Blue Bird Coach Lines

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 For other Bluebird Coach Lines, see Bluebird Coach Lines.

Blue Bird Coach Lines is a former intercity, line-run, school bus, and tour operator that served Western New York from two bases located in Olean, New York and North Tonawanda, New York.

History

Blue Bird Coach Lines began as the Blue Bird Taxicab Company, founded in Olean, New York by Joseph Magnano in 1915. In the 1920s and 1940s, the portfolio of services grew, including charter and tour coach service.

In 1963, Blue Bird entered into regular intercity bus service as well, acquiring from Central Greyhound Lines of New York, a line run service from Buffalo to Olean by way of East Aurora; a line run from Buffalo to Bradford by way of Hamburg and Salamanca; and and an Olean to Salamanca route by way of Bradford.

In 1967, Blue Bird acquired the operations of the Chautauqua Transit Company, extending their reach westward from Olean to Jamestown and Westfield.

In 1973, Blue Bird acquired Seaway Coach Lines, adding service between Erie and Scranton, including points in between the two terminals. This service continued for a few years, and was made a franchise run, eventually stopping altogether.

Between the next route expansion, Blue Bird entered interlining agreements with Hudson Transit Lines, allowing passengers to continue on that agencies vehicles east to as far as New York City with through ticketing, and expansions in their school bus services.

In 1981, the final attempt at expanding the Blue Bird service area was reached with new line run service connecting Jamestown and Rochester, with stops at Olean, Perry and Geneseo. The service even extended further for a short time to Syracuse, but was withdrawn.

In 1991, Blue Bird exited the line run business, with an exception of their Buffalo to Olean line run. Service from Olean to Jamestown was acquired by startup operator Imperial Coach Lines, to become later, Empire Transit Lines. Empire Transit Lines later was purchased and merged into the Coach USA network and became part of Coach USA Erie. In 1994, the Buffalo to Olean line run went the same way, and was merged into Coach USA Erie, at the same time as Niagara Scenic Bus Line's Buffalo to Jamestown line run.

All-time roster

This list is incomplete. You can help!

Additionally, some fleet numbers will have gaps between numbers; some equipment being vans or school buses.

Fleet Number(s) Thumbnail Year Manufacturer Model Engine Transmission Notes
1 1934 Yellow Coach U Series

To Museum of Bus Transportation.

111-113 1946-1947 GMC PG-2904
114 1949 GMC TGH-2708
115, 116 1951-1953 GMC TGH-3101
117 1953 GMC TGH-3102
118 1946 Flxible Clipper 25B1-46
119 1949 Aerocoach P-372MC
120 1951 GMC TGH-3101
121 1948 GMC PDA-3703
122 1955 GMC PD-4104 Detroit Diesel 6V71 Possibly to Beaver Valley Motor Coach Company.
124-125 1951 GMC PD-4103 Detroit Diesel 6V71
133 Beck and Company Mainliner
136 1956 GMC PD-4104 Detroit Diesel 6V71 Possibly to Beaver Valley Motor Coach Company.
137-140 1942 GMC PD-4103 Detroit Diesel 6V71
141-148 1956-1958 GMC PD-4104 Detroit Diesel 6V71
149-150, 153-155 1964-1965 GMC PD-4106
164-165 1966 GMC TDH-4519 165 to Suffolk County Transit 111.
166-170 1967 GMC PD-4107 8V71 Manual 4-speed
171 1958 GMC PD-4104 Detroit Diesel 6V71
174 1965 GMC SDM-5302
175-179 1953-1954 GMC PD-4104 Detroit Diesel 6V71
182-183 1956 GMC TDH-4512
185 1969 International 44-66 (School Bus)
187-189 1970 GMC PD-4905 Serials 044-046.
190-192 1969 International 44-66 (School Bus)
193-196 1971 GMC PD-4905 Serials 219-222.
197-199 1971, 1972 International 44-66 (School Bus)
200-207 (200-205) 2/1972

(206-207) 4/1972

GMC P8M-4905A Detroit Diesel 8V-71 Serials 006-011, 127-128.
208-211, 215-217 (208-211) 3/1973

(215-217) 5/1973

GMC P8M-4905A Detroit Diesel 8V-71
  • Serials 277-280, 418-420.
  • 208 named "Prestige 1" coach. 208 included amenities such as a galley and area for a service attendant.
212-214 1973 International 44-66 (School Bus)
227 1957 GMC PD-4104 Detroit Diesel 6V71
231-235 1972 GMC 40-60 (School Bus)
236-240 1955 GMC TDM-4515 236, 240 to Beaver Valley Motor Coach Company, same fleet numbers.
241-246 1975 MCI MC-8 Detroit Diesel 8V71N Assigned serial numbers S10814-S10819
247-250 1974 GMC P8M-4905A Detroit Diesel 8V-71
251-252 1974 GMC T6H-4523N 252 to Miami Valley Regional Transit Authority 820, in 1980.
253-258 1974, 1975 GMC 40-60 (School Bus)
259-260 1975 GMC T6H-4523N
261-264 1975 MCI MC-8 Detroit Diesel 8V71N

Assigned serial numbers S11660-S11661.

273-277 1975 International 44-66 (School Bus)
278-281 1976 MCI MC-8 Detroit Diesel 8V71N

Assigned serial numbers S12243-S12246

282-284 1976 (06) MCI MC-8 Detroit Diesel 8V71N Assigned serial numbers S12359-S12361.
285-289 1976 International 44-66 (School Bus)
290 1962 GMC PD-4106
291 1973 GMC TDH-3302A
292-294 1965-1966 GMC TDH-4519
295-296 1970-1977 GMC T6H-4521
300-308 1977 MCI MC-8 Detroit Diesel 8V71N

Assigned serial numbers S12571, S12832, S12850-S12852, and S12294-S12297.

314-316 1978 Dodge Fifteen passenger van.
319-321 1978 GMC SDH-4502
322-324 1966 International 60 Low (School Bus)
326-330 1978 International 43 (School Bus)
331 1966 International 40 Low (School Bus)
332-335 1979 MCI MC-9
336-343 1967 International 60 Low (School Bus)
344-346 1979 Dodge 15 passenger van.
347-349 1979 International 60 Low (School Bus)
351 1979 Dodge 15 passenger van.
353-365 1980 MCI MC-9
367 GMC PD-4107 Detroit Diesel 8V71 Manual 4-speed
368-369 1968-1969 International 60 Low (School Bus)
370 1979 Dodge 15 passenger van.
372-386 1980 Ford 44 (School Bus)
388 1980 Prevost LM103
389-390 1964 B&C Eagle 1
391-398 1980 Dodge 15 passenger van.
399 1980 Ford 17P (School Bus)
400-414 1981 MCI MC-9
415-418 1980 Dodge 15 passenger van.
419 1981 Ford 44 (School Bus)
420-423 1973 Dodge 44 (School Bus)
424 1967-68 MCI MC-5/5A
425, 427 1968 MCI MC-5A Ex-Greyhound Lines 4070 & 4103.
430-432 1981 MCI MC-9
433-436 1981 Ford 44 (School Bus)
437, 442-448 1972 Dodge 44 (School Bus)
438-441 1981 Dodge 15 passenger van.
449-458 1981 Ford 44 (School Bus)
459-473 1982 MCI MC-9
474 197 Dodge 15 passenger van.
475-480 1982 Dodge 15 passenger van.
481 1971 International 60 Low (School Bus)
482, 484 1977, 1978 Ford 15 passenger van.
485 1977 GMC 44-66 (School Bus)
486 1979 Blue Bird 56-84 (School Bus)
488 1971 International 40-66 (School Bus)
490 1976 International 20-30 (School Bus)
491-496 1983 Dodge 15 passenger van.
497-499, 501-503 1972-1973 Dodge 44-66 (School Bus)
504-508 1982 International 44 (School Bus)
509-533 1966 GMC TDH-4519
534-538 GMC PD-4107 Detroit Diesel 8V71 Manual 4-speed
545-550 1983 MCI MC-9
573-576 1984 MCI MC-9
620-621 1985 MCI 96-A3
622-625 MCI 96-A3
703 MCI A Series?
705 MCI A Series?
724 1979 MCI MC-5C Ex Greyhound Taesco Saudi Arabia Ltd. 2031.
735 (1st) 1979 MCI MC-5C Ex Greyhound Taesco Saudi Arabia Ltd. 1034.
735 (1st) 1979 MCI MC-5C Ex Greyhound Taesco Saudi Arabia Ltd. 1034.
736 1979 MCI MC-5C
  • Ex Greyhound Taesco Saudi Arabia Ltd. 2127.
  • Originally numbered 2127.
  • Renumbered 9736.
737, 739 1979 MCI MC-5C Ex Greyhound Taesco Saudi Arabia Ltd. 2058, 2110.
740 1979 MCI MC-5C
  • Ex Greyhound Taesco Saudi Arabia Ltd. 2108.
  • Originally numbered 2108.
741 1979 MCI MC-5C Ex Greyhound Taesco Saudi Arabia Ltd. 2100.
742 1979 MCI MC-5C
  • Ex Greyhound Taesco Saudi Arabia Ltd. 2082.
  • Originally numbered 2082.
743 1980 MCI MC-5C Ex Greyhound Taesco Saudi Arabia Ltd. 2146.
779-785 1979 MCI MC-5C Ex Greyhound Taesco Saudi Arabia Ltd. 2050, 2067, 2075, 2087, 2103, 2116, 2129.
786-788 1980 MCI MC-5C Ex Greyhound Taesco Saudi Arabia Ltd. 2135, 2140, 2143.
832-833, 835, 836 (1st) 1979 MCI MC-5C Ex Greyhound Taesco Saudi Arabia Ltd. 2111, 2005, 2035, 2066.
834, 836 (2nd) 1980 MCI MC-5C Ex Greyhound Taesco Saudi Arabia Ltd. 2141, 2144.
906, 909 1979 MCI MC-5C
  • Ex Quick Way Transportation 7158, 9460.
  • Exx Greyhound Taesco Saudi Arabia Ltd. 2076, 2128.
907-908 1979 MCI MC-5C Ex Greyhound Taesco Saudi Arabia Ltd. 2107, 2111.
910 1980 MCI MC-5C Ex Greyhound Taesco Saudi Arabia Ltd. 2142.
974, 976-977 1978 MCI MC-5C Ex Schiavone Transportation 5, 8-9.
978 1980 MCI MC-5C
  • Ex Carey Transportation 101.
  • Exx Schiavone Transportation 11.
7000, 7002 1997 MCI 102-DL3 Detroit Diesel Series 60
VIP 6-VIP 7 1980 (06) Prevost LeMirage?
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