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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22792 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2018 4:29 pm Post subject: |
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Without a doubt, one of the most handsome (and timeless) transit bus designs of all time.......
http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?679
(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org) |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22792 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2018 8:31 am Post subject: |
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In the early days of modern transit bus construction, "boxy" was indeed the byword, design-wise.
Still, such buses did not resemble giant milk cartons........
http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?667
(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org) |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22792 Location: NEW JOISEY
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22792 Location: NEW JOISEY
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traildriver
Joined: 26 Mar 2011 Posts: 2462 Location: South Florida
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22792 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2018 8:29 am Post subject: |
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traildriver:
Thanks for sharing this; yes, "boxy" was indeed the byword with the AM GENERAL!
However, as I get older, I find myself becoming more and more "tolerant" of "boxy" buses; they may be bland, boring, and what have you, but at least they don't masquerade as giant, mutated serpents or insects from a far-off galaxy!
I have seen more recent bus designs that echo the insectoid-like designs of modern light rail vehicles; again, let me say, I'd rather be bored than frightened out of my wits!!
Ahhhhh, well...............
"NYO" |
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N4 Jamaica
Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 859 Location: Long Island
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Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2018 8:40 am Post subject: |
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On the Flushing Main Street photo from 1972, Scheck Old Look 748 is signed ROCKAWAY, while Queens Transit New Look 146 has as destination a specific intersection, 165th STREET & JAMAICA AVENUE. The sign on the left is much easier to read, but less specific in information. I tend to like the big one-word signs.
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Neither bus was a milk carton on wheels.
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I presume that Schenck could pick up fares only where Triboro did not compete. |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22792 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2018 8:42 am Post subject: |
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All:
While on the subject of "boxy" transit buses, recall, if you will, the THOMAS "Citiliner", the AM GENERAL "Transbus", the SCANIA CN112, and the MCI "Classic".
It would seem that, with a boxy vehicle which utilizes virtually no curves in its design, it is easier (and less expensive) to repair body damage that with a bus that has a body with many curved panels.
Still, a boxy design does little for eye appeal (but, perhaps, that only matters to bus enthusiasts); I don't think that riders care much about the actual "look" of a bus, as long as it gets then to and from their destinations in a reasonable time at a reasonable fare.
Anyway, that's my take on this (Man, do I miss those Old Looks and Fishbowls!).......
"NYO"
Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Thu Jul 12, 2018 9:08 am; edited 1 time in total |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22792 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2018 8:51 am Post subject: |
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N4 Jamaica wrote: | On the Flushing Main Street photo from 1972, Scheck Old Look 748 is signed ROCKAWAY, while Queens Transit New Look 146 has as destination a specific intersection, 165th STREET & JAMAICA AVENUE. The sign on the left is much easier to read, but less specific in information. I tend to like the big one-word signs.
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Neither bus was a milk carton on wheels.
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I presume that Schenck could pick up fares only where Triboro did not compete. |
N4:
I recall seeing many photos of vintage buses nationwide (back the roller curtain days) where the front destination sign would read only one word in large letters, such as:
"DOWNTOWN"
"EXPRESS"
"CITY"
Recall, also, the long-ago GM suburbans, that often had a small roller sign just to the left of the front door.
I never liked the dot matrix/LED signs; these are virtually impossible to decipher until the bus is practically right in front of you; bright, sunny days also make such signs difficult to read (this is indeed a problem for vision-impaired riders)
Back in the 1990's, ACADEMY's Metros featured HUGE front roller curtains that could be seen a half-block away; the "Boulevard East" run I commuted on for years displayed "HOBOKEN PATH TUBES" in huge letters; the drivers were not fond of the electronic signs that replaced them.
Several drivers I was friends with told me that they preferred just flipping a switch to change the sign, than to have to bother with umpteen codes on a keypad.
The new signs were clearly not as easily read as the old (LARGE!!) roller curtains so commonplace many years ago; today's subway equipment also could use much larger front end signs.
Recall the huge "Alphabet Soup" route letters on cars such as the R-40's and R-42's? (as delivered)
Remember, too, the huge front roller boxes on the old "Brightliners"; they could be seen from a good distance, and also included the destination.
After their 1980's rebuilds, the tiny electronic sign they now carry is so small as to be actually laughable............
And so it goes........
"NYO"
Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Thu Jul 12, 2018 9:06 am; edited 1 time in total |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22792 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2018 9:05 am Post subject: |
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Here is a scene I knew well for many years! (Hoboken terminal, 1990's)
As you can easily see, the sign in the front window is MUCH EASIER to read than the (MUCH larger!) electronic sign!!!
The 3200's could also be found on the rush-hour only "BOULEVARD EAST" line; I rode these buses for years.
Their high-backed seats were particularly comfortable after a long day at the office........
http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?3356 |
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N4 Jamaica
Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 859 Location: Long Island
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Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2018 12:31 pm Post subject: |
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Yesterday you posted a link to Queens Transit RTS Bus 1 in the College Point yard, surrounded by four New Looks in 1981.
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The RTS has a hand-lettered sign, CLEARVIEW. I cannot imagine what route that was.
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Anyhow, to tell a school tale from Houma, Louisiana, in the 1960's. At the end of the day, some elementary school students boarded buses. Many walked to nearby homes. The principal had all line up in the gym, and would call the buses for orderly dismissal. "Now, Bus 2!" would mean the walkers, with two feet. It was not the second RTS. |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22792 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2018 1:28 pm Post subject: |
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N4 Jamaica wrote: | Yesterday you posted a link to Queens Transit RTS Bus 1 in the College Point yard, surrounded by four New Looks in 1981.
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The RTS has a hand-lettered sign, CLEARVIEW. I cannot imagine what route that was.
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Anyhow, to tell a school tale from Houma, Louisiana, in the 1960's. At the end of the day, some elementary school students boarded buses. Many walked to nearby homes. The principal had all line up in the gym, and would call the buses for orderly dismissal. "Now, Bus 2!" would mean the walkers, with two feet. It was not the second RTS. |
N4:
This is really interesting; thanks for sharing!
PSNJ/TNJ, through the 70's, operated school service; the buses (Old Looks and Fishbowls) would be affixed with large school flashers and metal "SCHOOL BUS" signs would be mounted on the dash.
This was all prior to NJT; I recall seeing these buses many, many times, in years past.
The RTS was, to me, for many years, an "exotic" bus; the first time I rode one was an MBTA unit up in Boston, back in 1993 (and also 1997); they first came to my area (the NOVA versions) about 1997, when NJT began operating them.
ACADEMY also had them; I can recall one of two (at least) that were ex-MTA coaches; I rode these many, many times on the #22 and Boulevard East runs.
Time flies much too fast for me; it has been well over a decade since RTS's were seen in my area; I know they are all gone now.........
"NYO"
Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Thu Jul 12, 2018 2:28 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22792 Location: NEW JOISEY
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22792 Location: NEW JOISEY
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22792 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2018 2:26 pm Post subject: |
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Always interesting to see the profound evolution in transit bus design, through the decades.......
http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?422
(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.or) |
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