BusTalk

[Cyberider]

Lots of action in that shot. Plus the museum train of Low-V's/

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"SCENICRUISER CAMEO" (1975)

Indeed, this SCENICRUISER looks QUITE the "odd one out" bringing up the rear of this lineup of chartered Old Looks!

What a great little "vintage bus rally" this classic lineup would have made at a bus rally today!

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?153607

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["CHARTERED"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Guadalajara, 1977.

Now, THIS is what I calm "DIVERSITY"*, back in the days when transit was STILL a most INTERESTING hobby!

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?157259

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

*The highway coach trailing the trolleybus is a DINA "Flexiliner", indeed a now a rare classic unto itself!

[Cyberider]

NYO: That's the kind of "diversity" I can live with. Nice Wagoneer too!

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"DIVERSITY IN DAYTON" (back in the day!)

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?157163

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?157204

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?157205

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["7 REDWOOD"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Curious......

I wonder what particular type of bus served GREYHOUND longer than any other?

In other words, what type bus would have held the "house record" for longevity, in the GREYHOUND fleet?

Too (I know this would have been easy to find on the old "STRAYHOUND" site) I'd be interested in finding out when GREYHOUND retired the last of the older front-engined buses, which, of course, were important members of the fleet, during the WW2 years, when ALL available rolling stock had to be utilized, to cope with the tremendous surge in traffic......

"NYO"

["NEW YORK"]

[traildriver]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver:

Once again, GREATLY APPRECIATE your always-informative and highly-detailed input.

I am now thinking of the 743s, which, in their later years, some were rebuilt and modernized (with 6-71 diesels), and also, the buses received updated paint schemes as well as silversiding.

I've seen photos of these good-looking, updated 743s; "SWG" operated some of these (CORGI also offered a really sharp replica of this modernized 743 years back; the one I have is part of a 1950s bus station diorama!)

"NYO"

["HOUSTON"]

[traildriver]

I only had one ride in a 743, which was on a 7th grade school trip to Washington, DC back in 1960. The charter operator had at first dispatched a Silversides PD-3751, but when our teacher checked the credential's, found it did not have an insurance certificate. So we waited over an hour for the small charter carrier to come up with a coach that did, and it turned out to be the 743. It had to be at least 21 years old at the time, but it got us there and back safely. I remember the distinctive "Greyhound Lines" logo molded into its dashboard, and the interior lights which were enclosed in a long plastic tube, mimicking a florescent tube, even though they were not nearly as bright...
The seats were very comfortable, with tons of legroom, and deep recline...

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver;

GREAT MEMORIES....thanks for sharing!

While I DO indeed recall seeing 743s in charter service as a young lad every once in awhile, I never got to ride one of these classic buses.

I also well remember "Silversides" in charter service, but, again, never got to ride on one; every so often, I'd; seen an ultra-rare "AEROCOACH" in charter service around my area, 60-odd years ago......NEVER thought I was witnessing bus history, right before my young eyes!

Ahhh, but for the the days of REAL buses and not "BINOs" (Buses In Name Only)........

"AEROCOACH"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

A new era for GREYHOUND was indeed dawning............

A circa-1955 booklet I have in my collection, "THE SCENICRUISER-a new milestone marking Greyhound leadership in bus development.", indeed takes us back to what was, perhaps, the most elegant and stylish era for 'The Hound".

"Greyhound introduces a new era in highway travel with this revoltionary new bus."

This an excellent little publication, highlighting many different features of this now-iconic highway coach (power plant, transmission, air-conditioning, seating, etc.

One interesting heading:

"POOLING OF BUSES".......

"........pooling of buses provides the most convenient service possible between major terminal points because the transfer of passengers and baggage is eliminated......."

".......this pooling also includes the cooperative ownership of power packs. Spare engines are strategically placed along major routes........"

".......investment required for spare equipment can be reduced because engines, rather then complete buses, are involved......"

There is also a timeless (and majestic!) photo showing an impressive lineup of new 4104s, modernized 743s, and Silversides, along with the following caption":

".......licenses on idle buses are a needless expense......"

Superimposed on this photo is a small "insert" showing the rear of a "Hound" plastered with multiple plates.

Ahhhh, where have 70 years gone.....hard to believe that the sleek, modern, flash SCENICRUISER is a now a 70 year-old bus, with roots going even further back!

"NYO"

["EXPRESS"]

[traildriver]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver:

As always, greatly appreciate your always-intriguing (and knowledgeable!) input!

On a few of of the vintage tin toy SCENICRUISERS I have in my collection (and I have many!), multiple plates are indeed replicated (recall the many plates displayed by the "Star Hound" in 1934's hit comedy, "IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT")

As a "young 'un", I always loved seeing the buses displaying the colorful plates from different states; made you want to hop aboard one of these diesel-powered "magic carpets" and see all of those states yourself!

Alas, it was all so long ago.

On a related note, recall that FLXIBLE's "Clippers" and 'Visicoaches" were equipped with a rear plate holder, which could handle up to four plates; these holders used tension springs to eliminating rattling en-route............

"NYO"

["80684"]