Fred Rayman drives my Scenicruiser April 10, 2010
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- Опубликовано: 4 окт 2024
- In route to Oklahoma City, OK from "Scenicruise 2010" - Adrian, Texas. Fred takes the wheel of PD4501-771 from Shamrock, TX to Oklahoma City, OK. "Derf" is a retired bus driver with more than 30 years experience. It was an honor to have my friend Derf drive my bus again. Please visit: www.GhostsOfTheHighway.com for registration form and deatils about our latest antique bus event to be held at the restored 1930s Greyhound depot, in Blytheville, AR April 4-6, 2013 Registration forms are due March 11, 2013!
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I hope those children realize they are lucky to be riding in a piece of history that some of us would love to enjoy again. :-) Thank-you for sharing this!
BRING BACK SO MANY MEMORIES WHEN I WAS RIDING FROM MISSISSIPPI TO CHICAGO TO VISIT MY DAD AND SISTERS AND BROTHERS. LOVE THAT 1954 SCENICRUSER. THANKS FOR SHARING THIS VIDEO.
I rode them in southern Louisiana and southeast Texas back and forth between Port Arthur and Baton Rouge, back when the Scenics were the queens of Greyhound.
All that "racket" is the sweet,sweet melody of the Detroit Diesel 8v71. :D
Sounds like it is in top mechanical condition,and what a super coach!
I've ridden plenty a Scenic in the 60s on Greyhound. Miss that so much.
The ole screaming Detroit sounds like a top. Beautiful bus would give my left arm to own one of these
I would too. Rode them a plenty back in the 1960s. Miss them.
I love the scenicruiser. Double clutching!
I was told that Greyhound had a policy of fueling them every 500 miles at depots. They kept track of fuel on a usage card that was kept in a sleave just inside the door. I use a steel yard stick to dip the tank. It holds 180 gallons of fuel, so it lasts a long time. Measuring it is the easy part....paying for it is the difficult part !
I'm in awe...the motor sounds like it's brand new
Thank you for posting video. Nice to see Fred after 49 years. What a great person! Please tell him "Hello" from Boy Scouts who charted OTC trip to Idaho in '73.
I will pass that along for sure. We talk regularly. Thanks. Take care
I am proud to say I have the awesome pleasure of knowing Fred. Fred would occasionally drive one of my buses on a schedule for Jefferson Lines. I owned Ozark Charter in Fort Smit (Trailways)
Fred looks like the kind of veteran driver that had made many friends during his career and has a million good stories to tell. That really looked like a fun trip.
Hello. Thanks for watching, and the compliments. Bus was bought in original seated condition, but was restored to 1961/62 paint scheme. Bought from very thoughtful collector who preserved many antique buses in his time. Much missing exterior trim, etc. was replaced. Much research of paint scheme and markings was done. Not too expensive if one is patient with finding/ reproducing parts. Fuel is worst expense! I have owned since 1997. Thanks! Tom
Thanks for the comments and great story. Yep, Fred is one of the best. If everyone was as friendly as him, life would be grand ! Take care
Tom
It's nice to see these old tanks still Rollin down the highways. 😀👍🏼 They are NOTHING like the Rollin plastic buckets now days. What a beauty!!
Chad Cole q
Nice shifting, the old girl looks and sounds great, 25 years selling, repairing and restoring them. Joe Kieser of the old Northline Bus Company was who I started with. Don't miss the old clutched buses used to carry extra springs to attach to get clutch where you didn't have to stand on it so hard.
I love the sound of that old Detroit when you are in the back. You should make a video back there as you go through the gears.
I can remember mom and dad taking me on a trip to the Smokey Mountains and good old Greyhound got us there in style. I used to love the Scenicruiser! What memories!
The most famous inter-city bus ever built!
I rode an early Scenicruiser from New York City to Pittsburgh, Pa in January of 1960. This one I was riding still had the twin diesel engines. I recall in New York the driver started one and then the other one. Another ride was a year or so later from Pittsburgh to South Bend, IN. Great memories.
Those also had on a handful of buses a foot button (sort of like a bus stop light switch or car bright light thingy) to clutch, and three speed Spacer with differential splitter. All of them replaced of course in 1961 with the regular, improved Spicer 4-speed,single Detroit Diesel 8V71, and standard clutch pedal.:-)
Absolutely love this video! Many fond memories flooded back to me, watching Fred operate this coach. Far too eerie, as I could see my late father, and longtime Greyhound driver going through the identical motions.
Thank you for sharing and for the memories.
The scenic was the rolls Royce of its time. When I was a kid I shined shoes at the bus station on state street in east st Lois Illinois. A driver let me explore one of these and I have loved them ever since
More like the Rolls Royce of its type, weren't Rolls Royce's already around? lol
I still fondly remember when the Scenicruisers were in regular service with Greyhound in the 1960s. Still the best looking bus in my opinion
Fred drove some 38 years for Oklahoma Trans. co. & Jefferson lines. He is among the best !
I like watching fred raymon
WOW, I recall seeing these buses on the road when I was a little kid. I've never seen the inside of one, this is really cool. It is nice to see these restored and still running. Thank You for sharing this video, much enjoyed watching.
Congratulations, here in Uruguay (South America) we are Fans of the GMC Buses.
Greatest man ever! Such a sweet guy! He taught me so much driving for Jefferson Bus Lines in Oklahoma City from 2006 to 2011. he's a fantastic bus operator! We drove the Oklahoma City to Little Rock schedule together. Awesome to see him on video driving his favorite bus!
MarcusJay214
Back in 1974 when I worked for the RTD in Denver, we acquired one of these Scenicruisers from a small bus company that they condemned through eminate domaine. I was one of the few who could drive it. It had a air clutch that had no real feel when you double clutched it. The shift linkage to the transmission was very squirrely and you had to "go past the gates" when completing each shift, otherwise the shift rods would hang up. When that happened you would have to get a shovel handle, which we kept on the bus for that purpose and pry the stuck linkage rods through the drivers side wheel well, while leaning between the drive wheel and tag axle wheel. In less than a month, the bus was deemed undriveable for revenue service and gotten rid of. A far cry from todays Allison automatic transmissions.
Fred is a friend of mine that I met when I was driving for Guy Turner @ Turner Tours out of OKC. When I first met Fred he was driving for Jefferson Lines. Long story short, on the last trip I did with Guy, Fred was with us. I loved talking to Fred about his career driving career. I now drive for a line run out of the Wichita Greyhound Bus Station to the Pueblo Greyhound Bus Station, so I don't get to drive for Guy anymore. I sure miss out trips out west I used to do. Miss ya Fred!!!!!!
Fred was definitely smooth shifting that scenicruiser.It took me back to my second ride on a Greyhound when my father caught a return run from Columbus to Pittsburgh back in 1966.Dad was a 24 year veteran for Greyhound.Dad passed last Christmas Eve and he is truly missed.This video is great.
Yes, 8V-71 & spicer 4 speed. Yes it is restored to the 1962 Greyhound "gold stripe livery". They were all repainted this way after a complete rebuild (inside and out) in 1961/1962. The gold stripe was to celebrate Greyhound's 50th Anniversary. The trans. linkage is a series of long rods, and bell cranks. Take care.
Tom
" A real bus is a Scenic Cruiser " .You got that right !! I rode these buses when I was a kid with my grandmother. The new Greyhounds look like boxes. Wish they were like this now.
……but the inside of today’s boxes are like an aircraft with large windows.
Back in the 70 80s I used to work for Bruce Springsteen and that was our first tour bus was the scenicruiser I drove it a lot unbelievable brings back memories
Just now got off the phone talking with "DerF!" We talked about this video, and how much we love those coaches. Sure was good to talk to "DerF! Almost an hour!!!!
I absolutly love to two HUGE windows in the upper section, looking out those it's almost like your driving the bus yourself, you get a GREAT view out those towards the front of the bus, its in such fantastic condition after the restoration it really looks like it could go right back in service right now, AWESOME job on the restoration on an absolute classic Greyhound bus...
To me, it would be a job AND a calling. It's what I always wanted to do. I'm working on my commercial license now so when I retire, I can join the ranks and enjoy like you guys
You said that right ! Fred is a great friend. He knows more about Scenicruisers than anyone else I know.
Tom
Wow how awesome that it's still in passenger configuration & not an RV. Love that Detroit Diesel, they give buses that lovely music. When I last rode one of these with Greyhound (around 1968) it was still a two lane road between Phoenix & LA & didn't turn into a 4 lane until around Banning, CA.
And it’s still spicer four speed double clutch manual too! And it’s steroid fteee (sorry eucriisa ad)lol
It is fun to watch Derf driving to Terre Haute on a non-revenue day! I can see the happiness on his face and hear it in his voice. You're right to be impressed. He's one of the best drivers I've known. I drove for over 30 years myself, and worked with him. What a guy! I always look forward to breakfast with him when I'm in OKC. Thanks for the video. You made my day! Sharon (From MN)
My great uncle (by marriage) was Paul D Silliman. Paul as a boy was literally present (at his father's mansion in Hibbing, MN) at the founding of Greyhound, and he went on to work for them for decades before ending his career with Eastern Express out of Terre Haute, Indiana. I recall he had a large scale (not huge, just mean you'd use two hands to hold it) model Scenicruiser. Fred's manner reminds me of my uncle & it was uncanny to hear him say, "This is your Terre Haute Express...", because I'd heard my uncle say the very same thing to me when I was a boy riding with them.
What a beautiful bus. I recall being on one when I went to Minneapolis as a child.
This is such a nice video and with what can be seen and heard this is plenty for me to work with in terms of letting my imagination go to work. I can see that the GM pd 4501 Scenicruiser is an exceptionally nice bus and it's not like any other. Am with reason to believe this is as close as I am going to get to riding the bus. It is apparent that it's much nicer than any touring bus ever made including a Motor Coach Incorporated M-9 for that matter. It was very easy for me to acknowledge and recognize the Detroit 8-V-71 because I have heard it so many times and with the stick shift transmission, it gives it that special twist that can't be gotten with an automatic transmission.
Oh man i miss the sound of that motor. Nice video thanks
Hello, My bus has the 8V-71. Most likely been rebuilt multiple times since 1961. Yes the 4501s have air wipers.
That's a fine bus you got there. I remember riding a Scenicruiser at the Grand Canyon. It was the bus that took you around parts of the canyon. Nice style, I thought is was cool and a little odd that there were stairs up to the rest of the seats about a 1/4 of the way back. And it was also the first time I had seen a bus with the toilet up towards the front. Most buses have it in the back.
Thanks for the Video, and keep that ol'girl running. They don't make'em like that anymore.
I think Derf said, the only real bus was a scenic cruiser, but that he drove a 4104. I have a 4106, working on her to fight off the rust and bring her back. She had sat a while. But the PO really took care of her. So its minor cosmetics.
it would be great to see this at The Turkey Run car show Daytona Beach.
Ha! :)
Great video. I simply loved these buses. And, the sound and ride made every trip worth the cost. Later in my career, I got to drive a number of bus types, including up to the J4500's, which are nice to drive. Of course, everything now is automatic, which isn't as much fun to drive.
Nice bus!
God I love this bus!!! All original equipment,,I'd die to ride on one of these old beauties!!!! Better than the new crap greyhound has us ride on today!!!!!
And maybe I can impart how REVERSE was selected...(with a electric solenoid switch preselected first on N,then 1 and then finally 2nd which now was reverse!)
Again, thanks for these buses and these bus videos. :-)
+Jeff Tingle
Hi Tom! GREAT video! Fred's a true professional (seems like it's just a job instead of a calling for many of today's drivers...sigh). Tell him I agree with his comments about Eurpoe's highway markings and appreciate his courtesy to the passing truck in the video! (And LOVED the "NamyaR DerF" driver name tag!!! :-)
(unquote)
Word up, my friend, word up.
This is so beautiful and I am actually able to enjoy this video of this particular Scenicruiser. With another video of a restored 1954 Scenicruiser where apparently the stick shift transmission had been replaced with an automatic (and the bus was parked with engine running) where it was possible to see what it was like on the bus and then this video of an identical bus with a stick shift, it is possible to see what the Scenicruiser is really like. It's an exceptionally nice bus and I can see why it is iconic. If I had a choice of riding a bus that Greyhound Lines has in service today, an Motor Coach Incorporated M-9, or this bus, I would choose this bus.
Also thank you for sharing this, the last video I saw of on a Scenicruiser, the bus was equipped with an automatic transmission and I ended up with my views on the bus getting messed up, by sharing this you set me straight.
I think he's right, A real Bus have to be shift manual,
very Great video!
Double-clutched or floated.
Sadly, manual shifting is getting to be a thing of the past. We won't even get into non synchromesh transmissions. It's nice to see an original bus with it's original drive train. I'd love to drive this! The last stick shift bus I rode in was back in the early 80s in Chicago, It was an MCI and the driver even then wasn't doing a particularly good job shifting. If I was one of those kids in the back I'd be glued to the seat next to the driver. Do we get to see some downshifting? That's where you separate the men from the boys.
g bridgman of course greyhounds are the fastest dogs 🐶 on earth while four speed would be sufficient if they were called cheetah lines they'd need a four speed with rear end splitter in relativity of course :)
Learned in a 4104, but the first company I drove for operated 2 Scenic Cruisers. That was in 1981. We ran back and forth from Chicago to Quetico Provincial Park in Canada. Drove for another company in the 1990's that had a mixed fleet of 4, 5, and 6 speeds. Talk about an adjustment! You'd come off a trip in a Prevost 6 speed and go out the next day in an MCI 4 speed! Those were the days! Too bad the owner converted all of his manuals to automatics! Couldn't find drivers that could drive them no matter how much training you gave them. What a lost art! A good driver could shift so much smoother than an automatic. But the Eagles were my favorites in the fleet.
@@richlewis3996 You can be thoroughly proficient with a manual synchromesh transmission but be stymied by a non-synchro. Today most people can't even shift synchromesh.
The 10 wheels are what makes it a 'real bus'....
Wow.....Fred, m' man..very professional driving..operating the four speed stick, double-clutching, steerin' and chattin' with the passengers.
Wow! This brings back a lot of memories! I've ridden in one of these several times when I was a kid. My grandfather drove for Greyhound for 32 years. I'm not sure what year he started put he took early retirement in the early 80's. He drove out of Louisville KY.
Also, my father was a mechanic for Greyhound in the 70's and early 80's. He started in Louisville and then we moved to Atlanta GA. He worked in Chamblee. I'd love to go for a ride on one again!! Lots of memories! GREAT JOB on her!!
4:27 I remember back when I was a young boy, riding big Silver Eagles on various family reunions out of state, and other trips. I always sat at the back of those buses because the sounds that those 8V71s made was music to my young ears. That sound put me to sleep, and I loved listening to the driver go through the gears. That was over 20 years ago. I am military now, and possess a Class A CDL and the only thing that comes close to that sound is the Army's M977 & M978 HEMTT. Detroit 60series 8V92
thank you so much for the ride! enjoyed it very much.
Great bus! Excellent driver!
Wonderful video.. That trip had to be a blast! Your bus is beautifully restored; looks fantastic! A great time must have been had by all on the trip. I am envious!
Lovely vehicle, alway's fascinated with the Greyhound on Breakfast at Tiffany's.
Good job.
Nice, nice video! Love how ur boys are all blase about the whole thing...Reminds me of times I'd take my young son flying in the Cessna and he'd nod off! That deep thrum of the engine in back is what MAKES you sleep! I kept looking at the people in passing vehicles...Tell us about some of the reactions you get from other motorists when they see your beautiful deck-and-a-half out on the highway? Waves, smiles, honks, pace alongside for miles?? Thanx for the ride, Derf!
i love what youre doing to preserve the history of these machines!
NOSTALGIA! I rode many as a young lad!
Hi Tom! Truly enjoyed this video, as well! Fred reminds me of the wonderful and PROFESSIONAL bus drivers I grew up riding with. (Harder to find professionals today; it's more like a job than a calling nowadays...sigh.) Thank Fred for his courtesy to the passing truckers and I LOVE the "NamyaR DerF" tag!!! :-)
What a beautiful bus! I've got to share this video with my dad.
I'd love to have something like this...
Nice job of double-clutching.
THANK GOD FOR RUclips----ANOTHER GREAT MEMORY FROM MY CHILDHOOD, I AM REALLY A FISHBOWL FAN, BUT THIS IS A COOL BUS ALL THE SAME
Just think of these and 4104's as early bigger fishbowls! :D
Hi Tom! GREAT video! Fred's a true professional (seems like it's just a job instead of a calling for many of today's drivers...sigh). Tell him I agree with his comments about Eurpoe's highway markings and appreciate his courtesy to the passing truck in the video! (And LOVED the "NamyaR DerF" driver name tag!!! :-)
This was so satisfying to watch!! I felt the bumps and all
En el Peru existe una linea de bus que se llama Tepsa mi padre maneja casi toda su vida estos buses GMC y al ver estos buses veo nuevamente a mi padre...
@SUPERDAVIDLEVINE Yes, original 4 speed transmission. Not sure about RPMs. These never had tachs. The engine govenor pretty much sets the shift points for you. You do have to double-clutch. Horse power was around 318 or so. I would never change to an automatic trans. Some parts are getting difficlult to locate. We are reproducing some rare parts. Thanks for your comments. Take care.
pd4501771 so glad to read all of that
I would never drive an automatic,etiher.:) Take care,too.
As a professional bus and coach driver, i noticed one thing very early, whats that overhand steering, the correct method is push and pull method, you wouldnt last long doing this is city work, by the way great bus
Well with 30yrs of driving I guess he did OK; and I'm sure he saw a few Cities !! Semper Fi
@DPJu Buses were not equipped with seat belts in the 1950s. Any vehicle not originally equipped is not required to have them in my state.
Meraviglioso giro di motore di questa machina.
If anyone can share one like this,grandkids would love vacations in one of these instead of cramped mini van,,
Hi
Scenics came with hydraulic power steering as standard equipment.
Wow this is awesome channel!!!! :D
Thanks very much.
It takes a special kind of person to be a bus driver these days! Laugh or cry I guess....Thanks for watching. Take care.
Tom
That was a cool ride! Great view! Reminded me of when I was kid going to the cottage up north, with my mom...
I can tell you why he said the Scenic Cruiser is a real bus. See how he double Clutches when he changes the gears, This is difficult until you get the timing of it. I drove an MCI-7 for 14 years and people that drove the Prevost or automatic transmission buses could not drive the double Clutch buses. If you have a bus with an automatic and cruise control it's like driving a big van, The double clutch buses are real buses it is difficult but fun after you figure out how to change the gears without leaving half of the transmission back on the road. These buses had no jake breaks so going down a mountain was a trick in its self you would need to gear down and keep tapping the breaks to keep if from over reving the motor. So there is much more to driving a bus like this then driving the big plush prevost buses with automatic transmission and cruise control. Hope this helps
No jakes? wow Not only no jake brakes but no clutch brakes either on GMs...
I don't beleive so, but many bus/truck drivers, relevant to these size and more, have done it..
@pd4501771 I can see that, he seems really comfortable driving it. Although experience isn't everything, I guess some drivers never got the feeling for it. Yours has the 8V71 in it right? The condition of the bus looks absolutely superb from the inside, is it restored? Also, do you happen to know how the gear linkage works?
this is a great video ty so much for posting and bringing back memories!
What a great view from the top floor!
Beautiful bus. I had always been dreaming to ride it. Now it is reality. Buses like these operated in my homeland for Mexico City-Acapulco route the years 1956-1968. I enjoyed to see these buses runing along Tlalpan Avenue between Downtown Terminal, now transfered to South Bus Station. Mexican comedian actor CANTINFLAS filmed a scene for his movie BOLERO DE RAQUEL. In Acapulco he also filmed scenes for the Hollywood movie based on Jules Verne book AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS.
Hey, everybody, a few days ago Sunday evening in Commerce, Calif., I was on the Atlantic/Whittier corner and northbound on Atlantic came a 35 year old white bus with a STICK SHIFT transmission (though NOT a silver or metallic looking one like a classic 40s-70s one, though, but still a stick shift..!!)
I could not agree more !
That is such a nice bus! And Fred really knows how to drive it, double clutching and all! A good bus driver always seemed to be friendly and fun to talk to. I used to ride a bus when I was 13-14 back years ago to the movies on Saturdays. We lived in a Small Oklahoma town and my mother was the bus agent, we did not have a movie there so she was able to send me and my friend to Arkansas City or Ponca City for the matinee. We thought we were the cats meow!
I noted that the name atop is none other than operator Fred's name spelled backwards!:) Thank you very much for this video..
rts910, they sure did come with restrooms. Fred's doing a far excellent job at shifting that long, long linkage and double clutching! :)
"Hope the flashes dont distract you" ... "No its ok, I cant see anyways" ... love it, I always use that on my passengers. That one and "Please dont wake the bus driver. If you startle me, we might crash". They just love it (well, I guess that depends on your definition of "love" ... LOL)
JUST BEAUTIFUL!!!! AWE!!!!
look at that uge steering wheel that is ol skool for sure luv it
Keep ir classic 🌎🇲🇽
Yeah..very great point.
Welcome to 1956! Not many vehicles had seatbelts.
Tom
@toohard2do You are most welcome. Stories like yours are the reason I love owning this bus. I apprecaite your comments. Thank You and take care.
Tom
@pd4501771 Thank you for your quick answer! Taking into consideration she is a mature lady, although with the beauty of her twenties, 80 MPH (about 130 KMH!!) is a very respectable figure. Congratulations!!