BusTalk Forum Index BusTalk
A Community Discussing Buses and Bus Operations Worldwide!
 
 BusTalk MainBusTalk Main FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups BusTalk GalleriesBusTalk Galleries   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

One era ends, and another begins (August, 1949)

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    BusTalk Forum Index -> General Bus Forum - All Bus Topics
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22281
Location: NEW JOISEY

PostPosted: Fri Dec 05, 2014 12:17 am    Post subject: One era ends, and another begins (August, 1949) Reply with quote

This photo, clearly dating to 1949, depicts the end of one era in Hudson County transportation and the beginning of another.

Here, you are looking at one of the approaches to the PSNJ yards at Greenville, Jersey City.

At one time, the big PS facility handled streetcars, ASV's, and motor buses.

There is a new PS bus on the left; note that its destination sign has a blank reading.

Now, note PS "Compromise Roof" streetcar #2804; the "bug eye" markers on the roof were a spotting feature of the cars based out of Union City (the markers were required by a Union City ordinance then on the books)

That this Union City-based streetcar is at the Greenville yards at Jersey City, is telling us that the car is there to await cutting up and then, later, bieng trucked in sections to FEDERAL in Newark for scrapping.

When PS replaced all streetcars in Hudson County in 1949, the cars based out of the Union City carbarns deadheaded to the Greenville yards, where scrapping operations began (NOT a pleasant sight, to be sure, for the traction buffs of the day!)

In fact, as lines of shiny new PS buses waited to begin service, the faithful old streetcars were being cut up, even as the remaining cars were finishing out their last full day of service.

Three new Jersey City PS bus lines began operating when the last streetcar pulled down its pole for the last time.

These were:

JACKSON No.7

JACKSON No.8

OAKLAND No. 37

Today, over 65 years later, the once-familiar grey and white PS Old Looks have long since been relegated to the corridors of history, just like the big orange streetcars they replaced on that long-ago August day in 1949.....

"NYO"

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?118360

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22281
Location: NEW JOISEY

PostPosted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 2:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

When the two remaining PS streetcar lines based out of the Union City carbarns (which already had been serving buses for years, in addition to the streetcars) made thier final runs on the same day that the Jersey City streetcars were retired in August of 1949, two new Union City bus lines were created

"17 SUMMIT" (formerly the "SUMMIT" streetcar line)

"19 UNION CITY" (formerly the "UNION CITY" streetcar line)

Several other car lines that formerly were based at Union City had already been converted to bus/ASV some years before.

The ASV's were gone by 1947; NJT continued to used the facility until the early 1990's........

"NYO"
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22281
Location: NEW JOISEY

PostPosted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 3:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This 1940's photo taken in Jersey City provides us with a typical view of the late streetcar era in Hudson County; here we see both a PS prewar coach, as well as a decidedly more modern member of the PS fleet in the background......

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?116272
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
N4 Jamaica




Joined: 16 Apr 2007
Posts: 858
Location: Long Island

PostPosted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 5:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the link to the photo of the Jackson car leaving the el at Pavonia, Central, and Summit. Google Street View of that intersection shows that a house in the photo still stands there, the house with two windows in the mansard roof, 3 windows in the 2nd floor, and a door left of two windows on the first floor.
---
I recall those white ads for ferries on both buses and PSCT streetcars. I think other such signs advertised Palisades Amusement Park.
---
Thanks for the explanation of the Union City "bug eyes." They may have replaced a mandated kerosene red lantern hanging in the rear window. One night when we were on a Jackson car, the pole jumped near Communipaw Ave. Dad explained that was why Union City required the lantern (or red roof lights, later, it seems); so there would be some marker on a darkened car.
Joe
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22281
Location: NEW JOISEY

PostPosted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 6:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

N4:

You are quite welcome!

Yes, the red "bug eye" markers soon became an easy way for area "juice fans" to identify those cars based out of Union City; the cars based out of GREENVILLE (Jersey City) were not equipped with them, as they did not utilize Union City trackage.

Likewise, ESSEX Division cars were not equipped with such markers; however, they did carry route number boxes, which were not used on the HUDSON (or BERGEN) Division cars.

One drawback of the Hudson County streetcars being replaced by buses was that the routes terminating at Hoboken Terminal now had to use city streets and encounter a number of traffic lights en route; as the streetcars all utilized the "El", they had a very quick run to the Terminal, only stopping at a few elevated stations along the way.

Incidently, the El (highest trolley trestle of its kind) was demolished by LIPSETT, the same outfit that scrapped the remains of the famous liner "NORMANDIE".

The very last of the lofty trestle came down in 1950......

"NYO"


Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Sat Dec 06, 2014 10:44 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22281
Location: NEW JOISEY

PostPosted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 6:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This is a late 1930's view of the Union City barns (then serving PS streetcars, buses, and ASV's); the streetcar on the left is of a unique PS design, a "Compromise roof car".

The car on its right is an older deck-roof car (also, note the PS bus on the extreme right)

As you can clearly see here, during the 30's, PS Union City cars were yet to be equipped with the red "bug eye" markers (this is the New York Avenue side of the facility).....

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?118323

(photo courtesy of nycsubway.org)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22281
Location: NEW JOISEY

PostPosted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 6:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The sleek new PS GMC makes for a sharp contrast to the old-fashioned Compromise roof streetcar in this late 1940's Jersey City scene.

Note the streetcar is not equipped with "bug eyes", indicating that the car was based out of Greenville (Jersey City)

One era ends....another begins.....

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?116279

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)


Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Sat Dec 06, 2014 10:42 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22281
Location: NEW JOISEY

PostPosted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 8:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The tough, hulking, no-nonsense appearance of PS's vintage front-engined buses is quite apparent in this classic scene at the PS terminal at Paterson, dating to 1937.

Through the 1930's, multiple streetcar and bus lines converged upon this facility; the streetcar on the left is operating on an early NRHS excursion (though still signed for the "HUDSON RIVER" line), another 'HUDSON RIVER" line car is awaiting its departure for the 125th st. ferry terminal in Edgewater.

Streetcar service to Paterson ended in 1938, when the BERGEN Division car lines were converted to bus.........

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?117018

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)


Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Sun Dec 07, 2014 1:47 am; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22281
Location: NEW JOISEY

PostPosted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 10:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

At the approach to the upper level of the massive (now demolished) PS terminal in Newark, back in 1937, we see streetcar #3212 on a fan excursion.

Note, however, #3212 is signed for the "#23 CENTRAL", then a subway-surface line that utilized the City Subway to enter downtown Newark.

Note the contrasts in prewar PS buses on the left; this area is vastly changed today, without even the slightest reminder that this huge multi-modal terminal ever existed.

The last streetcars used the PS terminal in 1938, and the last ASV's (which used the Cedar St. Subway to access the lower level) in 1947.

The last PS buses to use either the lower or the upper level of the Terminal ran in the late 1960's.......

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?117012

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    BusTalk Forum Index -> General Bus Forum - All Bus Topics All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You can attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group