PHOTOS: School bus oddities

Here’s something you don’t see every day: a clown bus. John Devine, owner of North Suburban Transportation in Woburn, Massachusetts, is seen here driving the company’s whimsical vehicle in the local Halloween parade. As noted on the side of the bus, the seating capacity is “1 Clown,” who is pictured in the rear window.

Here’s something else you don’t see every day: a motorcycle dressed up like a school bus — complete with a stop arm. Although we weren’t able to track down much info on this interesting bike, we do know that it was built by a French Canadian in Quebec, and we're guessing that he really likes yellow buses.

We found this old Polaroid photo in our archives with no explanation of what happened here, but perhaps a little detective work is in order. Judging by the wet ground below the bus and the fallen trees in the background, it appears that there was some type of storm. It may have been severe winds or a flood that drove the plank through the windshield of the bus. We’re open to other theories.

Another old photo for which we don’t have any background information. Obviously, the bus rolled over, but another interesting detail is that, in the process, it apparently struck a sign that says “Through Trucks Prohibited.” What about through buses?

Another shot of the “School Bike.” The windshield says “Ecoliers,” which means “schoolchildren” in French.

Buster the School Bus spends most of his time teaching kids about school bus safety. But when he takes a day off, apparently he hits the golf course. Photo by John Horton.

Speaking of teaching kids about school bus safety, that’s apparently what this unidentified (and slightly intimidating) creature is doing in this vintage picture. Our guess is that he’s supposed to be either a dinosaur or the personification of the danger zone.

This has to be the most relaxing way to wash a school bus — sitting down. This wash system on wheels is labeled “Fleet Cleaner,” but that’s about all we know about it.