BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

On this date in 1978 that, during demolition work at the former PS Terminal in Newark (the last streetcars departed in 1938, the last ASV's in 1948, and the the last buses, circa 1966)

During the demolition, workers broke through the roof of the long-disused outbound connector to the Cedar St. Subway (last used in 1938), and, also, severely damaged the two PCC's (both OOS) that had been stored there.

Both cars were cut up on the spot; TNJ was able to salvage parts from these two cars before they were totally cut up.......

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The aformentioned connections to/from the lower level of the PS Terminal, via the Cedar St. Subway, were only used from 1937 through 1938.

These connections were used only during rush hours; the last line to use it was the "#43 JERSEY CITY".

Why PS went through the expense of building this connection, which was only briefly used, is still puzzling today.

For decades, work cars and OOS equipment were stored in these long-disused connectors, located between Penn Station and Broad St. (Military Park).........

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The Cedar St. Subway itself dated to 1916, and was used by those streetcar lines that did not use the upper level of the PS Terminal.

There was only one intermediate station in the subway, which connected to KRESGE'S department store (basement level)

It was not until 1937 that the connection between the lower level of the PS terminal and the City Subway opened; as noted here earlier, this connection was abandoned only one year later (1938)......

"NYO"

[traildriver]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver:

I am not 100% sure, but I believe that TRAILWAYS stopped curbside at the PS Terminal; GREYHOUND called at Penn Station.

In a book I have about the history of the City Subway, there is a circa-1950 photo of a PS "Compromise" roof streetcar on the #29 subway-surface line on Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair, being trailed by a (Greyhound) SILVERSIDES.

MARTZ also served Newark; I have a TT from 1979 that still lists Newark as a stop (the PS Terminal was gone by that late date)

The 1979 TT lists the MARTZ "station" as being located at 1171 Raymond Boulevard......

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

.......also, in my bus timetable collection, I have a (Winter, 1964) "LINCOLN TRANSIT" ("LINCOLN LIMITED") timetable that has certain buses serving Newark Airport.

I also have a "flyer"-type schedule for GREYHOUND's (New Jersey) "TURNPIKE EXPRESS" service (SCENICRUISERS, HIGHWAY TRAVELERS, and the "GOLDEN CHARIOT" were used on these runs)

These buses served both Jersey City (Journal Square) and Newark.....

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Getting back to the PS Terminal.......

The PS Terminal was the location of two interlocking towers; one, at street level, was used by cars entering the Cedar St. subway.

The Terminal's other signal/interlocking tower was located in the lower level of the PS Terminal; I believe that the tower that was located in the lower level was later used by bus dispatchers.

Until the City Subway began operations in 1935, these were the only two towers used on the PS system.

When the Subway opened as far as Broad Street in 1935, a tower was built into the tunnel wall, above the tracks, just beyond the Broad Street platforms, to control the crossover/switches.

There was also a small "tower" on the outbound platform at the Norfolk Street station, which was used to switch streetcars of the "#23 CENTRAL" off the main line and up the ramp/trestle to street level (the "#23" went over to buses in December of 1947)

The tower, long boarded up, remained in place until the Subway rebuilding of the early 1980's.

When the Subway was extended to Penn Station in 1937, a new tower began operation at that location.

[traildriver]