Rapid Transit Series Buses: General Motors and Beyond
General Motors wanted to revolutionize transit bus design after having success with their New Look Bus through the 1960s. Being protagonists for progress, GM's engineers created a prototype coach that would address all of the New Look's shortcomings. This RTX (Rapid Transit Experimental) was a shock to the transit industry, and it wasn't until 1977 when the better-developed RTS bus became part of the Advanced Design Bus project and was the descendant of GMC's entry in the U.S. DOT's 'Transbus' project. The RTS is notable for its curved body and window panels and has become recognized as a timeless design just like the GM New Look was. In 1987 the RTS patents were sold to Transportation Manufacturing Corporation (TMC) and then they sold the rights to NovaBus in 1994 who left the U.S. market in 2002. However, Millennium Transit Services has since revived the RTS in 2006. Here it is, the only book with the full in-depth history that is also well illustrated with time-period photography and a colour section.
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Streetcars in the Kootenays: Nelson’s Electric Tramways: 1899 to 1992
Born at the turn of the century out of the promise of rich mineral discoveries, one of the smallest street railways in the British Empire once operated in Nelson, British Columbia. Its streetcars carried passengers up one of the steepest grades of any Canadian system, grades which led to some spectacular accidents. Streetcars in the Kootenays recounts the eventful history of the Nelson Electric Tramway Company. It is also the story of a few dedicated volunteers who began restoring the systems only surviving streetcar, which returned to operation along the Kootenay Lake in 1992.
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Stretch Limousines: 1928-2001 Photo Archive
Beginning with the 1928 Big Band buses, actually the first stretch limos, this book shows the development of the stretch limo through its various configurations up to the present day. Following the Big Band buses came the airporter shuttle limos from the 30s to 60s. In 1963 the luxury commercial stretches were introduced. Finally the party/bar/VIP stretches came on the scene. This books features both commercial and one-off stretches and even includes the 2001 Presidential limo built for President George W. Bush.
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The American Taxi: A Century of Service
The American Taxi has been providing a vital public service for 100 years! Enjoy the Taxi experience through photographs and the history of famous taxi marques, such as Yellow, General, Checker, DeSoto, Packard, Plymouth, Ford, & Studebaker - many minor makes are also represented with forgotten names like Rockwell, Murphy, Oakland, Huppmobile and Stearns Knight. Oddball experiments, unusual taxis, lights, meters, and taxi memorabilia are highlighted. A walk through time illustrates the effect of regulations on taxis and how that led to technical advances and body changes.
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The Leyland National
It is now three-and-a-half decades since the first Leyland National single-deck bus took to our roads. It was the ideal bus for the era concerned, and it therefore came to dominate the British market place. With its distinctive form being seen from Cornwall to the Northern half of Scotland, it formed the service bus backbone of many great fleets. Although developed jointly by Leyland and the National Bus Company, primarily for the NBC's own use, it found many other buyers amongst the major operators, particularly in its later forms. After the de-regulation of the bus industry in the 1980s, many Leyland Nationals became surplus to requirements, and they were sold to numerous independent operators where they were soon used to run in competition with their former owners. It is only since the start of the new century that the National has ceased to be an everyday sight on our streets.It's varied and colourful history is illustrated in this pictorial tribute to the marque, being captured by the camera in a range of hues from the original Poppy Red or Leaf Green, to bright pink and multi-coloured versions. The fleets pictured vary from great undertakings like Crossville, Midland Red and United, to the smallest of independent operators.
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Trailways Buses 1936-2001 Photo Archive
This exciting history portrays the powerful history of the Trailways bus organization, one of the largest systems of independent motorcoach operators in the world. Trailways has been in existence for some 64 years and is still running strong today, specifically in the South, East, and Pacific Northwest. Today there are over 2,500 coaches operating in the Trailway system serving 500 destinations in 27 states, as well as Canada and Mexico. Now through these historic photographs, bus and transportation enthusiasts can experience the enormous variety of bus makes and models used by the company, as well as many interesting and unusual designs. Well-known bus enthusiast and historian, William A. Luke, has put together this exciting collection of photos that no bus lover should be without.
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Traveling With Greyhound: On the Road for 100 Years
Bringing Americans together by bus for 100 years, Greyhound is one of the top iconic names of the Twentieth Century with their running dog logo. It all started with Carl Wickman and partners when they offered a fare of 15 cents one way or 25 cents round-trip between Alice and Hibbing Minnesota, in a large Hupmobile -which was a hit amongst the iron mine workers. The business quickly prospered and eventually became the empire that it is today. Greyhound's goal of providing city to city service helped lead the country in bus travel, allowing the public a chance to sight-see coast-to-coast and border-to-border, visit far-away loved ones, or escape to vaster lands with greener pastures. By expanding bus lines, building bus depots and Post Houses, and with outstanding promotional efforts, Greyhound pioneered an industry. As the full story of the Greyhound company unfolds, the book is illustrated with wonderful old bus photos, artistic ads and timetables that depict a more fanciful era (one that made riding on a Greyhound romantic) and then takes a journey through the eras that follow (like the one with the famous Scenicruiser) and into today's modern buses.
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Trolley Buses 1913-2001 Photo Archive
Trolley buses first began operation in the United States around the turn of the century. Today, five cities in the U.S. and two in Canada use these mass-transit vehicles. This collection depicts a variety of the trolley buses from dozens of the 72 cities that have operated them over the last century. Each photo is accompanied by a descriptive caption detailing the vehicles manufacturer and technical specifications.
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Trolley Buses Around the World: A Photo Gallery
For more than a century trolley buses have been providing transportation in towns and cities throughout the world. The trolley bus offered several advantages over other vehicles, primarily quiet operation, quick acceleration from a standing start, hill-climbing ability and a long life span. During the 1950s and 1960s, many trolley bus systems were abandoned. The oil crisis of the 1970s marked a turning point, and the number of trolley bus systems in the world has risen steadily since. Take a trip around the world to see the various styles and systems of trolley buses. This Photo Gallery includes many past and present trolley bus systems from North & South America, Europe, Russia, Asia, and Africa. You'll learn the differences in equipment built over time, who the main manufacturers of Trolley Buses were in these countries and much more.
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Welcome Aboard the GM New Look Bus: An Enthusiast’s Reference
The General Motors Corporation will be remembered as one of the most important industrial organizations of the Twentieth Century. Although primarily known for its automotive products, it was best known in the surface passenger transportation industry for its intercity highway and urban transit buses. After the end of World War II, it improved its products and gained a virtual monopoly in the bus building business. The Truck & Coach Division of General Motors developed many designs that became industry standards. Arguably, the most notable design was the series known as the "New Look" bus for transit and suburban service. It first appeared in 1959, and the design was quite a radical departure from the models GM had produced since 1940. The New Look design continued in production basically unchanged for over 27 years, and didn't receive a face-lift until 1995 (that being the Classic produced in Canada). In many ways, it truly was the first "ADB", Advanced Design Bus. This is the story of how the New Look bus came to be, a discussion of its construction, and the many variations that comprised the New Look series.
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Yellow Coach Buses: 1923-1943 Photo Archive
Established in 1923 as a subsidiary of Yellow Cab Company, Yellow Coach was one of the most important names in the history and development of bus transportation in the United States. Before becoming a division of General Motors in 1943, Yellow Coach's many innovations made buses more comfortable, efficient, and safer.
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