BusTalk

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2020 4:53 pm Post subject:

Flashback now to 1975, and here we see a SCENICRUISER bringing up the rear of a line of chartered Old Looks; right here, you have one VERY nice little "bus museum"........ Wink

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?607

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2020 12:09 am Post subject:

It's fun to imagine this...... Wink

Imagine if the "SCENICRUISER" had been TRAILWAYS "flagship" bus, while the "EAGLES" were designed and built for GREYHOUND! Shocked

In my large vintage toy bus collection, I have several tin "SCENICRUISER" buses that are in TRAILWAYS livery; however, I have yet to have seen a vintage toy EAGLE done up for GREYHOUND!

Now, this one is a HOOT!!......

I have these two very odd (and large) 1950's friction tin litho buses that are quite unusual looking (the closest prototype bus they somewhat resemble is a "GARWOOD". This general body type was a common one with tin toy Japanese buses of that era.

What is odd, is that, I have two identical buses, one lettered "GREYHOUND" (w/running dog), while the other is lettered "TRAILWAYS".....AND, also..... sports the "running dog" on both sides!! Shocked

A sign of things to come, in the distant future, perhaps......? Rolling Eyes

"NYO"

traildriver · Joined: 26 Mar 2011 Posts: 2521 Location: South Florida

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2020 12:51 pm Post subject:

traildriver:

Thanks for jarring my memory on this one! Wink

In the book "TRAILWAYS BUSES" (by William A. Luke, and WHY wasn't an EAGLE gracing the cover??) there is a photo of one of the SKG Eagles (bus is signed "TULSA")

I had totally forgotten about SKG until you mentioned it in your post (and thanks for doing so!) Very Happy

When one thinks back, the timeless EAGLE was every bit a Trailways "trademark" bus, just as the SCENICRUISER was Greyhound's "trademark" bus (I always promised myself that I would ride one of the NJT Eagles some day, but never did. If memory serves me correctly, they were not in the NJT fleet all that long) Sad

Mom and I DID ride an EAGLE to Philadelphia from the PABT, though, back in 1969! Wink

"NYO"

traildriver · Joined: 26 Mar 2011 Posts: 2521 Location: South Florida

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2020 8:22 pm Post subject:

traildriver:

Thanks for sharing this info! Wink

I remember that Mom and I boarded at the PABT, and, when we got off at Philadelphia, the driver announced it was the "last stop".

So, you were a "starter" at Philly; maybe I even got a glimpse of you "on the job"! Wink

Dang, I was only 12, back in 1969........ Shocked

Mom, of course, in honor of our first "long bus trip", bought me a small tin friction "EAGLE" and an "EAGLE" postcard, in the station, both, of course, are now proudly displayed in my collection today...... Very Happy

"NYO"

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2020 11:30 pm Post subject:

traildriver:

Here a few links that I think you'll enjoy...... Wink

"NYO"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trailways_Transportation_System *(some NICE photos, here!)

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

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

traildriver · Joined: 26 Mar 2011 Posts: 2521 Location: South Florida

Thanks, NYO--
I have driven all of those Adirondack, Pine Hill, and NYT buses pictured.. Smile

And there's a fair chance I rode in that ancient ('61 or '62 model?),
Eagle at one time or another in the late '60's.

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2020 10:37 am Post subject:

traildriver:

You drove ALL of those buses?? Shocked

NO WONDER your handle is "traildriver"! Wink

I took several "mini vacations" via DOMENICO with a buddy of mine from work (he NEVER stopped eating, which, for him, was nothing new!) in the early 1990's, and had a great time on each trip (my folks and I also took a DOMENICO "tour" back in late 1978, when we went to Florida)

The driver on the '78 trip, Bill Keane (VERY congenial guy!), after seeing I was into buses, asked for my home address and soon sent me a photo of the 4103 he drove back in the late 50's/early 60's, when he made a run up to Montreal!)

I always like their MCI's. Very Happy

Last trip was to Myrtle Beach (with a day trip to Charleston) in 1993; this trip was OUTSTANDING, in every sense of the word (then again, ALL my DOMENICO trips were!)

As a big Civil War buff, I really enjoyed Charleston; then, in 1992, we went to "Noo Awlins", and, of course, I had a BLAST with the streetcars (of course!), and, also, really enjoyed the classic jazz!

Our driver on that trip was Bill Lipscombe, who had family in the city, and was an expert on all things related to New Orleans jazz (he played some GREAT tapes for us, en route!)

The last trip I took, back in 1993 (Myrtle Beach) our driver was a jovial fellow who looked a lot like Sidney Poitier (my favorite actor, btw!); his name was Mark Driver, and he got a laugh from everyone aboard when he told us: "If you ever forget my last name, just remember what I do for a living!"

I still get a chuckle out of that!

Sadly, several years later, I learned that he had passed on, FAR too young. Sad

A VERY nice guy! Wink

When I was in Myrtle Beach, I came across an early EAGLE ("GOLDEN EAGLE") parked on a side street, near my hotel on the beachfront (of course, I took several photos....what a HANDSOME bus!)

It was being used by a church group; the bus was very well-kept.

Also, while in Charleston, at the famed Market, I picked up a number of Civil War collectibles and bus items for my collection, including several old GREYHOUND TT's, a small framed painting of a SILVERSIDES (front and rear views!) and a cast-iron "Silversides" (I was QUITE happy that day!)

On the way back to New Jersey (this might have been somewhere in Delaware?), while on the bus, I spied a SILVERSIDES and an Old Look, side by side, in a lot behind an old service station; both buses were a bit shabby, but certainly restorable (sure hope both buses went on to happier days!)

Ahhh, memories! Wink

"NYO"

traildriver · Joined: 26 Mar 2011 Posts: 2521 Location: South Florida

NYO--
I didn't know any Domenico driver's, or other employees, other than Stanley Chodkiewicz ("Stosh"), who I knew when he came from being a garage helper at Domenico's Bayonne garage, to working for Safeway, as a dispatcher, in around 1970. I left them in late '71 when I moved 'out west', and returned to the bus business in NY, for Adirondck, in 1994. And lo and behold, who do you think the Chief Dispatcher for Adirondack in Kingston was? Yep...Stan. Very Happy

Sadly, like so many other's I used to know in the business, he passed on a few years ago...

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2020 1:14 pm Post subject:

traildriver:

So many........FAR too many......of the "old veterans" have left us for that big bus garage in the sky. Sad

On a happier note, I have a few quick questions for THE "trail driver"! Wink

1:

When DOMENICO suddenly disappeared, what became of the fleet?

Any idea of who purchased the buses?

Of course, I do remember, when DOMENICO still operated commuter service (I never rode one of these, but do remember seeing them)

2:

Back in the day, what GREYHOUND and TRAILWAYS routes between New York and New Orleans (also, New York and Atlanta) offered the most direct route(s)?

I am guessing that the 1950's/1960's era GREYHOUND stations at New Orleans (and Atlanta) have been replaced?

If no longer used, I hope at least one still stands, as a reminder of the Glory Days of long-haul bus travel.

Thanks in advance.......... Wink

"NYO"