BusTalk

frankie

If any of you have been following the news on the flooding in and around Harrisburg, you know that the Bus Museum Annex in Hershey was under 10 feet of water with many collectible buses badly damaged if not destroyed!

We're not sure exactly which buses were being stored there at the time, but from what I've been reading, the following buses may be involved: Michaud PD3703, Ex Academy 4505 or 03, Harrisburg GM TDH 4523 , Ex DC Transit 3101 Baby Old look, Capital Trailways PD4106, Harran Flxible clipper, Colonial Williamsburg Baby fishbowl , ex Richmond, VA. AM General, The very 1st RTS from Long Beach Transit, Jamaica Buses fishbowl and Red Rose Transit 35ft FLXIBLE Metro and The priceless Greyhound PD4103.

The following photo if pretty upsetting considering the number of preserved classic buses that's underwater. Fortunately, the main museum sits up on a hill and was not affected.

Frankie

JimmiB · Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 10:53 pm Post subject:

Hershey is just getting open to traffic today. It was completely isolated since the flood. I hope that at least some of these coaches can be salvaged, especially the 4103 and Capital's 4106. I was on the '06 several times. In fact I was running a transit run with a 4106 (long story), and had a layover at the same place as a Capital express run to Hershey. The Capital driver checked out my bus and asked if I'd seen the one they restored. The next day he talked the company into letting him use it on the one run just so I could check it out. Beautiful coach.
Just glad to hear that the main museum was spared any damage.

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

Check out www.mobt.org and click on "news and notes" for an update. Some of the fleet was in the main building and several buses were out for repair/restoration and were not affected.

They are asking for volunteers to help restore the damaged buses.

frankie · Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 4:51 pm Post subject:

That's a bit of good news. Fortunately all the buses were insured. Here's the correct website address as the one given does not work. http://thebusmuseum.blogspot.com/

Frankie

JimmiB · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 1:34 am Post subject:

Thanks for that link. I'll see if I can lend a hand. I've known Tom Collins for many years and I'm less than 20 miles away. He's not kidding about how fast the Swattie came up. I dispatch for Yellow Cab in Lebanon. We have a small creek along the edge of the property. Rose about 5 foot over the banks and damaged our whole fleet before they could be moved. The Swatara Creek (actually a river) goes under Rt. 72 about 3 miles north of my house. One man actually tried to cross the flooded bridge on foot and was swept away and drowned.

ripta42 · Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2011 2:05 pm Post subject:

I believe the Bonanza two-axle MC-9 and SEPTA 40' Volvo were also involved.

roymanning2000 · Age: 77 Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 198

I believe the Bonanza MC-9 is one of three buses at the upper left corner of the photo. It's the one in the middle with the white roof trimmed in red. Given the history of that bus I certainly hope it can be repaired.

Roy

frankie · Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 10:04 am Post subject:

The bus closest to the right in front of the GOD (Guaranteed Overnight Delivery) trailer looks like the Michaud PD3703.

Frankie