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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee

Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 31230 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2025 6:08 pm Post subject: |
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Interesting...........
PATH retired the 1958 "MP-52"/"K" cars in 1989; these iconic cars were just a tad more than 30 years old, still fairly young for most rail cars.
Had PATH not been so into its new "gung-ho, let's go modern!" persona (recall, they closed the "cramped and antiquated" Henderson Street yard in Jersey City in 1990; opening the new facility out in the Meadows) and purchasing new "PA" cars.
IMHO, PATH easily could have kept the old "joint service" cars going for at least another decade, but, alas, it would seem, operating "Aitch & Em"-era equipment with incandescent lighting just didn't "meld" with their "futuristic", "progressive" image.............
"NYO"
["HOB"]
["WTC"] |
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W.B. Fishbowl
Age: 59 Joined: 02 Oct 2014 Posts: 4562 Location: New York, New York, USA
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Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2025 8:19 pm Post subject: |
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| NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 wrote: | Interesting...........
PATH retired the 1958 "MP-52"/"K" cars in 1989; these iconic cars were just a tad more than 30 years old, still fairly young for most rail cars.
Had PATH not been so into its new "gung-ho, let's go modern!" persona (recall, they closed the "cramped and antiquated" Henderson Street yard in Jersey City in 1990; opening the new facility out in the Meadows) and purchasing new "PA" cars.
IMHO, PATH easily could have kept the old "joint service" cars going for at least another decade, but, alas, it would seem, operating "Aitch & Em"-era equipment with incandescent lighting just didn't "meld" with their "futuristic", "progressive" image.............
"NYO"
["HOB"]
["WTC"] |
Yeah, they did seem overeager to wash anything connected with the old "Aitch & Em" right outa' their hair, no? Besides their infatuation with the "shiny and new." |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee

Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 31230 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2025 10:00 pm Post subject: |
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W.B.:
The day that PATH took over "the tubes" in late 1962, the new "boss" wasted no time in replacing virtually all station and directional signs (with reference to the H&M), uniform badges, buttons, you name it.
The "juice fans" of that day were left with but mere "bones" with hardly nothing to pick from them.
Indeed, PATH is pretty well paranoid about having any link to the ol' "Aitch & Em".........
"NYO"
["HUDSON RAPID TUBES"] |
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W.B. Fishbowl
Age: 59 Joined: 02 Oct 2014 Posts: 4562 Location: New York, New York, USA
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2025 11:44 pm Post subject: |
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| NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 wrote: | W.B.:
The day that PATH took over "the tubes" in late 1962, the new "boss" wasted no time in replacing virtually all station and directional signs (with reference to the H&M), uniform badges, buttons, you name it.
The "juice fans" of that day were left with but mere "bones" with hardly nothing to pick from them.
Indeed, PATH is pretty well paranoid about having any link to the ol' "Aitch & Em".........
"NYO"
["HUDSON RAPID TUBES"] |
And even when they acknowledge the old "Aitch & Em's" existence, they take great pains to say that "McAdoo's baby" was of no relation to the current retail clothing chain. I find it frankly eerie that the "new" "Aitch & Em" has stores near key PATH termini (namely, "Woild" Trade Center and 'Toity-Toid" Street).
I read that "bones" quote in that Gotham Turnstiles book. Clearly the speed at which the new management operated in what they did was breathtaking as it was. |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee

Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 31230 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2025 12:17 am Post subject: |
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W.B.:
The rich and colorful legacy of the old "Aitch & Em" lasted for so many years after PATH's 1962 takeover, within the "Noo Yawk" subway system, where many old signs (tile, etc) still remained in certain stations, where straphangers were being directed to 'the tubes".......
"NYO"
["HUDSON RAPID TUBES"] |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee

Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 31230 Location: NEW JOISEY
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee

Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 31230 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2025 12:32 am Post subject: |
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Another rare, silent reminder of the old' "Aitch & EM" (34th Street, IND 6th Avenue line)...........
https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?81133
(courtesy: nycsubway.org)
["HUDSON RAPID TUBES-TRAINS TO NEW JERSEY"] |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee

Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 31230 Location: NEW JOISEY
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W.B. Fishbowl
Age: 59 Joined: 02 Oct 2014 Posts: 4562 Location: New York, New York, USA
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Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2025 11:15 am Post subject: |
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Looks like the "Pea-Yay 1's" would have fit in perfectly at the Atlantic terminal of the "El-Eye-Double-Are" before their platforms were shaved a few inches to accommodate the "Em-1's" and beyond.
And that sign in the first pic would have actually said "EXP-HUD T." On the sides, the fifth of the small signs above the side doors would have read as 'HT'. |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee

Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 31230 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2025 11:44 am Post subject: |
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W.B.:
At JSQ, there had long been a "bypass" track (eastbound) originally used by "joint service" trains between Newark and Hudson Terminal.
For whatever reason, sometime later, these rush hour expresses were dropped.
It was not until just after 9/11 that express service again was offered from Newark; however, trains now ran to 33rd Street.
Regarding Atlantic Avenue, recall that, for many years, the IRT's "kissin' cousins" "MP-41s" ruled the rails here for many years...........
"NYO"
["HUD TERM"] |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee

Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 31230 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2025 11:57 am Post subject: |
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W.B.:
This 1969 photo at JSQ shows a train of retired "Black" cars, now in MOW service, laying over on the former express track used by non-stop trains between Newark and Hudson Terminal (train is facing east)
Note that this track was also equipped with PRR catenary.........
https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?21749
(courtesy: nycsubway.org)
[CLASS "J"] |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee

Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 31230 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2025 12:10 pm Post subject: |
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W.B.:
On Eyewitness News (at the beginning of the Accuweather report) I often see a nighttime midtown view, where a new skyscraper can be seen prominently, with a large illuminated "H&M" sign crowning it.
Where is this building located?
Does H&M have its HQ here?
What subway lines are closest?
Perhaps the old "AITCH & EM" never really disappeared; perhaps this building surrmounts a new "Hudson Terminal"..........
"NYO"
["HUDSON RAPID TUBES"] |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee

Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 31230 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2025 12:18 pm Post subject: |
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Perhaps, if the H&M RR were still in operation today , the new corporate logo would look like what is seen here..........
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H&M
["GROVE-HENDERSON"] |
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W.B. Fishbowl
Age: 59 Joined: 02 Oct 2014 Posts: 4562 Location: New York, New York, USA
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Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2025 7:30 pm Post subject: |
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| NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 wrote: | W.B.:
On Eyewitness News (at the beginning of the Accuweather report) I often see a nighttime midtown view, where a new skyscraper can be seen prominently, with a large illuminated "H&M" sign crowning it.
Where is this building located?
Does H&M have its HQ here?
What subway lines are closest?
Perhaps the old "AITCH & EM" never really disappeared; perhaps this building surrmounts a new "Hudson Terminal"..........
"NYO"
["HUDSON RAPID TUBES"] |
That'd be 4 Times Square, a.k.a. 1472 Broadway or 151 West 42nd Street ("One-Five-One") (where once Conde Nast was based before moving to the new "Woild" Trade Center); lines closest to this building would be the N, Q, R, W, 1, 2, 3, 7 and S trains; and a block east of the A, C, E and Port Authority Bus Terminal. And for the buses, the M7, M20, M104 and M42. The current "Aitch & Em's" main store is at that building. But you do have to wonder if, had the old "Aitch & Em" still been in existence, their logo would have looked the same or similar. Several radio stations have their transmitter atop that building.
I remember back when One Astor Plaza (1515 Broadway) was first put up in the early 1970's, there was a "Grants" sign atop each of the four sides of that building (a department store chain, originally W.T. Grant & Co., long gone out of business - you remember them?). |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee

Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 31230 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2025 7:58 pm Post subject: |
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W.B.:
W.T. Grant?
Good Lord, talk about ANCIENT history!
Back in the 60s, ours was up in the bustling Bergenline Avenue (Union City) shopping district; several PS routes passed by the store (there was also J.O. GRAND, WOOLWORTHS, and KRESS) as well as several local""O&B" lines passing by.
We used PS's #16 (or the $17) to "go uptown", if we were shopping uptown on "Boingenline Aven-uh".
Greatly appreciate the "H&M" info; indeed that area is a HOTBED of rapid transit (and bus) activity!
HAD the "Aitch & Em" NOT been taken over by the "Pee-Yay"in 1962, one wonders if their new cars would have been identical to the "PA-1s"?
Might they have been "cousins" to the "R-33/R-36"?
Also, you wonder if the PRR would have remained a "partner" in the joint service" to Newark.
It does make for some interesting speculative thought.........
"NYO"
["33RD STREET"]
Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Sat Dec 27, 2025 8:05 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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