BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Hard to believe that it is now 36 years since the venerable "MP-52"/"K" PRR/H&M/PATH cars were retired.

Youir's Truly literally grew up with these iconic cars, beginning with thier running on the old PRR/H&M?PATH "joint service" to Newark, back in the 60s as a lad.

Then, all the years of railfanning them, and commuting on them, beginning in 1979; what great memories!

These were the last cars in the PATH fleet to have single-panel doors and incandescent lighting.

Sadly, from what I understand, not one of these historic cars was preserved.

How very fortunate I am to have so many wonderful memories.......

"NYO"

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?75666

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?24760

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?38104

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?71108

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Agreed.

Note, also, the narrow "gun slot" end sign boxes, reminiscent of both "Bah-ston's" and "Shik-aga's" postwar rolling stock..........TOTALLY unlike "Noo Yawk'!

"NYO"

["NEWARK"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

This interior photo of a "K" from 1976 shows us that, unlike "Noo Yawk's" rolling stock, upholstered seating was still in use, and would be until the cars were retired in 1989............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?40079

(courtesy: nycsunbay.org)

["World Trade Center"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Compare these cab views (scruffy-looking "K" cab, post-retirement, and a restored "R-17")*.......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?157645

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?3213

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

*(remember that the "17s" were only in "soivice" for a few years, when the "foist" of the "MP-52"/"Ks" debuted in 1958;as we know, both types were built by St. Louis)

["PATH"]

["NYCTA"]

[Cyberider]

Nice practical looking cars, especially the one with the PRR keystone on the end door.

[W.B. Fishbowl]

Yep. Back when H&M was a railroad, and not a clothing chain . . .

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B,:

I've read that those 1963 "Cambridge" cars WERE, indeed, intended to have florescent lighting, but, ended up with incandescent instead, as a cost-saving measure...........

"NYO"

["MTA"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.

Could very well be; the old "Aitch & Em" was in dire financial straits at that time, and the once-mighty PRR was indeed having MORE than its share of money issues, at that time.

Small wonder, then, that the PRR pulled out of the "joint service" to Newark, severing a liason with "The Tubes" that had existed since at least 1911 (after the "joint service" ended in 1967, the Penn-Central leased the cars owned by the PRR to PATH for $1 a year).........

"NYO"

["NEWARK"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

Even the "Port-of-Authority's" website, when deigning to acknowledge the "Aitch & Em's" history, has to put this qualifier:

" . . . the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad (H&M), which has nothing to do with the H&M retail clothing store for men, women, teenagers and children."

This, B.T.W., was in reference to a 1906 consolidation with the New Jersey Railroad Company, which originally built the vast network that constitutes the earliest sections of today's PATH system. Evidence:

https://portfolio.panynj.gov/2016/06/03/before-path-became-path-the-wonder-years/

Alas, their timeline ends in 1911.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Thanks for posting this link!

Ahhh, the many, many memories these old photos bring back for Your's Truly! (top photo was taken at the main concourse at Hudson Terminal)

Mom and I could EASILY have been aboard one of the two "Black" trains at "Joinal" Square, over 60 years ago!

I still recall well the photos of the new "Pee-Yay" cars when they debuted in 1965, carried in our local papers, both of which, like the "Black" cars ans the original "Pee-Yay" cars,. are no longer with us.

I also remember the large "HUDSON RAPID TUBES" sign over the main entrance at "Joinal" Square, with the word "RAPID" slanted towards the right, to denote "rapid"............man, it's all so long ago, now........

"NYO"

["JOURNAL SQUARE-33RD STREET"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Beyond insanity.......

Just "hoid" on 1010 WINS that, by 2028, the "Pee-Yay" wants to hike PATH ("da tubes") fares to FOUR DOLLARS!!!!!!

Man, if I were still working downtown, I'be be working just to cover mt COMMUTATION costs!!!!!

And, to think, the fare was THIRTY CENTS in 1979, whem I started "woikin'" down on "da Street".

Like the "Pee-Yay" so cash-starved and financially ailing...........

"NYO"

["JSQ"]