BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

The last time that Your's Truly rode an NJT (NABI) bus on the #751 (now over 9 years ago) the recorded female voice announced ALL the stops, whether the bus stopped there or not.....ANNOYING as all "H-E-double hockey sticks"!)

This was when I was riding home from visiting Mom in a nursing home, several months before she passed; before this, the last time I rode an NJT bus was close to a decade earlier, after visiting Mom in another rehab facility (this was a now-retired NEOPLAN "Wurlitzer") on the #159R.

Again, I am MOST fortunate that I now longer have to use ANY form mass transit; every scrap of fun and enjoyment has long since evaporated.......

"NYO"

["NO PARKING-BUS STOP"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

A great little book, indeed................

Just received my eagerly-awaited copy of David Sadowski's (aka "The Trollery Dodger") latest book on historic "Shik-aga" rail transit, this one on the CA&E.

Most photos here I had not previously seen; many excellent "L" photos as well.

It ids interesting to note that, in 1953, when the CA&E cut back service from its downtown terminal at Well Street to the CTA's "L terminal at Forest Park.

A wooden "loop" trestle was built at this location, to allow the "L" trains to loop around the CA&E tracks.

At the time that the CA&E cut back service to Forest Park, the CTA raised the price of tokens to 20 cents (five cents mote than the price of a "Noo Yawk" token, at that time)

Remaining CA&E commuters now hsd to pay a double fare to reach the Loop (recall, also, "Westchester" commuters having to transfer to the IRT at E. 180th Street, also having to pay a double fare)

Interesting note:

When service was cut back to Forest Park in 1953, the CTA had metal plate signs made, which were hung from the front of a connecting "L" train; these signs gave the departure time of the connecting CA&E train at Forest Park.

For instance, a sign might read:

"MEETS 5:35 CA&E"

"MEETS 6:10 CA&E"

The very last CA&E cars were not scrapped until 1963; the photos of these handsome and historic electrics being destroyed are too painful to focus on.

Had the "Roarin' Elgin" been able to survive through the 1960s, there is a good chance that the railway could have been purchased by a public agency (recall, now, the former, legendary "RED ARROW" lines in Philadelphia)

Also, sizeable government subsidies for rail operations were coming into vogue, by the later 1960s and 1970s.

Alas, it all came too late to save the "Great Third Rail".........

"NYO"

["WHEATON EXPRESS"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Further.......

Recall that the CA&E entered "L" trackage via the "Met's" West Side elevated, which opened in 1895; the interurban began running into Chicago via the "L" in 1905.

The "Met" was the first Chicago 'L" company to use third rail right from the start; it also was the first to install an express track, and also had the most branches.

Although the CA&E lost direct access to downtown in 1953, the North Shore continued to serve to Loop area until the railway was abandoned in 1963.......

"NYO"

["CHICAGO LIMITED"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

On this day in 1964...........

The "Lo-V's" operating on the Bowling Green-South Ferry shuttle were replaced by modified "R-12s"; these elderly, iconic iRT cars were the last "Lo-Vs" in "main line" service in Manhattan.

The ancient "Lo-Vs" on the shuttle were the last Mom and I ever rode together.......many wonderful childhood memories, for certain......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?6969

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

['WARNING! DO NOT LEAN OVER EDGE OF PLATFORM!"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Thinking now......

I often wonder why the "Tee-Yay" didn't use two-car trains of the 1938 "WF" cars on the Bowling Green shuttle, instead of the older "Lo-Vs"?

After all, the "WF" cars WERE newer, and the "Toid Aven-uh" El up in "da Bronx" certainly could have spared a couple.............

["NYO"]