Founded | 1927[1] Wesley E. Travis [2] | by Oliver William Townsend,
---|---|
Service area | United States |
Service type | Intercity coach service |
Routes | Los Angeles - Philadelphia - New York |
The Yelloway-Pioneer System (sometimes styled YellowaY-Pioneer) was a group of independently-owned intercity bus companies that operated the first transcontinental bus route in the United States. [3] [4]
Proposed in early 1927, [3] the first transcontinental bus trip took place in 1928. [4] The initial route ran from Los Angeles, California to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In September 1928, the route was extended from Philadelphia to New York City. [3] The first Los Angeles to New York City trip was completed on 11 September 1928, covered 3,433 highway miles, and took 5 days and 14 hours to travel. [3]
Also in 1928, the American Motor Transportation Company purchased most of the YellowaY member firms. [5]
In February 1929, the Motor Transit Corporation (which became Greyhound Corporation later that year) bought the Yelloway-Pioneer System for $6.4 m million. [6]
First purchasing the companies of the Pioneer Yelloway System (a large regional network whose owner, Wesley E. Travis, had inaugurated the first transcontinental bus service
"Jitney into Giant," Fortune, vol. X, no. 2 (August 1934)
In 1928 Townsend sold some of his operating rights to the newly formed American Motor Transportation Company, based in Oakland, California. This company went on to buy out most of the other independent YellowaY member firms, and operated them as the YellowaY-Pioneer System
In 1929 the Motor Transit Corporation (which became The Greyhound Corporation later that year) bought the Yelloway-Pioneer System for $6.4 million. The February 15, 1929, edition of The Daily Notes from Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, reported the story: "Consolidation of the Yelloway lines and 'the Greyhound lines, bus companies, with a combined investment of more than $12,000,000, was announced here today by O. S. Caesar, president of the Motor Transit corporation, and W. F. Travis, president of the American Motor Transportation company. Tho two lines will be united under the name of the American Motor Transit corporation, to form the largest long distance bus transportation system in the country, officials said."