BusTalk

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2020 1:42 pm Post subject:

Excellent work on the history and development of these oft-forgotten stately, luxurious, and ever-fascinating "Highway Hulksters".......

www.coachbuilt.com/bui/p/pickwick/pickwick.htm

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

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2020 7:28 pm Post subject:

traildriver:

If any such photos exist, it is a safe guess to say that a photo showing a PICKWICK Nite Coach either entering or leaving one of the NJ/NY tunnels is scarcer than hen's teeth (I know I have never seen one!)

"Nite Coach" service ended with our entering WW2; had the War not intervened, it would be interesting, to say the least, how much more the "Nite Coach" concept might have progressed.......

"NYO"

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2020 7:56 pm Post subject:

"SANTA FE TRAILWAYS" also operated "Nite Coach" service using Pickwick Sleeper buses between Kansas City and Los Angeles, beginning in 1935.

Santa Fe had eight of these buses, which were originally owned and operated by "COLUMBIA-PACIFIC NITE COACH" for a time.

"SANTA FE TRAILWAYS" ended Nite Coach service when WW2 began, and was never re-instated after the War.....

"NYO"

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2020 11:12 pm Post subject:

Just came across this interesting link (w/photos)......

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleeper_bus *

*Note, also, that in Great Britain, there were two "sleeper coach" services, between London and Liverpool/Manchester, in the late 1920's/1930's.

(Also, according to this article, a "sleeper bus" run between San Francisco and LA started in 2017)

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2020 11:32 pm Post subject:

See also:

https://us.megabus.com/night-buses

(Obviously, some of the travel suggestions made here were written long before "social distancing" became "the new norm"!)

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2020 12:01 am Post subject:

Also of interest:

https://villagetours.net/sleeper-motorcoaches/

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

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

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2020 9:53 am Post subject:

traildriver:

Appreciate the additional information.....most interesting! Wink

As I had commented earlier, here, had WW2 not intervened, I wonder just how much further the "Nite Bus"/"Sleeper Coach" concept might have evolved.

IMHO, I believe that, even without the War, eventually, such overnight bus services would have fallen out of favor (as was the case with Pullman service on the rails) as the airlines more and more dominated intercity travel......

"NYO"

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2020 10:00 am Post subject:

.....cannot help but imagine what "mainstream" sleeper operations might have been like, using SCENICRUISERS....(!!) Shocked

SCENICRUISERS more than proved their overall "can-handle-just about-anything-you-can-throw-at-me"" persona when GREYHOUND began converting some buses to "Combo Car" configurations.

Though not a "sleeper" service, TRAILWAYS famed "5 Star Service" showed the traveling public just what elegance and comfort COULD be attained aboard a highway coach........

"NYO"

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2020 10:17 am Post subject:

Recall, also, that, in the 1950's, KENWORTH built 12 passenger-cargo passenger vehicles known as "BRUCKS", for the GREAT NORTHERN Ry.

These distinctive vehicles had a passenger capacity of 17, with a taller cargo compartment behind.

The last of these unique vehicles operated in 1971; today, a restored example can be seen at the former GN depot at Whitefish.....

"NYO"

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2020 12:22 pm Post subject:

"COMBINATION BUS"........

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

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2020 12:39 pm Post subject:

From "BUS WORLD" (2/83):

"TRAILWAYS COMBOS":

".......TRAILWAYS is currently operating 30 'combo' buses which are combination freight/passenger vehicles. Passenger space at the rear of the bus is converted into cargo space, tripling the space available for package express over that available in ordinary buses......."

"......TRAILWAYS expects the package express business to increase, and will be expanding the combo fleet as required. The existing combo fleet operates primarily in Texas, Colorado, North Carolina, Louisiana, Georgia, and South Dakota......"

"NYO"

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2020 12:02 am Post subject:

Just did a little research, and was quite fortunate to come across this page, with features both information and photos of the GREAT NORTHERN Ry. "BRUCK"*.

Most certainly, a highly-distinctive vehicle**, one with a most interesting history (Just imagine GREYHOUND and TRAILWAYS operating a fleet of these, big, beefy "combos"!!) Shocked

www.oil-electric.com/2009/05/innovation-bruck.html

*Note the windshield styling; you will notice faint echoes of a postwar TWIN COACH, as well as an appearance that was similar to many British intercity coaches of the 1950's.

**This rare vehicle is indeed a MAGNIFICENT example of a FIRST-CLASS restoration! Very Happy