BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Thoughts........

After the demise of STEINWAY's streetcar operations in the later 1930's (with the exception of the cars of the QBRy, which lasted until 1957), the only streetcars to serve Queens were those coming in from Brooklyn (B&QT)

A few things I am curious about:

When the IND subway pushed into Queens (initiating service in 1933) were any new "feeder" bus lines initiated to enable Manhattan-bound riders to connect with the IND trains?

As new residential neighborhoods were developed in Queens, were new bus lines established to serve these new developments, or, were some extensions of existing routes?

Also, when did the "Q" prefix for the bus routes come into usage?

The following is from "NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT BUSES" (Martin)........

"........buses from the newly formed QUEENS-NASSAU TRANSIT CORP. replaced streetcars in 1937. Likewise, the STEINWAY RAILWAY converted its operation to buses in 1938, operating under the new name STEINWAY TRANSIT........."

".......in 1951, a new franchise was granted for the Q-65A, a short but lucrative route connecting the Q-65 at 164th Street and Jewel Avenue, to the IND subway at Queens Boulevard......"

"NYO"

["STEINWAY"]

[traildriver]

Not all streetcars in Queens were extensions from Brooklyn.
One that I am familiar with was the New York and Queens County, College Point-Flushing-Jamaica line, that passed within a quarter mile of my future home. This line was pretty closely followed by the Queens-Nassau Transit Q-65. The "branch" off it at 164th Street and Jewel Avenue became the Q-65A, since renamed the Q-64. This branch was fed by the large Electchester Co-op, built by the IBEW Local 3 electrician's union beginning in 1951, as well as the NYC Housing Authority Pomonok housing project, both built on the former site of the Pomonok Country Club golf course. The line spurred the development of new garden apartments and row houses along its route toward Forest Hills, feeding the IND subway Queens Blvd line, and the LIRR station a block further.
As sleepy little Queens College, close by grew in size, its commuter students also contributed more and more traffic.

As late as the 1960's, the portion of 164 Street passing between Kissena Park, and the Kissena Park golf course was still covered by cobblestones, and the streetcar tracks were intact. They might still be there, covered in alsphalt...
That streetcar line had an interesting history, especially where the line crossed between Kissena Park and the 'corridor park'....the builders had a 'war' with the Central RR of Long Island, whose now abandoned Central Branch had to be crossed...


Photo near where my Queens apartment would be built...
https://forgotten-ny.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/164th-jewel.jpg

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver:

Greatly appreciate your input, as always.....thank you!

That photo you posted a link to easily could have been taken along PSNJ's BERGEN or CENTRAL Divisions, in the more rural areas along the route!

I have a copy of an excellent little book, "LOST TROLLEYS OF QUEENS AND LONG ISLAND" (Meyers); the photo collection is outstanding, showing both a "built up Queens", many decades ago, as well as areas that were still QUITE rural!

One timeless 1930's photo shows a handsome center entrance car of the "MANHATTAN & QUEENS TRACTION COMPANY" humming and clattering along the median strip ROW along Queens Boulevard.

There is little motor traffic, and woods grow along both sides of the boulevard; the caption states that today a forest of apartment houses line the thoroughfare, and the IND subway runs underground.

There are many rare photos in this book, a few showing BRT El trains sharing the surface rails with streetcars, prior the building of the Jamaica El.

BRT train crews had to attach streetcar-style "basket fenders" to the lead car, while running on surface trackage; headlights were also required for night running.

It was also interesting see a number of photos of the older, deck-roof streetcars of the "NEW YORK & QUEENS COUNTY RAILWAY"; many of them were virtually identical to the oldest PSNJ cars then still running along New Jersey rails.

I recommend this interesting little softcover book to all.........

"NYO"

["BROAD-WAY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

When STEINWAY abandoned its streetcar operations, the line running across the Queensboro Bridge was retained; this line had originally been designed for STEINWAY rolling stock.

The City of New York decided that that its ancient equipment had to be modified for "safe bridge operation"; while the cars were being upgraded, TARS leased some of its newest cars to the bridge railway, as temporary replacements.

The cars had safety equipment installed for safe bridge operation; this included changing from two motors per car to four, and the addion of a safety light beneath the headlight.

These cars themselves, in turn, were replaced by streamlined, modern-looking cars from UNION STREET RAILWAY (Mass); these cars ran until the line was abandoned in 1957, New York's very last trolley line........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?118586

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["QBRy."]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The diminutive, now-iconic "Birney Safety Car" (this "Toonerville"-type also ran in Brooklyn until the 1930's) always seemed to be pretty much "out of place" on heavy-duty "big city" systems.

PSNJ also once operated them, on lightly-traveled lines.

Here is a rare color photo of STEINWAY Birney #1671, quietly basking in the sunshine........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?118590

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["WOODSIDE"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's a photo of one of the second-hand cars from Massachusetts at Queensboro Plaza, prior to repainting.

Note the "Queen Mary" in the right background.......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?46230

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["MANHATTAN"]

[X-Astorian]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

X-Astorian.......

I appreciate the "heads-up" on this one; thanks for providing this information.

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Streetcars crossing the East River (during more "recent" times).........

B&QT streetcars ceased operating over the Brooklyn Bridge in 1950 (the BMT El trains stopped crossing in 1944)

This left the Queensboro Bridge as the only East River span to carry streetcars across the river, until QBRy service ended in 1957,marking the end of streetcar operation not only in New York City, but also, New York State itself...........

"NYO"

[B&QT"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

As we all know, INTERBOROUGH elevated trains entering Queens via the QB ran until 1942.

This 1976 photo shows the then-new Roosevelt Island Tram, along with the complex steel girderwork that once carried the El tracks across the bridge.........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?38700

(courtesy: nycsubway.org

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Queens Blvd & 40th, 1981...........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154208

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156262

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["MaBSTOA"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Roosevelt & 79th, 1981............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154197

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["M32"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Queens Blvd & Jackson, 1981.........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154177

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["8567"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"DATELINE: 1981"......

Here, a battered, weary-looking, patched-up TRIBORO Fishbowl (#965) is seen OOS, alongside COMMAND Fishbowl #215.

Note, also, that the bus is now minus its roller curtains (and ads); IMHO, this bus was not long away from a date with the torch.......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?155283

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["TRIBORO COACH CORP."]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Sure looks like QUEENS TRANSIT "Sherman" #882 is still recovering from some sort of "hangover", on a sunny day back in '75...........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?153753

(courtesy:nycsubway.org)

["882"]