BusTalk

[Cyberider]

Great photo, NYO. Thanks.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

You're welcome!

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

After the "Day of Infamy"...........

For the duration of the War, public transit operations (in New York and elsewhere throughout the country) found themselves gearing up for the duration of the conflict.

On countless systems, schedules were altered, some lightly-traveled routes were abandoned (so that the equipment used could be put to better use on lines with heavy passenger loads), route changes, etc.

In a number of cities, buses (and trolley buses) were stored either on the street, or at "temporary" yards along certain routes, to save wear on tires and to conserve fuel.

In Chicago, the CSL also used abandoned gas stations and empty auto showrooms as storage yards/garages during the War.

For example, during the war, FACCo saw a number of service changes, due to orders from the Office of Defense Transportation (ODT) for the reduction of tire and fuel use.

Across the country, many transit operators also brought out older-model buses (and streetcars) that had been in storage for some years, to cope with the heavy increase in ridership, with both gasoline and tires rationed for the duration of the War.

Also, many transit operators specially decorated selected pieces of rolling stock to promote War Bond Drives, as well as armed-forces recruitment vehicles (also, for the "recruitment" of new drivers and conductors, to help with the critical manpower shortage during those years.

Indeed, mass transit was indeed a vital life for our nation, during those uncertain war years..............

"NYO"

["SAVE FUEL! SAVE TIRES! RIDE WITH US!"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

FACCo...............

Elsewhere in other discussions here, we've discussed the possibility of FACCo retiring all of their famed double-deckers at an earlier date, replacing them with new single-deck buses.

The last of the venerable, old-fashioned, open-top "Blunderbus" double deckers were retired during 1946; with them, went the last FACCo conductors.

The last remaining "Queen Mary"-types were retired in 1953, eight years after the War ended.

Had the War not intervened, it would have indeed made sense if FACCo had decided to replace the older open-top buses with new, single-deck YELLOW Old Looks.

The first new buses purchased by FACCo were the 43 TD-4506 diesels, which arrived in 1945, wearing a modified, simpler paint scheme.

In 1946, new 4507s began entering service.............

"NYO"

["2280"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

First produced in 1940, the WHITE 798 was a solid, rugged bus that performed heavy-duty service during the War years, and for many years afterwards (the rugged, tough, no-nonsense 798s in my area were still running through ay least 1966!)

The buses seen here were rostered by "TRIBORO"............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154324

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154323

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["WHITE"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Again, recall, Demo #2500.

This lone TD-5501 had been tested in both "Noo Yawk" and in "Shik-aga" as an eventual replacement for the double-deckers in both cities.

Remember, also, that, before finally being acquired for "soivice" by FACCo, #2500's seating arrangement was changed to 54, due to emergency exit requirements. and the model was redesignated as Model TD-5401.

Then, in 1948, the design was modified to use paired windows, now designated TDH-5502.

101 buses of this type were built, all purchased by "Shik-aga".

It is easy to picture these buses replacing at least the oldest of the double-deckers ("Blunderbuses") of the FACCo fleet.............

"NYO"

["231"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Appreciate this info; had no idea that #2500 ended up in Westchester (sure would love to see pics of this well-traveled (and well-rebuilt!) bus during its last years in "soivice"!

Then, too, another little FACCo "mystery:

WHY didn't the company simply start purchasing single-deck YELLOWS instead of the "Queen Marys", in the later 1930s?

Heck, by the 1960s, you had ex-FACCo "Kramdens" that had lasted in "soivice" FAR LONGER than the hulking and formidable "Queen Marys".............

"NYO"

*Regarding the late Raquel Welch: in the classic 1966 caveman epic "ONE MILLION YEARS BC", Raquel, as cavegirl (of the "Shell Tribe") "Loanna" was indeed a SURVIVOR.....unlike the "Borough Bombers" of later years.......(!!)

["GO THE MOTOR COACH WAY"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Good points, all.

Recall, that when they "Queen Marys" entered "soivice", it would not be for a few more years (1940) before the Old Look-types were introduced by YELLOW.

"Pee-Es" was, as you know, a VERY LOYAL customer with YELLOW (as they would be with "Gee-Em" in later years)

Interesting, though, how FACCo was "in sync" with "Soiface", the "Bee-oh-Tee", and the "Tee-Yay", alternating orders between "Gee-Em" and MACK.

Of course, there WERE those postwar TWIN "Oddballs", operated by both "Soiface" and the "Bee-oh-Tee"/early "Tee-Yay".................

"NYO"

["FIFTH AVENUE COACH LINES"]

[MaBSTOA 15]

Here is #2500 in Westchester Street Transportation service. Photos taken June 1963.

Question, when was the bumper, headlights and windows upgraded? During FACCos last years or at Westchester?

[W.B. Fishbowl]

Only pics taken between 1956 and 1962, I reckon, would deign to answer that question. But in terms of individual "Kramdens," in active service, this had to take the cake for being among the longest-lived.

[MaBSTOA 15]

And speaking of #2500 and the year 1941... here are some photos on the development of 2500

The first photos shows 2500 shortly after leaving the factory awaiting lettering.

Second photos has had the lettering applied

Third show 2500 in service on route 15 Jackson Heights Line on Northern Boulevard.

[MaBSTOA 15]

More development...

First photo shows 2500 sometime after December 7, 1941, Note the black-out headlights.

Followed by a Queen Mary model 720.

Both are on route 15 Jackson Heights Line. They are heading north on Fifth Avenue and 25th Street at their Manhattan terminal stop at Madison Square Park.