And it is done: Accepted offer on a 1985 Silver Eagle Model 10

ScharpeStGuy · August 17, 2016, 07:57:30 PM

Thanks for the info everyone. Here is a picture of the manufacturing plaque, per Double Eagle the name "Trailways Manufacturing Group" is a new name for an Eagle.

All the best

luvrbus · August 17, 2016, 08:37:10 PM

No it was just built at Harlingen Tx not at the Brownsville plant,Harlingen is where they built the 10S you see a few model 10's that have that plaque.
Notice the GVW when Eagle went to 11r/ 24.5 tires from the 12r/22.5 they had to drop the GVW from 42,000 pounds to the 38,700

DoubleEagle · August 18, 2016, 06:07:50 PM

To be exact, it is news to me that the plant in Harlingen, TX, which was set up in 1982 to produce 2 axle Model 10 suburbans, ever produced regular Model 10's. It is stated in several histories of Eagle that Trailways Manufacturing Inc. was the company name of the operator of the Harlingen Plant, but there is no mention of Model 10 production except for 84 Suburbans. Fraser's new Eagle (to him, of course) was produced in July, 1985, the plant was closed in 1985 (what month?). Maybe they used modified Suburban frames to turn out a few buses before they closed? In any event, Fraser's Eagle Model 10 may be one of very few produced in Harlingen.

But, to further stir up the memories of those that might know, my Model 10 Entertainer was produced in June, 1984, and the manufacturer on the VIN plate is listed as New Trails Manufacturing Inc. Where were they located? I thought the names of the Brownsville plant operators were Eagle International Inc. or Eagle Coach Corporation. No where (unless I missed something) in the various histories of Eagle do I see mention of New Trails. It is stated several times that 2217 Model 10's were built, but does that include the Suburban's, and which plants turned out how many? The Eagle history has some missing bits of information. How many Eagle Model 10's out there among us have these two sources, and was there a third manufacturing company name for 10's?

luvrbus · August 18, 2016, 06:18:11 PM

New Trails was the Harglingen plant you see the 10 and 10s with those vin plates

DoubleEagle · August 18, 2016, 06:28:43 PM

Quote from: luvrbus on August 18, 2016, 06:18:11 PM
New Trails was the Harglingen plant you see the 10 and 10s with those vin plates

Well, that is strange of Eagle, to have two different legal names for the same plant producing the same models. Neither one of our VIN plates show a location, just the company name. This is a bizarre mystery. They have production records of the earlier models, but the details of the newer ones are sketchy. I hope there are some former employees out there that might know. I know Norris at Jefferson retired, but I would not be surprised if he knew. This is like being adopted and not knowing who your parents are.

David Anderson · August 20, 2016, 12:05:25 PM

Looks like our coaches were made a day or so apart. My serial # (embossed into the frame) is 31552 just 5 before yours. Howdy cousin

I wish my number was more legible in my model plate. It is a bit worn.

You sure you don't have a Houston metro bus with stainless bumpers replacing the DOT bumpers? I think your coach has an HT740 whereas mine has a Voith DG864 with retarder. I bet just about everything else is the same. I've had mine 16 years and 90k miles, so I guess they are well made.

David

DoubleEagle · August 20, 2016, 03:23:19 PM

Quote from: David Anderson on August 20, 2016, 12:05:25 PM
Looks like our coaches were made a day or so apart. My serial # (embossed into the frame) is 31552 just 5 before yours. Howdy cousin I wish my number was more legible in my model plate. It is a bit worn.

You sure you don't have a Houston metro bus with stainless bumpers replacing the DOT bumpers? I think your coach has an HT740 whereas mine has a Voith DG864 with retarder. I bet just about everything else is the same. I've had mine 16 years and 90k miles, so I guess they are well made.

David

ScharpeStguy's Eagle has the HT 740, and is an entertainer (at least now). His VIN starts with 1EUAN, does yours as well? You both have Trailway's Manufacturing Group on the plate, I am wondering if they were both built in Brownsville because I saw one post on Eagles International that all Brownsville coaches started with 1EAUN, which has the same letters, but arranged differently. My 1984 Model 10 VIN starts with 1EUAC, and has New Trails Manufacturing Inc. as the builder, which, apparently, is made in Harlingen, TX. It's nice to know who is a close relative, and who is a distant cousin.