BusTalk

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Right on, my friend....I could NOT have said it better!

"NYO"

["SURE-IT'S A MACK!"]

[MaBSTOA 15]

New York Omnibus 2629 asked

Also, did any of the buses uses in "Vee-Zee" express service have cushioned seats, or well all seats plastic, a la "transit"?

Some of the lower number T6H-5305A in the 8801-8933 had upholstered seats like suburban buses.

Numbers 8829-8878 had Batwings and most certainly did have hard plastic transit seats.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

MaBSTOA 15:

Greatly appreciate this info; thank you!

"NYO"

["New York City Transit Authority"]

[MaBSTOA 15]

New York Omnibus 2629 asked

Also, did any of the buses uses in "Vee-Zee" express service have cushioned seats, or well all seats plastic, a la "transit"?

Some of the lower number T6H-5305A in the 8801-8933 had upholstered seats like suburban buses.

Numbers 8829-8878 had Batwings and most certainly did have hard plastic transit seats.

In 1980 the following buses were used as express buses

Numbers 8858-8871 T6H-5305A
Numbers 8879-8893 T6H-5305A
Numbers 6933-6947 T6H-5310A
Numbers 6949-6956 T6H-5310A
Numbers 9000-9006 53102-6-1 (used on the JFK connection from subway Train to Plane service and had luggage racks over the front wheelhouse)

In 1982

MaBSTOA had the following express buses.
Numbers 4500-4505 T6H-5310A

NYCTA had the following express buses.
Numbers 4484-4499 T6H-5305A
Numbers 6164-6199 T6H-5310A
Numbers 6901-6956 T6H-5310A
Numbers 9130-9159 53102-6-1
Number 199 53102-8-1 (ex number 100 Grumman)
Numbers 393-452 53102-6-1
Numbers 553-565 53096-8-1 (would have gone to Avenue B)
Numbers 1298-1315T8J-204 RTS
Numbers PA1734-PA1858 T8J-204 RTS

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

MaBSTOA 15:

You simply never STOP topping yourself!!!

Man, if only all of this were available in (illustrated!) book form!

Again, appreciate both your time and your effirt, posting this historical unfo here, for us "old timers" to savor!

"NYO"

["OA"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Fellows:

Here in my area of "Joisey", the only expresses to run through town was the rush-hour only "RIVER ROAD EXPRESS" (originally an "ORANGE & BLACK" line; this was another route Your's Truly often rode, wat back in the day)

Today it's the (much-rerouted) "159R", operated by "En-Jay-Tee".

"ACADEMY's" rush hour "BOULEVARD EAST" line, which I commuted on for several years (prior to 9/11), was what I would term a "limited stop" line......

"NYO"

["HOBOKEN PATH TUBES"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Early "En-Jay-Tee" era in my area (what I recall)..........

Regarding express service to "Noo Yawk", forty-odd years back, there was indeed an interesting variety of buses to be found (buses were ex-"O&B" and "INTER-CITY".

We had assorted "suboiban" (and "semi-suboiban") Fishbowls, as well as few vintage 4104s and 4106s, and "Bison".

By the later 1980s this variety was fast vanishing, as "En-Jay-Tee's" first "Slinkies" (the dreaded VOLVOs)) were replacing the older equipment.

By the early 1990s, NJT-wise, the most "nostalgia" you could find were the NJDOT "Dangerfields" (which looked DREADFUL in NJT's "Disco Dip" scheme, and even these were no longer holding down express runs into the "Port-of-Authority".

Indeed, a colorful era was ending..........

"NYO"

["NEW YORK EXPRESS"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

A fond, well-remembered memory of Your's Truly..........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156431

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["ORANGE & BLACK BUS LINES"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Regarding the photo at the Fairview Garage I linked in the previous post........

I've lived within a brisk 15-minute walk of this historic garage for over 50 years; ALWAYS something to see; today, back in the day, today, it's all NABI milk cartons and "disco dip" Slinkies.....needless to say, Your's Truly has not been down that way in many a moon.....just t'aint the same.........

"NYO"

["O&B"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Back in the day.....

"ORANGE & BLACK" (later "MAPLEWOOD EQUIPMENT COMPANY") operated several "local" routes" to/from the "Port-of-Authority" which operated via New York Avenue, Bergenline Avenue, Anderson Avenue, and Palisades Avenue.

These routes ran at all times, unlike the "RIVER ROAD EXPRESS"; today, the only ex-"O&B" routes through here (Anderson Avenue) are now the "159" (all times) and the "159R" (rush hours only)

I was a frequent rider (and observer) of all other former O&B routes, back in the day.

Memories, memories...........

"NYO"

["FORT LEE-COYTESVILLE"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

How well Your's Truly knew these timeless, now-nostalgic scenes, a long time ago.......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156441

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156442 (in the left background, note the old PS line pole supporting a traffic light; "UNION CITY" line streetcars ran along Bergenline Avenue until August, 1949)

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156427 (note the Hoboken-bound "22" Fishbowl, bringing up the rear!)

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["22 HILLSIDE"]

[MaBSTOA 15]

Museum bus 8466 was one of the buses converted to express bus at the 100 Street Depot in 1972.

In February 1970 8466 was assigned to the Amsterdam Depot.

It had originally straps and hard plastic seats in the bowling alley configuration.

When it was converted the straps were removed and upholstered seats installed. You can still see the holes for the straps on the horizontal hold bars.

When they repainted it back to green for the museum they should have reinstall the hard plastic seats and the straps.

By the way when they repainted the bus the made a mistake. Originally the aluminum belt ended by the quarter window in a 90 degree. When they repainted it ended in a slant like all the other fishbowls.

Also the Queens independent operators did not have straps.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

MaBSTOA 15:

Interesting historical info, as always!

A few photos......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156050 (#8466)

The next two photos depict Museum bus interiors, but no #s.......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156824

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156848

See also:

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?155306 (#4727)

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)