Happy Holiday’s 2024

This photo from the 2023 Niles Parade of Lights in Fremont was taken by Michael Haas. The driver of Peerless Stages #246 was Peter Govorchin. – Pacific Bus Museum’s Member’s Newsletter, The Paddle December 2023

This photo of #128 – Niles Coach Lines was taken by Paul Terlemezian.

San Francisco Municipal Railway’s Christmas trolley bus #559 in 1994. This 1948 Marmon Herrington TC-48 trolley bus was operated for many years as a Christmas bus in Dayton Ohio before the bus was donated to Muni in 1989. The bus was converted to a full time Christmas bus in 1977 by the Miami Valley RTA. A fireplace and a seat for Santa was installed in the rear of the bus. – Pacific Bus Museum’s Member’s Newsletter, The Paddle 2005 – Photos by Walter Hurd via the collection of Ron Hook

San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni) Flxible 111CC-C3, 4009 is seen at the Woods Division in the 1980s painted as Muni’s Christmas bus. Muni operated 10 FIxible 111CC-C3 “New Looks” (4000-4009) equipped with Cummins 903 V8 diesel engines and Spicer 184, 2 speed automatic transmissions. These 10 Flxibles, mechanically different from Muni’s 391 GM, T8H5305 “New Looks” did not last in service very long. Two of them 4007 and 4009 were later retrofitted with GM 6V92 turbocharged diesel engines similar to Muni’s 4500 and 4600 Flyer D902 models. – Pacific Bus Museum’s Member’s Newsletter, The Paddle 2016 – Mike Sheridan Photo

AC Transit 903 a GM, T6H-5305 decorated for the Christmas holidays on Longridge at Veranda Sts. in Oakland, CA in December 1980. – Pacific Bus Museum’s Member’s Newsletter, The Paddle 2016 – Ron Hook Photo

The Greater Dayton RTA’s Christmas bus, Marmon Harrington TC48 #559 is pictured in 1968 at the Woodman loop in Dayton, OH on the RTA’s 5 Oakwood route. This Christmas themed bus was originated in the 1960s by the RTA’s predecessor, City Transit. The interior of the bus included a mock fireplace in the rear where Santa Claus would be seated and hand out candy to excited youngsters. Notice the speakers on the roof. Most likely they played Christmas holiday music as the bus roamed Dayton’s trolley bus routes during the holiday period. Affectionately known as the “Santa” bus, 559 was acquired by the San Francisco Municipal Railway “Muni” around 1990 and was operated on Muni’s 8 Market route for several years during the holiday season complete with a live Santa Claus sitting in front of the mock fireplace at the rear of the coach. No longer in operation, 559 is currently stored at the Muni’s Presidio bus division. Perhaps someday in the future the “Santa” bus may again roam San Francisco’s trolley bus routes during the holiday season. – Pacific Bus Museum’s Member’s Newsletter, The Paddle October/November 2018

TOP: AC Transit’s 1966 Christmas bus. Bus #526 was painted lime green and the theme of the bus was “Merry Christmas in 12 languages”. Each scroll being held by the Santas on the side of the bus said Merry Christmas in a different language.
BOTTOM: 10 years later, in 1976, bus #526 was once again chosen to be AC’s Christmas bus. The theme that year is believed to have been “Santa’s Toyland”. – Pacific Bus Museum’s Member’s Newsletter, The Paddle 2004

Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority GM, TDH 4507, #6736 painted as Santas Twinkle Liner for the 1962 Christmas season. The writing below the windows invites people to “Take the twinkle tree trip in downtown L.A.” – Pacific Bus Museum’s Member’s Newsletter, The Paddle 2014 –  Ron Medaglia collection

Two Pacific Greyhound Lines Yellow Coach 743s are pictured in this wintery scene while on a charter in Yosemite National Park circa 1948. – Pacific Bus Museum’s Member’s Newsletter, The Paddle 2015 –  Richard Silagi photo