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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 29759
Location: NEW JOISEY
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W.B. Fishbowl
Age: 58
Joined: 02 Oct 2014
Posts: 4248
Location: New York, New York, USA
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 Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2025 5:50 pm Post subject: |
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I've been on the "Ess-Eye-Are" "Fordy-Fours" (a.k.a. "Em-Ee-Toos") in all its stages: the initial "blue stripe" state, in 1975; its first "Gee O'Aitch" round in the 1990's; and in its last incarnation, with car numbers in Arial Black and the seats blue. That they lasted as long as they did, given what they replaced and how long THEY lasted, was nothing short of a miracle.
Something tells me the "Staten Island Rattlers" will be lucky if they make the 10-year mark. |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 29759
Location: NEW JOISEY
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| Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2025 6:07 pm Post subject: |
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W.B.:
In 10 years, given how insanely fast technology advances these days (TOO FAST, IMHO), I'm wagering that the "Staten Island Rattlers" ("R-211s") will be, by that time, almost as outdated and antiquated as the old "ME-1s". 
Recall Dr. Suess' "Lorax"......
".......sometimes I think that progress progresses too fast........."
'nuff said.........
"NYO"
["St. George"] |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 29759
Location: NEW JOISEY
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| Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2025 7:39 pm Post subject: |
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Just wonderin'.........
Any "woid" as to just how long the retired "44s" are going to be held at Clifton and at Tottenville?
I would think that a few trains would be laid up on the non-revenue tracks at St. George, as well..........
"NYO"
["RIDE THE RAPID"] |
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W.B. Fishbowl
Age: 58
Joined: 02 Oct 2014
Posts: 4248
Location: New York, New York, USA
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| Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2025 8:52 pm Post subject: |
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| NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 wrote: | Just wonderin'.........
Any "woid" as to just how long the retired "44s" are going to be held at Clifton and at Tottenville?
I would think that a few trains would be laid up on the non-revenue tracks at St. George, as well..........
"NYO"
["RIDE THE RAPID"] |
"For a few years," they say . . . |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 29759
Location: NEW JOISEY
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| Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2025 9:14 pm Post subject: |
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W.B.:
"....a few years........."
That's telling me that the "Em-Tee-Yay" is, at some point in the not-to-distant future, is expecting unknown "ailments" to be afflicting the ultra high-tech "Staten Island Rattlers", and it's best ro have a "resoive" fleet on hand, as back-up........ 
"NYO"
["TOTTENVILLE LOCAL"] |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 29759
Location: NEW JOISEY
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| Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2025 1:56 pm Post subject: |
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I wonder..........
Are any of the SubChat posters taking the Ferry over to the "Isle of Staten" (R-211) to document the "Es-Eye-Are" now in full "Staten Island Rattler" mode? 
STILL difficult to picture the faithful old "Fordy Fours" no longer plyiong their trade, between St. George and Tottenville, as they had been doing for over a half-century...........
"NYO"
(Hard to believe Your's Truly was but 16 when the "Fordy-Fours" were new! 
["R-44"]
Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Thu Sep 18, 2025 8:48 am; edited 1 time in total |
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W.B. Fishbowl
Age: 58
Joined: 02 Oct 2014
Posts: 4248
Location: New York, New York, USA
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| Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2025 1:20 am Post subject: |
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| NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 wrote: | I wonder..........
Are any of the SubChat posters taking the Ferry over to the "Isle of Staten" (R-211) to document the "Es-Eye-Are" now in full "Staten Island Rattler" mode?
STILL difficult to picture the faithful old "Fordy Gours" no longer plyiong their trade, between St. George and Tottenville, as they had been doing for over a half-century...........
"NYO"
(Hard to believe Your's Truly was but 16 when the "Fordy-Fours" were new!
["R-44"] |
After Thursday, I may be one to find out myself. |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 29759
Location: NEW JOISEY
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| Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2025 8:50 am Post subject: |
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W.B.:
If all goes well, Your's Truly indeed looks forward to your "in depth" report!
"NYO"
["SIRT"] |
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W.B. Fishbowl
Age: 58
Joined: 02 Oct 2014
Posts: 4248
Location: New York, New York, USA
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| Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2025 8:32 pm Post subject: |
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As I prepare for such an excursion, "BINO's" continue to have misadventures. Like crashing into a Brooklyn apartment building:
https://youtu.be/e2rYzcb_EkI
One wonders if it were a "Kramden" or "Patton" in that situation . . . |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 29759
Location: NEW JOISEY
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| Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2025 9:39 pm Post subject: |
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W.B.:
Well, as "Kramdens" and "Pattons" were BOTH built like the proverbial battleship, I need not elaborate further...
"NYO"
["GMC"]
["MACK"] |
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W.B. Fishbowl
Age: 58
Joined: 02 Oct 2014
Posts: 4248
Location: New York, New York, USA
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| Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2025 5:20 pm Post subject: |
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| NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 wrote: | I wonder..........
Are any of the SubChat posters taking the Ferry over to the "Isle of Staten" (R-211) to document the "Es-Eye-Are" now in full "Staten Island Rattler" mode?
STILL difficult to picture the faithful old "Fordy Fours" no longer plying their trade, between St. George and Tottenville, as they had been doing for over a half-century...........
"NYO"
(Hard to believe Your's Truly was but 16 when the "Fordy-Fours" were new!
["R-44"] |
I can confirm that the active roster is now all "Staten Island Rattlers." I took, late this morning/early this afternoon, a consist of (T) 170-171-172-173-174 (S)* to and from Jefferson Avenue (there was no "soivice" this weekend between Jefferson and Huguenot Avenue).
At St. George, there was way on the end a lone "Fordy-Four" set, I could only see 456 on the far end as headed towards Tottenville, 416 in the St. George direction. All other sets at that terminal were R-211's (all T -> S):
145-146-147-148-149
159-158-157-156-155
130-131-132-133-134
150-151-152-153-154
139-138-137-136-135
100-101-102-103-104
165-166-167-168-169
124-123-122-121-120
In the distance between the Tompkinsville and Stapleton stations, near to Bay Street, I saw three sets of "Fordy-Fours" - 394-389-415-396, 458-392-425-430 and 406-418-391-436 - defaced with graffiti, a sure sign they're headed for the crusher. At Clifton Yards there was another R-44 set - 428-397-416-446. Two R-32's - one designated LT001 (near to a lone "Fordy-Four," 403), the other positioned so I couldn't see the number - were on the grounds, as was "Rattler" set 105-106-107-108-109 and an "El-Eye-Double-Are" locomotive.
* (T) = Tottenville; (S) = St. George.
Now as for my ferry trips. Going to the "Isle of Staten," I was on the SSG Michael H. Ollis; coming back to Manhattan, I rode the Sandy Ground. (On one of the other slips at St. George, there was the Guy V. Molinari, on which I rode a few times over the past year.) Others are Dorothy Day, John J. Marchi, Spirit of America, Samuel I. Newhouse, Alice Austen and John A. Noble. I may've also had a ride on the Marchi once or twice, maybe on the Newhouse too.
And thus is my report. |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 29759
Location: NEW JOISEY
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| Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2025 5:55 pm Post subject: |
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W.B.:
THANK YOU for this EXCELLENT report!
HOW IRONIC that the "Fordy-Fours" were in "soivice" for over 50 years and NOT defaced with "urban artwork".
Yeah, they are, for sure, heading for the torch.
Also, appreciate the ferry info;last time I rode, back in 1998, I rode the "AMERICAN LEGION II" to St. George, and the "BARBERI" heading back to Whitehall Street.
I also remember the "AL" was carring a pretty decent load of vehicles, that morning.
Man, I STILL CANNOT believe that the long reign of the staid workhorse "R-44s" in the "Isle of Staten" is now relegated to history
Again, EXCELLENT report...... 
"NYO"
["RIDE THE RAPID"] |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 29759
Location: NEW JOISEY
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 29759
Location: NEW JOISEY
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