Old Bus
Wednesday, May 26, 2010 Publié par Eric Tenin
I know I already showed you some of these old Parisian buses, but I can't help it, I just love them! This one is - if I'm not mistaken - a "TN4H" by Renault and it ran roughly between 1940 and 1971. It has a platform at the back on which passengers could hop on an off, which was very convenient and... very dangerous. There are a million things to learn about old public transportation in Paris especially if you visit the AMTUIR (public transportation museum), which unfortunately for tourists is pretty far from Paris (about 14 miles). Fortunately, you can visit their website (in French only).
May 26, 2010 12:56:00 AM GMT+02:00
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May 26, 2010 1:38:00 AM GMT+02:00
I understand your infatuation with these old buses. I've taken loads of photos of the old San Francisco street cars (not the same as the cable cars) which are still carrying passengers. They have real style, and thankfully are not plastered with McDonald's advertising.
May 26, 2010 1:50:00 AM GMT+02:00
I'm glad you can't help yourself, Eric ~ I love your photos of vintage transport, whether buses, trucks or cars! Such charisma.
May 26, 2010 1:52:00 AM GMT+02:00
Vintage is so fun--except when it is something that is classified vintage and from my childhood! These buses are interesting though, love the color!
May 26, 2010 2:29:00 AM GMT+02:00
One advantage of being, shall we say, not exactly young is that I got to ride on these buses when I WAS young. That back platform may have been dangerous, but it was rather romantic—and so much fun!
May 26, 2010 2:38:00 AM GMT+02:00
the Routemasters in London had the same back platform - withdrawn from service due to 'Health & Safety' issues - ie you could jump on and off at anytime they stopped for traffic/lights.
A friend did twist her ankle jumping off just as one moved off!
But on a few routes they have been re-instated as tourist attractions!
May 26, 2010 11:33:00 AM GMT+02:00
I remember riding in those platform buses as a teenager.
May 26, 2010 1:09:00 PM GMT+02:00
As anothermember of Alexa's 'not exactly young' club, I remember open platform buses in Glasgow when I was young.
To look cool, it was necessary to perfect the technique of jumping on and off when the bus slowed down at corners and of stepping off nonchalantly before the bus had come to a standstill at the stop.
Needless to say, get it wrong and it could be painful, both physically and to the ego!
Then, suddenly, all the new buses had electric doors and yet another ancient skill had disappered.
May 26, 2010 4:17:00 PM GMT+02:00
I'd love to have a mini version of this - a little metal bus to put on the bookshelf, you know?
May 26, 2010 5:31:00 PM GMT+02:00
Yeah, those old buses are way cool!
I have been hearing a lot lately about the "Paris Greeter" -- I guess because it is tourist season. http://www.parisiendunjour.fr/ Anyway, the Paris Greeter programme was set up to overcome Paris' "image problem" of being unfriendly and rude. Agnès, a Parisian, applied out of shear curiosity -- and was ignored. LOL Months went by and she couldn't get a single "Greeter". Too funny! Disgusted, she said that the friendly Parisian is a myth. Obviously, she hasn't met Eric Tenin. :)
May 26, 2010 5:36:00 PM GMT+02:00
I wonder when you took this shot Eric as I know well the place where you took it. I pass by there very often and I never saw this bus !!! Though I can say I saw many other buses there, less beautifully painted. And with less well manner!
Drummond, you ARE brilliant. Your comment is both funny and sad of course. I can catch the nostalgy.
Actually this a bus from Willy Ronis period isn't it ?! Yesterday and today post could be linked then with a certain spirit. Love it.
May 26, 2010 6:09:00 PM GMT+02:00
Cool!
May 26, 2010 6:35:00 PM GMT+02:00
These old buses has a lot of character that new ones doesn't. Great colour and "figure".
Yeah Anne, a "mini" would be so cute.
Lois: I think the UNfriendly and rude Parisien is a myth since I haven't met a single one, even though my French is very poor - or maybe I just didn't get it when they were being rude, lol ;-)
May 26, 2010 9:32:00 PM GMT+02:00
Oh, I'd love to have a mini, too, Anne Reeves and Bettina! I wonder are they made for sale?
I think I need to watch more French films from the 60's or 70's so I can catch one in color maybe -- it looks sort of unreal to me, because I always picture this epoch in black and white - as though the world just morphed into color recently!
May 26, 2010 9:58:00 PM GMT+02:00
I looked around for Matchbox buses, but can't find this one. There is a whole world of cool little mini vehicles our there, though, that I never knew of.
May 27, 2010 12:37:00 AM GMT+02:00
@Flore. Yes, I did take it at Place de la Porte de Saint Cloud, I think it was last week around lunch time...
May 27, 2010 9:04:00 AM GMT+02:00
Thank you Eric. I went by there yesterday and wondered if it was really this building. I'm glad you've confirmed.
May 29, 2010 11:31:00 AM GMT+02:00
These old things are full of charm and memories.
I ran behind one last time I was in Paris, to try to get some photos. These buses are not very fast but it still got away.
There is an assortment of them @ Quai d'Orsay by the Museum as well.
June 16, 2010 2:34:00 PM GMT+02:00
I "used" these buses! In Champs Elysees Paris . It was amazing ! Wonderful experience !
September 30, 2010 5:11:00 AM GMT+02:00
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