Ford Transit (1939-1947)

Ref Description Limited edition of

227

USA1939/40 Ford Transit 09-B (The Milwaukee Electric Ry & Transport Co. 746-749; 767-776; 782-791 series)

ref.226The forward control Ford Transit bus was introduced in 1936 and in 1939 a new rear-engined version was announced. The 1939 was the first year for new Mercury division of the Ford Motor Corporation, and this car feautured a 95 h.p. V8 engine. The first Transit bus with one of the new engines installed transversely at the rear was built in February 1939. The serial production was started in October 1939 as 1940 model, called as "09-B" model ("0" for 1940 model year, "9" for 239-cubic inch V8 engine and "B" for bus). The 27-seat bodies were supplied by the Union City Body Co. In the first year, Ford sold 571 Transits and until September 1947, almost 13,000 Trasnits were built for many operators in the United States and Canada. The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Transport Co. was one of the first customers for new Ford Transits (along with Detroit which ordered five hundreds in July 1939), placed an order for 24 buses in 1939. They were delivered in late 1939 and in 1940, numbered 746-749, 767-776 and 782-791 accordinly. In 1941 Milwaukee received ten additional buses of 19-B model (almost the same as '40 version) and in 1942-45 thirty-two improved Transit (models 29-B and 59-B) were delivered to the city.

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25

227a

USA1939/1940 Ford Transit 09-B (Washington Capital Transit Co. 2701-2730 series)

In December 1939 Washington's Capital Transit Co. acquired batch of thirty new Ford Transit buses (model 09-B) for use on low density routes, they were numbered 2701-2730. In 1941-42 sixty more Transits (models 19-B and 29-B) were acquired, being numbered 2731-2790. Washington's Fords of 1939 and 1941 deliveries were painted out in the regular Capital Transit bus paint scheme of all-silver with a green stripe outlined in black. In late 1941 because of the war-time conditions, the silver was changed to white and roof was painted gray. The original paint scheme was restored on the CTCo buses after the war, however the roof on Fords remained gray.


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227b

USA1940/1941 Ford Transit 09-B/19-B (Cleveland Transit System 840-899 series)

Cleveland Railway acquired fifty Ford Transit 09-B buses in 1940, numbered 850-899 and ten additional coaches of 19-B model were acquired in 1941, numbered 840-849. Cleveland's Tranits were very helpful in the war-time years but after the war they were quickly out of service, all coaches were withdrawn in 1952-53.

 

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227c

USA1940 Ford Transit 09-B (Boston Elevated Railway No. 1905)

Boston Elevated Railway ordered the sample Ford Transit bus in 1940 (Model 09-B, coach 1905). In 1942 BERy ordered ten more Transits of 29-B model, numbered 1906-1915 (they had only one door) and in 1943/44 and 1946 add thirty five more Fords to the roster, this group of coaches was numbered 1916-1950.

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10

227d

USA1941/42 Ford Transit 19-B/29-B (United Electric Railway, Providence 51-63 series)

The United Electric Railway of Providence, Rhode Island, have a small batch of 13 Ford Transit buses, purchased in 1941-42, they were very helpful during the war.

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227e

USA1941 Ford Transit 09-B (Louisville Railway Co. 100-104)

In 1941 Louisville Railway Co. bought its first five Ford Transit buses of the 09-B model, numbered 100-104 series. They were painted out in the orange & cream paint scheme with silver roof with V-front, this scheme was also applied on the Mack CO buses, delivered in 1940. In December 1942 twenty-five Ford Transits of 29-B model were allocated to Louisville and in 1945-46 Louisville received sixty-five coaches of the improved design, at this time the whole Transit's fleet consists of 95 coaches. As well as in Milwaukee, the Louisville's Transits were delivered without emergency door on the left side.

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10

227e-1

USA1941 Ford Transit 09-B (Louisville Railway Co. No. 101 Service coach with Trolley poles)

After the war, some of the Ford Transits of the original 1941 delivery were fitted with trolley poles with sleet cutters to keep the trolley coach wires free of ice.

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5

227f

canadaUSA1941/42 Ford Transit 19-B/29-B (Toronto Transportation Commission 770-791; 850-884 series)

Between 1941 and 1943 most of the Ford Transit buses sold to Canadian operators were built at Windsor and exact copies of the Union City body were produced for them by Brantford Coach & Body. Toronto Transportation Commission received its first 22 Transits in 1941, this was a 19-B vehicles, numbered 770-791. The deliveries were continued in 1941 and 1942 with 35 more buses, numbered in 850-884 series. The Halton County Radial Railway have the former Blue Bird Coach Lines of Woodstock, ON, Ford Transit painted in the TTC colors and numbered 792.

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15

230

USA1946/47 Ford Transit 69-B/79-B (Baltimore Transit Co. 1201-1300 series) - original livery

230Within 1943 the design of the Ford Transit bus was modified, the roof was changed from canvas to metal and there were some other changes. The serial production of the new improved Transit 49-B was started in late 1943 as 1944 model and design remained almost unchanged until 1947 when the serial production was finished. The Baltimore Transit Co. under management of Fred Nolan, the former manager of the Detroit system, ordered 100 Ford Transit buses in March 1946 and they were delivered in 1946 and 1947 (50 buses of 69-B model, numbered 1201-1250 and 50 buses of 79-B model, numbered 1251-1300). Coaches of 1201-1250 series were delivered with full Baltimore Transit lettering.

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230-1

USA1946/47 Ford Transit 69-B/79-B (Baltimore Transit Co. 1201-1300 series) - BTCo Yellow/Gray paint scheme

230-1Starting from late 40s, Baltimore's Ford Transits were painted in the simplified BTCo yellow and gray paint scheme. Small Ford buses were never very popular with the BTCo and after a few years of operation the BTCo began the process of phasing them out.

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15

230a

USA1946/47 Ford Transit 29-B/79-B (Philadelphia Transp. Co. 826-905 series)

Philadelphia Transp. Co. placed its order for 25 Ford Transit buses for $6,168 each (model 29-B, as listed in PTC papers; it seem that this was 69-B model) in 1946 and they were numbered 826-850 (class BB-25). Additional order for 55 more coaches for $6,698 each was placed shortly and they arrived in late 1946 and 1947, being numbered 851-905 (class BB-28). The PTC green, cream and silver paint scheme was applied to the coaches.

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25

230b

USA1945 Ford Transit 49-B (Chicago Surface Lines 4301-4335 series)

Chicago Surface Lines acquired its first front-engined Ford Transit buses in 1936 and after the war continued to buy these economical gasoline-powered buses ideal for service on light feeder lines. In 1945 thirty-five rear-engined Transits of 49-B model arrived, first five were delivered in standard ODT gray and were painted by CSL by experimental blue, cream and red livery, same as on 1936 PCC cars. All other coaches were painted in the regular CSL red and cream livery. First batch was numbered 4301-4335 and in 1947 remaining twenty coaches arrived (79-B model), numbered 4336-4355. Despite their small size, Transits were used in Chicago not only at low density routes, but at last years of service also on rush-hours assignment to such busy routes as 56 Milwaukee Limited and 49 Western. Having a long life in Chicago, Transits were retired in 1957-58.

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25

230b-1

USA1945/47 Ford Transit 49-B/79-B (Chicago Transit Authority 4301-4355 series) - CTA Mercury Green & Cream livery

The new CSL/CTA Mercury Green and cream paint scheme was applied on Ford Transits of 79-B model (1947 delivery) and on coaches of the first batch upon the first repaintings.

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15

230b-2

USA1945/47 Ford Transit 49-B/79-B (Chicago Transit Authority 4301-4355 series) - CTA Everglades Green & Cream livery

230b2

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10

230c

USA1944/46 Ford Transit 49-B/69-B (Key System 154-194 series)

230cKey System acquired at total forty-one Ford Transit buses in 1944 (model 49-B, 170-194 series) and in 1946 (model 69-B, 154-169 series) for use in Oakland.

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230c-1

USA1944/46 Ford Transit 49-B/69-B (Key System Transit Lines 1500-series)

230c-1The Ford Transit buses were used by Key System until 1950; strarting from 1946 they were repainted to the NCL colors of yellow, green and white and were renumbered into 1500-series.

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230d

USA1944/47 Ford Transit 49-B/69-B/79-B (Public Service Interstate Transportation Co. 3400-3499; 4300-4479; A600-A845 series)

The Public Service Interstate Transportation Co. was one of main customers of the Ford Transit buses. The figures are very impressive: 240 coaches were delivered in 1944 (Model 49-B; 3400-3499 and 4300-4439 series); 40 in 1946 (Model 69-B; 4400-4479 series) and year 1947 saw the final non-GM bus purchases from the giant company, when a group of Ford 79-B's and Brill C-44 suburban buses were delivered. The order for 246 Transits of 79-B model was the last and one of the biggest in the Ford Transit bus story. These coaches were numbered A600-A845 in the Public Service roster. In 1950 the company bought seven additional second-hand Transits from Ironbound Transportation Co.

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25

230e

USA1947 Ford Transit (Atlantic City Transportation Co. 308-310 series)

230eAtlantic City Transportation Co. had only three Ford Transits coaches with centre exit door (308-310 series), other coaches had a one-door configuration. Atlantic City's Transits were pained out in the streamlined livery, similar to city's famous Brilliners.

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230f

USA1947 Ford Transit (Asbury Rapid Transit System 202-208 series)

230fThe independent bus operator in Los Angeles area, the Asbury Rapid Transit System, bought seven Ford Transit buses in 1946-47 (202-208 series) and add 12 more second-hand coaches from Long Beach obtained through Crown Coach (301-312 series, without centre exit door). They were used mainly on the Burbank city routes.

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230g

USA1946/47 Ford Transit 69-B (Eastern Mass. Street Railway 2501-2550 series)

Eastern Massachusets Street Ry. purchased fifty post-war Ford Transit buses in 1946-47; they were assigned to the Melrose-Woburn division and were numbered 2501-2550. They were used for city's cervice and also for a special trips.

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230h

USA1945/47 Ford Transit 59-B/79-B (Chicago & West Towns Railway Co. 333-342 series)

The Chicago & West Towns Railway Co., later West Towns Bus Co., operated in Chicago's near west suburbs. In 1941-43 the company acquired 80 Ford Transit 19-B & 29-B coaches of 253-332 series and after the war ordered ten more Transits of 333-342 series.In 1948 last Chicago and West Towns Railway Co. streetcars were replaced with buses. In 1989 ex-Montebello (CA) Municipal Lines Ford Transit 49-B model was acquired by Illinois Railway Museum and in 1996 it was painted into the Chicago & West Towns Railway Co. colors and numbered 343.

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230h-1

USA1944 Ford Transit 49-B (Chicago & West Towns Railway Co. No. 343) - as preserved at the Illinois Railway Museum.

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230i

USA1943 Ford Transit 29-B (Indiana Railroad 200-series)

On the morning of January 19th, 1941, all Indiana Railroad schedules were operated over the public highways. At this time the company have over 90 buses. In 1942 ten Ford Transit buses were delivered to Indiana Railroad for use in Anderson. In October 1943 ten more Transits were allocated by the War Production Board to IRR also for use in Anderson.

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230j

USA1946/47 Ford Transit 79-B (City of Detroit, Department of Street Railways, 2901-3200 series)

The very first rear-engined Ford Transit bus was built for Detroit Street Railways in February 1939, beign numbered 999 in the DSR roster. The picture of this coach was appeared in many Ford advertising literature. By this time, Detroit already have 750 front-engine Transits, delivered in 1937 and 1938, and in November 1939 Ford started deliveries of new rear-engine coaches to DSR with coach 1801, the second production job. At total, Detroit acquired 1,400 Transits, following the policy of Fred Nolan, the system's General Manager. Last batch of 300 coaches, of 79-B model, was ordered after the war. These buses, delivered in 1946 and 1947, were numbered 2901-3200 and arrived in the modified famous Detroit "black bottom" paint scheme with red bottom instead of black.

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230k

USA1943/46 Ford Transit 29-B/69-B (MTA Boston 1916-1950 series)

230kBoston Elevated Railways purchased thirty five Ford Transit buses of improved design between 1943 and 1946. They were numbered into 1916-1950 series and many of them latsted in the MTA era, when the famous Map logo was applied to the coaches.

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15

230l

USA1944 Ford Transit 49-B (Chicago Motor Coach Co. 431-440 series)

Chicago Motor Coach Co. had ten Ford Transits of 49-B model, delivered in 1944 and numbered 431-440. They were used mainly on the 5-cent Loop shuttle routes in the downtown Chicago and also on routes 54 and 55 at far north side. The Parking Lot livery was very attractive: two-tone gray with red roof and lettering.

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canada1941/42 Ford Transit 19-B (Hollinger Bus Lines Ltd.) - original livery.

Hollinger Bus Lines Limited was the biggest of the independent bus lines taken over by the Toronto Transportation Comission in July 1954. It was founded in June 1921 and served East York and Scarborough, as well as a single interurban route to Mount Albert.
Hollinger's properties, 8 routes and 56 buses were taken over by the T.T.C in 1954. The company had many Ford Transit buses in its roster, the most new were included in the TTC fleet.

Scale: 1:48
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canada1944/45 Ford Transit 72-T (Hollinger Bus Lines Ltd. 33-42 series) - post-war livery.

Scale: 1:48
Special Custom paint order.

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