BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

In "GREYHOUND SCENICRUISER" (McNally/Rayman) there is a 1974 photo of two SCENICRUISERS at the old Transbay Terminal's platforms, the very same platforms that saw passengers boarding KEY SYSTEM's electric transbay trains until 1958.

The "main" bus in the photo is WGL's #9006 (roller curtain is blank).......

"NYO"

["WESTERN GREYHOUND LINES"-

[traildriver]

Speaking of the wonderful old Transbay Terminal, even before Greyhound moved their entire remaining mainline operations there, Continental Trailways had moved their entire operations there from the closed former Santa Fe Railway bus terminal at 44-Fourth Street. They loaded under the terminal where 1st Street passed thru.
And around the corner, Amtrak “Thruway” buses from Oakland train connections loaded at the rear on Natoma Street.
Both Amtrak and Continental Trailways opened ticket offices and baggage/express service rooms inside.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver:

Interesting!

BTW, I know that GREYHOUND's Bay-area commuter operations were taken over by SamTrans, quite a number of years ago.

What agency currently operates former GREYHOUND commuter routes? (I know the old GREYHOUND routes, like the Key's trains, had letters designating the routes)

As always, appreciate any info you might have....

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

I still remember a (sad) photo in a 1980's issue of "BUS WORLD", showing several ex-GREYHOUND Fishbowls being scrapped, and, also, mention of SamTrans.......

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

GREYHOUND commuter services "took wing", so to speak, in 1941, when the NWP abandoned both its electric commuter train system and its connecting ferryboats,

Interestingly, the ESPEE had significant holdings in PACIFIC GREYHOUND LINES, and was content to the buses to replace more and more of their electric train services (to Oakland Pier)

There were many, many Marin commuters who fought valiantly to save the electric trains and ferryboats; in November, 1939, some Mill Valley residents endorsed a municipal bus line, and ordered five buses from YELLOW.

This plan fell through, and the new buses were sold to GREYHOUND*.....

"NYO"

*Source: "ELECTRIC RAILWAY PIONEER" (Demoro)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

When the KEY SYSTEM re-routed their transbay electric trains from their ferry pier and into the new Transbay Terminal in 1939, a new route identification code (using letters) was adopted.

Routes were lettered "A" through "K".

Interestingly, the "D" designation was never used.

This letter designation had been set aside, since 1934, for a transbay Montclair line, running over the trackage of the SACRAMENTO NORTHERN.

The IER (ESPEE "Red Electrics") began using numbers as route designations beginning in 1938.

In 1941, KEY began running buses instead of trains on its Alameda lines.

Oddly enough, though the trains now offered a one-seat ride into San Francisco, ridership was down was down 20% from what it was just two years prior to Bay Bridge operation.

Though the IER ("Red Trains") and the SN trains were gone by 1941, the KEY continued to operate its sleek orange trains over the Bay Bridge; during WW2, not surprisingly, KEY ridership boomed, but fell off sharply after the War ended.

In 1958, the "bridge trains" were replaced by 21 new GM buses and 60 older-model WHITES, which had been in storage for some time.

In 1960, AC Transit took over the KEY's bus routes......

"NYO"

["EASTSHORE EMPIRE"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

This somewhat gloomy scene was captured on film in 1958, not long before all KEY SYSTEM transbay trains* were replaced by buses.

Note, also, the WHITE 798 on the left, painted in NCL's "fruit salad" colors......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?16176

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

*The train here is carrying an "E" designation (55th St.-Claremont Avenue)

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Long after older-model "square window" GM's vanished from New York, they could still be seen running for AC TRANSIT; this bus was originally a KEY SYSTEM unit.

Note how route numbers are now being used, instead of the KEY's old letter designations......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156815

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's an interesting (and nostalgic!) 'Frisco scene from 1972.....

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156905

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["MUNI"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Earlier, I mentioned this scene from the 1955 sci-fi flick, "IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA: (1955); note the rows of GREYHOUND Old Looks lined up at the Ferry Building (scroll down slightly)..............

https://sfinfilm.com/2013/06/15/it-cam-from-beneath-the-sea/

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Here we have a GREYHOUND Fishbowl at SF's 7th St. terminal, back in 1975.......

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/523754631642690948/

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Ahhh, take me back, Father Time!

Check out this AWESOME rush-hour scene (circa-early 1970s) at the old Transbay Terminal; look VERY carefully to spot two SCENICRUISERS in the background!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rllayman/30698019824/

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Here's the Transbay Terminal on opening day, 1939.

A KEY "Bridge Unit" is in the foreground, while a train of IER "Red Electrics" can be glimpsed in the background.

Sobering indeed that nothing in this timeless photo (terminal, trains, and passengers) exists today......

https://assets.rbl.ms/5360836/980x.jpg

["KEY SYSTEM"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

EXCELLENT gallery of historic Transbay Terminal photos through the years, including both the electric trains and buses............

https://tjpa.org/media-gallery/image-gallery/historical-album

["IER"]

[traildriver]