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The Magnificent Scenicruiser: "America's Bus"
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 12:38 am    Post subject: The Magnificent Scenicruiser: "America's Bus" Reply with quote

Gentlemen:

Perhaps no other bus in the history of American intercity bus travel so took the nation by storm as the famed SCENICRUISER; despite all the fanfare and glitz associated with the first EAGLE coaches operated by CONTINENTAL TRAILWAYS; from the very beginning, it was clear that the handsome SCENICRUISER was indeed in a league of its own.

The stately SCENICRUISER rolled smoothly and gracefully along America's highways and byways for many years; the coaches indeed pocessed a style and a grace difficult for virtually any other highway coach to match.

Here, indeed, was a bus that truly personified postwar America......an innocent, idealistic era when intercity bus travel was still both a glorious adventure, as well as being an ocassion that most folks dressed up for.

Japanese toy makers, from the mid 50's until well into the 60's, were particulary enamored with the SCENICRUISER; literally hundreds of variations were manufactured for export to the American market; some were so realistic as to almost being scale models; others were quite "generic" in looks, while still others were as fanciful and as bizarre as anything seen in then current issues of MECHANICS ILLUSTRATED.

I have many vintage toy SCENICRUISERS in my collection, and it never ceases to amaze me as to just how much a part of American society this graceful and stylish bus truly was.

I recently purchased a copy of "GREYHOUND SCENICRUISER: FLAGSHIP OF THE FLEET" (McNally/Rayman), and this fine book is one that I very enthusiastically recommend to any and all who love this famous highway coach.

Many rare photos of these now-historic coaches in action grace these pages, and, greatly appreciated by your humble writer, are the number of photos showing vintage toy SCENICRUISERS from the 50's and 60's.

Many rare publicity photos are also included (the "ANHEUSER" coach is also depicted here; there used to be photos of this bus on two now-defunct SCENICRUISER/GREYHOUND sites)

The photos depicting abandoned SCENICRUISERS, stripped and forlorn in fields or woodlands, are quite depressing, especially to those of us fellows old enough to recall the SCENICRUISERS in thier heyday.

There are also many photos here of coaches in their "second lives" after being retired by GREYHOUND, as well as a number showing restored coaches.

The once-commonplace (and timeless) EAGLE production ran for many years after the last of the SCENICRUISERS rolled out of the assembly hall; IMHO, the SCENICRUISER design was one that should have continued in production for more years.

Even standing still, the SCENICRUISER truly exuded an air of both dignity and command; no other GREYHOUND bus...or...any other American bus, for that matter, could even hope to enter into the wonderous realm of the majestic SCENICRUISER......

"NYO"


Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Wed Feb 11, 2015 10:58 am; edited 2 times in total
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 1:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

"AMERICA'S BUS"........

http://www.playle.com/pictures/NORVELL2278.jpg
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 1:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

A magnificent living monument to GREYHOUND history.........

http://www.greyhoundcoach.com/gallery.html
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 1:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

A detailed tin toy SCENICRUISER, typical of the late 50's/early 60's.

I played with toy Hounds like this many decades ago, and have many in my collection today.....

http://www.kenmcgeeautobooks.com/images/03-11-2010IMG_4987.jpg
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 1:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

"Lost Scenicruisers and Found Memories"........

http://www.barnfinds.com/lost-scenicruisers-and-found-memories/
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 1:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

WESTERN GREYHOUND LINES #8005.......

http://pacbus.org/roster/pbm8005.html
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roymanning2000



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PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 8:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nice tribute to the "Bus of Buses". The Scenicruiser was the only bus that was a household name. Even people that had never been on a bus knew what a Scenicruiser was.

Roy
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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Joined: 18 Dec 2007
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 9:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

roymanning2000 wrote:
Nice tribute to the "Bus of Buses". The Scenicruiser was the only bus that was a household name. Even people that had never been on a bus knew what a Scenicruiser was.

Roy


Roy:

Thanks!

You are correct; even folks that had never traveled on an intercity bus (or had even seen a SCENICRUISER up close) knew the SCENICRUISER.

Magazine ads (many large pull-outs) brought the stunning SCENICRUISERS into homes across the country.

TV commercials for GREYHOUND also introduced this now-iconic bus into folks' living rooms from New York to Los Angeles, and to virtually everywhere in between.

The SCENICRUISER years were also when where countless small towns across the country were served by GREYHOUND, thus bringing the coach to even more people, if only via a picture on a timetable cover, a display model in a depot, or a tin friction toy for sale at a terminal gift shop.

Recall, also, the Steve Allen Show being sponsored by GREYHOUND, and, "Lady Greyhound", who, along with faithful collie "Lassie", was known and loved from coast to coast.

SCENICRUISER toys seemed to be everywhere during that era; from terminal gift shops and Post Houses, to toy stores and "five and tens" in every state, toy SCENICRUISERS (friction, battery operated, or die cast) could be purchased for as little as 19 cents for a miniscule friction toy, to perhaps $4.99 for a large, finely detailed, battery operated model.

Here again, it was obvious that "The Hound Of Hounds"....the luxurious SCENICRUISER........had truly become "America's Bus"........

"NYO"


Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Wed Feb 11, 2015 10:57 am; edited 1 time in total
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee



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PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 10:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Scenicruiser moments forever frozen in time.....

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?3333

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?4237

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?4238

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?4244

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 12:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

See also:

http://www.scenicruisers.com/
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 12:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great pictures and interesting reading.....

http://barnfinds.com/scenicruiser-lunch-stop-update/
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 8:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Some interesting "Noo Yawk" SCENICRUISER triviaL

In 1971, GREYHOUND started its "EXECUTIVE COACH SERVICE" between Wall St. and Hartford, Connecticut; there was one round-trip daily, Monday to Friday.

This "Mad Men"-era special SCENICRUISER was for the exclusive use of passengers employeed by AETNA, TRAVELERS, and the HARTFORD insurance companies.

With "EXECUTIVE COACH" prominently displayed on the destination sign, this PD-4501-151 offered a distinct level of luxury for its well-heeled passengers.

The upper level featured revolving individual lounge chairs, in addition to the standard high-backed seats.

The bus was also equipped with high intensity reading lights, curtains, wall-to-wall carpeting, as well as tables with drink holders.

Other changes included the removal of all overhead luggage racks, and sunken aisle in the upper level was also removed, to create more headroom.

The lower level held the restroom, wardrobe, and a fully-equipped galley equipped with a hot liquid dispenser, as well as an ice chest.

The bus used in this prestigious service was EASTERN GREYHOUND LINES No. 4241; the crew included a dedicated GREYHOUND driver as well as two hostesses.

When the one-year contact expired between GREYHOUND and the participating insurance companies, the SCENICRUISER was replaced by a newer MC-7........

"NYO"

(source: GREYHOUND SCENICRUISER: FLAGSHIP OF THE FLEET" (McNally/Rayman)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 2:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A timeless 1950's SCENICRUISER view; this photo looks like it might have been taken on the West Side, with the massive "GAS HEATS BEST" gas storage tank in the background.

For decades, that huge tank was a prominent landmark to many on both sides of the Hudson.

Note, too, the 4103 in the backround.

Without a doubt, the noble SCENICRUISER was indeed the epitome of intercity bus design when it first made its debut over six decades ago.............

http://busdrawings.com/coach/greyhoundus/pd4501/glia2200.jpg

(courtesy: busdrawings.com)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 11:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This battery operated "SONAR GUIDED" toy SCENICRUISER is today one of the rarest of vintage SCENICRUISER toys.

Quite a novelty when new (late 50's/early 60's), these rare toy buses command high prices today, if one is lucky to come across one......

http://shopbluzinger.com/JD2013C/jdgreyhound1a.jpg
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 13, 2015 8:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

SCENICRUISER "humor", from the early days......

The two windshields (upper and lower) led to a new joke among GREYHOUND drivers.........

Two crows, nesting near Springfield, Missouri, never missed a chance to fly over passing buses and "dive bomb" the windshields. Sitting on a telephone wire, they spotted a new SCENICRUISER and proceeded on thier "mission".

As they cleared the first windshield with thier "bombs away" mission, they swooped upwards, only to be caught by the windshield on the upper level.

This crash sent both crows reeling and they crash-landed into a ditch alongside the highway; when the crows had recovered from thier unexpected emcounter, one crow said to his feathered friend:

"Damn! Did you ever see a second section follow so close?" Wink

"NYO"

(source: "GREYHOUND SCENICRUISER": FLAGSHIP OF THE FLEET" (McNALLY/RAYMAN)
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