BusTalk

[Mr. Linsky]

You might notice that most photos of vintage Fifth Avenue Coaches are taken in and around Washington Square Park which was the fashionable thoroughfare's southern most terminus and the end or the beginning (depending on which way you look at it) of no less than five of the company's very prestigious routes including the 1, 2, 3, 5, and 19 with northern terminations at various points in both upper Manhattan and Harlem.

So, it's of no surprise to once again see the Square as the colorful backdrop for fleet number 2414 - a 1950 GM Model TDH 4509 and one of 74 (2363 to 2437) purchased by the company in June of that year.

Number 2414, signed for route #2, is very new in this image and still sports its original and trademark Omnibus two-tone green and cream livery which would eventually change to a very plain green and cream wrapper.

The arch in the background, which dates to 1889, was originally constructed of wood in celebration of the centennial of George Washington's inauguration as president and was so well received that it was rebuilt in granite as a permanent monument in 1892.

Photo courtesy of Flickr.

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, New York

[Mr. Linsky]

[Mr. Linsky]

As they do now, buses of all descriptions in the days of yore ruled the roost in Manhattan.

In addition to the hundreds of transits and suburban commuters, the city's unique skyline presented a perfect backdrop for glass topped tour coaches that gave their passengers breathtaking views of the iconic structures that made the Big Apple the 'Big Apple'!

Here we see fleet number 33 - a 1947 White Model 798 operating for Manhattan Sightseeing Bus Tours waiting curbside somewhere in mid town in a photo taken in 1952.

Blazoned across the edge of #33's colorful roof, and done ala Fifth Avenue Coach style, can be seen the inscription "See New York The Manhattan Way".

Manhattan's only competition of any consequence was the local franchise of the nationwide Gray Line system but there seemed to be plenty of business for both companies.

The amidships underfloor engined White 798's were good runners and a favorite among operators across the country with over 3,000 being built between 1940 and 1948.

Credit within image.

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, New York

[Mr. Linsky]

The color photo below has a dual value in not only espying a bit more of the history of New York surface transportation but as an important piece of Manhattan's own past.

The intersection is that of Washington Square North and Fifth Avenue just across from the entrance to Washington Square Park in a snapshot taken sometime not long after Fifth Avenue Coach was absorbed into the newly formed Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority (MABSTOA) in 1962.

Two generations of GM Coaches are seen heading south on Fifth toward the park and both flagged for MABSTOA with the first presumed to be either an ex Transit Authority or Fifth Avenue 5100 Model followed by a newly purchased 5300 series.

Before the mid nineteenth century, Washington Square North was considered to be 'uptown' Manhattan with little more than grasslands, meadows and an occasional farm house beyond and the fashionable upper Fifth Avenue with its marble mansions and exquisite shops then being only a drawing board concept for the future.

It was in this era that the captains of industry of the borough built themselves the elegant townhouses that can still be seen as landmarks dotting the perimeter of the park with one of which taking center stage in our image.

Notice that the Greenwich Village artist colony shows its wares along the historic strip on a sunny weekend afternoon.

Photo courtesy of eBay.

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, New York

[B53RICH]

41 years ago today, August 31,1969, exact fare was required to ride the buses of NYC as depicted in the photo below:



Photograph taken August 30, 1969 by Joe Testagrose at East 34th Street & Lexington Avenue.

[Mr. Linsky]

Rich,

Yes, but that was only for August 31st. - didn't they go back to the regular system on September 1st.? (only kidding)

It might have made an interesting court case merely because they left out the word 'beginning' between buses and August!

It's a great picture though, and thanks for sharing.

P.S.; I will answer your PM on Joe shortly - I've just been so busy.

Many regards,

Mr. 'L'

[Mr. Linsky]

They must have been thinking very far ahead when they built what, at the time, seemed like a subway to nowhere beginning at Times Square in Manhattan with the eventual goal of reaching the heart of Flushing in northern Queens.

Shown still in construction and traveling through an almost desolate Sunnyside in 1917 is the elevated Queens Boulevard segment in nearly a mile of decorative poured concrete between Van Dam Street and 48th. Street where it veers to Roosevelt Avenue as a much less ornate steel trestle.

Designed by Cornell educated architect and painter S. J. Vickers, the viaduct measures 4,271 feet in length and boasts over 20,000 square feet of ornamental ceramic tiles adorning its cornices just below the tracks.

Marked deterioration due mostly to weathering plagued the structure for decades until the trackbed was replaced and the viaduct itself was completely rehabilitated in the 1990's

The famed IRT # 7 Flushing line (affectionately known as the 'Orient Express' because of the many Chinese and Korean commuters it carries) is the mainstay of this route between Manhattan and Main Street.

Photo courtesy of New York City Transit Authority.

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, New York

[fishbowl]

[Mr. Linsky]

F.B.,

Very nice photo - looks like a TD 4506 - thanks for sharing - I am reciprocating with a photo of a 1948 Chicago TDH 5502 which was among 100 (501 to 600) 55 passenger jobs specially built for the 'Windy City'.

When we refer to 'Omnibus', we speak of the Omnibus Corporation (headquartered in Chicago) which was the parent company to Chicago Motor Coach and Fifth Avenue Coach Company with its affiliates New York City Omnibus and both the Madison and Eighth Avenue Coach Companies in Manhattan.

The ornate two tone green and cream livery that appeared on most 'Omnibus' equipment until 1950 (as is demonstrated in our images) was probably an Omnibus original idea.

I have seen similar schemes in different colors on other early GM Old Looks but they were unquestionably copies.

The Omnibus Corporation worked very closely with Yellow/GM in those years to the extent that they even assisted in design.

Hope that helps you.

Regards,

Mr. 'L'

[fishbowl]

It helps A LOT! Thanks!!

[B53RICH]

Mr. L. will appreciate this and I'm sure it has been posted before, Green Bus Lines 324, a TDH 4509 I believe. Though smaller in size than the Omnibus Corp. design, this has that wing looking design as well. I always thought of it as a feather looking design for years.



Green Lines #324 working route Q9 at Rockaway Boulevard & Liberty Avenue. Photograph taken April 13, 1968 by Doug Grotjahn; collection of Joe Testagrose.

[Mr. Linsky]

Rich,

Not only am I familiar with the picture, but I drove 324 many many times over the three summers that I worked for the company - as I remember, it was pretty limber.

You are correct; 324 is one of thirty-five 1950 TDH 4509's (311 to 345) delivered to Green Line in November of that year.

Because of a shortage of Truck and Coach delivery chauffeurs due to high volume sales of the 4509's, Green Line was authorized by an agreement between Amalgamated Local 1179 and the United Auto Workers to send fifteen drivers and one mechanic to Pontiac to pick up almost half the order.

I never really liked the updated livery seen on 324 as compared the original as shown below on 335 in a photo taken during a driver training session.

And, then there's the story about the 'Dependability' decals; some idiot talked the powers to be into buying the decals to add to the new livery and instead of the 250 originally contracted for, 3M sent 2500! and somebody's head rolled for that mistake!

Thanks for sharing.

Photo borrowed for educational purposes only.

Mr. 'L'

[Mr. Linsky]

It's about eight decades later that we revisit the Queens Boulevard IRT viaduct in the now well populated Sunnyside section of Queens where we espy fleet number 1176 - a 1994 TMC Model T8J-206 and one of forty (1150 to 1189) delivered to Green Bus Lines of Jamaica, New York but purchased and owned by the New York City Department of Transportation (as noted by the 'Official' license plate).

Interestingly, the records of Green Line show that 1176 and its siblings were the only coaches of TMC manufacture to have ever appeared on the roster.

#1176 is wending its way toward South Jamaica on the Q60 line from its Manhattan terminus at 2nd. Avenue and 60th. Street.

The double zoned Q60, which was Green Line's longest and most profitable route, was purchased by the company from the Manhattan and Queens Bus Corporation in 1943 for the tidy sum of $350,000 which included 30 1937 37 passenger Mack Model 6-CT-3S's.

I am uncertain as to where on the boulevard the image was taken but I would imagine that those familiar with the area will recognize what appears to be a Burger King center right of frame.

Photo courtesy of BusTalk Gallery.

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, New York

[Hart Bus]

WCA:

Either your eyes are not what they used to be or you don't have a
degree in architecture. It is not a Burger King, but a Mc Donalds.

I grew up about 6 blocks from the picture. It was definitely taken on the
south side (e/b) side of Queens Blvd. I seem to think that Mickey D's is between 39th Street and 39th place.

Don't know if an urban planner was on the sauce when assigning street numbers because you have 36th st, 37th st, 38th street, 39th street, then oops 39th place, 40th street (Lowery Street on the 7), 41st etc.

ECA

[Mr. Linsky]

ECA,

Burger King, McDonald's, whatever, they're all the same to me and I wouldn't go near one with a ten foot pole!

I think I mentioned to you at lunch the other day that my last foray into fast food was at a White Castle in roughly the same location as the photo some fifty years ago and I got so sick that I never stepped foot in there or any thing like it ever again! (it's too bad because I loved those little square hamburgers with the slice of pickle on those mouth watering buns).

And, yes, at my age eyes do deceive and I need special glasses for everything including the computer.

But, I no longer need them for driving since I've installed a prescription windshield! (if you believe that, I'll tell you another one!).

Regards, (and have a safe trip home).

WCA