A Greyhound Glide-a-Ride

Over 300 new vehicles of 4 different kinds, all especially and uniquely designed for this Fair, will be operated in a wide variety of services, as briefly summarized below. GLIDE-A-RIDE:   This is a sixty-passenger, three-coach, open-air tractor-train running on rubber tires. Gleaming white with comfortable golden contour seats, they may be entered and left at the seat rows which are separated by ample spacing and a center aisle. Here again, the Fair-goer is provided with a unique, modern conveyance especially created for this great Fair. It will be operated in several kinds of services designed for flexibility in mass transportation as listed here. Glide-a-ride Local Transit Service     This is a non-lectured transportation service over two main routes, (1) between the East and West extremities and, (2) between the North and South extremities of the grounds. Each main route, in turn, consists of a "going" and "returning" route over which clockwise and counter-clockwise schedules will be operated.   The passenger may board at any of the several marked stops and leave at any other stop intermediate to the end of the line in the direction of travel. The fare is the same, 25c, for stop-to-stop or cross-grounds travel in one direction. A conductor on the vehicle collects the fares and announces the stops. White and green flags on the equipment distinguish these "step-on, step-off" vehicles from the Glide-a-rides used on the Area tours which travel over parts of the same routes.

Closer view of a Glide-a-Ride Tractor and Coach Car

SOURCE: Greyhound Corporation, New York World's Fair Marketing Information Letter No. 2, September 13, 1963

Glide-a-ride Area Tours   By design, the Fair divides into the Industrial Area, the International Area, the Federal-States Area, the Transportation Area, and the Lake Amusement Area, with the principal characteristics of exhibits or activities having determined their general locations. Glide-a-ride lectured tours have been created to traverse the streets of these respective areas or combinations of them as listed below.   Area Tour "A"     This is a lectured tour that passes through the International Area, circles the Lake Amusement Area, and skirts the Industrial Area.   It is about 45 minutes in duration, and the fare is $1.00 for adults and 50c for children over 2 and under 12. Passengers may board at any of the marked stops, pay the fare to the conductor, if they have not previously purchased tickets from uniformed Roving Salesmen, ride through the tour and depart at the same stop. Yellow flags on this equipment distinguish the Glide-a-rides used in this service from others that travel parts of the same route.   Area Tour "B"   Although primarily a lectured tour of the Industrial Area, it also passes through a part of the International Area.   It is about 30 minutes in duration and the fare is 75c for adults and 50c for children over 2 and under 12. Passengers may board at any of the marked stops, pay the fare to the conductor, if they have not previously purchased tickets from uniformed Roving Salesmen, ride through the tour and depart at the same stop. Blue flags on this equipment distinguish the Glide-a-rides used in this service from others that travel parts of the same route.   Area Tour "C"   This is primarily a lectured tour of the Transportation Area but, also, passes through certain streets of the Federal-States Area.   It is about 30 minutes in duration and the fare is 75c for adults and 50c for children over 2 and under 12. Passengers may board at any of the marked stops, pay the fare to the conductor, if they have not previously purchased tickets from uniformed Roving Salesmen, ride through the tour and depart at the same stop. Red flags on this equipment distinguish the Glide-a-rides used in this service from others that travel parts of the same route. SOURCE: Maps, Greyhound at the Fair Pamphlet, How to See the New York World's Fair

GLIDE-A-RIDE Trains with Rocket Thrower in Background These tractor-powered "Glide-a-ride" trains offer service across the fairgrounds, either east and west or north and south. White (for north-and-south service) and green (east-west) flags distinguish these shuttles from similar trains serving sightseers. The sightseeing trips run from 30 to 45 minutes duration. Each features a recorded lecture. Source: Official Postcard by Dexter Press, West Nyack, NY

One of the most famous (and pricey) collectibles of the Fair:

the Glide-A-Ride Friction Toy

 

Source: eBay Auction #421639431, ending September 1, 2000 17:39:03 PDT