NYC Area Private Bus Lines From Years Ago

[Thomas Maley]

Another one...Jackson Heights (82 st and 37 ave) Circa 1938...no credits listed

Best Regards,
Dennis

As a lifetime Jackson Heights resident, I find this picture of great interest. That appears to be a Fifth Ave. Motor Coach bus traveling on 82nd St. which was a two-way street then. I vaguely remember it being two-way as a child. That would never work today!  Love to know where you got that picture from.

[Thomas Maley]

82nd St. looks so wide then.  Today, about half that size to the naked eye.  And that stop that the bus is pulling away from is not there anymore, I believe it was moved to the other side of 37th Ave.  Also, that building on the corner to the right, is still there till this day when I was there in the neighborhood a few months ago.

Also, great pics/scans!  Thoroughly enjoying them and keep them comin'!

The bus stop was changed from the far side of the intersection to the near side. The building on the corner was Mosses' drug store,then something else. It then became a bank, and remains so today.

[Tripstop80]

The bus in the Jackson Heights picture is a Triboro Coach 1937 White 788.  They had one of the earliest fleet of this model which was produced until 1947-48

[Free-Transfer]

Another one from the Queensborough Public Library collection. Photo credit was given to an un-named employee of a real estate holding company. Jackson Heights...at the towers, circa 1930 .

Notice how pristine everything looks...almost like an artists rendering!

Best Regards,
Dennis

[RailBus63]

According to the Queensborough Public Library...this picture is from 1925???
I think it was more like 1935, but I wasn't around then.

From the history page that appeared on the Jamaica Buses website (still available):

In 1931, the City of New York announced a plan to widen Jamaica Avenue, and would require the company to spend thousands of dollars to relay its track in that street. Rather than undertaking this expensive project the company instead planned to motorize its Jamaica Avenue route, and substitute buses for the streetcars. A subsidiary, Jamaica Buses, Inc., was formed that year to operate buses on the motorized routes. The City of New York granted a franchise to Jamaica Buses, Inc. in 1933 in exchange for the surrender of all the parent company's trolley franchises. With the new bus franchise in hand, the company motorized all the routes in the latter part of the year.

So the photo had to have been taken in 1933 or later.

Jim

[Thomas Maley]

Another one...Jackson Heights (82 st and 37 ave) Circa 1938...no credits listed

Best Regards,
Dennis

Here is a picture of the same location taken by me today.

[Hart Bus]

Thomas, thanks for posting the picture of 82/37 as it is today.   Haven't been by there in about 30 years.  Of course it has changed.

I remeber as a little boy living in Sunnyside, my mom would take me to 82nd street for clothes shopping.   This action on her part necessited a lunch stop at JAHN'S at 81/37.  One time we went to Jackson Heights and I remember begging her to wait for a FACC #15 that was painted in the blue and gold livery to commemerate some occasion.  She indulged me and I was thrilled even though the inside of the bus was exactly the same as its sisters.

In one of the galleries there is a picture of a bus in the above described livery in front of the NY Public Library with another FACC coach in the traditional livery right behind it.

[Mr. Linsky]

Can anyone - forget it! I'm trying to get a picture on but it's not working again!
Sorry for taking up space.
Mr. Linsky

[Driver@BTN]

You've done it before and nothing's changed since then. If you can't attach the picture, send it to me via email and I'll edit your post and attach it for you.

[THB]

Nice photos ... thanks!!!   Fun to compare side-by-side...

THB