BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

(SEE PREVIOUS LINK/COMMENTS)

Further:

Photos of vintage Army buses are few and far between; in the aforementioned book, there are two photos of PD-3301s (the US ARMY purchased 840 of these tough-looking, olive-drab buses)

These beefy buses were indeed quite interesting, as they featured Old Look-style front ends..........

"NYO"

["FORT RILEY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

An "MCI" trolleybus?

Indeed, ONE did exist; this was an experimental model ("TRY") for Winnipeg, built in 1942.

This one-of-a-kind electric resembled most other trolley buses of that era; it remained in service until 1960.

It was a scarcity of parts at that time, as well as the high import duties on traction motors, that kept this model going into production...........

"NYO"

["77 NOTRE DAME"]

[Cyberider]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

Years ago, there WAS an excellent article online (w/photos) about an old PG/PD-type Army bus that had been found derelict in the woods for many years, and had been rescued (and was also to be restored)

Sadly, that page is long gone.

Interestingly, back in the late 1950s and early 1960s, a number of (tin) toy military buses were available (some were part of series), and came in different sizes with a number of interesting variations.

I have buses representing the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force.

One of the most unusual is a "NAVY TRANSPORT OFFICE" bus, clearly a two-axle "SCENICRUISER"!

The ones I have as part of a series (in two sizes) were "Bruck"-types, with AEROCOACH-style windshields (the larger "ARMY" bus
w/three axles, I've had since Christmas, 1959!)

"NYO"

"U.S. ARMY"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Also of interest..........

In 1950, TWIN COACH received a contract for 500 military buses.

These "buses" were called "convertibles" because they could be changed from a 32-passenger bus to either an ambulance or a cargo-hauling truck.

In total, TWIN built over 1500 military buses; many had quite different appearances, as a number of these unique vehicles were built in conjunction with the famed 'FRUEHUAF" trailer company.

A number of these vehicles became "HPOs" ("Highway Post Offices")........

"NYO"

["TWIN COACH"]

[Cyberider]

Thanks for the info, NYO. You must have been a little guy when you got that model bus for Christmas 1959!

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Was VERY lucky to come across this rare 1950s photo of a soldier happily posing with a GM PG/PD Army bus (note the Old Look-style front end!)

This was one TOUGH-looking bus, indeed!

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/us-army-bus--555631672759793982/

["GENERAL MOTORS"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The derelict, ancient (PG/PD) Army bus seen here looks to be the one I mentioned seeng several photos of online, long, long ago; also, note how rear end emulated those of the famed FLXIBLE "Clippers".................

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/486529565967209896/

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's a rare press photo of one of the aforementioned PG/PD Army buses, when new.....a VERY formidable-looking bus, for certain!

Also note the transit-style folding doors........

https://www.autopaper.com/1950s-gmc-usa-military-bus-press-photo-0267.php

["U.S.ARMY"]

[Cyberider]

NYO,

Thanks for digging up photos of this elusive bus. I've seen photos of it in the past but they sure are hard to find now.

It was nice, back in the day, when you could tell a vehicle by it's sound as well as it's looks.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

I hadn't started school yet, when my two older brothers joined the National Guard; I can remember my family driving out to the old Armory in Dumont in my dad's '53 Packard, to see my brothers off.

I remember it being a cool, overcast day; at the Armory, there were at least two of these olive-drab, beefy PG/PD Army buses, one of which my brothers would take down to Camp Kilmer.

Not only was I sad to say "goodbye" to my brothers, I was also most disappointed that I could not ride on one of those big old Army buses!

To this day, when I see a photo of one of these old army buses, I think of my brothers (now both long departed) boarding that olive-drab bus for their camp.

Mom said years later I was just as sad not to be riding on that bus my my brothers were on, as I was saying "goodbye" to them!

Man, this had to be about 1961, at least.....man, where have the years gone.........

"NYO"

["OXL-USA45J"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

Check this rare illustration out!

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/479703797794618488/

["BATTLING BUSES OF WW2"]

[Cyberider]

Thanks, NYO. I'd be happy to ride in that Packard too!

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

At least I rode in that old Packard many times; I NEVER, however, got to ride aboard that classic Army bus that my older brothers did!

On the same note, did you notice the folding transit-style doors on the GM Army bus?

This was a departure from the "standard" intercity PG/PD-types, as the intercity versions utilized sedan type-doors.

Interestingly enough, the only FLXIBLE "Clippers" to be equipped with transit-style folding doors were those purchased by the "MASS. NORTHEASTERN TRANSPORTATION COMPANY" and "WORCESTER STREET RAILWAY".

Only one of these unique coaches featured two-panel folding doors; the rest were equipped with four panel doors, which would have been typical for transit buses of that era.......

"NYO"

["BOSTON"]