schedules you folks here would like me to scan from either book before the rest?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Best,

Josh

JimmiB · Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2011 10:13 am Post subject:

Josh, I'm afraid I won't be much help with posting but I hope you can. I'd be interested in seeing any schedules from Reading Bus or Lebanon Coach Co. since I drove for both.

barta14 · Age: 34 Joined: 27 Mar 2011 Posts: 10 Location: Reading, PA

Jimmi,

I doubt I'll be much help with that one. The Russell's Guide is only for intercity bus service (similar to the Official Guide of the Railways), and the Mass Transportation's Directory is a small directory showing officers, numbers of buses and route miles, and a brief synopsis of the cities served.

However, since I live in Sinking Spring myself, I'll do the Reading/Lebanon areas of the MTD and scan in the schedules from Russell's showing Berks/Lebanon County service...there's not a huge amount.

Interestingly, my August 1952 Official Railway Guide shows most of the Reading Co. local service from Reading <-> Harrisburg provided by bus. I wonder if those schedules would have appeared in the Russell's Guides of the day.

Best,

Josh

JimmiB · Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2011 1:51 pm Post subject:

At that time the Reading/Harrisburg runs were being operated by Reading Transportation Co. before being sold to Capital Trailways.
Here's a photo of a 1954 Reading Transportation Flxible.

Photo borrowed from PA Bus Museum for educational purposes.