The Pacific Bus Museum has welcomed an old friend back to Northern California.
Peninsula Charter Lines #216, a vintage Fageol bus that operated in the San Francisco Bay Area from 1926 to 1949, was recently acquired from the Museum of Bus Transportation in Hershey, Pennsylvania. This historic vehicle’s return marks a homecoming, as it rejoins the Bay Area community where it once served local routes.
Museum President Lorne Thompson expressed gratitude for the support that enabled the acquisition, highlighting the bus’s historical connection to the region.
“I am so overwhelmed by the generosity of our museum members who helped finance this addition to our fleet. This bus has deep ties to the Bay Area, and we are excited to share its legacy,” Thompson said.
Served Bay Area for quarter-century
Built in 1924, #216 was part of a final order for the Pacific Electric Railway, featuring a standard Fageol body, a four-cylinder Hall-Scott engine, and a four-speed Brown-Lipe transmission. After its brief time with the Pacific Electric Railway in Los Angeles, #216 was leased in 1926 to the Peninsular Railway, a Southern Pacific Railroad subsidiary, to replace trolley service affected by street improvements. Painted in dark red with gold-leaf lettering, the bus later changed hands multiple times before ending its Bay Area service in 1949.
Restored by Mike Demeter in 1989, #216 received a six-cylinder Hercules JXB engine, preserving its historic character while enhancing its operability. The bus remained a community fixture in Palo Alto and participated in events like the Redwood City Parades and the 1992 Bus Bash in San Jose.
Demeter eventually donated the bus to the Museum of Bus Transportation, where it became a highlight until its transfer to the Pacific Bus Museum in Fremont in September 2024. Now, it is part of a collection of over 20 buses in Fremont, where all the vehicles are running and driving working models.
Museum Vice President and Head Archivist Tom Shafer is looking forward to the bus’s future public appearances.
“We anticipate it will feature in parades and our movie work,” Shafer said.
Former PBM President Ron Medaglia shared his enthusiasm about the bus’s return.
“I’m happy to have it in our collection and back in the Bay Area,” Medaglia said.
Welcomed by enthusiasts
Because of its storied history, the vintage Fageol bus is generating considerable interest among volunteers and members.
“The coach body, made of wood and canvas, is in remarkable shape for being 100 years old. The engine starts right up and sounds great. It’s simply an amazing time capsule,” said PBM volunteer Tom Baker.
He added that the vehicle’s arrival drew a crowd.
“Bus fans were excitedly gathered around the first time we started #216 up and drove it around the yard,” Baker said.
Bus enthusiasts couldn’t be happier about the museum’s acquisition.
“Well worth having,” said Bryan Cooper, a museum supporter. “It is a rare beauty, mainly made of wood. A hundred years old and still as sturdy as when first built. Great acquisition to the PBM.”
The preservation of #216 has resonated with those who value historical artifacts and the stories they carry.
“Thank you to an organization that wants to keep our industry history alive, and not looking to make money off the historical donations of others!” said Mark Szyperski, another supporter of the museum. “I appreciate your dedication to our industry.”
Anthony Nachor, a fan of historic buses, says he’s counting the days until #216 is featured in a public event, displaying this rare piece of transportation history.
“Now I want to see that and ride it in person on a future visit,” Nachor said. “And if it can be showcased somewhere like in San Francisco during Heritage Weekend, that would be fantastic.”
Thompson believes the bus will bring the past alive long into the future.
“This bus is part of a legacy that spans generations,” he said. “We’re proud to give people an opportunity to experience that legacy firsthand and to share the stories of those who traveled these roads before us.”
For more information about this bus, visit the Pacific Bus Museum website.
The museum, located at 37974 Shinn St, Fremont, California, is open every first and third Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
