Motor Bus Society

09/12/2026

Join the Motor Bus Society today at the Friends of the Transportation Heritage Center -2026 Bus Festival at St. Veronica’s Church on US 9 North in Howell, NJ from 8:30 AM until 3:00 PM. Lots of Bus Memorabilia for sale!

07/22/2026

New Publications from the Motor Bus Society

Mailed to MBS members mid-July 2026!

Production is now completed on the first two chapters on the long-awaited history of New York City’s extensive commuter express bus network as told by long time NYC bus expert and historian, Edward R. Crew. MBS will publish this extensive history in multiple issues of Motor Coach Age.

Release of the first installment was mailed out to all MBS members in good standing as of 2022 in mid-July 2026.

This first installment includes a general history of the New York City express bus phenomenon in Chapter 1, followed then in Chapter 2 with a detailed look at the express bus services and operators in the borough of Queens, where modern express bus services first started.

Forthcoming issues will be delving into the other NYC boroughs, next with a detailed look at The Bronx operators in Chapter 3 and Manhattan operations in Chapter 4. Brooklyn operations will be the focus in Chapter 5 and the commute from Staten Island in Chapter 6 will then follow next. Finally ending with the operations of MTA Regional Bus & MTA Bus in Chapters 7 & 8.

Release of the next two chapters are anticipated for later in 2026 and the remainder targeted for 2027.

Express buses were a new found treasure for New York City commuters starting in the late 1960’s continuing through today. Express buses allowed outer borough city residents a direct, speedy, and comfortable trip to a variety of destinations in both Lower and Midtown Manhattan. City residents now had a premium service on par with their New Jersey commuter counterparts. Commuters now enjoyed the convenience of on-street delivery versus traveling via the centralized pandemonium of the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Prior to express buses, most outer borough residents had to use a combination of slow local bus routes connecting to either a NYCTA subway line or a limited LIRR or then Penn Central commuter rail station where available. With the new express bus network now in place in Manhattan, for those who worked uptown or downtown, the one-seat bus ride replaced a long walk or slow local bus, cab or subway ride. While our story starts with a look at the colorful array services operated by the seven privately-owned, subsidized express bus operators, we will continue our story with the City’s take over these carriers in 2002 the creation of MTA Regional Bus Operations and ending with a summary of express bus services up through 2022.

So sit back and enjoy the ride!

This new issue of Motor Coach Age has been sent to all MBS members in good standing as of 2022. Forthcoming issues will only be sent to members who renewed their MBS membership for calendar year 2025 and 2026 going forward. So please renew your membership in the MBS today so you don't miss a future issue.

A very limited number of extra copies of this issue will be available to purchase for both MBS members and non-MBS members for a cost of $35 per issue (shipping included). Please reach out to us via the MBS website contact page found at www.motorbussociety.com if you wish to purchase additional copies while supplies last.

10/10/2025

08/22/2025

Come one and all to the Motor Bus Society’s Metropolitan NY Bus Committee trip to Eastern Pennsylvania properties and including a prominent rail museum! Details are below!

You can book online right now by copying and pasting the link below to your browser or click on the bus below!

http://bit.ly/4lFqxQ2

Don’t delay, book today!

Join us on our final trip of the year to Pennsylvania, where we'll explore fascinating transportation sites. The itinerary includes visiting terminals in Allentown, Pottstown, and Reading , along with the Reading & Northern Railroad's Outer Station and the Reading Railroad Heritage Museu

08/17/2025

Come one and all to the Motor Bus Society’s Fall 2025 convention, October 8-11, 2025! The convention will be based in Indianapolis, IN at the Hilton Garden Inn near Downtown Indy’s historic Monument Circle. Our program includes excursions within greater Indianapolis, Dayton, Fort Wayne, Lafayette, South Bend, Louisville and more! Our October 10 evening program includes a presentation on Dayton’s bus and trolley coach system by historian Tom Morrow.

You can get details and book the convention online at:

https://www.motorbussociety.com/conventions-and-trips/fall-2025-mbs-conventionindianapolis-in

The website contains a link to booking the Hilton Garden Inn. You must book by September 7, 2025 to take advantage of the MBS discounted rates.

Don’t delay, book today!

Come one and all to Indianapolis for the MBS Fall 2025 convention! Our four-day convention not only includes Indianapolis IndyGo including their innovative bus rapid transit network, but visits to systems in Fort Wayne, Elkhart, South Bend, Lafayette, Bloomington, Dayton and Louisville. Watch this s

07/30/2025

Come one and all to the Motor Bus Society’s Fall 2025 convention based in Indianapolis, IN. While Indianapolis will be a highlight of our visit, our excursions will cover far flung destinations such as Dayton, Louisville, Bloomington (IN), Fort Wayne, South Bend, Muncie and Lafayette to name just a few. We have reserved a discounted hotel block in Downtown Indianapolis, steps from historic Monument Circle!

Details are in the images below OR go to our upgraded website:

www.motorbussociety.com

And click on “Conventions & Trips.”

With the same details and you can book online with your credit card! Book today, don’t delay!

07/22/2025

Our August 17th Open House is on SFGate's Things To Do:

https://www.sfgate.com/thingstodo/?_evDiscoveryPath=%2Fevent%2F3143510-fremont-pacific-bus-museum-s-annual-summer-open-house&touch=1751936138

07/06/2025

Trip information for the joint Motor Bus Society - Friends of the NJ Transportation Heritage Center - Northern NJ bus fan trip on Saturday, July 12, 2025

For those who have already purchased a ticket for this trip, please check your email after 6 PM (EDT) on Tuesday July 8, 2025 for a note from the MBS/Friends with confirmation of your selected boarding location and boarding time.

**Please note this trip is SOLD OUT - the information below is for those who have already purchased a ticket for the trip.**

We welcome you aboard our inaugural MBS/FNJTHC group trip to visit several bus operators and a rail museum in Northern NJ.

Here is our schedule for the day:

Boarding location # 1 - GS Parkway Bon Jovi Service Park & Ride - north lot at the bus shelter, please arrive early as boarding will start at 7:20 AM and continue until 7:30 AM.

Boarding location #2 - Secaucus Junction Station - Bus Plaza - Bus Platform #14, please arrive early as boarding will start as soon as the bus arrives at approximately 7:55 AM and will continue until 8:00 AM.

Tour stops:
• 8:10 AM until 9:00 AM - Academy Lines’ Body-Rite Facility & Peter Pan’s Garage in Secaucus

• 9:25 AM until 10:10 AM - Academy Lines’ Hoboken Terminal

• 10:35 AM until 11:30 AM - NJ TRANSIT’s Ironbound & Kearny Point Garages

• 11:45 AM until 1:00 PM - Lunch stop at Jersey Gardens Mall in Elizabeth

• 1:40 PM until 2:20 PM - Coach USA’s - Suburban Transit Garage in New Brunswick

• 3:20 PM until 4:10 PM - United Railroad Historical Society of NJ’s - Boonton Rail Museum & Restoration Facility

Then return to
• Alighting Stop #1 – NJT’s Secaucus Junction Station – Bus Plaza – Bay 14 between 4:50 pm and 5:00 PM

• Alighting Stop #2 – Old Bridge, NJ – GS Parkway Bon Jovi Service Area Park & Ride – northbound bus stop between 5:30 PM and 5:45 PM

FNJTHC/MBS trip information:
1. WE GO RAIN OR SHINE! Please dress accordingly for all weather conditions.
2. AM – boarding at the Bon Jovi P&R and Secaucus Junction will be on a first come, first served basis.
3. NO REFUNDS are possible. Please be ON TIME so you will not miss the bus.
4. No smoking on the bus or at any of the transit facilities we will be visiting at any time!
5. Equipment may be substituted if the advertised bus is unavailable. The FNJTHC/MBS may alter the itinerary as conditions warrant.
6. Day of registration is NOT available on trip day.
7. The trip is sold out, SEATS ARE VERY LIMITED, so please plan to share seats while onboard.
8. Please remember, we are guests of our host transit operators, bus companies and museums, so please be respectful of the facility and its equipment. Please listen to all safety and informational announcements from the tour leaders prior to exiting the bus at each location. Scheduled departure times will also be announced for each location upon arrival.
9. If you wish to listen to music on-board the bus, you must use earphones.
10. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by parent or legal guardian.
11. For any last minute cancellations, please email Jason Davis (FNJTHC) at at [email protected] by no later than Friday, July 11th.
11. Lastly, this is a fund raising event, so any additional donations to both groups is welcome and greatly appreciated!

ENJOY THE TRIP!