BusTalk

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2020 12:54 am Post subject:

Usually, most bus enthusiasts do not think of the iconic SCENICRUISER being used in commuter service....however........

"......in the mid-1970's, about 100 Scenicruisers had another row of seats added on the upper level, increasing their capacity from 43 to 47. These new, more-crowded buses were pressed into service as commuter shuttles......"

".........these buses ran schedules for Travis Air Force Base, San Francisco Airport, as well as the San Diego area, and, also, a few East Coast commuter hubs......."

"........most of these buses remained in the 1962 gold stripe-scheme until they were retired........."

(From: GREYHOUND SCENICRUISER McNally/Rayman)

"NYO"

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2020 1:59 am Post subject:

Perhaps one of most unusual "second lives" for an ex-GREYHOUND Scenicruiser was bestowed upon ex-CENTRAL GREYHOUND LINES #1176.

This bus, purchased by the late Rev. Billy Graham, was shipped to Africa, for use in his Evangelistic Crusades*.

Clearly, this now-retired "Hound" was quite obviously, destined to "answer to a higher authority"......... Wink

"NYO"

*Many retired SCENICRUISERS, not surprisingly, were purchased by a number of churches and various religious groups.

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2020 2:16 am Post subject:

On a related (and interesting!) note.......

While we all, of course, are well-versed with the legendary "SCENICRUISER", there once was, at one time, the "CATHEDRAL CRUISER"*, an unorthodox, futuristic, sleek "bus" that indeed should be mentioned here........

www.futurliner.com/oralroberts.htm

*There are also several links on this vehicle on the left-hand side of this page, that are quite interesting (including vintage photos!)

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2020 2:24 am Post subject:

See also:

www.futurliner.com/oral_rob1.htm

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2020 2:27 am Post subject:

Note that "PETER PAN" has two GM "Futurliners" (see photos!)

www.futurliner.com/other.htm

(just imagine GREYHOUND carrying passengers in one of these huge, futuristic babies!) Shocked

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2020 2:33 am Post subject:

See also:

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

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2020 2:47 am Post subject:

Witnessing a parade of these towering, GM-built, monolithic mammoths HAD to be a never-to-be-forgotten experience, to say these least! Shocked

www.futurliner.com/1953para.htm

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2020 2:50 am Post subject:

"INLINE SIX" photos, taken at the GM TRUCK & COACH plant, circa-1954........

www.futurliner.com/six1.htm

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2020 3:01 am Post subject:

I cannot help but imagine one of these modernistic, pre-war "streamliners" adapted for intercity bus use; GREYHOUND's famed "running dog" would look quite at home, on such a sleek vehicle......

www.futurliner.com/36parade.htm

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2020 8:59 am Post subject:

Imagine GREYHOUND using one of these as a "Combo Car"? Wink

www.futurliner.com/oralroberts_2.htm

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2020 9:11 am Post subject:

A wealth of excellent links on this page; many rare and fascinating photos here.......

www.futurliner.com/index.html

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2020 9:23 am Post subject:

More rare photos of interest:

www.futurliner.com/stream.htm

When one reflects on GREYHOUND's experimental postwar "HIGHWAY TRAVELER", with its stunning, modernistic design, the notion of an intercity passenger bus-version of GM's "FUTURLINER" does not at all seem that farfetched.

An artist's rendition of one concept for a modern GREYHOUND bus (as part of a 1936 GM design study, which can be seen in the Robert Gabrick book "GOING THE GREYHOUND WAY" called for a new bus design that was, indeed, quite "Flash Gordon-ish" is appearance.

At that time, "streamline" was indeed the byword, including everything from household appliances to road and rail vehicles (think of the PCC, for starters!)......

"NYO"

traildriver · Joined: 26 Mar 2011 Posts: 2459 Location: South Florida

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2020 1:34 pm Post subject:

traildriver:

It would seem, then, that the overall design of the "Futurliner" gave it a "bulk" that was deceiving to the eye; certainly, they looked QUITE tall!

Clearance-wise, I wonder how they would have handled the Holland or Lincoln; then again, I know the PICKWICK "Nite Coach" buses obviously could (and did) use the tunnels to enter/leave Manhattan......

"NYO"

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2020 1:37 pm Post subject:

"PICKWICK"

https://en.wikipdia.org/wiki/The_Pickwick_Corporation