A method for forming glass sheets comprising: conveying a glass sheet on a horizontal conveyor along a direction of conveyance within a furnace heating chamber of a furnace for heating to a forming temperature; positioning a transfer platen in a receiving position within the furnace heating chamber with a downwardly facing surface of the transfer platen above the heated glass sheet on the conveyor and applying a differential gas pressure to the downwardly facing surface thereof so the glass sheet is received and supported by the downwardly facing surface of the transfer platen; moving the transfer platen horizontally with the heated glass sheet supported thereby from the furnace to a delivery position in the forming station between a lower mold of the ring type and an upper mold having a full surface forming face at which a vacuum can be drawn; delivering the heated glass sheet from the transfer platen onto the lower mold and moving the transfer platen from the forming station back to the furnace; moving the upper mold downwardly to cooperate with the lower mold in press forming the heated glass sheet, drawing a vacuum at the forming face of the upper mold to support the formed glass sheet, and moving the upper mold upwardly with the formed glass sheet supported thereby; supporting a delivery mold for horizontal movement at an elevation above an elevation of the transfer platen and below an elevation of the upwardly moved upper mold; moving the delivery mold horizontally to the forming station below the upper mold and depositing the formed glass sheet onto the delivery mold, and then moving the delivery mold horizontally from the forming station with the formed glass sheet thereon for delivery; and wherein the transfer platen and the delivery mold each are located at least partially in the forming station at the same time in respective underlapping and overlapping relationships to decrease glass sheet forming cycle time. conveying a glass sheet on a horizontal conveyor along a direction of conveyance within a furnace heating chamber of a furnace for heating to a forming temperature; positioning a transfer platen in a receiving position within the furnace heating chamber with a downwardly facing surface of the transfer platen above the heated glass sheet on the conveyor and applying a differential gas pressure to the downwardly facing surface thereof so the glass sheet is received and supported by the downwardly facing surface of the transfer platen; moving the transfer platen horizontally with the heated glass sheet supported thereby from the furnace to a delivery position in the forming station between a lower mold of the ring type and an upper mold having a full surface forming face at which a vacuum can be drawn; delivering the heated glass sheet from the transfer platen onto the lower mold and moving the transfer platen from the forming station back to the furnace; moving the upper mold downwardly to cooperate with the lower mold in press forming the heated glass sheet, drawing a vacuum at the forming face of the upper mold to support the formed glass sheet, and moving the upper mold upwardly with the formed glass sheet supported thereby; supporting a delivery mold for horizontal movement at an elevation above an elevation of the transfer platen and below an elevation of the upwardly moved upper mold; moving the delivery mold horizontally to the forming station below the upper mold and depositing the formed glass sheet onto the delivery mold, and then moving the delivery mold horizontally from the forming station with the formed glass sheet thereon for delivery; and wherein the transfer platen and the delivery mold each are located at least partially in the forming station at the same time in respective underlapping and overlapping relationships to decrease glass sheet forming cycle time.