Historical Bus Fest 2022 (by Dave Millhouser

Historical Bus Fest 2022

Article and photos courtesy of Dave Millhouser

The now-annual Bus Fest event is sponsored by the Friends of the New Jersey Transportation Heritage Center. They drive several of their historical buses to the event and put them on display. Here is a row of buses containing several of the New Jersey historical buses. Below: One of the more interesting buses on display was this MCI G4100. There were only a limited number of these built before Greyhound elected to order the 45-foot length. This one had been operated by Trans-Bridge Lines in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

The Historical Bus Fest drew more than 430 enthusiasts, bus industry veterans and retirees to the Starr Tours facility in Trenton, New Jersey on September 17. This annual event, produced by the Friends of The New Jersey Transportation Heritage Center, is a showcase for restored transit and highway coaches.

In addition to dozens of buses, ranging in age from a mid-1950s GM PD4104 to a brand new 45-foot Irizar demonstrator, one of the most popular features of the gathering is a marketplace for historic bus industry memorabilia and artifacts. Old trade magazines, posters, schedules, brochures and badges mix with both antique and brand new model

buses.

There were 29 of the Friends of The New Jersey Transportation Heritage Center’s historic fleet on display, as well as at least 20 “ visiting” coaches. A large part of the evolution of bus design from WWII to the present was available for folks to see and touch.

Chris Johnson’s 45-foot Eagle motor home is an interesting story. He has brought the coach to several gatherings over the past few years. Like many conversions, it takes a lot of time to get things right when a you work a regular job too. It is fun, and instructive, to watch Johnson’s progress from event to event.

Folks traveled from as far away as the Midwest, New England and the Southeast. Jeff Silver of Iconic Replicas drove his converted MCI from Florida, and used it as the backdrop for his display of “Awesome Diecast” models.

Perhaps the rarest coach present was an MCI G4100. Formerly operated by Trans-Bridge Lines out of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in “Platinum Service, ” it is one of only 25 built. Living in retirement at the Museum of

In addition to the historical New Jersey buses, at least 20 other individuals and companies drove to the event with their own buses. They ranged from a brand new Irizar demo coach to a 45-foot Eagle converted to a motor home. Bus people came from several different states to attend the event.

A major part of the Bus Fest is a marketplace held inside the garage. Vendors offered a wide range of bus items including trade magazines, posters, schedules, brochures and badgers. There were also numerous models available of antique and modern buses.

Bus Transportation in Hershey, Pennsylvania, this was a welcome opportunity to stretch its legs.

There are several historic bus gatherings during the course of each summer, literally spread all over the U.S. Each has its own unique tone (a subtle hint that if you love bus history, you might want to hit as many of them as possible).

Bus Fest’s special flavor is its ability to draw lots of people who are, or were, serving in the bus industry – a very knowledgeable crowd. Wandering through the yard, you could learn a lot and hear all sorts of fascinating (and sometimes true) stories.

For more information on the Friends of The New Jersey Transportation Heritage Center, their mission and future events, check out their Web site at www. friendsnjthc.org . q