 |
BusTalk
A Community Discussing Buses and Bus Operations Worldwide!
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
traildriver
Joined: 26 Mar 2011
Posts: 2460
Location: South Florida
|
 Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2024 8:14 pm Post subject: Re: The bus hobby in Great Britain |
 |
|
| NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 wrote: | It is amazing how tremendous (and passionate) the bus hobby is in Great Britain.
Since the 1950s, there have been numerous bus preservation and enthusiast's groups, not to mention many hundreds of books (as well as monthly magazines) published on British buses and coaches, particularly those focusing on vehicles that ran in London.
There are many bus preservation groups who sponsor historic bus raillies and shows; in fact, 2014 was, in Great Britain, officially declared "The Year Of The Bus".
This gala celebration featured historic (and modern) buses and coaches for all over Great Britain converging upon London for public exhibitions, heritage runs, and other most enjoyable bus-related events.
Several times that year, Regents Street was closed to traffic, so that dozens of historic buses and coaches could be exhibited.
Here at home, things are not the same.
The famed GREYHOUND museum has sold off its collection of historic buses; here in New York, the MTA's historic bus collection (once running in holiday service each year) has been in limbo for a number of years now, and it is doubtful that these beautiful and historic buses will ever run again.
The London Transport Museum at Covent Garden is light-years beyond spectacular; here there are many magnificently restored London buses, coaches, trams, trolleybuses, and Tube cars on display....truly a magnificent sight!
In closing, it is QUITE obvious that Brits are VERY passionate about preserving historic public transport vehicles, especially buses; too bad we will never see the same amount of passion and dedication here in the States......
"NYO"
["142A UXBRIDGE STN"] |
I don't fully agree...while it may not be as popular here in the USA, there are some excellent bus museums here.
I am a life member of this one...
https://busmuseum.org/
Another excellent one...
https://pacbus.org/
Alive and well...their collection is intact. The buses sold off, were not from here, but from the historic collection actually still owned by Greyhound Lines, which were stored in GL garages, and used for Company promotion's and displays.
https://www.greyhoundbusmuseum.org/ |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22666
Location: NEW JOISEY
|
| Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2024 8:54 pm Post subject: |
|
|
traildriver:
Appreciate the good news; glad to know this historic buses are still alive and well! 
I am familiar with (through the internet) about the PBM; thank you for reminding me of their electric and diverse historic bus collection!
One thing I think you will agree with me, is the number of bus publications (books/magazines) that have been available in Great Britain for decades, unlike here at home; I have a tall stack of volumes, for instance, that detail the different types and classes of London buses and coaches through the decades, year by year (starting with 1939)
Sadly, we don't even have "BUS TALK" any more; that was a great magazine for ANYONE in the hobby to delve through....I certainly did, and I miss it still.
Excellent works, truly intense research had to be undertaken with these books, for certain.
Recall how you and I have talked about (in past discussions) about how deregulation affected GREYHOUND and American intercity bus travel in general?
In Great Britain, deregulation of intercity coach services in 1980 brought about great changes in the industry; not surprisingly, the enthusiasts of the day were out in full force, wanting to document old companies before they disappeared, and also to get photos of the coaches of newer companies, just entering the picture.
Just like here at home, back in the day!
I tip my size 7 fedora to ANYONE (or any historic group) no matter where they are located, who takes the time and effort to restore historic buses back into their former glory.............a LOT of DEDICATION and HARD WORK, for certain.......
"NYO"
["EXPRESS"] |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22666
Location: NEW JOISEY
|
| Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2024 9:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Interestingly, during London's "Year Of The Bus" celebration in 2014, the LT Museum restored its 1914 "B"-class ("GENERAL") double-decker to the army-drab colors buses of its class wore during WW1 (recall, 2014 also marked 100 years since Britain's entering the First World War) when hundreds were seen to France for use as troop transports and ambulances.
Many of these buses later came back to London, and, after refurbishing, re-entered revenue service.
Others, wrecked and partially dismantled, remained on battle-scarred French turf.
The aforementioned "B"-class bus also carried a group of Sikh men, wearing WW1 uniforms, paying tribute the the hundreds of Sikh soldiers who fought for England during the War.
A fine and long-overdue accolade to such men, a century later.
Interestingly enough, a number of Paris buses also served the military in France during the "Great War", in various capacities...............
"NYO"
["78 SHOREDITCH"] |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22666
Location: NEW JOISEY
|
| Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2024 11:05 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Victoria Coach Station has, for decades, served as London's own "Port-of-Authority".
These nostalgic photos (dating back to the early 1960s) showcase some of the tremendous variety of intercity coaches* then in service; "bus spotters" of all ages flocked to this always-bustling facility to take photos and "log" the coaches intro their journals.
Enjoy the nostalgia; some pretty interesting vintage coaches, here!
*(in the 6th photo down from the top, note the handsome "STRATFORD BLUE" coach; the windows remind me of those used on postwar ACF-BRILL transit/suburban buses!)
"NYO"
https://www.classicbuses.co.uk/++Victoria-coach-station.html
["STRATFORD BLUE"]
Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Sun Mar 10, 2024 11:15 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22666
Location: NEW JOISEY
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22666
Location: NEW JOISEY
|
| Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2024 11:23 pm Post subject: |
|
|
The Victoria BUS station has been at this location seemingly forever.
Through the 1940s, an elevated control tower was located here; the "signal men" stationed inside would operate the electric colored signals mounted at each platform, to signal the drivers at departure time............
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_bus_station
["390-COLINDALE STN."] |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
traildriver
Joined: 26 Mar 2011
Posts: 2460
Location: South Florida
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2024 5:13 am Post subject: |
|
|
| NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 wrote: | The Victoria BUS station has been at this location seemingly forever.
Through the 1940s, an elevated control tower was located here; the "signal men" stationed inside would operate the electric colored signals mounted at each platform, to signal the drivers at departure time............
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_bus_station
["390-COLINDALE STN."] |
Interesting....but did you know, your beloved original PABT also had a "control tower"?
It was located overlooking the lower level bus entrance on 40th Street. The Port dispatcher would receive updated information frequently from the carrier's own dispatcher's, and when a bus entered the terminal, he would identify it, and then flash a gate assignment from an electric sign, as well as an arrow to indicate either the inner or outer lane for the driver to use to to reach it. Each platform used to have a "treadle" that the buses drove over, which indicated if the platform was vacant or occupied by a bus...
When Greyhound moved in, in 1963, their dispatcher's were located in a booth immediately behind the Port control tower for easy communication. The Greyhound NY regional administrative offices were also located in that area, as was their driver's room. When they opened their brand new maintenance center over on the block between 11th and 12th Avenues, 40th and 41st Streets, the dispatcher's and driver's room (as well as their dormitory were relocated to that location in 1968. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22666
Location: NEW JOISEY
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2024 10:06 am Post subject: |
|
|
traildriver:
WOW!!! 
Indeed, you DO learn something new every day; I had NO idea of this "tower"......thanks for the much-appreciated "heads-up"!
The "signal tower" at Victoria Bus Station was last used in the 1940s, after the War.
For whatever reason, LT closed it prior to 1950, and it stood unused for several years before it was finally removed, and the signal lights which it operated disconnected (and eventually removed)
Victoria Bus Station dated back to the days of open-top "GENERAL" buses------
"NYO"
["17 NOTTING HILL GATE"] |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22666
Location: NEW JOISEY
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2024 10:27 am Post subject: |
|
|
Cannot forget the bus "control tower" that was built into the 1951 St. George terminal complex.............
https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154448
(courtesy: nycsubway.org)
["M"] |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22666
Location: NEW JOISEY
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2024 10:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
Note the "tower" at the MTA yard at Harway & 25th; this photo dates to 1981.
Note also the "museum" buses sitting in the yard..............
https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?153311
(courtesy: nycsubway.org)
["B64") |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22666
Location: NEW JOISEY
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2024 10:37 am Post subject: |
|
|
Interesting......
The old control tower for buses at the Victoria Bus Station was known simply as a "tower".
On the "Tube", interlocking towers (above and below ground) were known as "cabins".
On Britain's railways, the term "signal box" was universal..............
["NYO"
['EPPING"] |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22666
Location: NEW JOISEY
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22666
Location: NEW JOISEY
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22666
Location: NEW JOISEY
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2024 12:08 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Some rare and handsome historic British buses/coaches on this page (good "background" on the beginnings of bus preservation* in Britain here as well)..........
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bus_preservation_in_the_United_Kingdom
*In 1961, less than eighty vintage buses in Great Britain were preserved; 5,000 buses, as of 2009, had been spared the torch! 
["LEYLAND"] |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22666
Location: NEW JOISEY
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You can attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group
|
BusTalk Main
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
BusTalk Galleries
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
