BusTalk

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 1:05 am Post subject:

This just in!

While perusing GM production records for an upcoming 'Bus Nostalgia' piece on the GM PD 4106, I came across two buses that must be added to the Jamaica Buses roster as follows;

GM PD4106 Fleet # 310 & 311 (ser# 0025 & 0026) Delivered March 1962

Note; these particular coaches still had 8V-71 Diesels.

Additional note; I have amended the main roster to include this change.

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, NY

Q65A · Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 5:51 pm Post subject:

JBI with a couple of PD4106's? Shocked

Who knew??!!
I'll bet they looked very nice if they were painted in JBI's red & cream livery.
Nice catch, Mr. L!!!

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 11:16 pm Post subject:

Here's a rare sighting of a Jamaica Buses 1946 GM model TD 4506 fleet number 207 (I say rare sighting because while I know where the bus came from originally and I remember distinctly when it and a number of others went to Jamaica (a GBL subsidiary), I never actual saw one operating in Jamaica livery).

Anyway, here is # 207's pedigree;

# 207 was originally delivered as # 207 to the Manhattan and Queens Bus Corporation division of Green Bus Lines, Inc. of Cornell Park New York in May of 1946.

Actually, 35 TD 4506's arrived at the time with 25 (901 to 925) carrying the Green Line flag and 10 (201 to 210) destined for M & Q service on the Q60 (Queens Boulevard) route.

In May of 1947 the M & Q franchise along with all the rolling stock (including 30 1937 Model CT Macks) transferred over to Green Line.

All buses were repainted to the parent company colors and the 4506's retained their original fleet numbers.

Sometime in the late fifties most of the 200's and virtually all of the 900's went to Jamaica.

Also shown below is # 210 in original Manhattan & Queens livery.

Notice the frontal improvements including a chromium bumper, larger directional signal fixtures and the addition of the GM wings and logo under the windshield (provided by the manufacturer free of charge).

Both photos courtesy of Dennis M. Linsky

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, NY

Waynejay

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 1:33 am Post subject:

WayneJay,

I will take your information as gospel and you may consider that the record is amended.

My source had indicated Metro but was obviously in error.

Thanks for the heads up!

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, NY

ripta42 · Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:36 am Post subject:

Jamaica had at least three 1939 ACF model H-16-S buses, numbered 100 to 102. These went to Triboro Coach in 1949 as their #924-926.

JUSXTREME96 · Joined: 20 Jun 2011 Posts: 37

When were the GMC RTS T8H-203's scrapped or retired? Were they ever retrofitted? I know 302 was as Mattituck 302 at East Island Auto Parts.

roymanning2000 · Age: 75 Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 198

One of the Jamaica Flxible suburbans (I think it was 110) went to Trombly Motor Coach Service in North Andover, MA. I remember seeing it there during the 1977 MBS convention.

Roy

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2011 3:00 am Post subject:

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you all to one of the very first buses ever operated by Jamaica Buses, Inc. of Baisley Park, New York.

Attached is a factory photo of fleet number 200 - a 1931 Twin Coach Model 40 demonstrator which was folded into a fleet of thirty-seven like models that arrived at Jamaica in the following year.

You may note that # 200 is flagged for Jamaica Central Railways (Jamaica's parent) which, by the way, remained the corporate name of the company until its final day of operation in 2006.

Designed in 1927 by the Fageol Brothers in Kent, Ohio, the twin engined 40 passenger model 40 and its lesser capacity siblings were the first genuine 'street car' type transits and became a sensation selling well over a thousand to operators across the country through the mid thirties.

Photo courtesy of eBay.

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, New York

MBTA Lynn · Age: 76 Joined: 05 Jan 2012 Posts: 4

I was the driver of Trombly's ex Jamaica Buses Flxible Suburban at the MBS convention in 1977.

I started the day with an ex Eastern Mass. St. Ry. TDH5302. When we stopped at the Trombly garage, the New York members saw the ex JB Flxible and wanted the bus for the rest of the day.

It was so noisy going from neutral in to first gear that at one of the photo stops I found it easier though painful to keep it in first gear and my foot holding down the clutch pedal.

roymanning2000 · Age: 75 Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 198

MBTA Lynn,

I was on that MBS trip and rode the Flx. Trombly was one of many interesting stops. If I recall correctly, they had some ex-Manhattan Transit buses, at one time, too.

Roy

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 3:00 am Post subject:

Seen awaiting their fate at their home base in Baisley Park, New York are fleet numbers 603, 608 and another 600 not legible enough to discern with all being GM TDH 5106's and all being part a group of seventeen numbered between 601 to 612 and 651 to 655 delivered in increments between 1953 and 1958 to Jamaica Buses, Inc.

GM's 40 foot long 96 inch wide 5106's were among the handsomest and most well proportioned transit buses ever built and Jamaica's came with a special air of elegance in their original rust and cream color combination set in an angel wings and bib design as seen in the factory shot of # 607 in the lower frame.

All of Jamaica's equipment was ordered through parent company Green Bus Line's office and they happened to be partial to the option of two extra decorative stainless wings under the windshields as seen on their own later model Old Looks.

Almost immediately after the photo was taken in 1978, thirteen of these 5106's were transferred to Green Line to serve out the rest of their usable lives.

Upper photo courtesy of Vintage-Vault75 and is up for bid on eBay as item # 180897991788.

Lower photo owned by this writer.

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, New York