BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

Let's just say that Mom MORE than enjoyed indulging her transit-infatuated youngster, back in the day!

Until my oldest brothers married, we had three cars in the family, and yet, Mom and I rode the buses far more than going anywhere by car.

Why?

Back in the 60s, we had no less than THREE bus lines that used the stop about 30 feet from our front stop; they ran every few minites, and most local fares were between 10 and 15 cents.

PLUS, Mom knew I LOVED buses!!!!

'nuff said!

Getting back to Staten Island, until about 1966, all of the NYCTA buses that operated out of the St. George ferry terminal were all Old Looks and MACKS.

The Staten Island MACKS were gone by about 1968, and the last Old Looks disappeared around 1973.

Again, I am MOST FORTUNATE for so many WONDERFUL Memories....thanks, Mom!

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

Here are a few photos of Old Looks on Staten Island in their twilight years.......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154940

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

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

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["New York City Transit Authority"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Historical note:

On this day in 1971, the MTA/SIRTOA took over operations of the SIRT's Tottenville line from the B&O.

Today, the line is known as the MTA's "Staten Island Railway".......

"NYO"

["GREAT KILLS EXPRESS"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

On this day in 1942, the Erie Railroad discontinued ferry service between the massive Union Ferry Terminal at W. 23rd Street, Manhattan, and Pavonia Avenue, Jersey City.

Two boats were regularly assigned to this crossing, the "GOSHEN", and the "TUXEDO".

The "GOSHEN" was acquired by the US NAVY, along with another Erie ferryboat, the "RUTHERFORD".

The "TUXEDO" was then assigned to the railroad's Chambers Street crossing; the "TUXEDO" was one of the last boats in service when the Erie shut down all trans-Hudson ferry service in late 1958.

The CNJ discontinued ferry service from Jersey City to W. 23rd Street in 1943; the last DL&W boats from W. 23rd Street ran to Hoboken in December, 1946............

"NYO"

["TO UPPER DECKS OF FERRY BOATS"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

This year (2025)..............

2025 marks 120 years since the City of New York took over operations of the ferry from Whitehall Street to St. George; it had been operated by the Staten Island Rapid Transit (electrification, however, did not come about until 1925)

A massive modernization program took place with the City takeover, including a new, all-steel, two-level terminal at Whitehall Street (equipped for upper deck loading), installation of upper deck loading facilities at St. George, as well as an all-new fleet of double-ended ferries, "THE FIVE BOROUGHS" class.

At the time they entered service, they were the most powerful ferries on the East Coast; their cabins boasted elaborate woodwork, as well as leaded glass skylights in the upper deck cabins.

A few of these handsome, twin-stacked ferries remained in service as "spares" until the late 1940s.................

"NYO"

["DEPARTMENT OF PLANT & STRUCTURES"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Longevity..........

The now-retired "PVT. JOHN F. KENNEDY" had the distinction of being in service longer than any other boat in the SI fleet.

She (and her two sisters, the first diesel-electric boats in the fleet) entered service in 1965 to much fanfare (Mom and I rode this sleek new ferry, not long after she entered service!)

Now converted into a floating "comedy club", this now-historic vessel is now the sole survivor of the "KENNEDY" Class boats.

It should also be noted that these three boats were also the last SI boats designed to carry vehicles..........

"NYO"

['DEPARTMENT OF MARINE AND AVIATION"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

See also:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_John_F._Kennedy

["PLEASE KEEP HANDS OFF THE GATES"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The "OLLIS"-class boats were the new ferries which replaced the veteran "Kennedy"-class, after serving for several decades......

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ollis-class_ferry

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

On this day in 1905......

The wooden DL&W terminal (also used by the Hoboken Ferry) at Hoboken was destroyed by a massive blaze.

The ferryboat "HOPATCONG", laying over in one of the slips, was also destroyed.

The present historic terminal opened in 1907; this monolithic, majestic terminal is today used by NJT trains and the HBLR, as well as "Waterway" ferries......."

"NYO"

["BARCLAY ST. BOAT"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

On this day in 1948..........

The last sidewheel (walking beam) ferryboats in NY Harbor make their final crossings between Tottenville (Staten Island) and Perth Amboy, NJ.

The "CHARLES W. GALLOWAY" and the "PERTH AMBOY" were operated by the Staten Island Rapid Transit; the SIRT sold the crossing to "SUNRISE FERRIES", which operated small, open-deck diesels.

This company operated the crossing until late 1963, when it was closed down (Mom and I often rode these little boats, in their final years!)

The two diesel boats I remember were the "IRVINGTON" and the "PIERMONT".......

"NYO"

["SERVICE EVERY 15 MINUTES"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

On this day in 1964..........

The always-bustling 69th Street Ferry (primarily a vehicular carrier), between St. George and Brooklyn, ceased operations, with the opening of the new VZ Bridge; in hindsight, it was foolhardy to shut down this ferry line, which would have been a most welcome alternate today, given that the bridge is so often gridlocked.

Seven former 'Electric Ferries" provided the service; last crossing was made by "THE TIDES".

Between 1965 and 1967, "THE TIDES" and "THE NARROWS" were on charter to the CRRNJ, operating between Liberty Street (Manhattan) and Jersey City, where commuter train connections were made.

After 1967, "THE TIDES" went to the Coast Guard for its Governors Island run; "THE NARROWS" was stripped of parts to keep her sister in operation.

The rest of the fleet later operated between Chester and Bridgeport (PA); this line was closed down many years ago.

Sadly, none of the former 69th Street boats survive today.

As a young lad, Mom and I rode this busy crossing often, so, thankfully, I have many wonderful memories, now well over 60 years ago......

"NYO"

"THIS LANE FOR BROOKLYN FERRY ONLY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Further:

At the time that the 69th Street Ferry shut down in late 1964, there were (as previously mentioned) seven boats in the fleet......

"THE TIDES"

"THE NARROWS"

"ST. GEORGE"

"HUDSON"

"GOTHAM"

"HAMILTON"

"E.G. DIEFENBACH"

Though the boats had passenger cabins on the upper deck, the main deck was entirely devoted to vehicular space..........

"NYO"

["TO BROOKLYN"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

it should also be noted that, until December, 1950, the vessels that served the 69th Street Ferry until late 1964, operated on the "ELECTRIC FERRY" line between Edgewater, NJ, and W. 125th Street.

This important crossing, BTW, was operated by PSNJ (using steam-powered board) until "ELECTRIC FERRIES" took over the line in 1943....

"NYO"

Note:

The 2/4/50 issue of the "SATURDAY EVENING POST" features an EXCELLENT Norman Rockwell-ish illustration of the "HUDSON" docked at the Edgewater Terminal, and none of the vehicles on board being able to debark, due to a stalled sedan at the head of the line!

VERY detailed illustration!

In the background, another ferry is heading back to Manhattan; "ELECTRIC FERRIES" can is visible on the lower deck superstructure (I purchased my cover at a collectibles show, over 30 years ago).....

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Right up until the end of service, during peak periods, all seven boats in the fleet would be in use; you would have two boats loading at St. George, and two loading at 69th Street.

With gridlock now far-too-commplace on the "Vee-Zee", this ferry would be doing a roaring business asan "overflow outlet", for certain.

Interestingly, two of the ex-Brooklyn boats later sailed to Costa Rica and Nicaragua, for further service.

Again, not retaining this ferry crossing as an alterateroute was nothing short of short-sighted; now thinking of the "Em-Tee-Yay" going gung-ho with "See-Bee-Tee-See" on the subways,mand not retaining the block signals, in case of CBTC failure.....