Several commenters on last week’s Kenworth T Series School Bus post mentioned that they were unaware that the company had manufactured buses. That’s understandable – the last Kenworth bus left the factory in 1957 and the company’s line of urban transit and intercity coaches post-war weren’t that successful. But as every bus deserves its due, let’s look at several that proudly wore the “K/W” logo.
1935/6 W1. Perhaps one of the most innovative and visually interesting buses of the pre-war period – with its “streamline moderne” styling, it certainly stood out. The W1 was 30/32 feet long and could carry 32 passengers; 11 in the forward section and 21 in the upper rear, in a rigid monocoque body. The engine was a Hall-Scott gas six cylinder mounted on its side amidships. Perhaps because of its avant-garde styling, only 10 were ordered and built. Concurrent with the local “build it, buy it” philosophy at the time, all were sold in the US Upper Northwest.
1948 W-1. After the war, KW once again tried their hand in the intercity bus market. Perhaps influenced by the limited orders of its earlier innovative effort, the W-1 was very conventional. In terms of both design and styling, it was similar to the contemporary ACF-Brill IC-41, even using the same underfloor Hall-Scott engine. Only 26 were produced – fortunately this example was saved from the crusher and is now undergoing a full restoration.
1947/8 E-Series Trolley Bus. Trolley buses were popular in the post-war environment and K/W took a stab at that market with their E-Series. Once again, it was very similar to other trolley coaches of the day with a length of 35/40 feet and a passenger capacity of 41/49. Perhaps because it was so similar it netted few orders, with Portland Traction Company being the only customer, purchasing fifty.
Summary. Compared to its truck division, K/W’s post-war bus efforts were mostly unsuccessful. The only product to prosper was the school bus – which as mentioned in the prior post, remained in production until 1957.
Fun Fact: Kenworth’s post-war bus product lines were named “K” (small urban transit), “E” (trolley), “N” (larger urban transit) and “W” (intercity) – the first four letters of the company’s name.
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Kenworth Bi-Level Buses Predict The Famous Scenicruiser Twenty-Five Years Earlier by PN
Never knew about any of these – understandable given their small numbers. What kept them from being more successful?
I like the proto-Scenicruiser and the dual oval rear windows.
cool old bus
That first prewar W1 is a real stunner, the forward section seems so low, the wheels so huge.
Then they used the same model number (but with a hyphen) for a completely different vehicle! So much applied metal trim around the front end, perhaps more obvious on the decrepit example. The tiny side windows seem a curious retrograde step after the prewar model’s large panes. And the oval rear windows look strangely insectoid.
Great essay! Thanks for this history. I never knew about the Kenworth Bus.
I was of course familiar with the bi-level KW buses but the W-1 is a new one for me. Love the two round rear windows.
Pretty cool ;
I hope there’s some followup on the saved greyhound .
I remember playing in old junked pre WWII buses in rural New Hampshire in the 1960’s .
-Nate
The Natmus Museum in Auburn has a ’39 on display.
The wheels on that W1 look enormous, almost like a Sahariana