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W.B. Fishbowl
Age: 58
Joined: 02 Oct 2014
Posts: 4255
Location: New York, New York, USA
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 Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2025 2:56 am Post subject: |
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| NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 wrote: | An interesting photo.........
In the "IMAGES OF RAIL" book on TARS I had mentioned earlier in this topic, several days ago, there is a photo, that, despite depicting a sad and dismal scene, has more than a bit of bus interest, IMHO..........
The (undated) photo, taken at the TARS yard at Mount Vernon (circa-1947/1948?), shows the charred and flattened remains of several elderly wooden convertibles (the remains of one car's dash still has its "X" route signed affixed).
Amid all the carnage, are the "remains of the remains" of what was once a front-engined "Soiface" bus.
All that remains is a small part of the front, from just in back of the engine, to just to the rear of the front door.
The engine, radiator, and the entire body (with the exception of the "cab" area I just mentioned) is gone.
I am thinking this might have been what was left one of one of the company's old six-wheel buses, which had started life as double-deckers, but, at some later date, were later cut down to single-deck configuration.
Indeed, truly a sad, heart-wrenching sight...........
"NYO"
["SURFACE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY"] |
Sounds like the only entities that had no double-deckers of any engine arrangement were NYCO and "The Little Red Bus That Could." |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 29772
Location: NEW JOISEY
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| Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2025 10:25 am Post subject: |
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W.B.:
An interesting thought.
It would be interesting to find out out the following (regarding the double-deckers operated by "Soiface")...........
1:
What year did they enter service?
2:
What routes did the ply?
3:
About what year were the buses cut down to single-deck configuration?
4:
When were they retired? (did they last until the first postwar "Gee-Ems" and "Pattons" began arriving?)
IMHO, these buses (as well as the distinctive, prewar "slant-back" TWINS), seem to be the least discussed buses to be operated by "Soiface"............
"NYO"
['RIDE THE SURFACE WAY"] |
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W.B. Fishbowl
Age: 58
Joined: 02 Oct 2014
Posts: 4255
Location: New York, New York, USA
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| Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2025 10:47 am Post subject: |
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| NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 wrote: | W.B.:
An interesting thought.
It would be interesting to find out out the following (regarding the double-deckers operated by "Soiface")...........
1:
What year did they enter service?
2:
What routes did the ply?
3:
About what year were the buses cut down to single-deck configuration?
4:
When were they retired? (did they last until the first postwar "Gee-Ems" and "Pattons" began arriving?)
IMHO, these buses (as well as the distinctive, prewar "slant-back" TWINS), seem to be the least discussed buses to be operated by "Soiface"............
"NYO"
['RIDE THE SURFACE WAY"] |
I have read somewhere that "Ess-Tee-Ess' " double-deckers were in "soivice" in the late 1920's / early '30's period, but their retirement (as you noted) would have coincided with the manic Manhattan and Bronx "bustitutions" of the 1946-48 timeline. Plus, only being on key "posh" Bronx routes. |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 29772
Location: NEW JOISEY
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| Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2025 11:51 am Post subject: |
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W.B.:
As always, appreciate the info! 
Here in "Joisey", PSNJ was still running older front-engined buses right up until new postwar "Gee-Ems" were starting to make inroads into the fleet.
Ditto some of the Hudson County "indies", but, by that time, they were mostly relegated to tripper service, with most buses being of the rear-engine variety.
One photo I have (from 1950) in a book of historical Jersey City photos, shows one lone "Boulevard" front-engined relic standing out like a sore thumb, in the midst of a gaggle of new "Gee-Ems"" and "Pattons"........
"NYO"
["JERSEY CITY-BAYONNE LOCAL"] |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 29772
Location: NEW JOISEY
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| Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2025 12:06 pm Post subject: |
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Dug this interesting 1940s TARS view from my files (Fordham & Arthur)......
https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?116596
(courtesy: nycsubway.org)
Of particular interest is the front-engined relic on the left (NOT a "Soiface" bus)........
"NYO"
["C"] |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 29772
Location: NEW JOISEY
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| Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2025 12:27 pm Post subject: |
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In this rare 1944 TARS color photo (taken at the Garden Avenue yard), note the prewar "slant back" TWIN and, also, the classic "arrow through a circle" BUS STOP sign...........
https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?116916
(courtesy: nycsubway.org)
["19"] |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 29772
Location: NEW JOISEY
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| Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2025 9:16 pm Post subject: |
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Note "Soiface" bus just visible at far left, under the IRT El (Gun Hill Rd), circa-1947.......
https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?116560
(courtesy: nycsubway.org)
["RIDE THE SURFACE WAY"] |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 29772
Location: NEW JOISEY
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| Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2025 9:21 pm Post subject: |
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Webster & Fordham, 1940s (note unidentified front-engined bus* in left background).........
https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?116722
(courtesy: nycsubway.org)
["W"]
*Wasn't there a bus company in that area known as "SOUNDVIEW"?
Could that have the been the company that operated the bus seen along the TARS car, in pic #116596?
I believe I heard of this company, long ago, possibly in this topic awhile back, or in another thread.......... |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 29772
Location: NEW JOISEY
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| Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2025 9:58 pm Post subject: |
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Sedgwick Avenue, circa-1947/1948; note the modern "Gee-Em" on the right, symbolizing the new era that was about to dawn..........
https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?116757
(courtesy: nycsubway.org)
["U"] |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 29772
Location: NEW JOISEY
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 29772
Location: NEW JOISEY
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| Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2025 8:50 pm Post subject: |
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Curious......
A number of late 1940s photos show TARS streetcars AND "Soiface" buses together up in "da Bronx"; when these photos were taken, what routes were the new buses then operating on, while the streetcars were still in operation?
Appreciate info.........
"NYO"
["RIDE THE SURFACE WAY"] |
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W.B. Fishbowl
Age: 58
Joined: 02 Oct 2014
Posts: 4255
Location: New York, New York, USA
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| Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2025 3:57 am Post subject: |
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| NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 wrote: | Curious......
A number of late 1940s photos show TARS streetcars AND "Soiface" buses together up in "da Bronx"; when these photos were taken, what routes were the new buses then operating on, while the streetcars were still in operation?
Appreciate info.........
"NYO"
["RIDE THE SURFACE WAY"] |
I can say the pics were taken in the 1947-48 period, and definitely before August 1948 when the "bustitution" was complete. Interesting that nearly a year later, in June 1949, "Soiface" declared bankruptcy, a state they remained in thru late 1956 when they were taken over by "Fackle" and reorganized as "Ess-Tee."
Almost like pictures taken in Manhattan in early 1947 along "Toid Aven-yah" and 42d Street, with the M-106 and M-104 lines running along, and on "Toid" the streetcars still clanging. |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 29772
Location: NEW JOISEY
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| Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2025 10:05 am Post subject: |
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W.B.:
Thanks for the info.
Appearance-wise, in the early "bustitution" years, "Soiface" indeed gave the (false) impression of a company that was doing quite well, financially, by the sight of their sleek, shiny new buses plying the streets, in place of the "antiquated" TARS streetcars.
Interesting, also, that the conversion of TARS streetcar lines proceeded steadily from south to north; first Manhattan, then "da Bronx", and, finally, lower Westchester.
A "coitan" ex-Mayor "LAH-guardia" had wanted all the streetcars in the city gone by 1960; indeed, he would have been MORE than pleased by TARS cars all being eliminated from Manhattan and "da Bronx" by 1948............. 
"NYO"
["X"] |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 29772
Location: NEW JOISEY
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| Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2025 10:55 am Post subject: |
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On this day in 1989..............
Service on the "M-103" ("stoa") was discontinued (59th Street-Crosstown)
"Soiface" buses replaced TARS streetcars on this line in 1946.....
'NYO"
["TARS"]
["RIDE THE SURFACE WAY"]
["MaBSTOA"]
Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Wed Sep 10, 2025 11:26 am; edited 1 time in total |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 29772
Location: NEW JOISEY
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| Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2025 11:24 am Post subject: |
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On this date in 1995.......
"Stoa" initiates service on the Third Avenue-Lexington Avenue line, re-using the old "M-103" route designation, which had not been used since 1989.........
"NYO"
["stoa"] |
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