BusTalk

[traildriver]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver:

See the following (hope these help!)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SamTrans (see "HISTORY" heading)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_Transit (" ")

["SAN FRANCISCO"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver:

As noted, you will find the information on the two previously-linked pages under the heading "HISTORY" to be a good source of information, regarding the bus operations in years gone by..............

"NYO"

["MPLS. MOUND"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

From:

"ELECTRIC RAILWAY PIONEER" (Harre W. Demoro)..............

"......there were two attempts to preserve NWP's electric railway/ferry commuter service through a public district. On November 7, 1939, voters defeated a plan to to form a district and to acquire the electric suburban train operation......."

"......Mill Valley residents, however, endorsed a municipal bus line, and ordered five buses; before the plan was not implemented due to WW2 transportation regulations........"

".......the five buses, among the best commuter buses in Marin, were sold to Greyhound......."

"NYO"

["SAN FRANCISCO VIA SAUSALITO"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

From: "WELCOME ABOARD THE GM NEW LOOK BUS" (McKane/Squier)

"........the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway, and Transportation District was charged with the formidable mission of reducing the increasing traffic congestion in Marin and Sonoma Counties in the 1970s......"

".......the first initial step was to take over the former Greyhound commuter services and, also, to purchase 112 T8H-5305A buses that operated under the name 'Golden Gate Transit'....."

"......these V-8 powered, single-door transits featured platform-mounted, forward-facing, reclining seats with extra leg room, overhead racks, and reading lights............"

".......between 1972 and 1975, Golden Gate Transit would purchase 110 similarly-equipped T8H-5307As..........."

"NYO"

["706"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here are two photos of SamTrans Fishbowls dating back to 1979; the now-demolished Transbay Terminal is seen in the first photo..........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156846

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156847

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["SamTrans"]

[traildriver]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver:

You raised an interesting point.......

When GREYHOUND's old commuter routes began operating "away from the kennel", under new management, you indeed think of how veteran "Hound" men felt about working for a new outfit, after all those many years.

Then again, most, I am sure, were simply glad to still have jobs with the "new fellows".

Be interesting to learn when the last of the original GREYHOUND buses were retired from the network Bay area commuter runs (latest, I would guess, would be by the early 1980s?)

"NYO"

["PACIFIC GREYHOUND LINES"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

This rare GREYHOUND Old Look (TDM-5103) began life operating out of San Diego, but later was part of the commuter fleet in the Bay Area.

Many "Joisey" companies once rostered similar single-door Old Looks, which I recall quite well, from my much younger days......

https://pacbus.org/museum-roster/k1407-pacific-greyhound-lines/

["GENERAL MOTORS"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Now HERE'S a QUITE distinguished "honorable mention" of distinction.............

https://pacbus.org/museum-roster/8005-western-greyhound-lines/

["TRAVIS"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

This now-preserved Fishbowl was originally purchased by "WESTERN GREYHOUND LINES" in 1961..........

https://pacbus.org/museum-roster/4708-santa-clara-county-transit-district/

["TDH-6301"]

[traildriver]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver:

Appreciate, as always, your always-informative input!

A "Six" equipped with a farebox?

NOT a piece of hardware one would normally associate with a "Big Six", fure sure!

I think it also important to recall a long-ago time when the glamorous SCENICRUISER ran in what might be classified as 'glorified commuter service".

Recall, now, the long-gone "Wall Street Executive Coach", running between Hartford and Wall Street, back in 1971...........

"NYO"

["PD-4501"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Speaking of fareboxes..............

Aboard the "Bridge Units", "KEY" conductors utilized fareboxes; these fareboxes were only used by "local" passengers, as San Francisco passengers, regardless of their direction of travel, paid their fares in San Francisco (at the Ferry Building until 1939, and at the Transbay Terminal from 1939 and 1958)..............

"NYO"

["A"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Also...........

One of the economical advantages that the modern "Bridge Units" had over the old "Apartment House 5s" and "650s" was that they only required ONE conductor to "hold down the fort" per unit.

The older cars all required one conductor per car.

Ancestor of the sleek articulated "Bridge units" was the "Akron" (named after the famed blimp of that era); this impressive home-converted articulated was built using two center entrance "650" class cars.

This impressive unit (which entered service in 1931) required only one conductor, instead of the two required by two conventional cars coupled together.

Interestingly enough, the unique unit was later (1937) rebuilt into "Bridge Unit" #100.......................

"NYO"

["EASTSHORE EMPIRE"]