Thursday, May 7, 2009

Trailways Trivia: The Trailways Transportation System is a group of 80 independent bus companies that have entered into a franchising agreement. The company was founded February 5, 1936, by Burlington Transportation Co., Santa Fe Trails Transportation Co., Missouri-Pacific Stages, Safeway Lines Inc. and Frank Martz Coach Co. Memphis, TN, is the home of the first Greyhound and Continental Trailways bus lines.

Today the various Trailways members are spread across North America. They provide charter bus rental service, bus tours and scheduled route services, with some members providing regular route service to areas not served by any other bus company on an interlining basis with Greyhound Lines, each other, and independent companies. Members generally also offer motorcoach charters and tours in competitive markets.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

We had our May Board Meeting last night and most of the meeting was focused on the upcoming Spring Fling--right now (and we still have a month to go)--there are 28 tables sold from 21 vendors. We are very excited about this. They are in the preliminary planning stages as to where the buses will be positioned around the Annex. We will be having a silent auction and a 50/50 raffle on Saturday.

The next Board Meeting is Tuesday, June 2, 2009 at the Memorial Annex. We will be working down at the Annex that whole week in preparation for the Spring Fling. If you can spare some time--please contact Dan Lehman at icarrythelight4god@msn.com.

Just before the Board Meeting several of us met at the Memorial Annex because the Volvo was returning from its paint job and was unloaded at the Annex. See the picture as it was on the tow truck.

I am continuing to work on the problem with the website--I had to promise my first born child to the people who hold the domain name, in hopes of getting the switch to my name approved for being the contact person for the domain name--right now we have a 15 day reprieve...so here's hoping it all works.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Here's some Greyhound trivia: Founded in 1914, Greyhound Lines, Inc. is the largest provider of intercity bus transportation, serving more than 2,300 destinations with 13,000 daily departures across North America.

It has become an American icon, providing safe, enjoyable and affordable travel to nearly 25 million passengers each year. The Greyhound running dog is one of the most-recognized brands in the world. In 1914, Carl Eric Wickman, a miner, was trying to sell the Hupmobile, a 7-passenger auto, to citizens of the Mesabi Iron Ore Range in Minnesota. A failure as a salesman, Wickman used the Hupmobile to open a bus line, carrying passengers between the towns of Hibbing and Alice, a 2-mi. journey. The bus was so popular that Wickman bought more autos and added 3 extra seats to each one. The long, sleek appearance of the "expanded" buses plus their gray color caused someone to remark that they looked "just like greyhounds streaking by." From then on, Wickman used the slogan, "Ride the Greyhounds."

PLEASE NOTE: Our website is currently "down" because the domain name needs to be renewed and unfortunately, is still in the name of the people who originally created it--so be patient--hope to have it back up and running in a day or two.

Tonight is a Board Meeting--most of the business will be the Spring Fling--will try to report on it tomorrow or Thursday morning.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Our 1934 Yellow Coach Model U in Blue Bird colors was donated to the Museum by Louis Magnano. It was originally owned by Semke Bus Lines of Hempstead, LI, NY, and was their Bus No. 6. Mr. Semke said of Bus No. 6, a 1934 Model U Yellow Coach, "I am pretty sure of the date of manufacture because my Mom and Dad went out to the factory to drive it home when it was first purchased. I think it might have been their honeymoon trip. I know they visited the 1934 Chicago World's Fair on that trip."

In later years, the bus was used as a snow plow because Nassau County required that the buses maintain the streets for snow removal. Mr. Semke added "when you saw the bus sitting in our garage in Hempstead equipped with a large snow plow--back then, the Public Service Commission (of Nassau County) required franchise operators to maintain their own routes." Mr. Semke also said "back when I was young, I used to look forward to heavy snow falls because it meant that I could take old No. 6 and drive it!"

The original seats in that bus went to Bee Line Bus Company, Rockville Centre, NY, for a restored 1932 ACF. Mr. Semke said, "I know they were brown leather with a relatively high back and a bucketed effect." The bus also originally had side curtains above the side windows. The original color was a green body with a yellow belt line and a silver roof. The Chassis was a Model U-Y-772 S/N 012, Year 1934, with a U-O-666 body, S/N 065.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

As a follow-up to yesterday's blog--I've dug up some more information about our bus. First, here is a picture of the original driver and hostess on our bus: 5-Star Hostess Marsha Plexico and Operator Al Plexico.

Of course, food service on board a bus was the main attraction. The menu included chilled fruit juices (tomato, orange and grapefruit), hot consomme, assorted sandwiches, donuts, cookies and various beverages (coffee, hot chocolate, iced or hot tea, milk and soft drinks). The additional 5-Star service charge between Los Angeles and San Francisco, a nine hour and fifteen minute run in 1956, was only $2.00 and included all you cared to eat!

Our particular bus was the last Golden Eagle set up as a 5-Star car. The bus originally ran in the New York City-St. Louis-Los Angeles service but since that schedule's end, it was used as a charter car out of Panhandle's Amarillo home base.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

We are privileged to have a very special bus in our collection--one that gets a lot of attention on the floor--that is the 1971 B&C GOLDEN EAGLE 05 5410 Continental Panhandle Lines 42303. As you can see from the map above--it went from NY to LA through Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, OK City, Amarillo, Albuquerque, Flagstaff and then onto LA (see the other stops and connections in between). The Five-Star ticket for this ride included: Hostess aboard; reserved seat; snacks and beverages. The brochure stated the hostess "will bring you snacks, magazines or pillows; help you adjust your seat and give you the time, temperature and show you points of interest...just above the cars at scenery level...all the way." Sounds pretty luxurious, doesn't it?

The brochure also notes "plush, plump, adjustable seats keep you comfortable throughout any trip...the Golden Eagle is climate controlled for any season with plenty of fresh, clean air. You'll find a completely equipped rest room aboard that features a well-lighted make-up mirror to help you arrive as crisp, clean and comfortable as you were when you stepped aboard." Too bad they discontinued these

Friday, May 1, 2009

I can hardly believe it is the first of May already. Where does the time go? I'm sure by now you know I'll be reminding you about the Museum of Bus Transportation's upcoming SPRING FLING--it is a mere 5 weeks away! 5 weeks--YIKES--did I say 5 weeks! There is still lots to do and exciting things are happening.

New this year, we will be having a SILENT AUCTION--so you won't want to miss out on that. We just approved the layout and design for a NEW T-SHIRT which will be introduced at the Spring Fling.

Remember, our small entrance fee of $2 will help to make this Spring Fling a success. We are proud and thrilled to have as many sponsors as we do this year--as I mentioned last week, they are: APTA (American Public Transportation Association), SETRA Coach; UMA (United Motorcoach Association); Lancer Insurance; Prevost; Michaud Buses for Sale, MCI (Motor Coach Industries). UPDATE: American Bus Association, ABC Companies and Vernon and Maz are also sponsors (as of May 5, 2009).