BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Also in this book, there is an interesting photo of one of a number of MCIs (this one is an "MC-9") which once operated in Uruguay; bus operator ODNA operated a number of intercity routes within the country, as well as operating several international routes.

One of the more important of these routes ran between Montevideo and and Buenos Aires..............

"NYO"

["ORGANiZACION NACIONAL de AUTOBUSES"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Also of interesting.....

In Guam, "GRAY LINE GUAM" once operated a used "MC-5C" (purchased in 1980); originally, the coach had been been used by "CONTINENTAL AIR TRANSPORT" in Chicago.

They also operated an "MC 96A2", purchased via Husman Bus Sales; it had originally operated in the New York City area (interestingly, the bus was still signed for "NEW YORK" upon arrival in Guam!)..........

"NYO"

["M06"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Also of interest............

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

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

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

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

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

["OTTAWA"]

[traildriver]

Greyhound Lines ran "VIP Executive Limited's" or "XL Limited's", between some other places. They used former SGL Scenicruiser's, that featured those Motorola individual radio receiver's installed in the package racks. Passenger's could control the tuner (AM only), and the volume, using 'Sound Tube" earphones that were individually plastic wrapped, and discarded after use.
I can't recall if any other amenities were offered, other than reserved seats. The assigned coaches had special livery on their sides, indicating their use and route. These were used on nonstop trips between St. Louis and Kansas City, via I-70, and also between Portland and Seattle via I-5. This was around 1970, give or take a couple of years.
There may have been some other's.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver:

The most I knew of the "VIP" service came from the pages of "GREYHOUND SCENICRUISER" (McNally/Rayman)

There is a good piece here on the "VIP EXECUTIVE" services; "SCENICRUISERS" are depicted.

Period ads showcase the "VIP" runs between:

HOUSTON-SAN ANTONIO

ST. LOUIS-KANSAS CITY

There is also mention of a once-a-year charter for Shell Oil employees, to the Army-Navy football game; last buses used were "MC-7s"......

"NYO"

["XL"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Was (again!) watching "IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT" last evening, which, IMHO, is STILL the greatest "Hound" flick of all time!

Close-ups of the front of the bus (buses) used prominently showcased the license plates for New York and Florida (not surprising, as "Ellie's" and "Pete's" bus was traveling from Miami to New York)

Back in the day, the displaying of plates from multiple states was indeed like a mini geography lesson; a number of my vintage toy "hounds" also display multiple plates!

The deep bass growl of those buses in the film always take me back in time to the old ACF-BRILL C-44s Mom and I rode on the old DE CAMP #22 (JSQ-Caldwell), back in the early/mid-60s, to visit my aunt and uncle; those tough old BRILLS indeed were TOUGH-sounding buses!

In the film, I always look for the sign displaying "ELIZABETH" and "NEWARK" over the entrances to the buses; I'm wagering that the station at Elizabeth was near "The Arches", where the PRR crossed over the CNJ's main line to Jersey City.

The Newark stop, I would assume, would have been the PS Terminal, as, in 1934, Penn Station was still under construction, and not open for another year...........

"NYO"

['ATLANTIC GREYHOUND"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"THE SIGN OF THE HOUND" (Penn Station, Newark, 2000)............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?20470

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["GREYHOUND"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"EXECUTIVE" service...........

Perhaps the earliest use by "GREYHOUND" of the word "EXECUTIVE" was in 1928.

In that year, a new WILLS-built coach debuted, dubbed the "Executive Sleeping Coach".

This unique coach featured not only berths, but also, a lavatory and a small kitchen.

The one photo of this coach I've seen to date can be found in "GREYHOUND BUSES" (William A, Luke)(

In the photo, the bus sports a large sign, proclaiming:

"GREYHOUND LINES SLEEPING COACH OPEN FOR INSPECTION"

The military-attired driver (with puttees!) poses by the bus, along with a company official and, last, but not least, a Greyhound dog!

"NYO"

["GREYHOUND LINES"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"Turn, turn, turn"..................

In other discussions, we've talked of the unique bus turntable that once turned buses in the basement terminal of the old Hotel Dixie in Manhattan.

"GREYHOUND" buses also utilized a turntable at the terminal at Kansas City; here, the buses arrived on the upper level, and, after the passengers debarked, the buses were turned on the turntable for exiting.

One rare photo in William A. Luke's aforementioned book has a "PICKWICK" Model "6BK" MACK on the turntable at Kansas City.

This facility was part of the Pickwick Hotel/Bus Terminal (opened 1930).........

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Speaking of "PICKWICK" (note several photos)............

https://www.roadarch.com/bus/mo.html

["KANSAS CITY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Also of interest............

www.theradiohistorian.org/pickwick.html

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

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

["PICKWICK STAGES"]

[traildriver]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver:

Agreed on that one!

Imagine if, in the former bus terminal area, some enterprising person had a replica built of a "PICWICK" coach, and then placed it on permanent exhibit?

Just thinking........

"NYO"

["NITE COACH"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Just noting..........

Among the rarest of vintage toy buses were/are the slush cast/cast-iron replicas of "PICKWICK" Nite Coaches, once offered by "KENTON", "ARCADE", and "BARCLAY" (no, I do NOT have one in my collection)

Some of these rare toys were on the smaller end of the scale; larger ones were quite "hefty".

The very few I have seen on eBay over the years were priced only for collectors with "champagne wallets".

Sure wish someone, at least, would offer a reasonably-priced modern replica of one of these massive road warriors...........

"NYO"

["PICKWICK GREYHOUND"]