BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Today's mass transit in Phoenix features modern buses and light rail units which are as bland and as humdrum as those found in most cities today.......

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valley_Metro_Rail (note photo of historic 1928 streetcar)

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

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Recalling and remembering the long-gone days of streetcars in Phoenix........

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

(In the of the trolley photos, you'll see a vintage farebox; this is a classic Johnson Model "D", which were universally used for decades by the old independent bus companies in my area)............

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Interesting historical note..........

In 1954, Sun Valley Bus Company (of Phoenix) purchased four (single-door suburban) TDH-4509s.

Air-conditioning was not added to these buses until 1964; fitted with rooftop a/c equipment, these buses were similar to those rostered by the New Jersey suburban operators, then serving New York.

Among the several other "Old Look" models rostered were 4512s.........

"NYO"

["EXPRESS"]

[Cyberider]

NYO:

You caught my attention with this topic!

Sun Valley used to run what was then a suburban line from Phoenix to Tempe and Mesa. My mother used to ride these buses in the 1960's & 70's when we lived in Tempe and she worked at the State Capitol. I rode them as well. Later, they got some New Look transits to supplement them but they were always breaking down for some reason and the Old Looks were called into action. I don't know how many they had left at that time but the passengers referred to the suburban Old Looks as the "Queen Mary."

Sun Valley also ran a route between Phoenix and Las Vegas using GM OTR coaches.

Phoenix Transit's fleet during the 50's and 60's was primarily made up of transit Old Looks. Many lasted all through the 70's and into the early 80's. They were the main reason I got into bus-riding and I would buy an all day pass just to ride as many as I could. I took photos with a cheap Kodak TLR and posted a number that have been floating around the internet for years.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

Knowing you are from Phoenix, I had the feeling you just MIGHT be interested in this topic!

Also, appreciate the info you provided!

Unlike the big city transit operations in the East, the Midwest, and on the West coast, you seldom here all that much about transit (especially in a historical context) from your area of the country........

"NYO"

["GMC"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberrider:

Former GREYHOUND depots in Arizona.........

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

See akso:

https://www.roadarcg.com/bus/1.html

["PHOENIX"]

[Cyberider]

NYO:

Thanks for the Flagstaff and Phoenix Greyhound Depot photo links. The photo of the one in Phoenix is from the 1950's. They built a new one in the 1960's and that's the one I traveled to and from frequently in the early 70's when I lived in LA. I'd get off work in West L.A. and take the SMMBL and SCRTD buses to downtown LA and get the Greyhound and ride all night arriving in Phoenix in the early morning. Same routine going back. Downtown LA was pretty creepy at 4 AM when I had to wait for the SCRTD bus!

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

You are welcome!

Here's a link to photos of former GREYHOUND stations in California.........

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

Truly sad that less than a handful of classic GREYHOUND stations still survive today; these stylish. modern stations were indeed once the gateways to the nation...........

"NYO"

["GO GREYHOUND......AND LEAVE THE DRIVING TO US"]

[Cyberider]

Yes, they were a real fixture at one time with many attractive stations. I'm not even sure how I'd get to LA these days if I were to take the bus. Fortunately, I have no need to go anywhere except locally and that will be Valley Metro, such as it is. Crappy buses and bum-filled LRV's. I'll take the bus if I have to but not the light rail. Drinking, drugs, fighting, assaults, etc. "Open platforms" do not work in today's society. Plus the lost revenue.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

In Manhattan, until GREYHOUND moved into the PABT on 41st Street in the mid-1960s, they used a sleek circa-1935 Art Deco terminal alongside the now-gone Pennsylvania Station; Mom and I visited it often, when I was but a lad (I STILL have the tin toy SCENICRUISER she bought me from the gift shop, during one visit!)

It even featured a neon "running dog" over the main entrance!

I well remember the SCENICRUISERS and 4104s coming and going (ahhhh, the sounds of these classic buses alone was a treat!)

After it was closed down, it sat derelict for several years, it was demolished; the entire block where it stood was then totally built over; the area is totally unrecognizable today.

As far as today's mass transit, I last rode an NJT bus over eight years ago, when my mother was in a rehab facility (in fact, I got off several blocks before my stop; I just did not feel comfortable aboard)

Before that, it had been at least 12 years since I rode a bus.

Between the buses themselves being so bland and uninteresting, and the kind of "less-than-desirables" that ride them these days, I have NO desire (nor need) to ride ANY sort of mass transit today.

The days of riding Old Looks, Fishbowls, and other now-classic buses simply for the fun of it, sadly, are now long, long, gone.

Sure glad I have so many wonderful memories!

"NYO"

["B-1 BERGEN MALL"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here are several 1950s views of the old GREYHOUND terminal in midtown Manhattan, which I well remember, back in the early 60s.

This area cannot even be recognized today.

The terminal was especially busy during the holidays, when many folks were still riding intercity buses, traveling home for Thanksgiving and Christmas............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156333

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?157242

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?157243

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?157244

["NEW YORK EXPRESS"]

[Cyberider]

Yep, the Gregyond terminal in Manhattan was certainly attractive though I never saw it except in photo. Loved the GM buses and the sound of those GM/Detroit Diesels was music.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

cyberider:

Indeed, the sounds of those powerful "Gee-Em" engines was sweet music to any bus enthusiast's ear, back in the day!

My folks and I made two trips to Canada, one in 1966, the other in 1973.

Saw a lot of really great buses up there (Ottawa still had Old Looks; Montreal was still using a number of classic CCF-Brills!)

Saw various models of PREVOST coaches as well, and, still a decent number of classic FLXIBLE Visicoaches (including sightseeing coaches!) here and there!

On the '73 trip (via bus) our tour (from New York) used a "Buffalo" (my first ride aboard one of these distinctive buses!)

Had NO idea that I was witnessing bus history at the time; I'm just glad I have the memories!

"NYO"

["PARKER TOURS"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Phoenix.............

It would also be interesting to see how many runs each day served Phoenix (GREYHOUND and TRAILWAYS), several decades ago.

Which carrier had the most runs into/out of the city?

"NYO"

["PHOENIX"]

[Cyberider]

I don't remember if I have any Greyhound and Trailways timetables among my collections but the Phoenix Greyhound terminal was much bigger than the Trailways terminal and I'm sure Greyhound had many more runs than Trailways out of Phoenix.

Good to see traildriver is back. Better a 51-day cruise than a permanent one!