BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Mr. "L":

You are QUITE welcome, my friend!

I agree with you....those rear windows (echoing the basic styling of that era, used on so many coaches), do indeed echo those used on the old CROWNS.

Handsome coaches, without a doubt......living history!

NYO

[Q65A]

Check out the twin stickshifts and 4-spoke steering wheel!

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[traildriver]

Great detail in those interior shots! Indeed, it took a real man to handle that coach...imagine the upper body strength required to turn that non-power steering wheel, especially if at parking speed with the weight of the front engine....and the "Johnson Bar" hand brake lever and door control handle in addition to the twin shift levers.

I like the 'art deco' guage cluster. Reminds me of some of my father's old cars.
Interesting in that some of our old Silver Eagle 01's had the same "Ross Cam and Lever Steering" wheel hub, although ours was a more modern three spoke design. I will say the steering on the Eagles, while not powered, was fairly easy as long as the bus was moving a bit.

I didn't realize at first that this was a front-engined design. I thought that it perhaps had a mid-ship "pancake" design like the Brills' Hall Scott engine.

Back in 1969, on an epic journey I enjoyed from New York City to Fairbanks, I rode the last leg from Dawson Creek to Fairbanks up the Alcan Highway on a Western Flyer Canuck "Bruck" combo coach operated by the old Coachways System. It had around 20 seats up front, and a large freight compartment in the rear. It carried anything and everything, and I do mean anything....such as a canoe, or even a human remains!

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver:

Agreed!

Can you imagine the physical stamina required by a bus driver of that era.......NO power steering.....and NO auto transmission!

On the newer coaches back then, I think that the one comfort the drivers enjoyed was A/C!

One look at the brutish coaches of that era (AEROCOACHES, CLIPPERS, and GM PDA's especially!) tells you that only a TOUGH guy would be fully able to tame such beasts!

Like yourself, I really enjoy looking at photos that show the driver's area of these antiques......gauges, dials, knobs......NO electronic gizmos or digital displays whatsoever......just the time-hoored "tools of the trade"!

What an era it was, indeed!

NYO

[traildriver]

NYO
I have to agree, for the most part. The newer coaches with all their advanced ECM's and such should be more reliable than the old buses, but in practice, they seem to be more tempermental and perhaps less reliable.
One point you made....about the controls especially rings true. I personally strongly dislike the plastic backlit 'rocker' type switches that are too common on modern buses. I much prefer the older steel toggle type switches. It is interesting how the MCI coaches mostly have the former, while the 'government spec' D models have the latter. The biggest annoyance is that when one of the plastic ones breaks, you must get a replacement with the correct lable. Often these are not readily in the parts room, so the mechanic will grab any one available. Now an experienced driver usually knows by position what the switch function is, that is not always the case, as each year or so the manufacturer will 'update and improve' the dash layout. Hard to remember what is what, especially some of the seldom used ones. On the other hand, the steel toggles are universal, and their labels are permanently marked on the dash and are floodlit.

[Q65A]

On that note, it will be interesting to see how Prevost modifies the switches on the X3-45's headed to NYCT.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver:

Back in the 90's, when I was still working in the city, I well remember when ACADEMY removed the roller signs from their Flx Metros and installed the new electronic digital junk.

The drivers HATED them with a passion!

Also, they were not at all easy to read as one approached your stop, especially on a bright, sunny day.

The old rollers Academy used had unusually large lettering, and this sure made reading a sign VERY easy, even at a distance.

I still remember the drivers cussing and fuming over the codes they had to enter when it came to change the signs......they were NOT happy campers, and, who could blame them?

Often, as I was the first passenger on at the beginning of the line in the early AM, I often would stand in front of the bus, while the driver attempted to program the sign correctly.

I would signal him to let him know when he had the correct reading!

Previously, all the drivers had to do was to flick the switch and let the roller curtain revolve, until the correct reading came up.....simple!

Recall the old adage:

"If it ain't broke, DON'T fix it!"

I especially remember this on the 3200-series, which were the ones most often used on the rush hour runs to Hoboken, via Boulevard East.

Today, NJT operates this line, and has drastically cut service, from what i've heard.

When I think back during most of my commuting years, and remember the driver's area of the Fishbowls I rode (and, occassionally, an Old look, earlier in the 80's) the layout of controls was complex to most passengers, but, when I think back, it was so much more simpler than all the Star Wars technology used today.

Any wonder why the buses of that era lasted as long as they did?

Back in the late 60's, Dr. Suess' "LORAX" proclaimed:

"Sometimes I think that PROGRESS progresses TOO fast!"

NYO

[traildriver]

We've made the switch to digital signs in our fleet. If you can't remember the code, you can still scroll alphabetically through the list on the inside display and then press enter. Our latest signs have a larger font and are more visible in daylight than the earlier ones.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Speaking of roll signs, I remembered I had this one filed and decided to share it here.

Though this classic 1960's carhouse scene from Pittsburgh is streetcar oriented, it could just as well have been taken at a bus garage, during that era.

WOW!!

Just imagine what all these old roller curtains would be worth today??

I sure as heck would not have minded "browsing" through this shop area.....

http://www.davesrailpix.com/pitts/htm/rhp015.htm

[Mr. Linsky]

NYO,

Looks like the guy is going out of his mind trying to figure out what to do with the scroll!

BTW; here's a real piece of Joizy history taken in the mid twenties at Jersey City Exchange Place where it was used to shuttle VIPS.

Don't laugh at it - it even has white walls!

Photo by Klaus Lehnartz.

Regards,''Mr. 'L'

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Mr. "L":

WOW!!

Talk about a REAL antique!!!

That is just the type of early bus that abounded in Jersey City, way back in the early days of bus service in Hudson County!

I've seen pictures as early as 1922 at Journal Square (before it was even KNOWN as Journal Square!) where already a number of "jitneys" were on hand; don't forget, this was also the location of the Hudson & Manhattan Railroad's (HUDSON TUBES) always-bustling rapid transit station (today's PATH).

Not to dispute you, good sir, but, that wonderful old photo was clearly not taken at Exchange Place; back then, it was a VERY busy commercial/transit hub, PRR's huge passenger rail /ferry terminal, PS trolley station, H&M station, steamship piers, and other commercial buildings.

The photo you shared with us clearly looks to be in a more "residential" area of Jersey City.....no matter, it is a WONDERFUL old photo......(LOVE those white walls!)......again, thanks for sharing!

NYO

[Mr. Linsky]

NYO,

Once in a while I come up with a non bus photo that I think is worhy of showing.

In this case it's a Mack Rescue Car operated by the FDNY - there were five of these with one assigned to each borough - the Queens Unit was Rescue Four.

I think that when they coined the phrase 'Built Like a Mack Truck' this truck was what they were thinking about!

BTW; just to keep the front office happy here's a shot of an ex NYCTA 5101 in full FDNY dress.

Enjoy,

Regards,

Mr. 'L'

[Q65A]

Interesting mirror set-up on that FDNY Old Look; thanks Mr. L!