BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Just found an EXCELLENT 2020 Staten Island newspaper page (online) "FASCINATING PHOTOS OF THE SI FERRY IN YEARS GONE BY" (at present I cannot post the link to the page)-----rare and QUITE nostalgic photos of the Ferry and its facilities-especially those dating to the 1960s and 1970s----one photo-taken in 1965-depicts hoards of rush-hour passengers (ALL well dressed!) entering the bustling Whitehall Street facility with buses seen outside on the plaza; there is but one Old Look to be seen-trailed by at least four Fishbowls; another photo dating back to 1969 shows a typically-stylish rush-hour crowds descending the stairs to the SIRT concourse at St George (all 1925 PRESSED STEEL cars running then!); these nostalgic photos (quite a few taken at St George) truly brought back a boatload of fond childhood recollections to this now-gray fellow!) "NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

-----the 1965 photo showing buses at Whitehall Street during an afternoon rush hour was also interesting in that there was only one Old Look but at least for Fishbowls (I would guess that-by 1965 "Pattons" were no longer calling at Whitehall Street (unless Your's Truly is incorrect)-------"NYO"

[W.B. Fishbowl]

At the Whitehall Street entrance in '65, except for the #1 bus which was assigned out of 146th Street and #15 which came from 126th Street, that lone "Sherman" looks like one of the 4510's, based out of 54th Street and running on the #6. But then, at the time 126th had a fair amount of 7000-series Old Looks. The #1 and #6 would have had the newer " 'stoa" Fishbowl/"Bullet" order (5201-5525) broken in already. The #15 may've had a few "Jetsons" here and there.

The only "Pattons" on the road in Manhattan by then were those assigned to Amsterdam depot (the 1954, '56 and '58 orders) - and they only handled, by and large, the #100 and #104 routes. (It was within 1965 that the entire #101 route was transferred to 100th Street.)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

WB: As usual-I greatly appreciate your detailed historical info; I knew that 1965 photo snapped at Whitehall Street would be of interest (it sure brought back a lot of great childhood recollections to Your's Truly!) The following is courtesty of "THE STATEN ISLAND FERRY"(George W Hilton-1964): "-------the ferry can also be reached by Broadway and 1st "Afenoo" buses with "SOUTH FERRY" on their destination signs--------also two Old Looks can just be seen in a aerial photo (early 1960s) on the preceding page-----"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Via 1010 WINS..........

Just "hoid" that the "Em-Tee-Yay" is closing its Meredith Avenue depot (this is a depot name I was not familiar with)

According to what I heard, the other "Isle of Staten" depots (Casteleton, Yukon, etc) will assume the role played by the aforementioned depot, and "service will not be affected"..........

"NYO"

["S-117 ST. GEORGE FERRY"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Good question; yes, indeed, I think we ALL (in one way or another) recall the quite rickety Edgewater depot.

Quick question......

Do any of the other "Isle of Staten" depots utilize their original structures, or have all been since replaced?

"NYO"

["M"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Edgewater depot, 1981, dominated by a troop of "Dangerfields" from "Dee See".............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?155781

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["metrobus"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Castelton depot, back in '75..................

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154630

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["R7 Port Richmond St"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Curious.....

Does the garage building at Castleton seen in the previous photo still used by the MTA, or has it since been demolished, and replaced with a newer building?

"NYO"

["ta"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Thanks for this info; I see that the "Meredith" depot was nothing at all historic.....no great loss.

So, Castleton opened in 1947; in that year, the "Es-Eye-Are-Tee" was still running passenger service on three lines (Tottenville, South Beach, and Arlington)

The Tottenville Ferry, for one more year, was still operated by the SIRT, and using ancient sidewheel walking-beam double-enders.

Afterwards, small open-deck diesels ("SUNRISE FERRIES") would operate on this crossing to Perth Anboy until late 1963, when the crossing was abandoned.

As I had mentioned awhile ago, for the first part of the 1960s, Your's Truly recalls only "Kramdens" and "Pattons" at St. George.

Again, thankful I remember as much as I do...........

"NYO"

["TOTTENVILLE LOCAL"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

For lack of a better place to put it . . .

Here's a pic, taken at South Ferry, of the old and the new in buses - #7181 (one of the 1957 "Tee-Yay" "Kramdens") with handwritten paper indicating their route, and behind it a "batwing" "Tee-Yay" Fishbowl, #8135, both running on the M15 route. The photo dates to 1972, given the new two-tone blue job on the Fishbowl, and thus is another example of the "Tee-Yay" 5106's "last hurrah" in Manhattan that isn't the pic of #7075 at Park Row . . .

Yep, the "Tee-Yay's" "Kramdens" had a bit longer run in Manhattan than the " 'stoa" set with the sign that stuck out front.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

WHAT NOSTALGIA!!!!

Thanks for posting!

Have you noticed (as I have) that, in a number of "late-era" photos, the "Kramdens" are running with empty signboxes?

Indeed, a sure sign that the end was nigh.........

"NYO"

["New York City Transit Authority"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Case in point (Broadway & Park Row, 1972)..........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154821

Q: Why were these "Kramdens" suddenly devoid of front roller curtains in their sigboxes, as retirement neared?

"NYO"

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["7075"]