The White Model 706 tour buses, built in Ohio, were made exclusively for the National Park Service. Yellowstone had as many as 98 Model 706s by 1940. Then the Yellowstone yellow bus fleet was sold and disbanded in the 1960s.
Todd Scott was instrumental in every phase of bringing the buses back to Yellowstone. The eight buses cost a total of $1.9 million to buy back and refurbish, Scott said.
TDM refurbished the interior seats and oak trim throughout the vehicle. They replaced the old canvas tops with more modern materials and installed a public address system for guides to narrate the tour.
"We looked at old pictures of the buses and tried to match the yellow paint exactly," Scott said. "Basically, they got a complete makeover."
Other upgrades are heaters under the seats and boxes with warm lap blankets, so even on brisk Yellowstone days, passengers can see the beauty of the park through the open top.
The buses are 25 feet long and 8 feet wide with a soft top that rolls back for an expansive view.
A nice story about their return is found in the Deseret Morning News – here.
Troy and Martha
22 comments:
VERY COOL BUS! Great shot and very different!
This makes me want to visit Yellowstone again. Its been too long. Love the Yellow touring bus. What a kick.
That's really cool! I met someone while I was in Europe who buys old, classic cars here in the States and takes them back to Europe and keeps them in his garage. Every year he and other car collectors get together and drive them all through Europe. Kinda cool... Thanks for stopping by my blog I'm glad you like it.
What a cool looking old bus! Great photo!
How nice! I don't think I have seen like this, and I have never been to Yellowstone... thanks for sharing!
Oh how cool!!
WOW!!
I love that bus!!!
Junie
Great capture. I love the look of those old Yellowstone buses.
Hi Martha & Troy - thanks for popping into Rabaul - glad you like the photos. wvfl I am lucky to have so many wonderful photo opportunities here.
Great to catch up with your blog and check out all your fabulous photos.qpcwc
How neat, i don't remember seeing them when we were there.
When I saw it I said "How Cool"...
I get here to the comments and everybody else said the same already!
It is cool!
LOL, I was taken back a moment. Those busses look very familiar (wink) Really wish I had something from Texas to post,(hehe) Great project yellow, I have never even thought to photograph the buses when in the park..
Troy and Martha, a very unusual bus! I love it! :D Thanks for visiting my Project Yellow! :D
Now I have that song stuck in my head! The little yellow bus goes round and round, round and round..." Love the history you provided with the picture. What a wonderful trip that must have been. Looking forward to tomorrow's pictures.
Very interesting post and a great picture of the yellow bus! I'm so glad they were able to bring the buses back.
Looks like a Texas Taxi to me. :)
Great yellow...wonderful bus.
Great buses! I bet the Park Service will make bundles of cash because most tourists will want to be guided around in them. Good investment.
I love that these buses are making a comeback. It encourages mass transit. Plus, the whole nostalgia factor is cool.
I'm still kicking myself that my wife and I took our 10th anniversary trip to western Wyoming and never set foot in Yellowstone Park.
I totally want one of those beauties. I have rarely seen a vehicle that mesmerized me so completley. Thanks for sharing it with us
Troy: Very nice shot of the bus.
Hi Texas Travellers, thanks for stopping in at the Maxfiles and commenting.
I must say that I have been enjoying browing through your site and will be back.
Btw those yellow buses are delighful.
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