216 – Peninsula Charter Lines

#216 all tucked into it’s new home inside the Pacific Bus Museum garage (Photo by Tom Baker)

Initial Service

This Fageol Safety Coach (serial 10465) was the last of 17 acquired in 1923 (200-205) and 1924 (206-216) by the Pacific Electric Railway for its major Los Angeles Western District bus lines. The 29-passenger buses were then the largest operated by the interurban, starting service on Pico Blvd., the last major artery between Los Angeles (Vineyard) and Santa Monica (11 miles) on August 4, 1924. It had standard Fageol body and a 50 horsepower 4-cylinder Hall-Scott engine (50 serial 483) and 4-speed Brown-Lipe transmission.

Fageol Safety Coach “Miniature drawing” fact sheet from the Eli Bail collection.

Service History

Ex-Peninsular Railway motorman and longtime Peninsula Rapid Transit employee Lee Harper is at the wheel of 1924 Fageol Safety Coach 216. This was for the 1963 inauguration ceremony that introduced nine 31-passenger General Motors buses bought by the city of Palo Alto. Coach 216, with sisters 213-215, replaced Peninsular Railway trolleys in Palo Alto. New General Motors coach #266 is behind. (Photo by Jack Perry)

After its short service with the Pacific Electric Railway in Los Angeles, in 1926 four Fageols (213-216) were sent north and leased to Southern Pacific Railroad subsidiary, Peninsular Railway. PRy needed these buses to provide replacement bus service  as a result of street improvements that forced abandonment of their trolley service. At the end of the lease, the ownership of #216 was transferred and repainted into Peninsular dark red with gold-leaf lettering. In 1933, #216, along with sister #215, passed to Floyd Pearson (Palo Alto Transit Co.) and subsequently to John Demeter and Frank Knapp (Palo Alto City Lines) in 1941 and ran in city service until 1949. 

Peninsula Charter Lines, of East Palo Alto CA, was the owner as of September 1990. In about 1989, owner-operator Mike Demeter had done the restoration to Peninsula Charter Lines.

Interior looking towards the rear (Photo by Tom Baker)

Interior looking towards the front (Photo by Tom Baker)

Entry signage. Safety first! (Photo by Tom Baker)

Pathway to PBM 

During it’s time in Palo Alto, it was seen multiple times in the Redwood City Parades and was on display for various bus rallies and bus bashes.  In 1990, #216 was featured in a PBM Charter to celebrate it’s restoration.

This photo shows #216 at a San Jose Bus Bash in 1992 – Ronald Medaglia

The 1997 photo by PBM member Steve Souza shows Michael Demeter with his 1924 Fageol Safety Coach at a bus rally in San Jose.

Mike Demeter donated the bus to the Museum of Bus Transportation in Hershey PA where it was one of the gems of their collection until 2024.

In July 2024, the Museum of Bus Transportation announced that it was selling part of it’s collection, and in September of 2024, the Pacific Bus Museum submitted a successful bid to purchase 216.

216 is a remarkable survivor, and the Pacific Bus Museum is thrilled to bring it home to Northern California!  

#216 rolling into the Pacific Bus Museum yard under it’s own power. (Photo by Eli Bail)

Plan Your Visit

We are looking for contributions of additional funds to pay for the transport, registration, and taxes. You can contribute any amount.