BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

I have also seen some CSL/early CTA photos showing both buses and trolleybuses equipped with snowplows.

In my area, back in the 1960s, I well recall older PSNJ and NHBL buses being used as salt spreaders, during the winter months..........

"NYO"

["NO PASSENGERS"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Earlier, I'd mentioned the veteran "Fordy Fours" (what remains of them", on the "Es-Eye-Are"; am curious to know about how many sets are still running, and how many have already been sidelined, replaced by the new "SIRs' ("Staten Island Rattlers")

Appreciate any info...........

"NYO"

["R-44"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Look forward, indeed, to your "Isle of Staten" report!

Am curious as to how many idle sets are laid up (at Clifton) and how many are still running.

Also, interested in what class ferry(s) you will be on (recall, this ol' gray guy here goes back to the days when boats like the "DONGAN HILLS" and the "MISS NEW YORK were still in operation!)

"NYO"

["DEPARTMENT OF MARINE & AVIATION"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Further..........

On SubChat, I read an inquiry on whether SIR's blue circle/red diamond should become official designations.

This got me to thinking,.......

Oddly enough, the "ME-1s" were not equipped with any sort of side destination signs (roller curtains/metal plates)

However, the cars that later went into BMT service were equipped with metal plate signs, rescued from scrapped EL cars.

I've seen photos of South Beach trains with a metal "SOUTH BEACH" sign hanging from the safety chains on the lead car.

(it would them seem that SIRT towermen (St. George and Clifton) would have relied on the car's marker lights for train identification.

Given this, the "44s" were the FIRST cars for the SIRT to have any soprt of side destination signs.......

"NYO"

["GREAT KILLS EXPRESS"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

While I bide my time to wait for my checkup, five days ago a video was put up of typical action at the Prince's Bay station:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puQAM0bXbyg

and the "Fordy-Fours" are still amongst the active rolling stock though more and more of the "Rattlers" are making their presence known.

The "Rattlers" definitely deserve that name - it rocked (bobbing up and down) as it was entering the station, whereas the "Fordy-Fours' " moves were straighter and more graceful.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Hope good results await you from your checkup! (time for a "GOH"?)

Only watched the vid to the point where "The Rattler" began pulling out of the station; then, the video froze.

Tried again, this time, I got no further than the (highly annoying) ads.

Will try again later.

I'm curious as to why the "SIR" designation up front flashes.

I also noticed a distinct "robotic-sounding" whine as they train accelerated.

I well recall in the early days of the "JETER-bug" R-142s" being (at first) perplexed as to that noise they made, pulling out of a station (sounded eerily like a subway musician tuning up a particularly out-of-tune violin!)

(glad at least SOME "Fordy-Fours" are stil faithfully on the job, at least for now!)

Hard to believe my last "Ride The Rapid" excursion was way back in the summer of 1987!

You could then still see the rotting remains of the old ferry slip at Tottenville, 24 years after the boats stopped crossing to Perth Amboy.

Also hard to believe that my last "ME-1" jaunt with Mom was back around at least 1968/1969......man, does time fly............

"NYO"

["RIDE THE RAPID"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Prince's Bay, a long, long time ago........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?24723

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?24726

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?115325

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?21936

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["SIRT"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Also.......

The soon-to-be retired "44s" also have the distinction of being the last cars on the "Isle of Staten" to have made connections with STEAM-powered ferries at St. George........

"NYO"

["MARINE & AVIATION"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Just thought of this..........

When the "44s" were new, they also had to be "FRA" compliant, as the Tottenville line still had B&O freight rolling over the same rails.

Of course, the R-211s ("Staten Island Rattlers") need not be so compliant, with freight now long. long gone from the main (Tottenville) line........

"NYO"

["St. George"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Memories.........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?45576

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?88094

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["Tottenville"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Also...........

When the "Fordy-Fours" first entered service on "The Isle of Staten", the "Em-Tee-Yay" had just recently purged the last veteran "Kramdens" from their fleet; also, with the retirement of the ancient, iconic "ME-1s", the remaining "Arnines" became the very last prewar cars running (in revenue service) in the city.

And, with the retirement of the last of the 1930's "MISS NEW YORK"-class boats, the only steamers left in the fleet were those of the "MERRELL"-class, and the fleet was now down from its fleet of nine boats.........

"NYO"

["NEXT BOAT"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Hmmm...........

With the "Es-Eye-Are" only running on ONE route (St. George-Tottenville) one wonders why there is even a need for destination signs on the trains, as there are only TWO terminals, one on each end of the line.

I've read that, many years ago, certain PM rush hour trains ran only as far west as Great Kills; the trains then changed ends, and ran back to St. George for another ferry connection.

Do any trains terminate at Great Kills during rush hours, or has the aforementioned practice long since been abolished by the "Em-Tee-Yay"?

Just wondering..........

"NYO"

["GREAT KILLS EXPRESS"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Thanks for this info; so....some trains DO still terminate at Great Kills.

I know that, during the last several years that the remaining (and overtaxed!) "ME-1s" were still running, certain westbound PM trains would run to Great Kills, switch ends, and deadhead back to St. George, to pick up another load of ferry commuters.

Remember, after the '62 fire at the Clifton shops, the fleet was reduced to but 45 cars......and NO SPARES.

Small wonder that, during off-hours, the trains were but two cars in length; this indeed allowed a portion of the fleet to "rest up" for the next rush hour.

BTW:

How did your excursion to the "Isle of Staten" go today?

What did you ride (SIR and ferry-wise)?

Any interesting sights?

"NYO"

["RIDE THE RAPID"]