California Steam Bus: 3 Boiler-Powered GM & FlxibleTransit Buses!

Note: Some of the images in this video are from: www.sfmta.com/blog/munis-stea...
www.hemmings.com/stories/2011...
thisisreno.com/2020/06/cheers...
www.flickr.com/photos/metroli...
Ever hear of the California Steam Bus? In the late 1960's, the California state government allocated funds to experiment with three steam-powered buses. The transit systems that were given the buses for testing were: AC Transit, SF Muni and LA SCRTD.
The SF Muni bus was, which is probably the most well-known of the three steam buses, was provided by the Lear Corporation, which was a subsidiary of the Learjet company.
Two of the buses were GM New Look fishbowls, and the other was a Flxible New Look.
Find out more, and also what happened to the steam bus project its conclusion!
#steambus #steam #steamlocomotive #steampowered #steampower #buses #bus #rapidtransit #1970s

[@eyestoenvy]

Very interesting, and promising! I could just imagine the lobbying against this project from the likes of big oil companies, engine manufacturers, etc.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

LOL, you are most likely right!! It could never become reality. Thank you for watching and for your comment!

[@BobAbc0815]

🎼California Steaming🎵

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

LOL! Thank you for watching and for your comment!

[@Oldbmwr100rs]

I remember watching a film about this in grammar school in the early 70's, and sort of wondered what happened with the project.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

I think that old film can still be found! Thank you for watching and for your comment!

[@gregorymalchuk272]

Periscope Films just posted a film on the California steam bus projects three weeks ago that may have been the one you remember.

[@MrOlgrumpy]

Inadequate shakedown running and failures sound like sabotage.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

LOL, maybe. Thank you for watching and for your comment!

[@haweater1555]

Very interesting. Should have much more views.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Thank you for watching, and for your very positive comment, much appreciated!

[@alexandermathar7780]

At least it could be an interesting mod for the OMSI Omnibus Simulator PC game. OMSI is a rather complex Bus Simulator PC game where you can drive European buses on different routes and you have to keep up to the Timetables the program provides you with.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Thank you for watching and for your comment about OMSI, very interesting!

[@haweater1555]

Did I miss it, or what fuel did it burn to make steam? It must have been very quiet in operation.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Thank you for watching and for your comment! Water was the main source of power, but it may have had a small amount of diesel fuel for the boiler.

[@gregorymalchuk272]

Probably diesel fuel or kerosene. But the premixed combustion assured low hydrocarbons, CO, and particulates. And the low pressure combustion assured low NOx. It was probably similar to an oil furnace burner.

[@luislaplume8261]

For me, screw the gasoline and diesel companies and use either methyl or ethyl alcohol for fuel to boil the water and use high voltage alternating current for interior lights and headlights and tailights from batteries.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Exactly! But, it will never happen! Thank you for watching and for your comment!