english buses in the USA

English buses in the USA A small photographic study

After emigrating to the colonies back in '82 some friends in England asked if photographs could be obtained of any exported English buses that had made it Stateside which I might come across. The views do have a bias towards California but travels through many other states are featured in some of these views. Since my interest in buses is only marginal, no great lengths were taken to properly identify the buses photographed - sorry!
Arizona
Lake Havasu

The resort at Lake Havasu on the California/Arizona border is perhaps most famous for the resting place for London Bridge. However it also featured a double decker bus serving as a place to buy such things as ice cream & sodas. Identified as RT 3768 seen July 12th 1989.

McCulloch Realty of Lake Havasu/Havasu City also acquired several double decker buses, either as billboards or for other purposes. Here is MXX 239 equipped with a good sized rock to prevent it rolling away. July 12th 1989.

In the summer this area can rival Death Valley for extremely high temperatures, without the presence of the Colorado River this would be no more than another insignificant mile marker on nearby Interstate 40. Here JZD 803 acts as a billboard on July 9th 1990, complete with airconditioner in place of the lower saloon's front window.

Tucson

This view was taken somewhere in the suburbs of Tucson, on Highway 77 heading out of Tuscon in the direction of San Manuel. This is KAH466D seen on July 10th 1989.

California
Anaheim

Don't know much about this bus, it appears to belong to the Rose & Crown pub in Anaheim. I was visiting the venue during May 1991 for the annual Scottish fair held somewhere in Anaheim and the double decker was present.

Buena Park

The Holiday Inn in Buena Park just off the 91 Freeway. The proximity of a number of tourist attractions such as Knotts Berry Farm Amusement Park was probably the reason for having this bus for shuttle service. The bus is 242 MNN on May 7th 1983.

Burbank

Double decker 968 ARA alongside an English pub & restaurant in Burbank. This location was just north of San Fernando Road. April 9th 1983.

Canoga Park

I think this is in the city of Canoga Park. The bus is CCN 138 taken during March 1994.

Cerritos
Cerritos Auto Square, more cars for sale than you'd know what to do with, for a short while one of the dealerships included a bus as some sort of advertising gimmick.

Here is former Thames Valley Bristol KSW6B JRX 822 at a Ford dealership in Cerritos just off South Street at the 605 Freeway on May 2nd 1987. From what I remember the bus did not remain here long, it was however very visible from anyone travelling west on South Street.

Davis
Davis - a small part of England transported to the idyllic setting of Davis, afew miles west of Sacramento. There is no doubt that those buses which migrated here saw more sunshine than they ever did in England, along with average summertime temperatures that would allow you to cook breakfast on any exposed metalwork. I believe they operated a service round the campus of the University of California, Davis.

I visited Davis a couple of times, always in the summer, where the heat can be stifling and most unpleasant. This was one of the more interesting views of a nice line-up alongside the maintenance facility on July 26th 1991.

This is a view at the back of the facility on June 27th 1990. The strong summer sun was not easy trying to get the best photographs. Early morning/late afternoon would be the best time, or the winter season, when the weather can do a much better job of impersonating the typical English climate.

If I came across one of those locations with multiple Engish buses I rarely recorded the individual bus numbers, so unless they were easily identifiable from the slide, I was out of luck for identifying them. This is taken at the back of the maintenance facility, June 27th 1990.

Gardena
There were two locations in Gardena which had double decker buses. These were the racetrack and the Roadium swapmeet.

This first view is at the racetrack. This is the day after the track had closed for the last time, soon to be swept away in a redevelopment of the area. This was south west of the 91/110 interchange. Nearest the camera is JXN 37 on November 23rd 1990.

The other venue for the buses in Gardena was the Roadium Swap Meet (car boot sale). The buses ran from a local community college parking lot to the swap meet location - parking at the Swap Meet was very limited hence the need for the shuttle. This is 416 PTA waiting to leave for the Swap Meet location on May 14th 1984.

ODL 7 poses for its portrait in between shuttle runs on May 14th 1984.

SWS 729 on the street in Lawndale during July 1986. I think this was one of the buses used for the Roadium Swap Meet shuttle, but by this time it is up for sale.

Hollywood
Tower Records store in Hollywood, the release of a Beatles 'Live at The BBC' recording and an English double decker bus. An odd combination, but nothing unusual for Hollywood.

Here is FEL 428D on Sunset Boulevard sometime during December 1994. The Tower Records store was a favourite venue to visit when in this part of town.

Long Beach

Long Beach at one time had a number of double deckers that were attached to the Queen Mary tourist location. By the time I arrived they were no longer at the Queen Mary location. I think this view is just off Anaheim Street in one of the many scrapyards that dotted the area. This is NXP 804 - RT3797, it looks like it is serving as an office or home? April 4th 1987.

Los Angeles

Downtown Los Angeles at the Bonaventure Hotel, my job was just across the street for many years. One day during December 1984 these two buses were parked by the hotel for a short while.

Downtown Los Angeles, just off Figueroa & Olympic, some sort of advertising billboard for General Bank of Commerce. This bus, 527 VRB, was also noted a few miles north in the Chinatown District. This view is dated March 1984.

San Francisco

A late afternoon shot of 449 SNU in downtown San Francisco probably about 1983. The bus was serving as a ticket office for the Gray Line sightseeing tours.

Gray Line operated a number of double deckers in the San Francisco area for the tourist trade. This pair were noted in a yard on July 23rd 1983 somewhat off the beaten track for your average tourist.

Somewhere near Pier 39 at the seafront district of San Francisco on November 9th 1985.

San Juan Capistrano

The Coach House, San Juan Capistrano appeared to be the owner of a faded 811 KDV. This is on a frontage road alongside Interstate 5, just visible behind the fence. October 1st 1989.

Sherman Oaks

An early morning view sometime in November 1986 of CRU 186C alongside HRC 486D in Sherman Oaks. I wonder how many miles I travelled in the latter bus when it worked in the Derby area?

Thousand Oaks
These buses were located in a small lot just off the 101 Freeway (just visible in the background of two of the photographs).

LLU 883 and another double decker in the yard on August 4th 1984.

Another view of LLU 883 and friend. When I visited the yard was open but protected by a dog which did most of its protecting from a seated position.

LLU 698 - RT3899 provides an unmistakeable billboard for passing travellers on the 101 Freeway. Seen here on a gloomy October 8th 1983.

South Lake Tahoe
These buses worked between the Nevada casinos at Lake Tahoe and the pier of the paddle steamer that cruised Lake Tahoe.

838 SHW at South Lake Tahoe, resting between shuttles from the casinos on the Nevada side of the city to the pier on the California side, maybe a journey of a mile or so. June 28th 1990.

BDV 261C catches the sun before the day's work begins on June 28th 1990. The winters at Lake Tahoe could be extreme and would take a toll on any vehicles there, hopefully the buses were stored inside during the winter season.

60 JAL stands at the turn round point close by the dock for the Tahoe Queen sternwheeler on June 27th 1990. This area underwent major redevelopment to cater for the tourist trade including a large upscale hotel. What impact this had on the bus shuttle was probably not good.

Nevada
Las Vegas

There's no doubt about who owns this bus! Taken early one morning in Las Vegas, not far from 'The Strip'. The bus is BOD27C seen on August 29th 1996.

Here is 404 PTA on August 29th 1996 and is equipped with a non-standard air horn above the driver's door.

New York
New York City
Several trips were made to New York City which allowed some opportunities to photograph the double decker buses operating on the tourist tours. Some of these views are of locations long forgotten - sorry!

Looks like this bus is parked in a parking lot and is now little more than a giant billboard. August 1999.

Waiting for its next tourist run? August 1999.

This garage contained several double deckers, this was the only one that was easily photographable. August 1999.

Battery Park - for access to the ferries and the Statue of Liberty saw many double deckers passing by each day, as in this view during July 1996.

Times Square was of course the place to see many of the double deckers in action. The three views from July 1996 below were taken on a Sunday morning when traffic was very light allowing for unobstructed views of the buses. The nearest bus in the right view appears to be 542 OHU.

Oregon
Tillamook

Its July 2008 and here is KNV 336 on the north side of Tillamook on the east side of Highway 101. The bus was part of a small collection of old vehicles lined up along a driveway to a restaurant. The bus looked like it had spent some time in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, the license plate is from Idaho.

South Dakota
Keystone
Keystone is the nearest town to the Mt Rushmore National Memorial and appears to be home to these two double deckers. I'm guessing these vehicles are used on a shuttle service between the town and the Mt Rushmore. If so they certainly have their work cut out for them on this hilly route and also surviving the harsh winters here, although Keystone itself is in a sheltered spot. These views were taken in September 2006.

Page added July 23rd 2008
Last updated May 18th 2010
Return to Picture menu
Return to Home Page

new movie. play games

	The resort at Lake Havasu on the California/Arizona border is perhaps most famous for the resting place for London Bridge. However it also featured a double decker bus serving as a place to buy such things as ice cream & sodas. Identified as RT 3768 seen July 12th 1989.
	McCulloch Realty of Lake Havasu/Havasu City also acquired several double decker buses, either as billboards or for other purposes. Here is MXX 239 equipped with a good sized rock to prevent it rolling away. July 12th 1989.
	In the summer this area can rival Death Valley for extremely high temperatures, without the presence of the Colorado River this would be no more than another insignificant mile marker on nearby Interstate 40. Here JZD 803 acts as a billboard on July 9th 1990, complete with airconditioner in place of the lower saloon's front window.

	I visited Davis a couple of times, always in the summer, where the heat can be stifling and most unpleasant. This was one of the more interesting views of a nice line-up alongside the maintenance facility on July 26th 1991.
	This is a view at the back of the facility on June 27th 1990. The strong summer sun was not easy trying to get the best photographs. Early morning/late afternoon would be the best time, or the winter season, when the weather can do a much better job of impersonating the typical English climate.
	If I came across one of those locations with multiple Engish buses I rarely recorded the individual bus numbers, so unless they were easily identifiable from the slide, I was out of luck for identifying them. This is taken at the back of the maintenance facility, June 27th 1990.

	This first view is at the racetrack. This is the day after the track had closed for the last time, soon to be swept away in a redevelopment of the area. This was south west of the 91/110 interchange. Nearest the camera is JXN 37 on November 23rd 1990.
	The other venue for the buses in Gardena was the Roadium Swap Meet (car boot sale). The buses ran from a local community college parking lot to the swap meet location - parking at the Swap Meet was very limited hence the need for the shuttle. This is 416 PTA waiting to leave for the Swap Meet location on May 14th 1984.
	ODL 7 poses for its portrait in between shuttle runs on May 14th 1984.
	SWS 729 on the street in Lawndale during July 1986. I think this was one of the buses used for the Roadium Swap Meet shuttle, but by this time it is up for sale.

	A late afternoon shot of 449 SNU in downtown San Francisco probably about 1983. The bus was serving as a ticket office for the Gray Line sightseeing tours.
	Gray Line operated a number of double deckers in the San Francisco area for the tourist trade. This pair were noted in a yard on July 23rd 1983 somewhat off the beaten track for your average tourist.
	Somewhere near Pier 39 at the seafront district of San Francisco on November 9th 1985.

	LLU 883 and another double decker in the yard on August 4th 1984.
	Another view of LLU 883 and friend. When I visited the yard was open but protected by a dog which did most of its protecting from a seated position.
	LLU 698 - RT3899 provides an unmistakeable billboard for passing travellers on the 101 Freeway. Seen here on a gloomy October 8th 1983.

	838 SHW at South Lake Tahoe, resting between shuttles from the casinos on the Nevada side of the city to the pier on the California side, maybe a journey of a mile or so. June 28th 1990.
	BDV 261C catches the sun before the day's work begins on June 28th 1990. The winters at Lake Tahoe could be extreme and would take a toll on any vehicles there, hopefully the buses were stored inside during the winter season.
	60 JAL stands at the turn round point close by the dock for the Tahoe Queen sternwheeler on June 27th 1990. This area underwent major redevelopment to cater for the tourist trade including a large upscale hotel. What impact this had on the bus shuttle was probably not good.

	There's no doubt about who owns this bus! Taken early one morning in Las Vegas, not far from 'The Strip'. The bus is BOD27C seen on August 29th 1996.
	Here is 404 PTA on August 29th 1996 and is equipped with a non-standard air horn above the driver's door.

	Looks like this bus is parked in a parking lot and is now little more than a giant billboard. August 1999.
	Waiting for its next tourist run? August 1999.
	This garage contained several double deckers, this was the only one that was easily photographable. August 1999.
	Battery Park - for access to the ferries and the Statue of Liberty saw many double deckers passing by each day, as in this view during July 1996.