BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

(SEE PREVIOUS PHOTOS)

Corona & Stutell, 1973*.......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?157310

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

*(Look closely, and you will see the "trafficator" (turn signal) ears just below the lower area of the upper deck at front)..........

["15 CAMDEN TOWN"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Now wondering.......

After the "RT" finished its stint with "Aitch & Aitch" back in the early 1970s, I wonder if the bus was sent back to England (was it preserved? Sold? Scrapped?}

Or, was it "picked up" by an American buyer, for some sort of further use?

"NYO"

["75A MODERN STN'}

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

This interesting photo dates to the early 1970s (if I am correct); photo was taken at 1st Avenue/United Nations.

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156391

(courtesy; nycsubway.org)

Here we see ANOTHER "RT" ("RTL"), this bus being used for SARDI'S, but still retaining its original London Transport lettering.

Note, also, that the bus is still using its original open rear platform (also note the 4106 parked just behind); also, note the "BOAC" reading on the side roller curtain.

As with the H&H "RT" seen in the previous photos, I wonder what the ultimate disposition of this bus was (and long it remained in "Noo Yawk".......

"NYO"

["45 HACKNEY VIA EMBANKMENT"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Also......

Recall the photo in "NEW YORK TRANSIT MEMORIES" (Harold A. Smith) showing "Queen Mary"#2124, then owned by the Washington Square Inn (how long was this bus owned by them?)

Photo was snapped in 1967 at 145th Street & Lenox, with one of the last IRT kiosks in view.

#2124 was running a fan excursion, when this nostalgic photo was taken, nearly 60 years ago..........

"NYO"

["2124"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cherry & Rutgers, 1972; indeed QUITE a sharp contrast between the stalwart old ex-LT "RT" and the Fishbowls of "The Little Red Bus That Could" (the damp, gloomy weather seems QUITE appropriate for a vintage London double-decker!)

The "trafficator" turn-signal ears of the "RT" are quite prominent here.......

https://www.nycsubway.org.perl/show?157309

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["345 HAMMERSMITH"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Getting back now to " 'lectric buses"............

I wonder when NJT starts "goin' 'electric" with their zero-emissions bus fleet, if these buses "battery buggies" will be equipped with the "frog leg" pan on the roof, to be used when at a recharging facility.

At the VERY least, Your's Truly can pretend that these are new "NGASVs" ("New Generation All Service Vehicles).........

"NYO"]

["21 WEST NEW YORK"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Related note.............

The former PSNJ carbarns/garage in Union City (last used by NJT in the early 1990s) was recently destroyed (this sprawling structure wise quite decrepit, but MORE than worthy of landmark status)

From what I've read, the site will be used as a bus storage area, along with recharging facilities for the new "battery buggies".

A new bus station will also be a part of this new facility.

Interestingly, back in the ASV era, the only time an ASV would be seen at this location was when they having heavy repair work done.

The dual-powered coaches of the "21" were all based out of the WEST NEW YORK garage* (streetcars were also based here until 1938), a few miles to the north.......

"NYO"

*(This large pre-WW1 building, today, is the only remaining PS carbarn/garage on the former HUDSON Division)

["21 WEST NEW YORK"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Of interest.........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_bus

(be sure to check out the illustrated "CHARGING" section here)

Note photo of the MTA New Flyer Xcelsior being charged at a charging station; I've seen several 1950s photos from Germany depicting experimental electric buses being recharged.

Interestingly, the "charging station" setup looked much like the MTA's.

Interesting, also, that the concept of battery buses dates back to the 1890s...........

"NYO"

["THIS IS AN ALL-ELECTRIC BUS"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

A few questions..........

1:

About how many "battery buggies" foes the MTA currebtly operate?

2:

On average, how long can the batteries hold a charge?

3:

How many lines now operate these "battery buggies", and where are "on-line" charging stations located?

As always, appreciate info...........

"NYO"

["M"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Also..........

Interesting to compare the distances between refuelings with conventional buses, and the distances between re-charging for battery buses".

Am interested in the current position of "battery"/"hybrid" buses in the current MTA fleet..........

"NYO"

"ALL-ELECTRIC CLEAN AIR BUS"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The original "hybrid" buses...........

PSNJ's revolutionary ASVs were, indeed (as we already know) the original "hybrid" bus, being able to operate off of overhead wires as well as gas engines.

Until trolley bus service ended up in "Bah-ston" a few years back, the "Silver Line" utilized dual-powered trolleybuses, direct descendents of the 1930s ASV developed by PS.

In fact, Seattle is still using dual-powered trolley buses underground, still utilizing the same basic "technology" that PS used on their ASV fleet.

Had the ambitious postwar plans for using new-generation ASVs in the Newark City Subway seen the light of day, these dual-powered coaches would have been diesel-electric versions of the TDH-4509, of which PS then rostered hundreds......

"NYO"

["43 JERSEY CITY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Came across the following (interesting) "Em-Tee-Ay" page........

https://www.mta.info/project/zero-emission-bus-fleet

Note the photo of one "juice buggy" at the recharding station; as I've said, I've seen 1950s-era photos of battery bus experiments in Germany that were remarkably similar.


Given the fact these these vehicles feature rooftop "pans", dare I refer to them as "pseudo trolleybuses", or "hi-tech" ASVs?

"NYO"

(I DO have to be tOTALLY HONEST here, and admit that these paint schemes seen here are FAR SUPERIOR To that dreadful, bland, insipid, oh-so-boring paint job used by "En-Jay-Tee" for the past several decades).......

["ELECTRICBUS"[

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's an interesting page from "Dee-See" (note illustration of charging station).............

https://www.wmata.com/initiatives/plans/zero-emission-buses.cfm

["M"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Glad to see that you are also thinking likewise!

Obviously, these "pans" are automatically raised and retracted, an "no strings attatched" (retriever ropes) as were used by the ASVs!

PSNJ also utilized "rewiring pans" along certain routes, as well at at garage forecourts and yards.....

"NYO"

["21 WEST NEW YORK"]