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<= Back to INDIBUS Home page. |
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"Wrecks 'n' Relics"
This is a term that goes back as far as I remember. Vehicles under this category include those found in salvage yards, and those owned by private (non-system) owners, wether or not they run.
From word of mouth and from doing much tripping around, I've discovered that northeastern Indiana is somewhat of a hotbed of second-hand vehicles. This page offers images of those I've found so far, also some of the items I've recovered. |
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| Modified Photo Links! |
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| I didn't have to go far to find my first relic. Right here, at a truck repair shop in Columbia City, IN., I found this 30 foot GM Old look. I have yet to find it's owner, and, as of November 12, 2003, still hasn't moved, but it appears operational and in overall good shape. It's licensed in Indiana, but has a vintage Illinois plate on the front. There's no visible markings to determine what, if any, system it previously ran for. The photos were taken in January 2002. |
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(Click on any of these pictures to view) |
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This MCI MC-5 Challenger highway coach was discovered in a yard on Broadway St. in Fort Wayne, IN., after a search through the majority of the salvage yards in that city. It was converted from service, but when I finally managed to get in it, found that the bus was completely empty inside. It was originally from the Miami, Florida area, as discovered from documents found in it. The only things that were salvageable from a collector's point of view was the MC-5 operator's manual, and the "Challenger" steering wheel horn knob. Here, it's photographed as I found it, in January of 2002. (Click on the picture to view) |
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At one time (I don't believe it still runs), Kosciusko County had a regoinal transit service provided by Supreme Corp. Based out of Warsaw, IN., it ran International wheelchair "van-buses", and served Warsaw, and the rural towns of Atwood, Mentone and Palestine to the west, Milford, Leesburg and Syracuse to the north, Winona Lake, Pierceton, North Webster and Sidney to the east, and Silver Lake and Claypool to the south.
Pictured here, in December of 2001, are two of their buses discovered in a salvage yard just outside of Warsaw. The first bus had it's fleet number removed, the second one was numbered 893. Both still had their roll signs in them, which I recovered.
(Click on the pictures or the roll sign to view all three) |
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On August 29, 2002, during another search of area yards, we came across a couple of yards along U.S. Highway 6. The second of the two had a modest collection of school buses in it, even one converted to a Notre Dame "Fighting Irish" football team bus. Curious, but not of interest. With a little more seaching, though, we found an GMC RTS II tucked in one corner. It turned out to be ex Jackson (Michigan) Transit Authority #342. In examining it, I found it still had its builder's plate and info sticker (which I recovered, pictured right), and a 2 foot stub of a roll sign inside (no exposures, although it still had its "Transign" info tag). I did photograph the bus, but didn't bring the photos back with me. (Click on the image to view the tags) |
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| This Bristol VR double decker is operated by Rimmel Cosmetics of London, (licensed in Maine) and was on its "virtual makeover" tour of Wal-Mart stores when it visited the Wal-Mart in Columbia City, IN. on August 7, 2003. (Click on any of the pictures to view) |
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En route to work in the early morning of August 9, 2004, I noticed this new arrival to Columbia City. It appears to be a Flxible Flxette, but with modifications. I returned later that day to snap these photos. It's origin city is unknown. There is a possible link in its history, though. I spotted a bus with a similar looking rear end at a privately owned bus garage just east off I-69, north of Indianapolis, stored with a 40 foot RTS and a large number of school buses. Could it be the same one? |
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MARCH 21, 2005: This Flxible was removed from the place where it was parked. Its new location is unknown. |
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| <= Back to INDIBUS Home page. |
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Site content and graphics Copyright 2003-2005 Joseph Chemerys. System logos are property of their respective systems. Photographs are
the sole property of their photographers. Permission must be obtained before any use or reproduction of any images or text displayed herein. |
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