BusTalk

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 11:28 pm Post subject:

J.B.,

You are correct in that Reading never had any 3610's.

The closest they came were eighteen 3612's numbered between 640 and 665.

Regards,

Mr. 'L'

Old Look 4007 · Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 5:03 pm Post subject:

The first time I saw a TDH 3610 was around 1956 when the Stamford Division of the Connecticut Company received them.

There was no mistaking the sound of a diesel engine passing the house in comparison with the current Yellow Coach 36 series.

Some of the TDH 3610's had screened engine hatches...fleet numbers in the 1100 and 1200 numbers. While others had metal covers rivered OVER the screens.

Contrary to what was published in an old fleet roster I have, there were two Yellows...#s 833 and 846 while listed as gas buses were actually diesels. The engine sound and fumes gave them away as diesels.
These two Yellows also had two small tail lights above each engine screen instead of one large one in a middle.

Trivia but there are some things one never forgets about 'old looks'.
That's what makes buses such fun.

JimmiB · Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 12:31 am Post subject:

I had myself a little confused about the Reading numbers. Mr. L mentions the buses in the 600 series from 640 and up, but I know I drove a couple with low numbers, 601 through 610. Couldn't find them anywhere in the GM rosters.
Then Old Look 4007's post made me wonder. Were these old enough that they were really Yellow Coach?
Checked the Yellow Coach roster and there they were. These had the GM badge but still carried Yellow's model numbers. Also they were listed as being sold to Atlantic Services, Reading Street Railway. I'm guessing that was a holding company.
So, Reading Bus Co.s 601 through 610 were Yellow Coach PD3206's, delivered 7/45.
Also found under Yellow Coach were Reading's 45 passenger numbers 700 through 717. They were listed as Yellow model TD4007, delivered in 1944 and 1946. Most of these coaches were still in daily service until the transit authority took over in 1973.

Old Look,
I did note that a pair of the TD4007's were listed as gas engines. I remember one retired mechanic telling me that during the war there were times when diesels were not available. He said that Reading had bought a couple with gas engines which they later converted to diesel.