BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

..........also, recall that PSNJ was the ONLY bus operator that served the Journal Square-area to have its own, private, off-street terminal (closed in 1974)

The terminal featured a covered bus-loading area, ticket offices, a waiting room, and, also, a number of shops.

There was also a taxi stand.

A wooden escalator also (until the old H&M/PATH station was demolished) connected the PS concourse with the H&M.

Until the 1940's, PS streetcars also used this terminal; the old rails were still visible into the 1990's (by this time, the former bus area was being used for commuter parking)

Today, the old terminal has long since vanished, and the former PS office building/showroom is now privately owned......

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

In this nostalgic 1973 photo, we see PNJ/TNJ "first generation" Fishbowl R321, holding down a "#44 PARK AVE." run (there was also a "#44 BERGENLINE".

The old PS building is on the left; the driver has unloaded his passengers, and is ready to swing his bus around and into the terminal shed (out of sight to the right).

Remarkably, the old glass platform canopy and platform are still intact to this day, long after the terminal itself (and the entire surrounding business block) was razed.

Note, also, the GREYHOUND station across Sip Avenue........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154505

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's a VERY rare 1940's color photo showing PS buses at the old "ALL-AMERICAN" bus terminal near the site of today's PABT.

Note the different paint schemes........

https://www.fotosearch.com/clt011/kr132201

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

PSNJ's unique bus numbering.......

in 1947, PS began using a letter prefix before the fleet number, such as "A300".

This prefix defined each successive year in sequence, so that "B" stood for 1948 and "C" for 1949.

Interestingly, during 1950, no new buses were purchased, save for the prototype new-generation ASV, built by GM (D900)*

This was very unusual, as PS was buying new buses every year.

This one-of-a-kind demo, based on the 4509 which PS bought in large numbers; the "D" stood for 1950.

During this year (1950), PS took a "wait and see" attitude, to see what would be the results of the D900's testing.

The "D" prefix was then reserved for a miscellaneous or special category, hence the "D900".

There were, along the way, certain exceptions in this unique numbering system, but when the alpha character reached "Z" in 1968, the company reverted back "A", but now added the letter AFTER the number.

*After testing was completed, D900 (which never carried passengers under wire in revenue service) was sent back to Newark's PLANK ROAD shops, for conversion back into a straight diesel.

By 1960, this bus had been transferred to the HUDSON Division, and was based out of the GREENVILLE (Jersey City) garage until sometime around 1970.

D900, and a group of other retired Old Looks, were then shipped to Puerto Rico for further service.....

"NYO"

["D900"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Interestingly enough, after PS converted the ASV lines to diesel in the late 1940's, 20 YELLOW 729's were stripped of all ASV gear, renumbered, and then operated as "trippers" in gas-electric mode.

Another 20 ASV 729's were also stripped of their ASV equipment, and stored at PS's Passaic Wharf facility as an "emergency" fleet.

Sadly, they were never used again, and were later scrapped at Federal Salvage, where the rest of the ASV fleet was also scrapped.

The last surviving PS "standard" streetcars were also scrapped at this facility, from 1949 through the mid-1950's.......

"NYO"

["43 JERSEY CITY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Way back in 1925 (the Roarin' 20's era of flappers, bootleggers, jazz, and flappers), PS help to design and build over 300 gas buses*, most of which were equipped with gas-electric drives from GE and YELLOW.

This was also the largest bus order up to that time.

The gas-electric powertrain designed enabled bus drivers to run multi-stop local routes without having to shift gears.

This arrangement served as an early surrogate for the automatic transmissions that would arrive in later years.........

"NYO"

*(For many years, PS men referred to gas buses as "oilers"; later on, they used the term "juicebuggies" for the ASVs)

["1 NEWARK"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

......the 4509 was indeed a QUITE popular bus for PS, during the postwar years.

Hundreds of these once-commonplace buses were purchased from GM, over the years.

Some had front and rear doors, while others had only a single front door.

PS first purchased 4509's in 1948, when streetcars were still being operated on the HUDSON and ESSEX Divisions.

As a kid, I well remember the two-tone green 4509's running just up the block from us, on Summit Avenue, operating on the #16 and #17 lines.

Mom and I rode both lines quite often, back in the day.......

"NYO"

["17 SUMMIT"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

.....interestingly, I've read that a number of retired (PS) 4509's were shipped to Puerto Rico for further service (circa-early 1970's)

Many years back, an older (ex-PS) NJT driver I rode with every morning morning for quite a while, once told me he saw some ex-PS buses running in San Juan, during a visit......

"NYO"