Bus Festival
Our 2024 Bus Festival took place on Sunday, September 8th, 2024 in Emily Warren Roebling Plaza at Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Want to be the first to hear about the 2025 Bus Festival? Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram for updates! For now, here’s a bit about what you can expect to see.
The New York Transit Museum’s vintage bus collection includes:
“Betsy” (1931)
Bus 1263 was part of Fifth Avenue Coach’s “1200 series”—a fleet of 100 Yellow Coach “Z-type” buses manufactured in 1930. This series included two slightly different chassis models, the 602 and 632, and three body styles: open-top (40 buses), semi-enclosed (4 buses), and fully enclosed (56 buses). Bus 1263 was one of the 52 enclosed model 602 buses in the order.
The 1200-series buses were among the last front-engine double-deck buses built by Yellow Coach. In 1936, the Fifth Avenue Coach Company introduced a new rear-engine, a more streamlined design. Bus 1263 remained in Manhattan passenger service until 1947, and the company phased out all double-decker operations by 1953.
Known lovingly as “Betsy,” Bus 1263 is one of the oldest in our vintage fleet.
Bus #2969 (1948)
A favorite in our fleet! One of the first 40-foot transit buses designed specifically for New York City, Bus 2969 features a double-width front door to speed up passenger loading and unloading. Known as the “Jackie Gleason Bus,” it was originally numbered 4789 but was renumbered to match the bus the comedian was famously photographed in as Ralph Kramden on the classic TV series The Honeymooners.
Bus #3100 (1956)
Manufactured by General Motors, Bus 3100 was the first air-conditioned bus in the United States. Originally built as an experimental model (TDH-5106), it was purchased by the Fifth Avenue Coach Company about a year after production. Between 1958 and 1968, it served Fifth Avenue on the M4 and M5 routes in Manhattan.
Bus 3100 features innovations introduced in the 1950s, including a push-type rear exit door, wrap-around seating in the rear, soft cushioned seats, and fluorescent lighting.
Bus #9098 (1958)
Bus 9098 is a General Motors TDH-5106 and was the first model to feature a two-tone green exterior with a contrasting stripe. It also introduced several design innovations to New York City transit, including sliding windows, fiberglass seats, and rear door safety exits.
This safety system replaced the traditional accordion-style rear doors with two-panel doors that were integrated with the bus’s braking system—enhancing both functionality and passenger safety.
Bus #100 (1959)
Bus 100 was part of the first group of 190 buses that introduced the “New Look” design to New York City transit. This modern style featured a large bubble-shaped windshield, a single-piece destination sign, and distinctive parallelogram windows—marking a significant departure from earlier bus designs.
Just over 20 years later, the “New Look” was replaced by the boxier “Advanced Design” style, reflecting the next evolution in bus design.
Bus #5227 (1971)
Bus 5227 entered service in 1971 as part of the General Motors “New Look” fleet. In 1984-85, 350 of these buses were sent to the Blitz Corporation in Chicago for a complete overhaul and rebuild. Upon their return to New York City—renumbered in the 5000-series—they became known as “Blitz Buses.”
These updated buses featured hard, blue lengthwise seating and were the last model in the NYCT fleet not equipped with a wheelchair lift. Bus 5227 was retired from service in 1995.
Bus 3865 (1993)
Bus 3865 was originally delivered to Queens Surface Corporation for service on routes operating out of what is now MTA Bus Company’s College Point Depot.
In May 2000, Bus 3865 and 11 other TMC RTS buses were transferred to Jamaica Buses Inc. replacing the last of the 1980 Grumman Model 870s. Jamaica Buses, established in 1933, was a subsidiary of the company that had operated electric streetcars in Queens since the late 1890s.
After more than 70 years of service, Jamaica Buses was taken over by MTA Bus Company on June 30, 2006. Its depot was renamed Baisley Park Depot.
We have many more buses in our vintage fleet, and you can even take home models of some of them from the New York Transit Museum Store!
Check out these bus models from the New York Transit Museum Store!
Additional Information & Policies
Age Requirements
Children ages 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Program Experience
Bus Festival happens rain or shine. Equipment is subject to change. Buses will open for boarding at 10am ET and close at 3:30pm.
Your safety is important to us!
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- Onboard our buses, please pay attention to all signs indicating areas that may not be accessible to the public. Sitting in the driver’s seat of buses is not allowed.
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- Bus windows are open for ventilation. Please keep hands and arms inside the bus at all times.
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- Help us preserve these vintage buses for future generations! Do not eat or drink while on board and leave all original elements where they belong.
Photography & Filming
Personal photography and short video clips are permitted at Museum programs. Continuous audio or video recording of our programs is not permitted. Tripods, monopods, stands, selfie sticks, Go Pros, and external lights may not be used. All photographs taken must be for personal, non-commercial use and permission to photograph may be revoked at any time.
Professional photography and recording are not permitted, unless authorized with advanced approval by the New York Transit Museum’s Press and Marketing Department. Professional photography and recording include taking photographs or videos for publication, advertising, or commercial purposes. To contact the Press and Marketing Department, please email [email protected].
Visitor Release
Attendees assume for themselves and anyone in their party including minors under the age of 18 all risk of injury, harm, or death, and agree to release, indemnify, defend, and forever discharge New York Transit Museum and our partner organization(s) for this event from all liability, claims, demands, damages, costs, expenses, and causes of action.
Any materials (images or recordings) provided or shared by the Museum or presenters during programs are for personal use only. These images may not be used by media or for commercial purposes, including in blog posts, social media, news coverage, or promotional materials of any kind. All such images remain the intellectual property of the New York Transit Museum unless otherwise stated.
By attending this program, you consent to having your image, voice and/or likeness filmed, recorded, and/or photographed. The resulting materials may be used by the Museum without restriction, credit, financial compensation, or other consideration, for any and all purposes. If you do not wish to participate, please notify a Museum staff member before attending the program.
Accessibility
Brooklyn Bridge Park is ADA accessible. Please note that some buses have stairs
For accessibility questions, please go to nytransitmuseum.org/accessibility or email [email protected].
Pets, comfort, therapy, and emotional support animals are not permitted at Museum programs. Only service animals as defined by the ADA are permitted.
For information on American Sign Language interpreter requests, Assistive Listening Devices, or other accessibility matters please visit nytransitmuseum.org/accessibility or email [email protected]. Please request any accommodations via email at least two weeks in advance.
For information on American Sign Language interpreter requests, Assistive Listening Devices, or other accessibility matters please visit nytransitmuseum.org/accessibility or email [email protected]. Please request any accommodations via email at least two weeks in advance.
Review and download the Bus Fest social narrative to learn more about what to expect at this popular event.
Questions? Email [email protected].