BusTalk

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 2:57 pm Post subject: 'A VERY UNUSUAL PHOTO'

Q65A and Vince should really appreciate this one!

Pictured below is the yet to be developed Briarwood/Kew Gardens Hills section of Queens, NY taken at 84th. Drive sometime in the late twenties.

Of course, the focus of the image is the bus which has been illusive as to its operator and what 'route' it might be taking.

After a number of years languishing in my photo file, I have finally solved the mystery thanks to the latest issue of Motor Coach Age entitled 'Queens Surface' - the story of Queens/Nassau and Steinway Omnibus.

This little bus belonged to the Briarwood Bus Company which was a four-bus operation that ran a single route that was designated as the Q30 which was about two miles in length and began in May of 1929.

The buses ran from the Jamaica LIRR station, turning north on Parsons Boulevard and then west to Briarwood Road (now mostly 84th. Drive) to Queens Boulevard.

To make a long story short, Q30 service was discontinued in early 1938 but was picked up the following year by North Shore Bus Company and continued until immediately after the war.

Case closed!

Photo courtesy of the New York Public Library.

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, NY

HwyHaulier · Joined: 16 Dec 2007 Posts: 932 Location: Harford County, MD

Mr "L" -

Recalls very similar photos of the west (nearer Ocean) side of San Francisco, and the era of the building of the Market Street Tunnel.
Same era Los Angeles area shots are much the same...

...............Vern............

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 2:32 pm Post subject:

H. H.,

Actually, what you're looking at is one of the highest points in Queens County reputed to be 135 feet above sea level.

Now, that doesn't seem to be very high except that the average height in the borough is about twevle to fifteen feet!

I really think it's a great picture though!

Pictured below is Queens Boulevard at Union Turnpike in Kew Gardens a liitle better developed in 1939.

Note the two buses which are Mack CM's of Green Line on passenger pick-ups for the World's Fair in Flushing.

Sorry about the quality of the photo.

Thanks for your comments.

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, NY

HwyHaulier · Joined: 16 Dec 2007 Posts: 932 Location: Harford County, MD

Mr. "L" -

Hmmm... Looks like a highway concept that came to Robert Moses in a dream? Or approps a General Motors Futurama exhibition? (Sigh!
Do I need to admit I am old enough to cite those references? <G>)

Yes, the photo is a mess! Not that I have any of the very slick photo editors on my computer. That image might (just might) take a bit of
cleaning up and sharpening up in a garden variety (read inexpensive or free) photo editor.

...................Vern...............

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 2:46 pm Post subject:

H. H.,

I have no problem enlarging - the problem is focus and nothing in my Picture Manager addresses that.

I'm going to see if Photo Bucket has the feature.

Mr. 'L'

HwyHaulier · Joined: 16 Dec 2007 Posts: 932 Location: Harford County, MD

Mr. "L" -

The "freebie" programs within AOL, and another package, the Kodak Easy Share both contain the features in image edit controls.
Both can only do but so much, though often quite a help. The Kodak package is likely a no charge download from its site. This an
active a link: www.kodak.com/go/easysharesw

.................Vern...............

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 4:22 pm Post subject:

Well, just to keep you happy, here's an 'in-focus' shot of one of the CM's.

Thanks for the input - I'll check out Kodak (while they're still in business!).

Photo courtesy of Mack.

Mr. 'L'

Q65A · Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 8:28 pm Post subject:

Those are some nice historical shots of Queens, Mr. L!
The first shot is amazing: it's hard to imagine that today's Briarwood once looked like this.
My old elementary school (St. Nicholas of Tolentine) was located at Union Tpke. & Parsons Blvd. Quite a few of my classmates lived in Briarwood. Some of them walked to and from school, but many of them took the Q25/34 (especially in cold weather).
Perhaps the hilly topography explains the non-gridlike street arrangements in Briarwood (especially in the area near Main St. & Queens Blvd.)