BusTalk

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 11:32 am Post subject:

Vern/traildriver/all:

Yet another vintage GREYHOUND TT arrived in my mail today.....<G>

This one is "FOLDER 'G' ", effective March, 1957.

"NEW THRU-BUS SERVICE"

GOLDEN GATE ROUTE & THE FORTY-NINER ROUTE

between CHICAGO-ST.LOUIS & SAN FRANCISCO.

SCENICRUISER and 4104 grace the cover......

TT designations:

NYC: (THRU BUS, NEW YORK, TO/FROM CHICAGO)

BC: (THRU BUS, BOSTION, TO/FROM CHICAGO)

PC: (THRU BUS, PITTSBURGH. TO/FROM CHICAGO)

A solid triangle denotes "TURNPIKE EXPRESS"

Another symbol denotes GRAY LINE SIGHTSEEING available at designated stops.

Also, blurb for "SLUMBER STOP SERVICE" (SCENIC TRAVEL BY DAY, COMFORTABLE ACCOMODATIONS AT NIGHT)

NYO

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

NYO -

At the time of my travel, this was post the huge within East, GL merger of several lines. I recall one night, I rode the (old Central) G L Non Stop,
NEW YORK (PABT) - BUFFALO, all NY TWY. This may have been more theater.

NYC - BUF, via old route, Scranton and Elmira, at about 375 miles. Same point, via NY TWY at about 440 miles. On late evening departures from
New York, travel times may have been a bit less via Scranton...

Nevertheless, GREYHOUND surely knew how to market routes over the new, much better superhighways!

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

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 2:41 pm Post subject:

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

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

I remember well those military specials. Especially in the late sixties when they would come up to NYC on Friday nights, and go back down on Sunday nights. GL would utilize one of the middle bus level (I beleive it was platform '51' (before it was renumbered later into the '200' series).
During the peak buildup of the Vietnam War, they would sometimes load twenty sections(!), They would split the loads to NOB, NAS, D&S Piers, Oceana and Damneck. And Trailways would also load their share down around gate 19. Because of the heavy military ridership, their was even an Armed Forces Police booth located in the Port.

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

Yes, Greyhound certainly did jump on every new tollway, or interstate highway, oftentimes before they were even completed.

The ultimate was in 1957, when Greyhound took advantage of the newly completed combination of tollroads between NYC and Chicago.
They started running the "Longest Nonstop Bus Route in the World", over the New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Ohio Turnpikes, The Indiana Toll Road, and the Calumet-Chicago Skyway Toll Bridge, to run without a single traffic light between the end points.
They made several reststops enroute, and made two driver changes at the restops. The running time was 16 hours...matching that of the famous streamliners Twentieth Century Limited and Broadway Limited.
It is amazing when you consider that every passenger boarding at New York City had to be going at least as far as Chicago.
Needless to say, Scenicruiser's ruled on that run.
Until 1967, when the two MC-6X prototype Supercruiser's did their 90 day trial. Only one--4599, Detroit Diesel 12v-71 powered, was successful. The other 4598, Mercedes Benz powered, was not. But that's another story....

PS....If I recall correctly, one of the major magazines of the era, Popular Science or maybe it was Popular Mechanics...did a feature arcticle about that new nonstop service. The reporter and photographer rode it all the way with a detailed report about 'how it was done'... I would love to find a copy of that.....

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 8:44 pm Post subject:

traildriver/Vern/All.......

My newest aquisition arrived late today.....a charming little booklet from a saner, more elegant era in highway coach travel.....

"CONTINENTAL TRAILWAYS WORLD'S FAIR ISSUE" (SEE THE USA AT SCENERY LEVEL") SPRING/SUMMER 1964

Stunning color photo on Page #4, showing passengers lined up to board a sleek, shining GOLDEN EAGLE (coach shown is one of the original 1957 KASSBOHRER units; other EAGLE pics are of the handsome 01's).......every male passenger is wearing a suit and every female passenger is stylishly attired in a dress and high heels! Clearly, a world LONG, LONG since disappeared down the echoing corridors of time!

Welcoming them aboard is the pert hostess, all smart and ladylike in her trim red uniform......man....to think such an elegant, refined way of traveling was within our lifetimes!

What the devil happened?

Excerpts from the booklet:

"........you're a VIP from the moment you buy your ticket and get your reserved seat on the GOLDEN EAGLE, CONTINENTAL TRAILWAY's stunning luxury bus......the red carpet you walk to board your GOLDEN EAGLE symbolizes the fine service and attention you'll recieve on your trip......"

".......the cordial welcome you recieve from the capable, courteous, neatly-uniformed operator, the solitious way your friendly hostess helps you settle into your seat.....all greatly add to your sense of well-bieng......"

"........and, what a seat! Your reclining foam rubber lounge chair was custom-tailored for maximum comfort and relaxation. Because all 40 seats are set eight feet above ground level, passengers get a breathtaking view of scenic beauty as the road unwinds........"

"........this is the most modern bus on the highways today, as mechannicaly perfect as a fine jeweled watch. Highly-skilled mechanics keep it that way. Comfort is built in. All-weather air-conditioning renews the air you breathe every sixty seconds. A specially designed torsilastic suspension system gives you a truly magic carpet ride......"

"........CONTINENTAL TRAILWAY'S 5-Star Luxury service is the only coast-to-coast bus transportation offering hostess service. The pretty hostess in her distinctive red uniform, will care for your every need. A pillow? Magazines? A newspaper? They're yours for the asking! Need to warm the baby's bottle? An aspirin? An electric razor? Just ask her! And, from her modern, stainless-steel galley, she'll also serve you soups, sandwiches, fresh fruits, and a variety of hot and cold beverages......."

".......You're not confined to your seat, either. Stretch your legs and walk to the lounge area with its tables, at the rear of the coach. Your hostess will be glad to supply you with playing cards, if you wish........"

Boy, talk about a "lost civilization"!

NYO

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 9:36 pm Post subject:

Of related historical interest.....

http://www.silvereaglebus.com/eaglehistory2.htm

See also........

http://blog.chron.com/bayoucityhistory/2010/07/a-red-carpet-ride-courtesy-of-continental-trailways/

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

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 12:12 am Post subject:

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 12:28 am Post subject:

Like the SCENICRUISERS, the EAGLES represented the very acme of modern highway coach design; IMHO, both the SCENICRUISER and the EAGLE were indeed the FINEST highway coaches ever built......

http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/pix/buses/trailways1.jpg

http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/pix/buses/hs_trailways_yakima_78c.jpg

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 9:26 pm Post subject:

A few more vintage GREYHOUND items I recieved today (this was a "bulk" purchase)......

Two typewritten pages from DIXIE GREYHOUND (10/6/49); here's the first:

"TIME SCHEDULE TIME CHANGE"

NORTHBOUND:

SCHEDULE No.8730/ WILL ORIGINATE AT WALNUT RIDGE AT 7:00 AM, ARRIVING AT BLACK ROCK 7:40AM

SCHEDULE No.8770/ WILL DEPART WALNUT RIDGE AT 5:15PM, AND WILL ARRIVE AT BLACK ROCK 5:55PM
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SOUTHBOUND:

SCHEDULE No.8731/ WILL DEPART BLACK ROCK AT 7:45AM, ARRIVING WALNUT RIDGE AT 8:25AM

SCHEDULE No.8773/ WILL DEPART BLACK ROCK AT 6:00 PM,TERMINATING AT WALNUT RIDGE AT 6:40PM

PLEASE NOTE CAREFULLY AND GIVE PROPER PUBLICITY

ISSUED BY:

EDWIN J. BOMER

VICE PRESIDENT-TRAFFIC

"GREYHOUND LEADS IN COURTESY!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Second (DIXIE) sheet, also from 10/49, is a time schedule between:

MEMPHIS-JONESBORO-MAMMOTH SPRING

Stops include:

MEMPHIS

W.MEMPHIS

MARION

JERICHO

CLARKEDALE

TURRELL

GILMORE

TYRONZA

MARKED TREE

HARRISBURG CORNER

TRUMANN

BAY JCT.

NETTLETON

JONESBORO

SHADY PARK

BONO

SEDGWICK

HOXIE

WALNUT RIDGE

PORTIA

POWHATAN

BLACK ROCK

IMBODEN

RAVENDEN

WILLIFORD

HARDY

MAMMOTH SPRING
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notes:

f-FLAG STOP

R-REST STOP

#-INTRASTATE ONLY, NO INTERSTATE PASSENGERS TO BE TRANSPORTED.

z-SERVICE TEMPORARILY DISCONTINUED ACCOUNT ROAD CONSTRUCTION

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 10:13 pm Post subject:

Also in packet I recieved are two DIXIE passes (a SILVERSIDES on each); one from 1950, the other, 1954.

The 1950 pass was issued to:

J.L. ROLAND

BAGGAGE COORDINATOR

NATIONAL BUS TRAFFIC ASS'N

The pass from 1954 issued to:

C. NOLLMAN

TERMINAL MANAGER

Both signed by Edwin J. Bomer

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

This prompted me to glance thru some of my old annual passes. When I first started my career, with Safeway Trails, I received a pass good on its lines. Later on, when I moved into management, I was given a packet of passes from all of the Continental Trailways companies.
And I eventually used all of them! Cool

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 1:22 am Post subject: