HERSHEY, Pa. — Nearly 500 bus fans and industry veterans made the pilgrimage to Hershey last month for the Museum of Bus Transportation’s annual Spring Fling and were rewarded with sunshine and the opportunity to mingle with more than 60 antique and modern buses.
The vehicles on display ranged from a 1908 White to 2018 Prevost and Van Hool demonstrator coaches.
Two major highlights were a pristine 1945 Aerocoach and a rare 1951 Brill school bus.
The Aerocoach was restored mechanically by ABC Companies some time ago, but in the past year Infanti Bus & Coach Upholstery, of Linden, N.J., lovingly refurbished the interior, creating the feel and appearance of a brand new coach, circa 1945 — a sort of transportation time machine.
Early in the 1950s, ACF Brill built a few school buses based on its C31 transit model. Krapf Coaches sponsored the restoration of this exceedingly rare bus.
The theme of this year’s Spring Fling was a tribute to Trailways’ 80 years of service, with Trailways Chairman Jonathan Berzas and President Eva Hotard on hand with several staff members.
Trailways has been a major supporter of the museum and its mission of preserving the industry’s history.
Spring Fling centers on showing off the evolution of buses, with coaches parked inside the facility as well as all around the museum’s campus and at the George M. Sage Memorial Annex.
There also were 38 vendor tables at the “flea market” offering an assortment of bus memorabilia. As they have for every Spring Fling, Wolfs Bus Line provided shuttle service between venues.
A parade of buses that was held for the first time in 2017 proved to be quite popular this year, with 38 buses driving past camera-wielding spectators. Trophies were awarded for Best Conversion (Mike Middaugh’s 2001 Prevost XLll), Best School Bus (Katrina Falk’s 1988 Crown) and Best Historic Bus (Friends of the New Jersey Transportation Heritage Center’s 1953 TD4512).
The trophy for greatest distance traveled went to Dan and Stan Holter’s Richfield Bus Company 1973 MC7, based in Minnesota.
This year the museum offered a VIP package that included presentations on the history of the iconic Trailways Eagle coach and the opportunity to ride an antique bus in the parade.
“With the help of industry leaders like Trailways, Krapf, Fullington, Richfield and all the major bus builders, the Museum of Bus Transportation is making great strides towards our goal of both representing our industry and preserving its heritage,” said David Schmidt, chairman of the museum.
“Lakeland Bus Lines even lent us a group of mechanics to help get our fleet ready,” Schmidt said. “Bernhard Bus Parts even auctioned some parts and donated the proceeds. We are very grateful.”
