BusTalk

[frankie]

Okay, now you're using my name in this context. What the heck is a "Frankie" and why that term?

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

In this nostalgic 1973 scene, we have a pristine-looking Fishbowl (looks like it might have just been repainted) and a train of Museum "Lo-Vs" at Gun Hill Road, prior to the closing of the Bronx section of the 3rd Avenue El.

Quite a difference between the olive-drab "Lo-Vs" and the shiny, two-tone blue Fishbowl!

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?57233

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["MTA"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

So much has disappeared since these two photos were taken adjacent to the former BMT station at Coney Island (Stillwell Avenue)

The Fishbowls, like the classic prewar "Arnines" and SMEE rolling stock have long since disappeared, as has the original BMT station complex.

Note also the former B&QT streetcar line pole, iktself a relic of a long-ago era............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154789

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154920

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["B.M.T. LINES"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's another nostalgic scene, this one dating back to 1972.

Here we have Fishbowl #6041 (working the "B42") awaiting passengers at the Rockaway Parkway station.

In the background, note the prewar "IND cars; one train is signed for the long-defunct "KK".............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?155220

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["B42 Rockaway Parkway Sta"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

ENY yards, 1962:

Note the Old Look (aka "Sherman") in the top photo, obviously damaged in some sort of altercation\; note, also, the signs alerting bus drivers, and, up above, the hulking "Triplex" units, awaiting their next call to duty..........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?151314

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?93066

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["ENY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Navy Street, 1957.

In one more year, the ancient BMT convertible El cars would be retired from service on the Myrtle Avenue El, while the ever-familiar Old Looks ("Shermans") would continue to soldier on, through the 1960s.........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?117125

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["NYCTA"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Like the Old look and Fishbowl down below, the Bronx "Toid Aven-uh" El has now been gone for decades, along with the venerable IRT "Lo-Vs" (this long-ago scene dates to 1965)..........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?43163

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["INTERBOROUGH"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Marcy Avenue, 1963........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?6498

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

Several Fishbowls are seen beneath the BMT tracks; these might have been the same Fishbowls which replaced the last Brooklyn trolleybuses a few years earlier (1960)............

["TA"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Broadway Junction, 1954.........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?75538

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

While the swaying, screeching, home-built BMT "C" units would be retired in two years (1956) the "Bingham" MACKS (like the bus seen here) would soldier on into the 1960s.........

["BoT"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

In this undated photo, we see a train of ancient "Q" cars climbing up the ramp at Fresh Pond Road (sad that a set of these cars were not saved for fan trips, restored as "Q"-types)

The retired "Shermans" parked between the BMT ramps were, obviously, soon to be scrapped............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?6781

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["BRIDGE-JAY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Navy Street, mid/late 1960s......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?6782

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

Compare this photo to the one taken from about same location (in 1957) whose link I posted earlier; here, we see a Fishbowl instead of an Old Look...........

"NYO"

['B.M.T."]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

Don't hold me to it, but apparently BusChat is back up and running. To make up for lost time, a whole bunch of Almanacs were put up to make up for all the months it was down.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]