BusTalk

traildriver · Joined: 26 Mar 2011 Posts: 2701 Location: South Florida

Indeed, the Pennsy and the Reading ran their own lines. And some local interurbans converted to buses, most notably between Philly and Allentown....

HwyHaulier · Joined: 16 Dec 2007 Posts: 932 Location: Harford County, MD

T.D. -

True! I was thinking longer haul than local "nickel and dime" action. ERIE would have welcomed a "relief hitter"
on various regional services. Examples: Meadville, PA - Youngstown - Marion - Ad. Inf.

Many of the rail lines had the "branch" schedules with a single motor car, once or twice daily, if that much. They
had to do it as common carriers! All Accounting Department disasters...

......................Vern.....................

traildriver · Joined: 26 Mar 2011 Posts: 2701 Location: South Florida

Yes. If you can find any on ebay, try to get a hold of an Official Railway Guide and an Official Bus Guide (Russell's), from the early to mid twentieth century. Both are fascinating treasure troves of detailed information on long forgotten carriers and especially routes. Both are thicker than a Manhattan Yellow Pages.
Back then, virtually every paved highway seemed to have at least one bus a day running over it....

Q65A · Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2011 2:57 pm Post subject:

Occasionally one can find a Russell's Guide for sale on eBay.

HwyHaulier · Joined: 16 Dec 2007 Posts: 932 Location: Harford County, MD

T.D. - All -

I have noted the painstaking work of Bill Vandervoort in Chicago, yes?
http://web.me.com/willvdv/chirailfan/greytwys.html

Check the killer State by State mapping!

....................Vern.................

Q65A · Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 12:13 pm Post subject:

Great link; thanks!!!

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 1:27 am Post subject:

Thought you'd all get a kick out of a 'Scenicruiser' builder's plate that I found on eBay.

Enjoy,

Mr. 'L'

HwyHaulier · Joined: 16 Dec 2007 Posts: 932 Location: Harford County, MD

Mr. 'L' -

SIGH! Something like a decorative moose head, recalling PD 4501 405? In an old Ronald Reagan film, "Where's the rest of me, Doc?"

........................Vern........................

Q65A · Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 8:11 am Post subject:

Interesting how GM had used that "brown rectangle" in all kinds of buses.

Hart Bus · Age: 75 Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 1150

HwyHaulier · Joined: 16 Dec 2007 Posts: 932 Location: Harford County, MD

Hart Bus -

So the guy has a million of 'em? All stamped out in Sri Lanka? Who knows?

Excellent "spotting note" on your part...

.........................Vern.....................

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 1:47 pm Post subject:

I noticed the lack of fastener holes myself but felt that it was unimportant.

Whether it's real or a reproduction, it's a good representation of what hung on the dashboards of the eleven hundred 4501's that went to Greyhound.

Now I'll tell you why I think the plate may be real; if it were a photo of the real thing, you'd certainly see the bolt holes except if the picture had been taken at the factory before the holes were drilled.

As far as anyone who might be replicating them, all I can say is that the end would never have justified the means!

Regards,

Mr. 'L'

traildriver · Joined: 26 Mar 2011 Posts: 2701 Location: South Florida

I've got one from a wrecked 4501 in my collection. Mine is covered in that apple green paint the buses were repainted in when reburbished, but you can still read thru the paint....

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 11:09 pm Post subject:

I've had another novel thought about the plate;

It may be an air brushed product of GM Photographic to be placed in the first 'ID' pages of the PD 4501 Service Manual.

My Land Rover Operation Manual has just such a similar representation in the beginning where it describes all the locations of serial numbers and other data on the vehicle.

Additionally, on my real 4512 builder's plate that I obtained on eBay the model and serial numbers are stamped into the metal and not printed and they were done somewhat haphazardly at that.

Regards,

Mr. 'L'

JimmiB · Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 12:09 am Post subject:

You're right Mr. "L". Any GM plates that I've seen have numbers stamped unevenly.