LAFAYETTE & GREENVILLE VINTAGE BUS "FLEET" DONATED TO FRIENDS

One of the last activities of the 20th Century by Friends' Directors and their new Bus and Coach Acquisition Committee was to formally take possession of a three-bus fleet donation. Yes, we are pleased to announce that through the generosity of the Lafayette & Greenville (Jersey City) Bus Association, Inc. (L&G) your Friends organization has taken title to three vintage buses of the same model, year and manufacture. This donation is, of course, takes us one more step closer in fulfillment of an operating Transportation Heritage Center at Phillipsburg. How did all this happen?

During early November, 2000, we were advised of the possible availability of three vintage buses in operating condition and a fourth bus for parts from L&G. Because of our previous inability to react quickly in former attempts at vintage bus procurement, your Friends' directors had earlier, appointed a Bus and Coach Acquisition Committee consisting of Bill McKelvey, John Wilkins and Dave Phraner. Friends Director, Jason Wechsler provides technical advice and support. This time, the Bus Committee was ready and arranged a meeting with John Failla, CFO and General Manager for L&G. John proudly showed us the buses located at their bus garage and offices in downtown Jersey City. We were impressed with L&G's operation and the operating condition of these buses. Mr. Failla expressed to us a highly enlightened view toward vintage vehicle preservation. He said, "Look, it doesn't make sense to store these buses in conditions where they are vulnerable to damage and deterioration. Since they are over-aged and less marketable for charter service, we thought that a timely donation would preserve them while they are still in attractive and good operating condition." We agree fully with that assessment.

These three coaches, L&G fleet numbers #204, #205 and #206, were made by GMC Canada in 1983. Their nomenclature is "T8H-5308A" or T(ransit),8(cylinder diesel),H(ydraulic automatic transmission), 53(maximum seated capacity, 08(8th generation), A(ir-conditioned). They represent the last of the production of "new look" transit buses, commonly called "fishbowls," because of their large 6-piece convex windshields. These buses were produced by GMC over a span of 23 years from 1960 through 1983. We already have in our collection the very first (serial number 001) of the suburban version (ex-Public Service Coordinated Transport #P700) of the new look coach. With the L&G donation, our collection will span the entire duration of the new look era. The arrival of these buses is significant for other reasons when one considers the variety of contrasting features of the first and last of the series in our collection. These include the engines (V-8 and V-6), automatic and manual transmission, two door and one door, transit and suburban configurations. We also have a 1968 semi-suburban model represented by our ex-Public Service #Z546). Also significant is that this is the first donation by New Jersey independent bus owners. We thus have stronger representation in our collection of buses from these uniquely New Jersey institutions that were popular in Hudson and Essex counties.

Independent Bus Owners Associations or IBOA were, as their name implies, an association of individual former jitney operators, each owning and driving their own one or two buses. The IBOA coordinated uniform operating schedules, driver assignments, fares, vehicle color schemes, operating rules, financial cost and revenue sharing and maintenance facilities. L&G is one of the last and strongest of these type operations that have evolved into viable urban transit operators with increasing centralized ownership and operation. Other IBOAs included North Boulevard, Central Ave, Broadway (Bayonne), Montgomery & Westside, North Newark, 24-West Orange, Newark-Elizabeth (now ONE Bus Corp. for Orange-Newark- Elizabeth).

Getting back to the L&G bus donation, the origin of the three buses was not New Jersey. These are considered New Jersey buses now because of their deployment out of L&G's Jersey City Garage. It is common for independent bus operators in New Jersey to purchase used out-of-state buses in good condition for deployment in selected services. Our three buses were part of an order by the State of Connecticut for operators in various municipalities. We know that at least one of the buses, #206 was assigned to Waterbury (Northeast Transportation Co.). We are researching the service assignments of the two others. Upon retirement, the buses were auctioned by the state and purchased by Double-A Bus Co., whose owner is a charter operator, a vintage bus collector and a broker of used buses. Double-A arranged the sale of three of the buses to Lafayette & Greenville who used the buses for school and other charters. A fourth bus, Connecticut #8301 was also sold to L&G to became a parts bus. It was never renumbered or operated by L&G. Friends was able to acquire some spare parts from this vehicle. The original Connecticut numbers were 8313 (L&G #204), 8367 (L&G #205) and 8361 (L&G #206). "83" prefix was for the year of manufacturer, a common practice in numbering Connecticut buses. All three of the buses are operable and are painted in the attractive L&G green, white and black paint scheme. Two of the buses have a tan vinyl upholstery while the third (#205) has a deluxe multi-color cloth upholstery and reclining seats. The buses are ideal for on-site tours at the Heritage Center, once the Phillipsburg site is functional.

After discussing the terms of the title transfer, L&G offered to move the three buses to our vintage bus secure storage facility in South Jersey. Two were driven and one (206) though operable, was towed as arranged by L&G. Two made the trip south on Wednesday, December 20, 2000 and the last was driven on Monday, January 15, 2001. L&G generously did some body work and cosmetics on #204 for us. All three make fine appearance. They are in good mechanical condition, especially considering they're nearly 20 years old. In preparation for the trip to our covered and secure storage, L&G provided fuel, swapped out leased tires and batteries and stacked spare parts in the buses. These "extras" were all accomplished by L&G's capable maintenance staff under the supervision of Devon Francis, Peter Skotniczny and Lloyd Roden. Jason Wechsler supervised the mechanical details on behalf of Friends, assisted by his brother Wayne, who helped with moving the buses. Thanks also to Roger Gengaro and Jim Gilligan at NJ Transit for their advice and technical support.

Finally, thanks to the Friends Bus and Coach Committee named above, for their speedy reaction. As a result of an external offer, we explored a possible business arrangement that could result in leasing two of these buses to leverage additional donations of vintage buses to fulfill our search list requirements. Upon careful consideration, the Bus Committee decided not to pursue this arrangement now, as it may have compromised the intent and stipulations agreed to at the time of the donation.

Friends is most appreciative of John Failla, his staff, and board of directors at Lafayette and Greenville Bus Association Inc. for their generosity and appreciation for preserving New Jersey bus and coach heritage.