BusTalk

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2026 12:08 am Post subject:

(SEE PREVIOUS POSTS)

Also:

"........bus No. 1195 was part of an order of buses which were in production when the war started......."

",,,,,,these buses were fortunate to be delivered with full amenities, including double-front chrome bumpers......"

"......all buses built after this would come under the ODT, and would be allocated according to the war effort............"

"NYO"

["151 SHERIDAN ROAD"]

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2026 9:47 am Post subject:

Also..........

CMCCo, during the War, implemented the use of off-street lots downtown, to store buses between the AM and PM rushes, to saveon fuel and rubber, eliminating the need for the buses to trek home to their respective "home" garages.

Some of these bus lots remained in use during the early CTA era.

Abd, rom what I've learned here (and elsewhere) FACCo, of course, was indeed NOT immune to the "new order" of things, during the War.......

["THE BOULEVARD ROUTE"]

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2026 12:57 am Post subject:

".....along with most bus companies, FACCo was ordered by the ODT to reduce tire mileage and gas consumption with the onset of World War II........'

"......on December 6, 1942, Route 9 was discontinued (again), Route 19 was operated during rush hours only, and Route 20 was cut back to 55th and 12th Avenue......"

"......the Convent Avenue branch pf Route 3, along with Routes 6, 16, and 20, were discontinued during 1943........"

CMCCo/CSL also, for the duration, took over shuttered automobile showrooms/garages/filling stations for the repair and storage of buses, between runs........

Source: "FIFTH AVENUE COACH COMPANY"(Ogden)

"NYO"

["GO THE MOROR COACH WAY"]

W.B. Fishbowl · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2026 8:06 am Post subject:

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2026 10:52 am Post subject:

W.B.:

As always, greaty appreciate your taking the time to share such interesting "Noo Yawk"bus history....thanks! Wink

"Pee-Es", during the War, MORE than got their money's worth out of its gas-electric ASV fleet; being dual-powered, the ASVs could easily sub for a "straight" gas bus that was taken OOS.

"Pee-Es" found out the hard way, that, in scrapping at least 50 % (or more) of its streetcar fleet prior to the War, that there was virtually no spare equipment available to help with the heavy war traffic.

There WERE two dozen "Compromise"-roof cars in dead storage at Passaic Wharf (Newark) which were trucked out in 1942, for a return to service.

However, not all of these cars re-entered active service; some were used as "parts donors"..............

"NYO"

[" 'V' FOR VICTORY"!"]

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2026 10:30 am Post subject:

........needless to say ,that, during the War, FACCo's proud fleet indeed were "woikin' overtime", even with the service cutbacks and abandonments........

"NYO"

["GO THE MOTOR COACH WAY"]

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2026 4:06 pm Post subject:

Curious......

I might be mistaken, but I think that, long ago in another discussion here, I read that some FACCo buses lay over pvernights on the street, during the War.

Again, I could be mistaken here, but am not sure.

Appreciate info..........

"NYO"

["YELLOW COACH"]

W.B. Fishbowl · Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2026 5:27 pm Post subject:

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2026 6:31 pm Post subject:

W.B.:

As I had mentioned earlier, CMCCo had several lots downtown where, during the War, buses were stored between AM and PM rush hours.

These lots continued to be used for several years into the CTA era.

One of these lots was later taken over by Yellow Cab......

"NYO"

["CHICAGO MOTOR COACH COMPANY"]

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2026 10:27 pm Post subject:

When FACCo/CMCCo conductors disappeared.......

Over the years, I've read that, though many drivers were pleased overall with the new "Queen Mary"-types (and single-deck buses in general), they were not always totally happy with the transition to "OMO" (One Man Operation)

Back in the "Blunderbus" days, it was the CONDUCTORS who collected fares and issued transfers, while the driver, behind the wheel, had only to keep his eyes on the road ahead.

Now, with the "QMs" and single-deckers (regardless of manufacturer), they not only had to DRIVE their bus, but also, now collect fares and issue transfers, duties once only performed by the conductors.

I've also read that many LT drivers in London also shared much the same sentiments, as conductors were phased out as "OMO" became more and more commonplace on the buses and coaches........

"NYO"

["GO THE MOTOR COACH WAY"]

["PLEASE HAVE EXACT FARE READY-THANK YOU"]

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2026 12:52 pm Post subject:

The end of an era.........

In 2005, with the retirement of the last LT "Routemasters", the handful of remaining conductors vanished into history.

Conductors had been on the scene since the long-ago, horse-drawn omnibus days.

London's bus conductors lasted nearly sixty years longer than their FACCo counterparts in "Noo Yawk"...........

"NYO"

["54A-KENSINGTON STN"]