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37974 Shinn St, Fremont, CA 94536

Mailing Address P.O. Box 601105 Sacramento, CA 95860-1105

#308 – East Bay Motor Coach Lines

Key Systems 308 was used for the filming of the movie “Oppenheimer”. It is driven here by PBM Member Steven Butcher.

Initial Service

A loyal Twin Coach customer, East Bay Motor Coach Lines (Key System) acquired 11  model 15 “baby” Twins starting with #301. This was the first of the 55 built, in January 1931, and the next ten (#321-311) for East Bay followed in 1932.

Seating just 17 passengers and about the size of today’s full-size passenger vans, the small Twins were used on lightly patronized lines feeding Key System’s streetcar network in the 1930s.

Service History

The #308 survived into the post-WWII era having been made into a work car by Key System when John J. “Jerry” Graham acquired it in the late 1950’s. It, along with several other vintage buses and trucks, was stored on his property in Atherton, CA for many years.

This is Key #302, which is the same as our #308.

 

East Bay Motor Coach Lines (Key System) #302, a Twin Coach Model 15 is seen at the Telegraph Avenue Car Barn in Oakland, CA in 1933. These small buses were used on feeder routes to Key system’s streetcar lines in the east bay. You can also see #308 parked off to the left. (Source PBM’s members newsletter, The Paddle April 2009)

Pathway to PBM 

The PBM acquired the #308 from the estate of the late Jerry Graham in 1996. This venerable bus shares its regional transit heritage with former Key System Twin Coach #400, being the two oldest coaches in the Pacific Bus Museum fleet.

What People Love 

Almost everyone who sees this bus falls in love with it. Its connection to the Key System and East Bay Motor Coach Lines lines makes it an interesting part of Bay Area history.

308 on a movie shoot in Sierra Madre, CA.

This bus is a Movie Star. It was included in the filming of the movie “Oppenheimer”. It’s shown here, on set, being driven by Pacific Bus Museum Vice-President, Tom Shafer.

This bus is a must-see when you come to visit the Pacific Bus Museum.

Plan Your Visit

 

How You Can Help

As a volunteer orginization, we are always looking for as much help as we can get. If you've got skills and time, and want to get your hands dirty, consider becoming a member.

If you don't want to contribute "hands-on", financial donations for the restoration of bus #308 are also needed at this time to complete this remaining work. All donations for bus #308 will be placed in a Special Fund account exclusively for the restoration and maintenance of bus #308. Please make a donation today to continue the restoration of bus #308!

Make a "Pacific Bus Museum" donation to the Special Funds account for for bus #308.

Support Bus #308

The Pacific Bus Museum is a non-profit, tax-exempt, volunteer organization registered in the state of California. We were granted tax-exempt status as a non-profit corporation by the IRS under 501 (c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code Tax ID # 1683391. Donations to the Pacific Bus Museum are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

 

Movie Star

Oppenheimer – 2023 

The movie production inadvertantly labeled this as bus 306 instead of 308.

#308 was included in the Sierra Madre filming of the movie “Oppenheimer”. In this photo, the Pacific Bus Museum Vice-President, Tom Shafer, is in the driver’s seat.

Restoration Status

This bus is mostly complete. It is mechanically functional. The remaining tasks include

  • Window Glass Installation
  • Fix the incorrect 306 number
  • Interior finishing

Ownership Snapshot

Original Owner: East Bay Motor Coach Lines #308

Acquired From: Jerry Graham estate in 1996

Current Livery: East Bay Motor Coach Lines #308

Technical Specs

Year Built: 1931

Manufacturer: Twin Coach, Kent, Ohio

Model: Model 15

Serial#: 60022

Powertrain: Forward-mounted 6-cylinder Hercules JXC gasoline engine with 3-speed mechanical transmission

Body: Steel body on frame

Length: 11 ft wheelbase

Width: 69 in

Seating: Seats 17 passengers, single passenger door

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