THE HISTORY OF THE EAGLE BUS BUILT IN BROWNSVILLE AND HARLINGEN FROM 1974-1997~PART ONE

 

From the editor:  Brownsville resident Daniel Lenz, one of the world's leading bus transportation experts, has been involved in the bus industry for over forty years and is currently Chairman of the Museum of Bus Transportation in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Daniel has kindly agreed to write a synopsis of the manufacturing of the Eagle Bus in Brownsville and Harlingen.  

Below is "Part One" of Mr. Lenz's composition:

Daniel Lenz

To tell the history of the Eagle Bus that was built here in South Texas, let us step back in time and talk about how it came to be.

Most of you are familiar with the Trailways name when it comes to bus history.

Back in 1954, General Motors unveiled a 40 foot bus known as the Scenicruiser, which was sold exclusively to Greyhound (Trailways' competitor at the time). 

This was problematic in the fact that Trailways did not have a 40 foot bus to compete with Greyhound. 

Buses were generally 35 feet in length prior to the Scenicruiser, so obviously having a larger bus gave them more seating capacity and luggage and freight space underneath the bus.

Trailways set out in 1956 to find a manufacturer that would build them a 40 foot bus exclusively for their operations. 

After approaching at least two American manufacturers, both Flxible and General Motors, things did not work out because Trailways was very cash strapped and did not have the money for the cost of the tooling each manufacturer needed to build such a bus.

After being unsuccessful finding a manufacturer here in the USA, M.E. Moore (President of Trailways) set out to find a manufacturer in Europe. 

It eventually led him to a company in Ulm, Germany by the name of Kassbohrer, who built buses and heavy duty equipment. Kassbohrer agreed to design a bus for Trailways and front the cost of the tooling. 

The First Eagle Bus Produced

This would start the production of what became the Eagle Bus.

Kassbohrer’s first prototype Eagle along with a subsequent 50 buses or so, were known as Golden Eagles because of the gold anodized siding. 

These Golden Eagles were put into what Trailways dubbed their five star service, which included a hostess, galleys with refreshments and light food service and overall a red carpet type treatment. 

Trailways was obviously trying to one up Greyhound.

Introduction of the Eagle Bus on the Art Linkletter Show

To introduce this new Eagle Bus and the service to the general public, Trailways got together with CBS and the Art Linkletter House Party Show in 1956. 

Utilizing the prototype Eagle Bus, they did a bit of a cross country tour from Chicago to California with some newlyweds.

Worker Assembles Seating at Brownsville Eagle Bus Plant

Part Two to be published soon!