home page and information citybus cafe scrapbook and pictures sign the citybus cafe guestbook
a history of the citybus cafe the current citybus cafe menu email the citybus cafe

The City Bus Cafe - Bus History

Trimet City Bus in Service
This Portland City bus was in service for 28 years.

Special thanks to Bus Guru Mike Cobinskey who shared beer and bus talk in the incipient stages --
of the City Bus Cafe. And later, much later even, was there for my bus emergencies.
His accumulated knowledge of the beasts-- I have two-- got me out of some tight spots.

City Bus Under Construction

To build the bus I needed a shop on the road.


I bought this 19' frame out of a farmer's field for $75. First, had to grind the rust
and old paint off, painted truck bedliner on it, then rebuilt the wheels.


I framed the bed in and layed the floor.


I framed the body primarily with bedframes purchased from local thrift stores. Put plywood ceiling, walls and kickplates in.


The skin is an aluminum/zinc alloy which does not dent easily and is still resistant to corrosion. I got 50"x100" sheets for $20 apiece from a plywood manufacturer. These sheets sandwich the layered glued wood in the pressing stage, can stand extreme tempertures and can be bent over to touch end to end and snap back into it's flat state when released (what great stuff!).


Got the windows from a Habitat for Humanities for $5 each; they have 10 gauge steel locking shutters on the inside. Ready
for paint trim and new wheels.

Got 'r dun. Ready to build a cafe.

Oregon. My neighbors were pretty cool. Home appreciation declined on this block for the six months I resided here.

Kitchen to be.

Kitchen sinks and commercial refer are going here.



Kitchen's finished.





Dining area finished.



Nearly done, time to paint.


Let's roll.