BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver:

I guess it IS true after all.......truth IS indeed STRANGER than fiction!

Talk about a COMEDOWN!!!!!

Operating an MC-6 on a local route, such as you described, made about as much sense as using a standard rear-door transit coach on a run between New York and Chicago!

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

When NJT began taking delivery of new MC coaches in the 80's, I had thought them far too big to be used as commuter coaches; in those pre-Internet days, I did not know that GM was no longer building suburban models (even the GM-built RTS was of a transit-design, only)

NJT had 700 MC-9's ("Jersey Cruisers") built at Pembina, all seating 49; no lavatories were included.

In 1987, NJT took delivery of 415 more, also from Pembina; at this late date, the once-large fleets of suburban "heritage" Fishbowls began to vanish rapidly.

A new era in suburban commuter buses had arrived......

"NYO"

[traildriver]

There was this model, produced from 1982 up until 1997, that extended the lifespan of the 'New Look' body..





https://www.google.com/search?q=gmc+classic+bus&sxsrf=ALeKk01hv4vdF-LpTmSVqWUNaC6PUS_4Hw:1595729874639&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=I6V0GXhnOHYWrM%252C6o_KDPa81t8B4M%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kSBzXuEsfRH0T6qNjaFXoAH8uYrtQ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi089aC7enqAhXRMd8KHWtfCS8Q_h0wA3oECBIQBg&biw=1920&bih=937#imgrc=I6V0GXhnOHYWrM

[traildriver]

For some reason, i coudn't post the wiki link on the gmc classic...kept getting the definition of 'classic' instead...

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Fellows:

GREYHOUND, as we've discussed elsewhere, could never have "made a go" at operating suburban buses in the greater NY/NJ area, simply because, back in the day, there was simply too much competition form a number of New Jersey suburban carriers then in operation, including:

PUBLIC SERVICE (NJ's largest bus operator)

ORANGE & BLACK

INTER-CITY

DE CAMP

LAKELAND

RED & TAN

SOMERSET ("The Blue Star Route")

NORTHEAST COACHES

SUBURBAN TRANSIT

LINCOLN TRANSIT

Today, however, none of these companies exist, with the exception of LAKELAND and DE CAMP.

however, DE CAMP, two years back, stopped operating their suburban commuter lines into New York, to concentrate instead on charters and tours.

All of the other companies were absorbed by New Jersey Transit a number of years ago.........

"NYO"

["NEW YORK EXPRESS"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Scroll down page to "HISTORY" heading..............

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

["E OAKLAND"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The dedicated volunteers at the Pacific Bus Museum have, in their care (among the other priceless historic coaches in their outstanding collection) several ex-GREYHOUND buses that once ran in commuter service (now THESE are REAL buses!)

https://pacbus.org/museum-roster/

["PACIFIC GREYHOUND LINES"]

[Cyberider]

Nice collection!

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

While on the subject of GREYHOUND's commuter operations in the San Francisco area, many years back, it is also interesting to know that GREYHOUND once operated commuter buses in Canada.

Out of London, Ontario, EASTERN CANADIAN GREYHOUND once operated a modest commuter operation, rostering the following Old Look models:

TDM-4509

TD-4506

TD-4515

ECG also had the distinction of operating all of the Old Look transit buses in the Windsor and London areas.

By the mid-1960s, these EGL routes were sold to a local transit agency......

"NYO"

["TDM-4609"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Now THIS is interesting.............

In "OLD LOOK BUSES" (Luke/Metler) there is an interesting photo of a TDH-4509, operated by the CROWN COACH COMPANY of Joplin, Missouri.Primarily, this company was a long-distance operater, having a main route from Kansas City.

After the War, this company began operating commuter service to the expanding suburban areas just south of Kansas City.

Two of the buses used in this service were TDH-4509s.

What makes the photo in this book so interesting (showing CROWN's Old Look #183 is that, while the bus is lettered "CROWN COACH COMPANY", the bus carries a GREYHOUND "running dog" on its side, and is painted in a scheme quite similar to those worn by GREYHOUND's commuter fleet in the Bay area.............

"NYO"

["KANSAS CITY"]

[traildriver]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver:

Appreciate the info (I figured you'd be the "one in the know"!)

In William A. Luke's "TRAILWAYS BUSES", there is a fine portrait of a quite stylish Eagle Model 01 ("Silver Eagle") that was part of the "SKG" fleet.

The "running dog" looked quite stylish superimposed on the SANTA FE TRAILWAYS logo!

Photo caption tells us that these buses ran between Kansas City and Tulsa..............

"NYO"

['TULSA"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Just a thought..........

Though TRAILWAYS once also operated suburban services in a few areas, many years back, (I've seen photos of ACF-BRILLS, Old Looks, and Fishbowls used in these services) GREYHOUND, indeed, was the "major-league player", in regards to a far-flung national intercity bus company also running suburban buses.

IMHO, I think that the current generation of GREYHOUND drivers (as well as other employees) would be quite surprised to learn that GREYHOUND once operated extensive commuter bus services in California........

"NYO"

["E OAKLAND"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

GREYHOUND "commuters"..........

It is interesting to think about those individuals might have ridden GREYHOUND's through routes as a means of commuting to and from a daily job, in certain areas of the country.

Though, of course, GREYHOUND did have an extensive commuter operation in the San Francisco area, decades ago, you wonder at those who might have traveled on a "through route", to reach a job in a city that might have been an hour or so distant from their home.

I've also read that, while although AMTRAK was, and never will be, an agency to offer commuter service, that does not mean that some do not use their trains for commutation purposes........

"NYO"

["PHILADELPHIA"]