BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Agreed 100%.

The excellent photos you've posted here over time have indeed made some inroads in "filling the gaps", regarding the photos not in the nycsubway.org collection.

Also, only ONE (color) FACL photo (from 1962) in the nycsubway.org archives, post-1960, and (again NOT surprisingly) MO photos of FACL "Jetsons".

One would think there would be at least some early/mid-60's photos of "Shermans" and "Pattons" at the St. George terminal; I cannot recall seeing any Fishbowls" at St. George until later in the 1960's.

One old postcard (circa-1963) I have, which Mom bought me at the Whitehall Street terminal newsstand over 60 years ago, depicts a spectacular panoramic view of the St. George terminal (complete with long lines of vehicles waiting for the SI and 69th Street boats); no less than 17 "Shermans" and "Pattons" are seen here.

Ahhh, to go back to those days..............

"NYO"

["R107 FERRY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Recalling the long-ago "Sherman" era on "The Isle of Staten"...............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154941

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154946

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["R7"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here we have what amounts to the oldest (nycsubway.org) Fishbowl photo taken on the "Isle of Staten" (1965)

Note that "Jetson" #1104 carries an ad rack behind the rear wheels; also note the "SPECIAL" reading on the roller sign (and, also, the notices taped to the windows)

Could this have been tied in to the introduction of Fishbowls on "R" routes?

(and note that gorgeous '59/'60 PONTIAC bringing up the rear!)

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?153188

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["SPECIAL"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

It's now 1971, and here we see "Jetson" #1038 awaiting departure from the St. George terminal (the air-raid siren atop the terminal roof was a stoic reminder of the Cold War era of the 1950s and early 1960s)

Less than a decade earlier, a "Sherman" or a "Patton" would have been on hand at the St. George platforms.............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?153176

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["1038"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The "Isle of Staten" in 1971..........

The Staten Island Ferry then had a fleet of 8 active boats (the "GOLD STAR MOTHER" of 1937 had just been retired; the ferry was then operated with the two-remaining boats of the "MISS NEW YORK" class (both soon to be retired), the three "MERRELL"-class boats, and the 1965 "KENNEDY"-class diesels.

The ailing SIRT, now a part of the MTA, (indeed, quite short of rolling stock) was still operating its venerable 1925 ME-1's (these ancient cars would be retired in 1973, replaced by the R-44s)

The B&O was also then still operating freight/float service on "The Isle of Staten".

The beefy, lumbering "Pattons" had already been gone from "R" routes a few years, and the few remaining "Shermans" running on "The Isle Of Staten" were then living on borrowed time........

"NYO"

["B&O"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

The scenario you just described does makes sense; the photo whose link I posted might very well have been part of a "Tee-Yay" promotional, regarding the upcoming debut of express bus service over the new VZ Bridge (recall, the VZ only had one level back then)

Last time Your's Truly rode a Staten Island "Sherman" was back around 1968/1969, when my folks and I rode from St. George to Richmondtown.

Several years earlier, I remember Mom and I riding "Pattons" to South Beach (Mom recalled riding the SIRT there, back in the later 1920s/early 1930s)

Eons ago............

"NYO"

["R8X"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here is an excellent "in depth" page (with many interesting photos) on the VZ Bridge (bus services are described in the "public transportation" section)

Note that there were proposals for subway operation over the Bridge, but, of course, the Great Messiah Of The Automobile, Mr. Moses, nixed those proposal without hesitation.

Tolls were 50 cents when the span opened in 1964; like most other bridges and tunnels these days, the once-commonplace toll booths have disappeared---------

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verrazzano-Narrows_Bridge

["TO STATEN ISLAND-KEEP LEFT"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Speaking of of the mighty VZ Bridge (and buses!) here's a nostalgic Brooklyn photo from 1973..............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?153543

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["3715"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

In these 1981 photos, we have hard-workin' "Dangerfields" (MTA and DC) in SI express service, with the VZ Bridge in the background..............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154959

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?155776

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["X17"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

St. George, 1973.

Here's two "Dangerfields" and a Fishbowl at the ferry terminal, patiently awaiting their respective outbound runs.

Note that "Dangerfield" #5607 has an empty front sign box*, and is carrying taped signs in the windshield...............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154614

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

*(As does the Fishbowl bringing up the rear)

["5607"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Bay & Borough (St. George) 1981

Here we have a DC "Dangerfield" leading a "Borough Bomber".......the very same type of bus that the DC units trekked northwards to fill in for (note that the "Dangerfield's" dash has already been "decorated" by a some young urban "artist" with too much time on his hands..............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?155308

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["MetroBus"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Hylan & Richmond, 1981.............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?155773

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["M"]