Purchased with federal funds by the City of New Orleans and leased to the Public Service, the 410-517 series were
American Motors' first production Metropolitan 10240 buses built November 1974 to January 1975.
(Washington Metro got the first 9635 and 9640 series built earlier).
They were based from all three operating stations (Canal, Arabella,
and Carrollton) and could appear on any NOPSI line. (Didn't notice any on Metairie.)
The series carried the New Orleans standard express lamps flanking the front destination sign and was
air conditioned. Several made it into the RTA era; some even received repainting from the two-tone
green to a white with Mardi Gras stripes livery. The AM Generals were replaced by M-A-N Americana buses in 1985-86.
AM GENERAL 415:
AM General 415 on the Magazine line at Camp and Canal Sts. in 1976. Scan of a duplicate slide in my collection added 10/15/13.
AM GENERAL 417:
AM General 417 on the Jackson line at Canal and Baronne Sts. in May 1981.
New scan of my original photo, shot on 110 film, replaced the previous one 04/08/19.
AM GENERAL 418:
AM General 418 in the new RTA colors on the South Claiborne Poydras branch at the S. Carrollton terminal. Buses
were supposed to be rehabilitated, including air conditioning, before they were repainted. The express lamps are lighted
for the Claiborne limited stop service. Photo from Jerry Squier collection courtesy Scott Richards added 01/22/14.
AM GENERAL 422:
Brand new AM General 422 on the Freret line at St. Charles Ave. and Gravier St. on April 27, 1975. Whitney National Bank is
visible to the left. Full and cropped images come from a slide in my collection and were added 08/23/12.
AM GENERAL 425:
AM General 425 is parked at City Hall, Perdido St. and Loyola Ave., on November 15, 1974.
This States-Item photo credited to Hughes shows the bus on display to demonstrate the 108 new AM Generals soon to arrive.
Scan of a photo from my collection added 04/08/19.
AM GENERAL 430:
GMC 310 with AM Generals 430 and 423 at Arabella Station on December 18, 1974. Scan of a Times-Picayune press photo by Philip Ames added 04/11/20.
AM GENERAL 431:
AM General 431 is on St. Charles bus substitution after a streetcar derailed. States-Item press photo by Ralph Uribe
is date stamped August 5, 1975 and was added 04/08/19.
AM GENERAL 434:
AM General 434 seen at the Canal Station wearing the new RTA livery of white with Mardi Gras stripes in early 1984.
AM GENERAL 435:
AM General 435 and GMC 143 at Carrollton Station in September 1978. A neon NOPSI sign is prominent
in the foreground. Scan of an uncredited slide from my collection added 10/09/17.
AM GENERAL 437:
AM General 437 signed Tulane at S. Carrollton Ave. and Neron Place.
Slide scan from the Scott Richards collection added 10/26/17.
AM GENERAL 438:
AM General 438 on the Tulane line at S. Carrollton and S. Claiborne on April 15, 1977. Two slides taken by Charles Porter added 04/13/13.
AM General 438 on the Tulane line at South Carrollton and South Claiborne Aves. Two GMC New Look buses, the first one a 5301, immediately
follow, and both appear to be running Tulane as well. My guess is this a peak hour shot.
Photo from Jerry Squier collection courtesy Scott Richards added 01/22/14.
AM General 438 on the Leonidas line lays over at Willow St. and S. Carrollton Ave.
on May 24, 1979. Scan of a slide from the A.J. Reinschmidt collection added 04/08/19.
AM GENERAL 439:
AM General 439 on a St. Charles bus substitution at Howard Ave. and Carondelet St. on December 18, 1974. Car 962 is in the neutral ground.
It appears the bus driver is the man crossing Howard Ave. Scan of a States-Item press photo by William F. Haber added 04/12/20.
AM GENERAL 442:
AM General 442 on the Tulane line at Canal and Elk Place.
AM GENERAL 439:
AM General 443 at Carrollton Station has a pronounced lean. RTS 700L sits in the shadows at the rear. Scan of an uncredited slide added 04/12/20.
AM GENERAL 450:
AM General 450 in RTA colors on Express 71, University Place at Poydras, circa 1984. Photo cannot be sharpened.
Note the express lamps turned on.
AM GENERAL 459:
AM General 459 at Canal Station. The side sign reads Canal/Lake Vista via Canal Blvd.
Slide scan from the Scott Richards collection added 10/26/17.
AM GENERAL 462:
AM General 462 on the Canal-Lake Vista line inbound at Canal and Baronne Sts. in a press photo by Ralph Uribe
dated March 10, 1975. Scan from my collection added 04/08/19.
AM GENERAL 478:
AM General 478 on Canal/Lake Vista at Canal and N. White Sts.
Slide scan from the Scott Richards collection added 10/26/17.
AM GENERAL 482:
AM General 482 on the Canal-Cemeteries line at Canal and University Place.
AM GENERAL 483:
AM General 483 on Canal/Lakeshore at Canal and N. White Sts. Driveways for Canal Station are on the left.
Slide scan from the Scott Richards collection added 10/26/17.
AM GENERAL 488:
AM General 488 on Canal/Lake Vista at Canal and N. White Sts.
Slide scan from the Scott Richards collection added 10/26/17.
AM GENERAL 489:
AM General 489 on the Franklin line at Decatur and Canal Sts. Another AMG behind is signed Elysian Fields/Pontchartrain.
Slide scan from the Scott Richards collection added 10/26/17.
AM GENERAL 491:
AM General 491 at Canal Station. The headsign reads Bus Garage, but NOPSI changed over to use To Station during the late 1970s.
Slide scan from the Scott Richards collection added 10/26/17.
AM GENERAL 497:
AM General 497 in the busway outbound at Canal and Dauphine Sts. in a slide dated May 1976. The crop shows twin lamps to the
left of the air conditioner; NOPSI installed them on most buses to warn motorists when buses were stopping.
The front of Kress is visible on the right. Note all the trash on the neutral ground and in the street.
Two photos added 11/19/11.
AM GENERAL 498:
AM General 498 on Express 80 with a Carpenter bus at the foot of Canal Street in 1984. The curbside express lamp appears to be out; the streetside
one is lit. One photo added 05/07/11.
AM General 498 repainted in RTA colors is seen at the foot of Elysian Fields next to the power plant on February 17, 1985. RTS 567 behind has a scraped
up streetside bumper. The letter E is just visible on the headsign, suggesting this could be a Desire bus. Both its roof hatches are open.
The 498 looks pretty spiffy in the white with Mardi Gras stripes. Scan from a Kodachrome slide in my collection added 08/29/12.
AM GENERAL 499:
AM General 499 on the Canal Lake Vista line inbound at Canal and Carondelet Sts. is next to a bus shelter design being tested.
Scan of a States-Item photo by Ronald Le Boeuf added 04/12/20.
AM GENERAL 500:
AM General 500 at Canal Station. The side sign reads Canal/Lakeshore via Pont. Blvd.
Slide scan from the Scott Richards collection added 10/26/17.
AM GENERAL 515:
AM General 515 on the Canal-Lakeshore line at Canal and Bourbon Sts. in June 1976.
Slide by an unknown photographer from my collection added 01/13/17.
AM GENERAL 517:
AM General 517 at the Palmer Park line terminal at S. Claiborne and S. Carrollton Aves.
Slide scan from the Scott Richards collection added 10/26/17.
UNKNOWN FLEET NUMBERS:
AM General on the Freret line at Carondelet and Canal Sts.
|
