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National Bus Trader The Magazine of Bus Equipment for the United States and Canada Volume XLI, No. 12 November, 2018 Serving the bus industry since 1977. Visit us at www.busmag.com. • Peter Pan Celebrates 85 Years on the Road • Bitimec Wash-Bots States. His military experience with road Peter Pan construction and utilittyy work got him a posi- tion with the Department of Public WWoorks Celebrates in East Orange, New Jersey. In 1899, Picariello was able to bring his wife and two sons to the United States. 85 Years Three more children were born. It is an interesting reminder of those times that Carmine changed the family name to Pick- on the Road nelly to sound more American. The names of the children were Americanized at the same time. Some of the children later changed tthhe spelling of their name to “Pick- nallyy,,” because it appeared to be more Irish. In those years it was easier to get employ- ment with an Irish name than a name that sounded Italian. Carmine died unexpectedly in 1907 and his sonn,, Peter C., who was tthhen only 15 years old, took over responsibility for the family. Family tradition holds that Peter C. got involved with motor transportation because of his father’s background with roads. Ini- tiallyy,, he was employed as a chaufffeeur. Then, in 1919, Peter C. was able to buy into the association running a route along Central AAvvennuue ffrrom East Orange to Newark. In late 1925, Peter C. along with three other Italian bus operators sold their vehicles and route medallions to Public Service of New Jersey and then moved to Springfield, Massachu- setts to start a new bus company. Interstate Buses Corp. was created in 1926 with the operating authority for an initial route from Hartford, Connecticut to Provi- dence, Rhode Island. Peter C. not only served as president of the new compannyy but also obtained operating rights for an addi- tional route to Albannyyy,, New YYoork. In spite of the fact that the United States was in the midst of the Great Depressionn,, Peter C. sold out his share of the partnership in 1932 to by Larry Plachno strike out on his own. Photos courtesy of Peter Pan Bus Lines The Interstate Buses Compannyy continnuued Peter Pan Bus Lines was originally founded in 1933 as a small company operating sedans from to operate and was eventually merged into Springfield to Boston, Massachusetts. Noww,, 85 years laterr,, Peter Pan Bus Lines has become a major Bonanza Bus Lines. It is noteworthy that in bus operator on the East Coast with serrvvice from Springfield and Boston south to New YYoork, Philadel- 2003, Peter Pan Bus Lines acquired Bonanza. phia and WWaashington, D.C. It remains in the hands of the founding family that has also expanded into areas beyond bus operations. The Start of Peter Pan n 2018, Peter Pan Bus Lines celebrated its mation from older articles with newer In 1933, Peter C. purchased the YYeellow 85th Anniversaryy.. WWee were reluctant to updates and information. Cab Air Line that was based in Springfield, Ilet this milestone pass without taking Massachusetts. It operated a somewhat note. One of the better-known and better- The Family Heritage round about route that started in Nortthhamp- respected bus operations in the United ton, north of Springfield, then operated States, Peter Pan Bus Lines combines the The story behind Peter Pan Bus Lines south to Springfield and turned southeast attributes of an immigrant heritage, a history starts in Picarelli, Italyy,, in the province of tthhrough Stafffffoord Springs, Connecticut where of scheduled service and continnuued owner- AAvvellino. This small community of about the route turned northeast to Boston. ship by the founding familyy.. 4,000 is located about 30 miles east of Naples. Carmine Picariello, the son of a subsistence After acqquuisitionn,, Peter C. named the new Over the years the Picknelly family has farmerr,, was drafted into military service in compannyy Peter Pan Bus Lines after the main diversified into other business enterprises. 1885 where he learned road construction and character in the Sir James Matthew Barrie Howeverr,, Peter Pan Bus Lines continues to utility work. When he retuturned to his home- classic aabbout tthhe boy who lived in Neverland be one of tthhe best known and most respected town after his military service, Picariello and refused to grow up. Family tradition bus operations in the nation and a leader in found poor economic conditions and a lack held that two of Peter’s children – Janet and the bus industry. Here is an updated com- of jobs. In order to support his familyy,, Peter L. Jr. bore a resemblance to the char- pany review that incorporates some infor- Picariello decided to come to the United acters of WWeendy and Peter Pan in the book. NNaatiioonal Bus TTrrader / NNoovemberr,, 2018 • 15 Initiallyy,, the operation was somewhat of a struggle because the round about route, then on conventional roads, took more than three and one-half hours to drive. The com- This historical Buick pany charged only $3.50 for a round trip, depicts the original fleet of four limou- which was a bargain in depression years, sines that founded but the extra travel time worked against tthhe Peter Pan Bus Lines in compannyy ffllourishing. Finallyy,, afftter operating 1933. It is honored by for a few years, Peter Pan won approval carrying number one from the State of Massachusetts to operate in the Peter Pan fleet. directly from Springfield to Boston via Route On occasion, it makes 20. This reduced travel time to two and one- an appearance at spe- half hours and made the operation more cial events and trade practical and viable. shows. This was somewhat of a turning point in the company’s history. As the number of passengers increased, the company was able to expand and run more buses. As the need from Springfield to Boston to less than two WWoorld’s Fair in New YYoork City. The Peter for more staffff evolved, various family mem- hours – essentially eqquuivalent to private cars Pan WWoorld TTrravel Service, a travel and tour bers joined the companyy.. Bill Picknellyy,, the and faster than trains. The company also division, was created. Due to the moderate younger brother of Peter C., became the first expanded into other routes. By 1963 Peter mileage involved, Peter Pan was able to maintenance garage supervisor in 1942. Pan had reached a new milestone. The com- offer one-day tours to the fair with all After WWoorld WWaar II, Bill’s son Carmen took pany was now running 28 buses and annual expenses included. In following decades, over supervision of Peter Pan’s maintenance sales exceeded $1 million for the first time. several businesses were purchased and and became a legend in the industry. Car- added to the family holdings. These men’s son TToom continues the family tradi- Peter L. Picknelly included Camfourr,, a sporting goods dis- tion as senior vice president supervising tributor and Belt TTeechnologies, a manufac- garage locations. TToom’s son Joe is now the Peter C. Picknellyy,, who had founded turer of metal belts. The Picknelly family fleet manager and one of the fourth gener- Peter Pan Bus Lines in 1933 and managed it also became involved with insurance and ation of the family to enter the business. since then, passed away in Jannuuary of 1964. bus leasing. His 33-year old sonn,, Peter L. then took over Another new addition to the staff came as the second generation managing the com- A New TTeerminal and Expansion under tragic circumstances. Bill Picknellyy,, pannyy. Fortunately for all concerned, Peter L. who had been serving as operations man- had stepped into the company in 1948 when As the company expanded, it needed ager, unexpectedly passed away in 1948 his uncle passed away and henncce had several more space. An early move in this direc- leaving a serious gap in tthhe compannyy admin- years experience in management. In addi- tion was made in 1958 when Peter Pan istration. Peter L. Picknellyy,, the son of Peter tion to being a guy who liked buses, Peter acquired the old TTrrolley Barn. It was built C., who was 18 years old and had been L. was very good at thinking outside of the in 1897 when the Springfield Street Rail- attending Northwestern Universityy,, “tem- box and moving into new directions. He way Company changed over from horse porarily” left school and rettuurned to Spring- steered the company to charters and tours cars to electric trolley cars. At that time the field to fill the void left by his uncle. He and then began to acquire companies out- company was operating 27 buses and had never did return to college but did become side the bus business and purchase real run out of room at their previous location. a legend in the bus industry. estate. This helped put the company in a For many years the building was used for strong financial position. both a bus garage and corporate office. When the new Massachusetts TTuurnpike YYoour editor noted that some of the old trol- opened in 1957, Peter Pan obtained operat- His first efforts in this direction came ley wire hangers remained overhead for ing authority over it. This cut travel time almost immediately because of the 1964-65 many years. This 1949 GM PD2903 has been beautifully restored and represents the The old 1897 TTrrolley Barn in Springfield was acquired in 1958 and serrvved black and white paint scheme in the immediate post-war years. GM as the Peter Pan garage and office for years.

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