BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

As the days dwindle down to a precious few.........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?153797

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?153788

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?153792

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["2635"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Though the classic "Tee-Yay" green was, IMHO, the BEST scheme for the Fishbowls and "Dangerfields", the two-tone blue of the 1970s was indeed VASTLY more attractive than the schemes used in later years, particularly the dreaded "dip".............

"NYO"

["New York City Transit Authority"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Wanted to share this......

Just watched on ABC-7 "TIEMPO" (hosted by Joe Torres); VERY interesting interview with artist Manny Vega, who has an exhibit of his work (through December) at (I believe) the Museum of The City of New York)

QUITE a few "pieces" featuring mosaic tiles; in looking at a number of them, it is clear that they HAD to have been (at least in part) inspired by the historic mosaic tilework in the older subway stations (I picked up on this right away!)

Mr. Vega also has classes in the mosaics area, and we got to see him working with templates, where he was cutting and fitting the mosaic tile to former letters and numbers (QUITE interesting, to say the least!)

It, of course, had me thinking of the original craftsmen, now departed for so many decades) who originally created the intricate and handsome mosaic tilework so very much associated with "Noo Yawk" subway stations.

Indeed, a RARE and most INTRICATE art form!!

"NYO"

["TIMES SQUARE"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The "Ee-Are-Ay"...............

Sad to think how many of the fellows who once frequented the ERA fantrips of the 60s and 70s (and even the 80s) have now, sadly, since passed on to their rewards.

BIGGEST losses, I feel, were those older fellows who once worked as motorman and conductors (not to mention towerman, mechanics, electricians, etc)

Too, cannot forget the men who once actually DROVE the iconic "Kramdens" and "Pattons", as well as the garagemen who kept the fleet in shape for so many years.

Again, these were men who truly were "living links to the past" who actually LIVED those days; sadly, their shoes can never be filled, that's for certain...........

"NYO"

["LEXINGTON AVENUE THRU EXPRESS"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Back in the day, "En-Jay-Tee" had their own version of the dreaded "dip" (as seen in these photos)

Totally RUINED the overall appearances of the unfortunate Fishbowls and "Dangerfields" it was applied to..........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154487 (bus is ex-PSNJ/TNJ)

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154490

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

['NEW YORK']

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

By the gods, I wouldn't even want to IMAGINE that horrendous scenario!!!

By the time "En-Jay-Tee" took the reins, "suboiban" Old Looks had already been gone for several years (in this case, thankfully)

The VERY last "suboiban" Old Looks still running in the very early 1980s were those majestic and handsome "Shermans" operated by "SOMERSET" ("the Blue Star Route")

"SOMERSET, into the mid-later 1960's, also rostered some ACF-BRILLs ("Rocky BRILL-boas") which were particulary handsome.

These buses (at least 20 years old by this late date), I believe, were replaced by Prevost "CHAMPIONS", around 1967 or thereabouts......

"NYO"

["THE BLUE STAR ROUTE"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

As you can see here, "SOMERSET's" fleet were indeed quyite handsome and smart-looking.........

This long-defunct company once had a strong presence in the Newark area, through the 1960s..........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154519

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154522

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["22 WESTFIELD"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Funny you mentioned PS.....

In the early/mid-1950s, 'VANDERHOOF BROTHERS" operated the "NEWARK-CALDWELL BUS LINE" (the #144); interestingly enough, their ACF-BRILL transits and WHITES were painted in the SAME gray-and-white that PS was then using!

Later, this line was operated by "TRACKLESS TRANSIT" (a subsidiary of "MOUNTAIN COACHES"); as I had noted earlier, Your's Truly knew this line well, from 1971 through 1975.

Also of interest:

In 1957, the BRILLS and WHITES on the #144 were replaced by several ex-NYCTA 4507s (square window jobs) which were rebuilt with automatic transmissions.

These buses (repainted in an attractive green and cream) ran for several years, before being gradually replaced by Fishbowls, the first arriving in 1961.

Some of these Fishbowls had rear doors, while others did not; these buses, for the most part, were furnished with various seating arrangements.........

"NYO"

["144 NEWARK"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Interesting.........

The aforementioned ex-NYCTA 4507s that were sold to "MOUNTAIN COACHES" ("TRACKLESS TRANSIT") in the late 1950s recalls one of the very few times that the 'Tee-Yay" sold off retired buses for service elsewhere, instead of selling them for scrap.

One other notable exception were a few late-model "Shermans" that were later sold to Jersey City's "LAFAYETTE & GREENVILLE"........

"NYO"

["LAFAYETTE & GREENVILLE"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Long ago, our late (and always most knowledgeable) friend "Mr. Linsky" informed me that this forlorn, OOS "Sherman", seen here at the Willow Avenue yards in Hoboken back in 1979, was, indeed, an ex-NYCTA bus (note sliding windows)

This hard-working workhorse indeed deserved a better fate..........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?153690

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["GREENVILLE & LAFAYETTE"]