BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

(SEE PREVIOUS POSTS/LINKS)

More "orthodox" cargo/passenger buses were the "Combo Cars"/"Cargo-Liners" once operated by GREYHOUND and TRAILWAYS (these were converted SCENICRUISERS/EAGLES)

These buses had a number of seats removed from the upper level and the former passenger area converted ito cargo space.

Freight doors were cut into the upper level of the body.

Typically, some 26 passengers could be carried on the "Combo Cars".

The converted EAGLES were known as "CARGO-LINERS"........

"NYO"

[Cyberider]

NYO,

Thanks for the info on the "Brucks."

I think I've seen a cargo converted Scenicruiser or two. Or were they just in photos? Can't remember anymore. The Scenicruisers were on the way out at Greyhound when I started riding in the early 70's but occasionally got one.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

GREYHOUND, slowly but surely, began selling off their iconic SCENICRUISERS in the late 1960s.

First SCENICRUISER sold was in 1968, going to a charter company ("MICHAUD") in Salem, Mass.

It was not long before 400 other SCENICRUISERS entered the used bus market.

However, the FIRST ex-GREYHOUND Scenicruiser to be painted in a non-GREYHOUND livery was "X-64", owned by CALIFORNIA PARLOR CARS, a subsidiary of GREYHOUND.

CENTRAL TEXAS TRAILWAYS (Waco, Texas) also purchased several retired SCENICRUISERS for their fleet............

"NYO"

["EXPRESS"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

Check out this site from "down under", where, to this day, Flxible "Clippers" are still highly revered (and preserved!)

https://flxibleclipperclub.com.au/wp/

Interesting, "ANSAIR" built 131 Flxible-style coaches between 1950 and 1960; most were operated by "PIONEER TOURS".

These sleek, streamlined buses were virtually identical to those here in the States, with the exception of left-hand drive (and doors)

Like the late premier bus historian/collector/newsman Jim Lehrer, I've LONG held a special place in my heart for both the CLIPPERS and the VISICOACHES.

Enjoy the site!

"NYO"

["ANSAIR"]

[Cyberider]

NYO,

Thanks for the interesting info. They definitely looked ahead of their time.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

You are quite welcome!

Though I never (sadly) ever got to ride on either a "Clipper" or a "Visicoach", I do indeed recalling them every once in awhile growing up, in charter service.

As a young lad, I called these distinctive buses "Fat Backs" (obvious reason!) and "the buses with no windows in the back"!

Close to 50 years ago, every so often, I saw this older gent driving a "Clipper" about town, painted Army drab, with an illuminated drumhead on the rear, reading "FADED GLORY", superimposed on a star (sadly, I NEVER had a camera on me when this rare bus came by.....you just never knew when you'd see it; I DO believe he lived somewhere in the south end of town, though)

I also once saw it at a local diesel garage, being repaired (I was passing by as a passenger in my brothjer's car when I glimpsed it, about 1979)

Oh, well!

RAREST of all the Visicoaches was the "Starliner" (I never saw one personally, only in photos)

These HIGHLY-distinctive buses were eye-catching, in that they featured a windowed 'hump"midway on the sloping roof.....VERY sharp-looking bus!

The "Starliner" debuted in 1957, the very last of the "Clipper"-style coaches.

Some 276 of these sleek and distinctive buses were built..............

"NYO"

["FLXIBLE"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

These photos will give you an idea of what the sleek, futuristic "STARLINERS" looked like (this particular bus was converted into a mobile home)

This rare bus dates back to 1957.......just like the gray-headed guy typing these words!

https://coachquarters.com/flxible-starliner

["STARLINER"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

WOW!!!!!!!!!

These are, indeed, MAGNIFICENT vintage buses for sure, light-years ahead of their day!(talk about SLEEK!)

(EXCELLENT PHOTOS!)

https://flxibleowners.org/breeds-of-flxibles/

["OTTAWA"]

[Cyberider]

NYO,

Thanks for the info on the Flxible Clippers and derivatives. If I remember correctly, Clippers were still used as dedicated airport buses in LA in the early 70's from the suburban areas to LAX.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

As always, you are most welcome!

I should now mention the "AIRPORTERS", which were, basically, "Baby Flexies"; these little buses were built specifically for airport service, with the first entering service in 1946.

These buses featured two-and-one seating, and had extra baggage space at the rear.

These sleek "shorties" seated 18 passengers

(Back in 1973, on vacation with my folks, I snapped a picture of a VISICOACH in airport service, stopping for a red light in front of our Ottawa hotel!)

"NYO"

['FLXIBLE"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Also............

it should also be noted that FLXIBLE also offered sightseeing buses, based upon the Clipper/Visicoach/Airporter.

Several cities once had these buses; in 1973, my folks and I rode a Flex "GRAY LINE" sightseeing bus up in Montreal (bus featured glass panels in the roof....NICE bus, for certain!)

Another city that had them in sightseeing service was Salt Lake City, like the other Flex sightseeing buses, these had large rectangular passenger windows.............

"NYO"

["SIGHTSEEING"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

This handsomely restored "Flexie" is seen here on exhibit at the NYCTM BusFest, a number of years back.

Yep, these buses were indeed both EYE-CATCHING and DISTINCTIVE!

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156070

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156071

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["YOSEMIYE PARK"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The lone FDNY Flex...........

Back in the 1950s, the NYFD operated a "customized" (Flex ("AIRPORTER), which, indeed, was a most interesting vehicle.

This converted bus was used both as an ambulance and a mobile first-aid station.

It was equipped with 28 cots, and also had its own generator, sterilizer, hot water tank, and heating pads.

This unit could also connect to an outside power source.......

"NYO"

["FDNY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

This "down under" page not only features a number of beautiful photos a classic (and majestic!) Australian Clipper, but also (check out the menu on the right-hand side of the page) photos and "bios" on other vintage buses in the "heritage" fleet......check out several classic US buses from years past!

https://driverclassics.com.au/heritage-fleet/1954-ansair-flxible-clipper

[Cyberider]

Thanks, NYO. Interesting buses I haven't thought much about lately.

From the rear, I always thought they'd make a good Oscar-Meyer Weinermobile.