We’re warming up for a bus theme coming up soon (my next Auto-Biography and related articles). Now the concept of using a truck semi-tractor to pull a passenger trailer has been around for a long time, and has become somewhat popular in places like Mexico, but I’ve never seen an actual bus converted to this role. Although, now that I look at it closer, I’m not totally sure this was being used as an actual transit bus. The picture’s too fuzzy to read its signage. And no; that’s not an old GMC bus either (front windows are too tall). Someone will know.
I do not know of any municipality that has offered concessions for this type of transportation in Mexico.
In Cuba, however, during the 90s the “Camel” buses became popular, as you can see in this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtPNXmwRYTA
I traveled to Cuba in 2006 and did not see any camel buses either.
In the large government ship repair facility I worked at, the transportation people had one bus that consisted of a semitrailer pulled by a short single-rear-axle tractor truck. I suspect that they cobbled it up themselves, but I don’t remember it being jury-rigged to the extent the bus above was. I never rode in it, and don’t know if there was any way for passengers to signal the truck driver.
In Basic Training @ Ft Dix in 1966, we were transported around in “cattle trucks”, trailers pulled by IH single-axle tractors. I don’t remember if they had seats or if we were just supposed to hang on. It went along with the Drill Instructors saying of: “If you die, we’ll just draft somebody else”.
These sorts of busses used to operate in Australia. Here’s one I found, and the caption follows.
“A Semi-trailer coach used by Greyhound Pacific, with an American White prime-mover. The semi-trailer coach provided greater passenger capacity on popular routes and the ability to swap prime-movers in case of a breakdown. This coach was probably originally built by Watt Brothers for the R.A.A.F.”
That C series Ford might be the Wagoneer of Heavy Trucks.
I’d like to figure the Bus out but I can’t get over thinking of what it had to be like sitting in the front of the “trailer” while going around a corner.
I think the bus is a Brill.
http://www.sandonbc.com/brilltrolleys.html
So the ‘bus’ had been a trackless trolley, electric motor, no gas engine. It’s an awful shame but it makes sense.
Also, it looks like the front was modified so it could be hitched onto a tractor truck for towing as the doors look to have been cut down to go above the rear wheels.
Seattle’s Metro Transit once used GMC buses early on, like in the late 60’s and used AM General buses for their electric trolleys in the late 70’s (now all retired since the last of them were retired in 2003). Some of the buses had their electric propulsion systems refurbished and installed in new electric trolleys that came online in 2002. One of the AM General buses was set aside and will be repainted and spruced up and used in the historical fleet for special events.
It’s a CCF Brill, looks like a model CD52…we had them here in Vancouver BC
You mean like this one, nice!
Brill-o! Good catch.
Check the link on my post above if you want to see a ton of ’em… the old Vancouver fleet.