BusTalk

Q65A · Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2014 8:29 am Post subject:

To this day, the end of that ramp on the Queensboro Bridge is still the site of some serious (and sometimes fatal) traffic accidents.

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2014 3:49 pm Post subject:

X-Astorian · Joined: 19 Feb 2009 Posts: 170 Location: Central NJ

X-Astorian · Joined: 19 Feb 2009 Posts: 170 Location: Central NJ

Mr. L,

While this terrible collision which killed two as reported in the January 17, 1950, New York Times, occurred at the Manhattan end of the Queensboro, involved a FACCO bus without a trolley, the image may be one you recall from your youth.

Hart Bus · Age: 74 Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 1150

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2014 2:38 pm Post subject:

X-Astorian · Joined: 19 Feb 2009 Posts: 170 Location: Central NJ

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2014 12:15 pm Post subject:

Just a footnote on the within photo;

The caption accompanying the image stated that it was taken in 1950 but one thing bothered me about that which was the fact that 2nd. Avenue is shown as one way and, to my knowledge, the one way avenue program came a few years later.

However, I checked records and 2nd. did become one way on June 4th. 1951 so the photo had to have been taken post that date but certainly not too much later judging by the vehicles in the scene.

Regards,

Mr. 'L'

Hart Bus · Age: 74 Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 1150

frankie · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2014 10:30 pm Post subject:

I'm pretty sure Mr. L identified it as a Green Line 1937 or 1938 Mack CT in his original posting.

Frankie

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2014 1:08 am Post subject:

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2014 3:48 pm Post subject:

Seen sometime in the early thirties and awaiting its next trip on the 'C' line via Fifth Avenue between Mount Vernon and the Dyre Avenue 233rd. Street IRT station in The Bronx is fleet #521 - a 1931 38 passenger White Motor Company model 54A chassis carrying a body by others and operating for the Westchester Street Transportation Company Division of the Third Avenue Railway System (TARS).

#521, one of fifty one likenesses numbered from 510 to 560, was originally ordered by TARS predecessor Westchester Electric to convert six of their traction lines to buses in 1930 and 1931.

The 500's ran for TARS' in Westchester up until the beginning of the war when most were transferred to the company's Bronx operations to serve out the rest of their careers.

Of note on #521 are the updated bi-fold doors and the 'W' affixed to the front bumper which could either have meant White or Westchester?

Photo courtesy of 'Vintage-Vault75' and is available at eBay as item # 181443367875.

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, New York

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2014 4:30 pm Post subject:

In what appears in this 1946 shot to be a bone yard in Brooklyn is actually filled with still operating buses from as early as 1930 with the most interesting being fleet #149 (center) - a 1930 23 passenger Twin Coach modeled as a 20 and one of only four likenesses numbered 149 to 152 ever purchased by the Brooklyn Bus Corporation.

Dubbed as a 'miniature model 40', Twin's model 20 was a cut down version of Frank Fageol's unbelievably successful and often imitated but never duplicated ground breaking street transit design that became the template that all manufacturers have followed since.

While the model 40 featured dual engines (thus the name Twin), its half pint heavy duty cousin made it with a single 90-hp Hercules WXO power plant coupled to a three speed mechanical transmission along with four wheel air brakes and was ideal as a low volume feeder to trunk lines of large properties.

Of note on #149 (center) is a strange seesaw windshield wiper arrangement in which two pieces of glass share the same transmission due to the awkward placement of the divider.

You can also get a good idea of what the size of pre convention New York State license plates appeared like in those days.

The little model 20's soldiered on well through the war years and beyond under the umbrella of the city's first bus division.

Photo courtesy of 'bk.sales' and is available at eBay as item # 271524119338.

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, New York

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 3:41 pm Post subject:

Every so often, I come up with a photo that is so compelling that it must be shared with all.

Seen shortly after arrival from the factory and being readied for service at a company facility in Manhattan is fleet #2628 - a 1958 45 passenger GM Coach modeled as a TDH-5106 and one of ninety likenesses numbered from 2605 and 2694 purchased in increments between 1958 and 1959 by Fifth Avenue Coach Lines, Inc.

# 2628 is so new that it has yet to receive either its first New York State Public Service Commission inspection sticker or its main destination scrolls as can be seen missing in a specially built cabinet above the windshield designed for fluorescent back lighting.

While #2628 and its ilk were built as a 51 passenger buses they are configured for only 45 due to a salon style U shaped seating plane aft of the rear doors.

This order along with forty almost exact duplicates purchased for commonly owned Surface Transit, Inc. were the last Old Looks for the company.

It's always so refreshing to see a brand new bus before it's maiden voyage especially through the rough and tumble streets of the Big Apple!

Photo 'borrowed' for educational purposes only.

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, New York