The Eagle Has Landed
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- Опубліковано 13 лип 2021
- Once there was a bus call the Eagle. It earned a era all to its self. For 40 years the Eagle owned the motor coach market. Owners swear by them. Drivers loved driving them. In this video I tell the eagles story. How it started, and how it ended and how it transformed throughout its production life.
SOURCES I USED TO DO MY RESEARCH FOR THIS VIDEO
eaglesinternational.net/eagle...
phoenixcoachglobal.com/histor...
www.curbsideclassic.com/bus-s...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_bus
Special thanks to Chris from BUSTVCHAN for letting me use his footage of a Restored Eagle model 05 bus.
Link to BusTVChan
/ @bustvchan
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As a kid in the 60's, I remember riding golden eagles out west. There was something comforting at night time with the drone of the engine at the back and listening to the driver changing gears climbing over and through mountain passes.
Great!
I drove a eagle made in 82 it truly was a a great ride , could do a 500 miles and get out of seat and never felt beat , ride was so smooth
When I was a kid in the 60's, I was always fascinated by how the door opens on an Eagle bus. I still think it is cool.
An excellent video. In my youth, I volunteered with the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association, and we chartered Carolina Trailways Silver Eagles to take children to camp. There was just something magic about the Silver Eagle. In the Charlotte, NC heat during the summer, we loaded the children at the old Coliseum and the drivers kept the big Detroit's idling on the Silver Eagles to keep the inside cool. I can still hear the sound of those two-cycle GM's and remember well the smell of the exhaust. Heading over the mountains near Asheville to a camp near Hendersonville, I was amazed at the power going up the grades.
These Trailways Silver Eagles had a special place in my life at the time and in my memories today. A great video. Thank you.
I really enjoyed reading your post. Thank you for sharing your childhood memories. Those charter bus memories were the driving force that made me realize that I wanted to be a motor Coach operator. Appreciate you taking the time to write this.
Grew up around the Eagle's as my father worked for Trailways, and later I worked for Trailways and then Greyhound when it bought Trailways. Always did and will like the Eagle. Will never forget the first time a new Eagle showed up painted in Greyhound colors.
Oh wow! Which models were your favorite ones of the Trailways Eagle buses & of the Greyhound MCI buses?
That is
ONE OF THE MOST COMFORTABLE BUS YET
The old short TV skits are up funny 🤣👍😎
The Eagle was an awesome bus. The front-end would be very loose in winds but the passengers never felt it, only the driver. With the Eagle I first learned that in order to offset the winds effect on the front-end you'd need to slightly steer into the side of the wind that the wind was coming from to balance it out and keep it between the lines. It also works for other high-profile vehicles .
One of my favorite memories as a child is taking Continental Trailways to the New York Worlds Fair in 1964 - 1965.
That's one of my 👍😎 favorite buses
My first bus trip was in the 70's from LA to Fresno I was a teenager traveling alone and it was on a Continental 5 Star Golden Eagle with the hostess I traveled on buses many times after that but none ever came close to that trip...............
Now i know why i preferred Trailways over Greyhound in the late 60s to early 70s
Great video! Very nostalgic for me. My dad drove for Continental and I spent many hours riding Eagles with him as a kid. I remember almost all of those Eagle models. Well into the seventies, when Trailways was still running the Model 1s (or whatever variant was before the Model 5s), my dad would come home from work and 5-8 year old me would ask him what kind of bus he had. The Model 1s were “junkies” but sometimes he would tell me they ran well. Lol! The 5s were “late models.” Once the Eagle 10s came along, especially once they went to the new, larger dash/control panel (1982??) these were the rare “new ones” with a dash that lit up like an airplane and I would be so excited. I would be even more excited when I was with him and one of the Model 10s pulled in and I realized that was our bus for the trip!
He drove until the early 90s after Greyhound took over. I came to like the MCIs and the Dog, but Big Red and those Eagles hold a soft spot in my heart. He’s been gone for 23 years and i still love buses (and really all types of transportation including trains and planes). I still think about him and those buses! Can’t wait to watch more of your videos!
I worked for Continental Trailways from 1952 to 1972. I was Terminal Manager in Albuquerque NM. I remember all of these coaches. Passenger and drivers love them.. Thanks for the review.
What an excellent, detailed, professional video - the first of yours I've seen. As something of a 'bus nut' here in the UK, it would be so good to have such an informative expert as yourself producing videos on UK coaches, instead of the typical 'ride on the bus' style we have many of. As for bodywork designs, I've always preferred coaches of curved design and split screens - just so stylish! What's happened to US coach styling nowadays? Sadly they're no longer distinctive, just very similar to the European 'bricks' we have here. Such a shame as the US had an amazing proud tradition of styling - and also naming. . . . . . no other Country could have thought to call a coach 'Golden Eagle' or 'Superscenicruiser' - just beautiful! Thank you.
man this bring back memories
I have driven Setras and didn’t know the meaning behind the name. Thanks for that info
This video was not only spot on, it was very entertaining. Those Star Trek parts did it for me, excellent!
Thank you
When I was a kid my grandfather drove an Eagle Bus for a company called Gateway. He would pick up people in Trenton NJ and run them to Florida in the 80’s. The Eagle was a mid to late 70’s model and they took out the last 3 seats by the restroom and put in a bed so one driver could sleep when one was driving. I spent many years on the road with my grandfather on the bus dropping passengers off at a fancy hotel in Melbourne Florida. The sign used to say Gateway to the Stars
even NJ Transit themselves had a fleet of Eagles.!!!!
Great video James. I drove for Trailways out of Philadelphia and it was a pleasure driving the EAGLE bus!
Awesome VLOG!! Big fan of Trailways. Spent many days, nights and early morning traveling on these buses in the 70s and 80s. Best riding bus ever for me. Also, first class service from Trailways on every trip.
Always wanted to drive or own a Eagle.
Your knowledge of buses is very much appreciated. In 1962 my Dad & I rode Continental Trailways Golden Eagle from L.A. to Seattle round trip for the World's Fair event up there. I was impressed with that bus' suspension; so smooth but, the A/C vents were at floor level, thus the COOL AIR stayed on the floor, NOT where it was needed > face level. (I guess on cold days in Belgium that 'plan' would be great for heating.) We had the hostess serving food on board as well. Breakfast was in a restaurant however. L & D were sandwiches on the bus with chips and sodas/coffee. Then at work in the 90's I drove a new Eagle coach; what a smooth, good handling coach it was!
Wow, great history of Trailways line. Surprised how many coaches were shipped across "the pond" from Europe. Love the advertising with all the passengers in their dress clothes. Thank you, James for another very interesting program.
Wow i didnt know GREYHOUND went bankrupt! I rode Trailways Bus in 1986 it wasn't an Eagle Bus it was probably an MCI BUS. Took that trip from New York City PORT AUTHORITY BUS TERMINAL TO ALBANY, NEW YORK. On my return trip I came back on another Bus that read: In Service For TRAILWAYS. The Bus was: PETER PAN BUS! After that trip i noticed PETER PAN TRAILWAYS BUS at times. This reminds me of Model trains LIONEL their competitor Gilbert's AMERICAN FLYER Trains. Lionel took over the company in the 1990's! I really enjoyed watching this video! 👋👋👋👋👋👋
Good video, James. In 2000, I tested for my CDL in an Eagle, then drove it on several charters before it was sold. In 2002, I drove a 45 foot Eagle entertainer bus for a drum and bugle corps. We started in central Tennessee, up to Minnesota, then over to Wyoming. From Sioux Falls, SD to New Castle, WY, I was in a 25 MPH right-to -left crosswind, which resulted in a lot of steering input. Coming down from Mount Rushmore at night, I hit a porcupine that was as big as a doghouse. From there to Casper, then almost into Colorado. I loved the way the Eagles drove and rode, and I was sad when I no longer had the opportunity to drive them.
When I was a kid, I got to ride in a few Eagles - Greyhound, a private motorcoach company in WA state and on my way to LAX by the Airport Shuttle. Favorite looking buses for me.
Hi It was 1960 at the age of 10 the first time I saw a eagle bus was when my whole family travelled across Canada by train and we took a bus from Vancouver BC to Victoria BC and was enthralled with it. I had never seen one before in my area of Quebec. I only started seeing them in my area of Quebec in the early 70’s mostly character coaches from the U.S.. There was a company called Bourgeois from Drummondville Qc. that had one I believe and then Voyageur had 10 on trial but didn’t keep them very long they stayed mostly with Prevost, GM and MCI. Seeing that picture you posted brought back a lot of memories. Thanks James
Im glad to hear! Thanks for your comment and all of your support! Means a lot Richard!
@@MotorcoachWorld have you seen the movie The Big Bus it's a movie about a very big bus.
Thank you for this video. I found it to be very educational. I did not know about the connection with Trailways and Eagle.
Plate C
By bus company in 1986 had 2 of the Eagles. Out of all the buses that I have driven over the years, and I have driven them all except Prevost, the Eagle was my favorite ride
Great trip down memory lane.
Had the unexpected pleasure of riding a Golden Eagle once on a short trip into Philadelphia in 1970. The coach was indeed very elegant and the hostess was a charmer. Wanted to ride it more, however the service ended.
i loved the green tinted windows on the silver eagle when I was a kid in the 70's and the 3 axle bus I was like wow that's so neat-o lol the sound of the motor accelerating was cool too. had no clue about all the business deals going on behind the scenes.
Remembering back in the days up in New England we had Eastern bus lines out of Bolton Conn they ran the Eagle bus type,also New Jersey Trasit.Some of the buses ran the V8 92 series detroit.There was placard on the drivers side window stating this .Great riding bus.
I drove for Barstow out of Danielson, Blue Line out of S. Windham, and Post Road Stages out of Windsor during the 1970's, GM's and MCI's, no Eagles.
I think Eastern was gone bye then...
I can still remember Trailways radio ads
Go big red!
Go big red!
Trailways has that torsion ride
That lets you take the road in stride
So grab a ticket and climb inside
Go, go, go, Big Red!
In 1983 I rode a Greyhound Australia Eagle from Gosford NSW to Surfers Paradise, Queensland. Overnight trip, bus had large long range driving lights mounted just below the windshield plus a roo bar.
I was a ticket agent for Continental Trailways in Victoria, Tx from 1966 to 1968. Then transfered to Los Angeles, Ca and was a ticket agent until 1969. I was promoted to area manager and worked with Tours and the entertainment industry. I put our buses in movies like Norwood and Flap plus many tv shows. Fun job and I miss these model 5 Golden and Silver Eagle buses. Plus, the hostesses and drivers were good friends of mine. They knew how to party back in the late 60's.
So I got to watch the whole episode! I loved it, and loved how detailed you were about the changes. I got to ride on American Eagles (the ones built in the US) with NJ Transit, the Eagle AE-20, which were the oddest ones, since they had the digital route diplay instead of the sloping roof (it was the same time when NJ Transit, or rather Port Authority of NY and NJ since they owned the buses, ordered the MC-9...in 1987 despite MCI having stopped MC-9 production. PA/NJT wanted the same body as the older MC9 but with the huge front display, and the new DDEC DD/Allison combo. THose I did get to drive, and I think the AE-20 also had the same drive train but not sure. I do know that the AE-20 had a REALLY futuristic dashboard. It was glorious. I have some photos of them back from the 90s, and they looked sharp, although since they were rarer, they always had that exotic feel!)
Great episode again. And that footage was awesome. Also glad you mentioned the Super Golden Eagle. I think 4 of them remain, with one in rough shape. I thought of buying it a few years back, but man...I would have to ship it to Germany for all the parts, and restoration.
My Father was the Welding Foreman for Eagle International in Brownsville TX. 1977-1988. He was in charge of welding the Whole front skeleton frame and panels. He has many stories from that company on how they built different models there. Still till this day he tells me stories of several men getting injured at work and how the company wouldn't want to take care of them.
Wow I learnt alot about the history of eagle.. good job on the video.. haha you put my face 🤣 .. im.sad you left out the eagle ae20 .. the New Jersey Transiy variant.. great Job on the video
I got to see a Trailways eagle in a Greyhound terminal once when I was a child. Sadly, It wasn't our transfer and I had to settle for a ride on a standard Greyhound MCI coach of the period that had pulled up next to it.
Continental Trailways was the only way to visit my parents hometown directly back in the 70s, Greyhound opted for bigger towns. As a kid, I loved the way the Eagle's engine sounded, you could hear it coming into town from a mile away!
They had dual exhausts on the V8 diesels
Awesome 👏🏾 history. Thanks
Love the eagles
love the eagle 81 period buses,, im thinking of importing one to the UK
I knew a guy who owned two of these buses. They certainly rode very smooth. I wish I could drive one to find out!
Since you mentioned Setra, might as well do a Setra video.
Lol how can I refuse such strong logic! Thanks 😊 for the comment. I will definitely make a video about setra.
Well, I climbed back on that eagle, took one last look around; Red tail lights, shadow moves slow across the ground. And off somewhere a midnight train is slowly passin' by; I can hear that wistle moan' I'm so lonesome, I could cry
I learned on an Eagle Model 10. It was sad to see Eagle bus company die but the Eagle had issues with frame rot. MCI came along with their all stainless steel frames that withstood Northern road salt and they became hugely popular. It didn’t help that Eagle was finally purchased by a fellow with a dubious reputation for being a crook. Whether he deserved that reputation or not isn’t for me to say but I dealt with him once and that was enough for me.
I didn’t care for Eagle’s torsilastic suspension. After they had some miles on them driving one was like sitting on the end of a diving board during an earthquake.
Having mentioned the negatives of the Eagle I do think that they were an attractive coach and were hugely popular with pretty much every super star singer that ever went on tour. I drove one for about three years. I still have fond memories of the Detroit Diesel 2-stroke screaming through a tunnel or underpass. Mine was suffering from the notorious frame rot and finally succumbed to it and is now probably a Toyota or Hyundai.
Absolutely outstanding program. Extremely informative, educational, helpful, full of great history and outstanding historic vintage photographs. Brought back great memories of my youth riding both on Greyhound and Continental Trailways. It was such a blast to have a stewardess assigned to the bus. Thank you so very much for all the dedication, hard work that was put into this. I have shared it with many many people. 👍🏻😉😉🙏🏻✝️ America 🇺🇸
And being serenaded by fellow passengers snoring and farting
Thanks for the video. My dad and most of my family worked at Eagle International (Brownsville) from the 70s to the 90s. My dad was very proud of his work. (He worked building the cargo doors). And got to met celebrities that would buy tour buses. He pass away some time back but I'll bet this video could have brought many memories.
Hey Rolando! Thanks for the comment. I would have loved to met you dad. He probably knew a lot about these Eagles that no one else does. Thanks for sharing this! Glad you liked the video!
@@MotorcoachWorld sure he would loved to. He always said that building Eagles was like building Rolls Royces
Everything was hand made and not every bus was built the same (every single one had it's challenge).He was always upset that when he found how to correct the designer's blueprint errors he would never got credit only to see the drafters made the change on paper and placed the Eagle logo.
Great video, James! Loved it. I have no doubt that I rode on an Eagle or two when I was in elementary school in the 1970's and we went on long field trips. I just, at that time, knew that it was a big, fancy bus, and not a yellow school bus.
I’m surprised nobody thought about buying the eagle Corp. I love the eagle 10.
Loved the Eagle!
Drove out of Miami for the Hound at the turn of the century.
Eagles were living out their lives on the Key West runs. Their look just seemed to blend so well
with the Florida Keys. These buses were not used on the main lines.
Got to drive one of the last from Miami to Nashville as they were sold off.
(Enjoy the channel. Lose the Comic Sans font!)
Back in the late 80s or early 90s i took a plane from Connecticut to Miami ,and drove a Cadillac back home.Let me tell you I ran up on a Eagle type bus at the the toll boths,upon take off that fully loaded bus would leave me in the dust
From Palm Beach to Ft. Lauderdale, on a local schedule, I once upon a time in the early 90s, rode in an Eagle. More comfortable ride than the MCI.
Awesome history of Eagles!!! The Eagles 15 really gave MCI a run for their money! I preferred driving the 15 over the 102 all the time!
Thank you for the information about the Eagle buses. I wonder what a modern version would look like if Eagles were still being built.
Awesome! I've been waiting for this one!
Thanks James, I'm looking forward to this!
Great account of a bus that is emblematic of a era of bus travel that extends into today’s popular bus RV conversions! Thank you! I’ll look for more of your content!
I tell yuh James. I never knew about a 45 foot eagle. I have to be honest.. that long frame looks so nice!!
Hey Gizmo. I know right? I think the longer 45 foot eagles look great! Better than the 40 footers.
@@MotorcoachWorld yes sir. It very intimately tickles gorgeous.. I think it has something to do with the wheel arches and the roof line.
Thanks James I loved the information in this segment as I do on all of your videos. I've been in the bus industry full and part time since 1981 and still love it.
The Eagle 05 was used by Greyhound Australia (no relation to Greyhound USA) owned by the Penfold family in Queensland and the Henstridge and later the Stateliner Group in South Australia. The Levers Company in Canberra / Queanbeyan also owned an Eagle.
I liked the uniformity of the Eagles. Meaning Eagles for independent carriers and private coaches had the same lightning bolt and lettering as Trailways.
Loved this video. I want to buy one and convert it into a motorhome.
I had ridden the Eagle coaches a couple of times in the '80's. I thought they were cool busses.
James, I am a big Eagle fan.. was really looking to get one when I was looking for buses to convert to a motor home. I ended up with a TMC102A3 just because of the condition and price of course. I was unfortunately not able to finish converting it and sold it when I purchased a 1984 Bluebird Wanderlodge, that you see in many of my repair videos! Thanks again for bringing us through the history of Eagle, I think you covered it very well!
Great video, brings back some great memories for sure! Growing up, our church bought a split level retired Greyhound scenic cruiser. Lots of great youth group trips on that bus. My late Father used to volunteer as a driver :)
I remember lots of rock group bands coming to our town back in the day using those retired eagle buses as their tour buses. (Ozzy Osbourne, mid ‘80’s ) Wow, such great memories here in this video. Thanks for sharing this with us!
My dad drove for Trailways for 27 years I believe. I used go with him on runs in the northeast and I still remember the smell of those buses and the floating ride that the forward mounted tag axle gave the bus. You brought back some really great memories. Thanks so much!
YOU KNOW YOUR STUFF BROTHER been waiting on the history of the silver eagle for years, know let's see greyhound the MCI story lol
Already did a video on that lol. Check it out.
ua-cam.com/video/CML0zBi-yzM/v-deo.html
Another great video! I have in my personal collection still photos I took while I was stationed in San Diego, CA. At this time 1980 - 1984 there were few Continental Trailways buses moving compared to Greyhound which was located a few block away. I also remember that the Eagles were parked in a lot that I can only describe as an egg carton compared to Greyhound's facility that was also a few blocks away.
Great story! Thanks.
The Golden Eagen was a close cousing to Olivia. She has a MAN engine, ZF transmission, also is unitbody, independent front suspension, and lots of other similarities. She has a LOT of German DNA, even if born in Romania!
Thanks, James. The video is interesting, informative, and entertaining.
Yay, thanks for a video on the Eagles. Enjoyed it much! You said you would make it and you did! Great job, thanks James.
Thanks for the tour . very iconic eagle buses
Hammond Yellow Lines(long defunct) had a ton of them that they used on their week day , commuter/ line runs in and out of Chicago's downtown.
HY had 5 Eagles. 3 Model 10s, bus numbers 39, 31, and 32 with 2 Model 15s, bus numbers 41 and 42.
Eagle E-20s were operated in Taiwan from 1989 to 2001 as well.
I always liked the main entrance door on those buses 👍😎
I do love the vintage buses, brings back memories of my grandparents, 4 times a year we would ride the dog from Houston Texas to LA California, cheaper and less stress. Thanks for sharing.
Wow! First time on this channel and what a great video---Bravo!
Found this video just now, it brings back memories. I remember being at the 1964 New York World's Fair as a teenager and seeing/hearing an Eagle for the first time. I was enthralled by the sound of the deep booming dual exhaust of the 8V-71 Detroit Diesel, so much better than the GM Hounds exhaust. I ended up driving Charter Coaches in the 1970's, GM 4103's, 4104's and 4509 Buffalos, and MC-7's. Never got to ride or drive an Eagle, but always admired them.
As a kid I remember those Trailways busses with the white wall tires I liked Trailway way better than Greyhound
In April 1994 I rode a Silver Eagle from Chico to Sacramento, California, as a service of Amtrak Thruway. Most of Amtrak's Thruway bus fleet were the MCI 10s so this was a bit different.
Touché! Many thanks, James. Great, great video on a line of buses also near to our heart!!
The silver eagle was the best bus I’ve ever drove, I spent nearly 40 years of my life. Driving interstate coaches all over Australia ,in the 1980s I worked for greyhound Australia on express service interstate. The silver eagle was by far the most comfortable coach I’ve ever drove
I grew up in Oakland, and I recall riding on AC Transit's modified Super Golden Eagle articulated coach. It was repowered with a Cummins engine. Artics were rare in the USA at the time.
My Daddy Use to be regional manager of The Western States, my daddy was a mechanic at 1st in Dallas Texas, then we moved to Albuquerque New Mexico, Then back to Dallas, where Daddy retired,
Hello , I am newly subscribed to the group.‘I enjoyed the Eagle history. The first Coach I drove was a Eagle 01 in 1984. Loved the way it handled even though it was a 67’model 01 . She was till strong and had potential . The company I drove for decided to trade it in. They were the third owner of the bus. I drove it to Hausman in New Jersey. They picked up two MC7’s. They were nice buses. I knew all MCI’s 5,6,7,8 & 9 had a heck of a tilt lean when turning from riding on Greyhound coming up as a kid. What I wasn’t familiar with was how some of the clutches would literally cripple you at the end of the day. Keep up the great work on the channel
Awesome video James!!! Love it!
I immediately like your videos because I know that they are going to be enjoyable.
I'm glad you did such a good job with the Bus World Eagle Special that I wrote in 1982!
Missing was anything to do with MOL after Eagle left Belgium in 1977. MOL bought the entire Eagle line for Europe from Continental around 1977 but they sold almost
nothing. Too bad.
the last Trailways bus i rode was in 1969 on my way to have my pre induction physical
My dad was a 22yr veteran for continental trailways, and occasionally Pacific trailways. Ran from Sacramento ca. To Medford or. Then from Medford to portland or., I miss riding on those buses with him...I still say right up to the model twenty they are the coolest looking buss ever,,,those newer ones, well no wonder they failed,,,them things were ugly...
love this history keep it up
What good comments I read on the Eagle! It had independent front suspension. Well that puts it above most of its contemporaries that had solid front axles. They seemed to be less advanced in corrosion resistance. I would have never thought throughout the 1960s till the mid 1970s Trailways Eagle busses were made in Belgium! I alway thought they were made in the USA.
Last Eagle I ever rode was Greyhounds Model 15 0747 in 1994, I was a kid. Still a bus nut. Started out riding Trailways as a baby, then obviously Greyhound became the only show in town at some point. I would love to own an Eagle one day, I'd keep it seated. A model 10 1981 or newer (1980 Model 10 has short doors) or a model 15 or 20.
Awesome
This was awesome. Great bit of history.
Absolutely great video! With all the work you put into it and the speed you were talking. I have to ask you this question inquiring minds want to know. Did someone Set Fire To You. LOL have a great day take good care of yourself and be safe. All my best Mike
All interstate buses should have a cafeteria at the back. When I was a kid (1964) I went from Vancouver to Los Angeles on a Golden Eagle clipper. Having a sandwich and coke while cruising cross country was amazing. I think I was infatuated with the hostess!
When I was driving for the dog, in the nineties, trailways coach 0707, ended up out here a couple of times, every summer! I think it was based in Chicago.I was domiciled in Denver.
I was domiciled out of Chicago. I remember them going to Memphis in them. That was some great equipment.