BusTalk

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2023 1:05 pm Post subject:

frankie:

Actually (and,I remember I grew up NJ) ALL Old Looks sound particularly "throaty" and "gutsy" when idling; this ranged from a steady "gugguggugguggugguggug" to a deep, throaty, almost arrogant-sounding "GRUMMMGRUMMGRUMMGRUMMGRUMM".

If one rode on a suburban Old Look (with manual transmission) you also had the distinct "shift" noises for your ears to savor.

Then, too (our late friend and expert on all-things buses, Mr ."L" commented on this, many years back, after I had brought the subject up); there were those Old Look transits I remember (NJ) that, as the bus was slowing down for a stop, would emit a short, sharp report, followed by a heavy "CLUNK!"

I still remember these distinctive sounds, even after all these years!

frankie:

You said your dad worked at the ENY depot (THAT had to have been interesting!)

Was he still working there when the Fishbowls began to arrive?

Yes, the buses of old were ever so much more fascinating and, yes, even endearing, than the rolling computers and giant caterpillars that pass as buses, nowadays.........

"NYO"

["NYCTA"]

MaBSTOA 15 · Age: 70 Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 1059

And I just remembered that I have a couple of photos, taken with a Kodak Instamatic camera ( remember them with a cube flash bulbs?) of a couple of brand new 1969 Dangerfields on the B58 Ridgewood Line. Including an interior shot of the driver turning the bus. Btw, this was the only time I rode an NYCTA Flxible.

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2023 1:12 pm Post subject:

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2023 1:15 pm Post subject:

frankie:

Check out this view of the BMT's ENY yards, circa-late 1950's; note the Old Looks parked below the train level (here we have a yard full of then-new R-16's)........

"NYO"

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?97837

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["BMT LINES"]

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2023 1:26 pm Post subject:

ENY, 1958 (note the large number of buses, whose tops are just visible).........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?75644

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["ENY"]

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2023 1:33 pm Post subject:

This rare (and fascinating!) 1918 view at ENY (showing the same general area shown in the previous two photos) depicts a sea of streetcars and wooden BRT elevated trains (traction paradise!) Wink

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?114249

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["BROOKLYN RAPID TRANSIT"]

frankie · Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2023 1:44 pm Post subject:

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2023 1:50 pm Post subject:

frankie:

GREAT memories; for certain!

Your dad was indeed of a vanished breed, like my dad (he repaired, and drove, trucks) for 40 years, before retiring in 1969)

I would have given anything to go back in time and visit the ENY facilities in your dad's time....man, the now-classic buses that were on hand then, way back in the day!

"Open houses"on transit properties seem to have gone the way of the old, long-gone, well-patronized ERA excursions; a different time, place, and world, altogether.....

'NYO"

MaBSTOA 15 · Age: 70 Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 1059

The 1969 Dangerfields on the B58 Ridgewood Line.

The photos are dated April 1970

Great Instamatic quality!

MaBSTOA 15 · Age: 70 Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 1059

Earlier it was mentioned that the TA moved the Mack fleet numbers to one side in order to accommodate the front ad racks.

Here we see MaBSTOA 4975, a Mack C-49-DT, with the smaller fleet numbers in order to accommodate the front ad rack. Note the Mack emblem was either removed or simply covered over with the rack.

4975 was ex-Surface Transit 2975

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2023 2:25 pm Post subject:

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Shocked

I REPEAT:

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Shocked

These are OUTSTANDING photos; man, pics like these really make the "good old days" (bus-wise!) come alive again!!!!!!!!!!!!! Very Happy

These are EXCLLENT little "time capsules", for certain....THANK YOU for posting here!!! Wink

"NYO"

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2023 2:30 pm Post subject:

frankie:

Here is the former ENY car depot, not long after being converted to a bus garage (note all the new MACKS)

You can just make out remains of the old streetcar rails curving in from the street; note the old line poles, still in place.

An ancient double-ended 8000-series Peter Witt is passing by the former streetcar facility, now totally taken over by buses...........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?46323

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["B&QT"]

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2023 5:52 pm Post subject:

The timeless B&QT convertible seen here (#2510) was the photographer's main subject in this wonderfully "ol'-timey", circa-1940, photo at ENY, the assortment of prewar buses are also more than worthy of attention (these buses looked QUITE old-fashioned, even then!) Rolling Eyes

(note, also, the BMT "Standards" in the left background)

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?117437

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["BERGEN"]

W.B. Fishbowl · Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2023 8:03 pm Post subject:

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2023 8:12 pm Post subject:

Funny about "Pattons" in NJ, back in the day.........

MACK-wise, the local "indy" companies I recall so vividly growing up, 60-odd years ago, pretty much seemed to favor the older models, such as the C-41's and C-45's.

Old Looks (various models), WHITES, and assorted other relics pretty much made of these fleets, until Fishbowls began arriving, later in the decade.

In fact, the only MACK suburban models I can remember were those rostered by ORANGE & BLACK............

"NYO"

["1 JOURNAL SQUARE"]