The HSR's first buses were ten Yellow Coach Model X's. The use of buses was a requirement of the operating agreement signed between the HSR and the City of Hamilton in 1926.
HSR #1 was purchased directly from the Yellow Coach company in Chicago, and arrived in Hamilton in early June 1926 from Quebec City where it had been on display at a trade convention. HSR #2-10 had their bodies built by National Steel Car in Hamilton on top of Yellow Coach chassis. The ten buses were planned to enter service on August 12, 1926 on the new Cannon Route, but this was postponed to August 15 due to delays in construction and only 5 buses entered service hauling passengers on Main Street before starting on the Cannon route the next day. The remaining buses entered service on August 23 on the new Balmoral route.
Six more Model X's were ordered in December 1926. Like the previous order, HSR #11-16 had their bodies built by National Steel Car. Deliveries began on February 28 1927 and were complete by March 2. A third batch of five was ordered in October 1928, but HSR #17-21 had their bodies built by a Detroit company. They entered service on December 1.
After retirement, at least two of these buses were converted into maintenance vehicles and remained with the HSR until 1950.
Some of the dates for these photos are unknown, and the locations are often just a guess. If you know either date or location, email me!
(All photos © Tom Luton, except where noted)
Builder's photo of HSR #2, likely on National Steel Car property, Summer 1926 (Photo courtesy of Library and Archives Canada, used with permission)
HSR #3 at the new HSR garage, in an advertisment in the March 17 1928 Hamilton Spectator
HSR #18, Date and place unknown. (Photographer Unknown)
A former HSR Yellow Coach Model X, now maintenance vehicle T-38, at James St South and Hunter, date unknown. (From Alan Gryfe’s collection, used with permission)
Hamilton Spectator
"Bus Service to begin August 1" June 7, 1926, pg 5
"New Busses - Members of City Council will be taken over route" August 5, 1926, pg 5
"Service delayed - Busses will not operate until a week from monday" August 7, 1926, pg 5
"New Busses being operated today" August 16, 1926, pg 5
"New Busses start on Cannon street" August 23, 1926, pg 5
"Six more busses to be delivered soon" December 29, 1926, pg 5
"New Busses - Likely to be placed on streets by March" January 21, 1927, pg 20
"Faster service by end of week" February 28, 1927, pg 5
"New Busses - Additional fleet of six has been delivered" March 2, 1927, pg 5
"HSR Company aims to improve service" October 25, 1928, pg 5
"New Busses - Five will be added to street railway fleet soon" November 10, 1928, pg 5
"New Busses" December 1, 1928, pg 18
"New Busses are now in service" December 3, 1928, pg 5
