I was doing some research and stumble upon some historic buses made out of plywood and put into service to get civilians to military bases for work. Where they indeed the largest buses of their time? I don't know but I get a kick out of the articulation borrowed from say a 2-8-8-2? 
Are any of these still around?
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That is one of the oddest (and neatest) things I've seen in quite awhile. Thanks for posting.
Now that is strange! There were a lot of interesting war-expedient uses for plywood, including the Mosquito fighter-bomber and the Higgins boat, but that's a new one on me. It would make a very cool 1:50 model to put on a war-era layout.
I had to take a double take to see how the driver does not get pinched...
Pinched? More like cut in half.
I've looked at these photos and I still don't get how the driver doesn't get killed on a tight turn...
I was doing some research and stumble upon some historic buses made out of plywood and put into service to get civilians to military bases for work. Where they indeed the largest buses of their time? I don't know but I get a kick out of the articulation borrowed from say a 2-8-8-2?
Are any of these still around?
It looks like the driver is in the 'trailer' not the truck pulling it. The windows look pushed out to the front of the vehicle while the driver is set back behind the articulation. Very interesting design, have seen something like it in the mining industry. Where the driver is in the rear section and the engin is in the front half. It was designed for the opisite reason though, for low tunnel heights.
If you look closely you'll see the driver is sitting directly above the pivot point in the body of the bus, while the tractor moves beneath him. So the windshield is rotating around him. He is in the center of it rather than the right side where yes, he would be impacted.
If you look closely you'll see the driver is sitting directly above the pivot point in the body of the bus, while the tractor moves beneath him. So the windshield is rotating around him. He is in the center of it rather than the right side where yes, he would be impacted.
Man, that was tough to see, even after reading your good description.
I have seen these photos before and found it to be a fascinating vehicle. Here's a promo I found for this bus:
A link to an article in the Daily Journal World, Lawrence, Kansas, Thursday, July 30, 1942. It explains how the driver survives turns.
Being built...
Other images...
If you look closely you'll see the driver is sitting directly above the pivot point in the body of the bus, while the tractor moves beneath him. So the windshield is rotating around him. He is in the center of it rather than the right side where yes, he would be impacted.
Sorry I was incorrect in what I stated. The windshield does not rotate around him as he is part of the "trailer". The tractor rotates below him. I figure the steering wheel is right above the pivot point?
Look up "Santa Fe Victory Liner" and you'll find a bunch of stuff on it.
A bit like a 5th-wheel camping trailer I pull, but with the front over the top of my pickup cab, and me driving from the trailer
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Orange County Transit Agency had these commuter tractor-trailer rigs running for a while. I used to see them in Downtown Los Angeles and on the freeway. Don't know the passenger capacity. I'm pretty sure they were rendered obsolete by the articulated buses.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Orange County Transit Agency had these commuter tractor-trailer rigs running for a while. I used to see them in Downtown Los Angeles and on the freeway. Don't know the passenger capacity. I'm pretty sure they were rendered obsolete by the articulated buses.
I have seen these photos before and found it to be a fascinating vehicle. Here's a promo I found for this bus:
A link to an article in the Daily Journal World, Lawrence, Kansas, Thursday, July 30, 1942. It explains how the driver survives turns.
I worked at the Sunflower Munitions plant in the '70s (for an outside contractor) and everything was made out of wood just like the bus. I thought that was quite interesting at the time. It was amazing what all they did with wood. I had never heard of the wooden bus though, that's also pretty amazing. Would have been neat if they would have kept one out there.
Now, your article link from the Lawrence news paper says the bus was used to take workers to the Sunflower plant for work. I live just a few miles East of the Sunflower plant, or what is left of it. They were going to try and use it for an amusement park, but last I heard the clean up was too costly so what is left of it is just sitting out there rotting away. Haven't heard any more about if for several years.
I'd love to see a 1:43 scale model of that bus. 
The magazine "Motor Coach Age" did a story on those buses. You can't get it on your news stand,you have to join the Motor Bus Society where a subscription is part of the deal.
I'd love to see a 1:43 scale model of that bus.
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