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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee

Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 27291 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2025 10:58 pm Post subject: |
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The "Hound's" iconic "purebreds".........
1930s: YELLOW 743 ("Supercoach")
1940s: SILVERSIDES
1950s: SCENICRUISER
Though buses like the FLXIBLE "Clipper", IC-41, PD-4104/4106 and other buses indeed worked hard for GREYHOUND for years, none of them (IMHO) ever achieved "iconic" status.
However, it could be said, that, by the 1970s, the big, brawny MCIs were becoming "icons" themselves, after a fashion................
"NYO"
["AMERICRUISER"] |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee

Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 27291 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2025 8:09 pm Post subject: |
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Further........
In some sense, buses like the FLXIBLE "Clipper", "AEROCOACH", 4103 (et all) were "bit players" in GREYHOUND's vast fleet, especially when the 743s, SILVERSIDES, SCENICRUISERS, and 4104s became the dominant players in the overall "big picture".............
"NYO"
["CHICAGO"] |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee

Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 27291 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2025 7:22 pm Post subject: |
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GREYHOUND's MCI era........earlier than most thought..............
Interesting that the VERY first MCI coaches purchased by GREYHOUND were way back in 1953.
Five sleek, silversided MCI "COURIER 95s" were delivered to NEW ENGLAND GREYHOUND LINES; not only were these the first MCI buses purchased by GREYHOUND, they were also the first purchased by any United States carrier (these coaches were diesel powered)......
"NYO"
["E5303"] |
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traildriver
Joined: 26 Mar 2011 Posts: 2593 Location: South Florida
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Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2025 11:52 pm Post subject: |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 wrote: | GREYHOUND's MCI era........earlier than most thought..............
Interesting that the VERY first MCI coaches purchased by GREYHOUND were way back in 1953.
Five sleek, silversided MCI "COURIER 95s" were delivered to NEW ENGLAND GREYHOUND LINES; not only were these the first MCI buses purchased by GREYHOUND, they were also the first purchased by any United States carrier (these coaches were diesel powered)......
"NYO"
["E5303"] |
I did not know that Greyhound Lines purchased any MCI buses (in the US), prior to the MC-5's in 1964. Where did you get that info? Any links? |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee

Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 27291 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2025 12:30 am Post subject: |
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traildriver:
This interesting bit of information (of which I had no idea of, previously) was from an excellent photo archive book I just received yesterday:
"BUSES OF MOTOR COACH INDUSTRIES" (Luke/Grams); the photo of one of the "NEW ENGLAND GREYHOUND LINES" Couriers is found on page 27.
Myself, I had NO IDEA that an American company (let alone GREYHOUND) bought MCIs back in the early 1950s............
"NYO"
["BOSTON"]
Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Wed Jan 22, 2025 1:22 am; edited 1 time in total |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee

Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 27291 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2025 12:52 am Post subject: |
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From the aforementioned book..........
"........this 1952 MCI "Courier 85" was operated by Canadian National Transportation. Note that the bus is signed for Boston......"
"......the company's buses running this schedule did nor run all the way through to Boston. Passengers would ride these buses from Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, to New Brunswick, where they would change to a Maine Central coach for the remainer of the trip into Boston......
"NYO"
["MCI"] |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee

Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 27291 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2025 8:09 pm Post subject: |
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GREYHOUND and the MCI "Courier".........
I find it interesting, to say the least, that the only "COURIER"-type buses to run on a GREYHOUND route were those few for NEW ENGLAND GREYHOUND LINES (did GREYHOUND ever contemplate purchasing more?)
Also, it is interesting to notice that the destination sign was placed below the windshield; this was, at the time, also common practice for PREVOST and CROWN highway coaches.
Note, also, that the huge "owl-eye" windshields hint at those used on the "AEROCOACH".............
"NYO"
['TULSA"] |
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traildriver
Joined: 26 Mar 2011 Posts: 2593 Location: South Florida
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Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2025 11:53 pm Post subject: |
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IIRC, the name "Courier" continued on even into MC-5 construction for coaches delivered to Canadian customer's, even Greyhound Lines of Canada, while those MC-5's and MC-5A's delivered to American customer's, were christened "Challenger".
I recall seeing some that even said "Courier Challenger" in Canada... |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee

Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 27291 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2025 12:50 am Post subject: |
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traildriver wrote: | IIRC, the name "Courier" continued on even into MC-5 construction for coaches delivered to Canadian customer's, even Greyhound Lines of Canada, while those MC-5's and MC-5A's delivered to American customer's, were christened "Challenger".
I recall seeing some that even said "Courier Challenger" in Canada... |
traildriver:
I well recall being QUITE impressed with those older "Couriers" which I saw during my family's weekend trip to Niagara Falls back in 1966; saw some also (and they were getting old by this time) during our second Canadian trip in 1973 (man, did I want to ride on of these big, tough-looking bruisers!)
I have in my collection a VERY rare (small-sized) wind-up "GREYHOUND" bus (still works!) from the 1950s that is quite interesting; while the styling is overall "generic", the door and driver's windows clearly were inspired by those used on the "SILVERSIDES".
What makes this toy especially interesting are the two rear windows, high in the rear of the body, clearly imitating those of those old "Couriers"!
"NYO"
{"OTTAWA"] |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee

Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 27291 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2025 12:40 am Post subject: |
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A most unusual (MCI) "Hound"..............
in 1940, 'FORT GARY MOTOR BODY & PAINT WORKS" built a small group of Model "33-UEs" for "CENTRAL CANADIAN GREYHOUND LINES", utilizing an "MCI" chassis.
These buses sat 33 passengers and were powered by 'HALL-SCOTT" underfloor gasoline engines.
The coaches were interesting in that, while they mostly resembled the new "SILVERSIDES" then entering service, the front ends were totally different, which featured a more angular profile.
These buses were known to company men as the "150s", as they were numbered 150-159...............
'NYO"
['EDMONTON"]
Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Fri Jan 24, 2025 12:59 am; edited 2 times in total |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee

Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 27291 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2025 12:51 am Post subject: |
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Also.............
"CENTRAL CANADIAN GREYHOUND LINES" took an interest in the aforementioned company (located in Winnipeg) and had several of their Model "Y" YELLOW COACH buses rebuilt by the company.
"GREYHOUND" officials were very pleased with the high quality of these rebuilt buses............
"NYO"
["BRANDON"]
(source: "BUSES OF MOTOR COACH INDUSTRIES" (Lukr/Grams) |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee

Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 27291 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2025 12:55 am Post subject: |
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"Courier" trivia..........
"WESTERN CANADIAN GREYHOUND LINES" #501 had the distinction of being the prototype MCI Courier "100" (1946)
This was also the first rear-engined MCI coach..........
"NYO"
["CALGARY"] |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee

Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 27291 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2025 11:01 am Post subject: |
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In "BUSES OF MOTOR COACH INDUSTRIES" (Luke/Grams) there is a rare photo of an "MC-5A" wearing the distinctive livery for the "V.I.P. EXECUTIVE SERVICE", working with "GREYHOUND LINES OF CANADA"; a VERY impressive-looking coach, indeed!
According to the photo caption, this service ran between Lethbridge (Alberta) and Edmondton...........
"NYO"
["V.I.P."] |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee

Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 27291 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2025 11:14 am Post subject: |
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Further:
In the same book, there is also a photo of a "MC-6", also assigned to "V.I.P. EXECUTIVE SERVICE"; this particular VIP run was between Calgary and Alberta...............
"NYO"
["346"] |
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traildriver
Joined: 26 Mar 2011 Posts: 2593 Location: South Florida
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Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2025 4:57 pm Post subject: |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 wrote: | Further:
In the same book, there is also a photo of a "MC-6", also assigned to "V.I.P. EXECUTIVE SERVICE"; this particular VIP run was between Calgary and Alberta...............
"NYO"
["346"] |
A typo? Did you mean between Calgary and Edmonton (both in Alberta)?.? |
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