Update: The Silver Eagle bus will not be at the 2025 UMA Motorcoach EXPO due to mechanical issues..
A 50-year-old Silver Eagle bus with a rich history of road trips and Hollywood appearances will soon embark on a 2,800-mile round trip from Pennsylvania to Oklahoma City for the 2025 UMA Motorcoach EXPO.
The 1975 Silver Eagle Model 05, branded as Trailways New England #31571, was donated by Tom McCaughey to the Hershey, Pennsylvania-based Museum of Bus Transportation.
McCaughey purchased it in 2005 while joining Trailways, driving it from Colorado to Rhode Island. Since then, it has been a staple at Trailways meetings across the country, from Florida to Arizona.
“This bus is truly a remarkable survivor from a time gone by,” McCaughey said. “It was the quintessential ‘driven on Sunday’ find when I purchased it. It was bought new by a Nebraska high school and driven by the same driver for 20 years. It was always garaged and well cared for, and we’ve continued to baby this treasure while running it in commercial charter service and for Hollywood, too.”
He points out that the first Eagles manufactured in the United States were produced at the Brownsville, Texas plant. Before that, Eagles were made in Belgium.
The coach, 40 feet long and 96 inches wide, will be on display at the EXPO, where attendees will be able to climb aboard and get an up-close look at its vintage charm.

Film fixture
In addition to its extensive road history, the bus has enjoyed a star-studded career in film and television. Its screen credits include movies such as “Labor Day” (starring Josh Brolin and Kate Winslet), “Detroit” (with John Boyega and Will Poulter), “Black Mass” (featuring Johnny Depp), and “The Spook Who Sat by the Door.” It has also appeared in television series such as “Castle Rock” and “Only Murders in the Building,” which features Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez, as well as “Julia” on HBO.
“I am very much looking forward to making this trip to UMA EXPO,” McCaughey said. “This coach has a way of bringing history to life, whether it’s on the road or on the screen.”
McCaughey is a lifelong bus enthusiast. After high school, he purchased a Greyhound Ameripass, which offered unlimited travel across the U.S.
“I pretty much wore that jewel out,” he recalls. Exploring the country by bus sparked a lifelong fascination with motorcoaches.
Although he promised himself he wouldn’t join the family trash hauling business, McCaughey eventually did at age 25. Alongside his two brothers, he helped grow the business into a successful enterprise. In 1999, the family sold their waste management company, and McCaughey transitioned to corporate roles before realizing he craved something more fulfilling.
A chance sales call in 2001 at a local charter bus operator changed everything. While selling a dumpster, McCaughey inquired about part-time bus driving and was soon behind the wheel. The experience reignited his passion for buses, leading him to purchase the company, Dicostanzo Bus Line, later that year.

Prospered in the industry
The acquisition, which included three aging buses and a small garage, came just before the 9/11 attacks, which devastated the charter bus industry. Despite the challenges, McCaughey gradually expanded and rebranded the company as Flagship in 2005. By 2022, Flagship operated 18 coaches and earned a reputation as one of New England’s premier charter carriers.
McCaughey’s industry leadership grew alongside his business. He served as President of the New England Bus Association, joined the American Bus Association Board of Directors, and was elected to the Executive Board of the National Trailways Bus System.

When McCaughey acquired the pristine 1975 Eagle Model 05, a symbol of the Trailways legacy, it became his gateway to Hollywood, where it appeared in productions. McCaughey also appeared as a bus driver in many of these projects. Over the years, his collection of five antique buses, each fully operable, became a sought-after feature in movies and TV series.
In 2022, McCaughey sold Flagship to DATTCO, a large New England operator, while retaining ownership of his antique fleet. He donated the collection, including the Eagle and a variety of other vintage buses, to the Museum of Bus Transportation.
McCaughey’s contributions extend beyond his donations. He brings his deep knowledge of the film industry. His efforts ensure these historic vehicles are preserved and accessible for future generations.
“It’s been a lot of fun, whether driving buses, running a company, or working on film sets,” said McCaughey. “But preserving these buses and sharing their stories is the most rewarding chapter yet.”