YP Company 401

[John Goering]

Ok, this is REALLY in the everything else category. I've been gimped up from a little surgery a couple weeks back so started sifting through what slides of my parents that managed to survive a roof leak in the 80's and then a house fire which destroyed the house in 2009.

My father bought Yellowstone Park Company bus 401 (1937 White Model 706) in 1960, removed the two rear seats, added a table along with a propane fired range and frig. He also made a pop-up top so you could stand up in it when parked. The bus was out several times a year from 1960 through 65 but I only found two slides from one 1960 trip to the Waterton/Glacier area and two rolls of 20 exp from it last trip to the Dawson City/Chicken Alaska area.

1960. This one was near Flathead Lake

And someplace on the west side of Glacier on the same trip

1965 and my favorite shot. No 401 and the stern wheeler Tutshi at Carcross, Yukon

Carcross, 1965

Carcross again-didn't get all the soot off this one--

More Carcross

Dawson City

Pelly River

And 401 east of Chicken, Alaska

Following the 65 Alaska trip, 401 was parked in a shed and didn't turn a wheel again until 2012 when it was sent to the Buses of Yellowstone Preservation Trust.
401 slumbering in the shed, October 2010

Being pulled from shed a year later

The frig is clearly visible second door from rear.

After the trust pressure washed it. This and the following shot are from John and Don Mueller of the Trust.

Today

 

[gnwatts]

Beautiful lines...Looks like it is great shape.

 

[scatman]

@John Goering - How cool is this! I have admired the Yellowstone buses for years. I love the old shots from your trips with the bus. It must have been fun riding around in it. Did people ask many questions about it back in the 60's?

I ran into a lady from the Midwest while in Yellowstone one year who owned one of the buses and had refurbished it. It was not the same model as yours. I'll have to see if I can dig up a picture of it.

Thanks so much for sharing.

 

[Bob]

Nice, would have loved going to Alaska / Yukon etc in the 70s..... not the same now. Bus is cool... way neat the park has it back now.

 

[Nick]

Very cool!

 

[Joey]

Great pictures and story John!

So are they actually using the bus now in Yellowstone?

 

[John Goering]

Great pictures and story John!

So are they actually using the bus now in Yellowstone?

Yes and no. The Buses of Yellowstone Preservation Trust has no contract with the park or Xanterra that I know of. They do run occasional tours out of Red Lodge over the Beartooth Highway (212) and into the park. The Trust has a schedule on their web page but there isn't anything on it at present time. Hope to be on one of those at some point.

 

[Nick]

This popped up in my newsfeed today. Wish I had one sitting in the garage!

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/...6-and-1937-white-model-706-yellowstone-buses/

 

[Jeff Hilton]

Those old pictures are priceless. Thanks for shareing.

 

[scatman]

I found the pictures of the bus. @Nick, it looks like one of the models in your newsletter - the 1925 White Model 15-45 .

 

[backwoodsBob]

DROOL ! these old busses are the BOMB! I get to see the YNP coaches frequently as Yellowstone has been on my Truck Route for years. They always bring a smile to my face... Ive often considered acquiring a smaller bus and outfitting it....