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Mr. Linsky BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee

Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 5071 Location: BRENTWOOD, CA. - WOODMERE, N.Y.
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Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 4:11 pm Post subject: 'GREEN BUS LINES # 975-1' |
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With special thanks to an eBay vendor whose own lens snapped this photo, we see fleet number 975-1 - a 1976 GM Model T8H-5307A which was transferred to Green Bus Lines in 1988 as ex Jamaica Buses number 975.
In a reversal of a tradition in which Green Line (parent company to both Triboro Coach and Jamaica Buses) lent much surplus equipment to its then hobbled subsidiaries in the early years, the tables were turned the other way in the mid to late eighties with Green Line finding itself with an aging fleet and few new buses in the offing.
While number 975-1 was repainted to Green Line livery, most of the borrowed buses were not and, if they happened to carry similar fleet numbers to Green Line's, the addition of the 1 was sufficient for the records.
Number 975-1, is seen in Kew Gardens on the Q10 line heading southbound on Austin Street to Lefferts Boulevard and is signed for JFK Airport via Belt Parkway.
Photo borrowed for educational purposes only.
Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, NY
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B53RICH
Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 254
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Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 8:04 pm Post subject: |
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I remember the Green Bus New Looks in the 900 series. Thanks for explaining the meaning of the "dash 1." I didn't know that bus had the same fleet number while at Jamaica Buses. Back then I had thought GBL renumbered those transfers into their own 900 series from some other different number.
BTW, Mr. L., from one ex-Kew Gardener to another, I must remind you that 975-1 is actually heading east along Austin towards Lefferts, then will be running south.  |
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Mr. Linsky BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee

Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 5071 Location: BRENTWOOD, CA. - WOODMERE, N.Y.
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Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 1:22 am Post subject: |
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B53,
Unfortunately, Kew Garden's streets don't run exactly north/south or east/west.
According to the map in Barry Lewis' 'Kew Gardens; Urban Village in the Big City', Austin Street runs southeast (and more east than south).
And, Lefferts in Kew Gardens runs south west and then more south as it passes 84th. Avenue below Metropolitan.
What can I tell you? (it's crazy!).
Regards,
Mr. 'L' |
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JUSXTREME96
Joined: 20 Jun 2011 Posts: 37
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Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 6:18 pm Post subject: |
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When was this taken? |
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Q65A
Age: 68 Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 1796 Location: Central NJ
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Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 8:26 pm Post subject: |
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It seems like only yesterday when Fishbowls plied the streets of NYC. |
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Mr. Linsky BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee

Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 5071 Location: BRENTWOOD, CA. - WOODMERE, N.Y.
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Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 11:09 pm Post subject: |
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JUSXTREME96,
Jamaica's # 975 was lent to Green Line in 1988 and by author Alan Bromberger's account in October-December 2000 Motor Coach Age, was one of many from Jamaica that went back and forth to Green.
There is no record of the dates but I would think it safe to say that it was in the late eighties that the photo was taken.
Regards,
Mr. 'L' |
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JUSXTREME96
Joined: 20 Jun 2011 Posts: 37
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Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 8:20 am Post subject: |
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Does anyone remember when Green Lines stopped using buses with a -1 after the number? |
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Q65A
Age: 68 Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 1796 Location: Central NJ
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Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 8:24 am Post subject: |
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If anyone knows, it likely would be Mr. Linsky. |
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Hart Bus
Age: 75 Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 1150
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Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 11:49 am Post subject: |
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Q65A wrote: | If anyone knows, it likely would be Mr. Linsky. |
Or his east coast protege, Hart Bus. I looked at the Alan Bromberger article and he has a listing of Buses either leased or borrowed from other Cooper Companies.
The practice of borrowing started in 1985. The practice of a -1 after the number started in 1988 and continued until 1994 and involved 53 buses |
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Mr. Linsky BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee

Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 5071 Location: BRENTWOOD, CA. - WOODMERE, N.Y.
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Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 3:10 pm Post subject: |
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JUSXTREME96,
The borrowing, while it didn't stop altogether, eased up considerably in 1994 when the D.O.T. provided Green Line with their first brand new buses (T8J-206's numbered 1150 to 1189) since 1986.
Regards,
Mr. 'L' |
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JUSXTREME96
Joined: 20 Jun 2011 Posts: 37
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Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 9:03 pm Post subject: |
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Wasn't one of the Triboro RTS's 630-1 around in 1999 but in the Green Lines garage? |
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Mr. Linsky BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee

Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 5071 Location: BRENTWOOD, CA. - WOODMERE, N.Y.
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Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2011 12:42 am Post subject: |
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JUSXTREME96,
The records do show that seven Triboro T8H-203's numbered 630 to 636 did go to Green Lines in 1991 and were renumbered 630-1 to 636-1.
How long they remained and when and if they were returned is not recorded.
However, Triboro was the last affiliate to lend buses to them with a total of 21 between 1991 and 1994.
Regards,
Mr. 'L' |
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Q65A
Age: 68 Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 1796 Location: Central NJ
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Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2011 8:48 am Post subject: |
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The Cooper lines definitely were RTS pioneers in NYC. GBL arguably bought almost every model of 40-foot transit coach GM built. |
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GBL Rebel Moderator

Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 610 Location: Long Island, N.Y.
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Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 11:08 am Post subject: |
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JUSXTREME96 wrote: | Wasn't one of the Triboro RTS's 630-1 around in 1999 but in the Green Lines garage? |
630-1 was stripped of its seat and used by the Rockaway Garage for parts and tire transfers between the two garages. This bus at one point had its green strip painted black because people would complain it passed them in the bus stop. This bus went with the 1000 series RTS-03 of GBL to retirement in 2000 or 2001. As far as I know, the rest of the 63x-1 RTS' from Triboro were retired with the 300 series RTS-03 from Jamica Bus.
The practice of "borrowing" buses and adding a -1 to the number ended when the companies no longer had their own buses. Even though "The Cooper Family" had 4 different bus companies, they could not move around NYCDOT owned buses to help fill short falls in equiptment. This is why when buses were sent from Command to GBL, they were given new numbers. |
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JUSXTREME96
Joined: 20 Jun 2011 Posts: 37
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Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 6:38 pm Post subject: |
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GBL Rebel wrote: | JUSXTREME96 wrote: | Wasn't one of the Triboro RTS's 630-1 around in 1999 but in the Green Lines garage? |
630-1 was stripped of its seat and used by the Rockaway Garage for parts and tire transfers between the two garages. This bus at one point had its green strip painted black because people would complain it passed them in the bus stop. This bus went with the 1000 series RTS-03 of GBL to retirement in 2000 or 2001. As far as I know, the rest of the 63x-1 RTS' from Triboro were retired with the 300 series RTS-03 from Jamica Bus.
The practice of "borrowing" buses and adding a -1 to the number ended when the companies no longer had their own buses. Even though "The Cooper Family" had 4 different bus companies, they could not move around NYCDOT owned buses to help fill short falls in equiptment. This is why when buses were sent from Command to GBL, they were given new numbers. |
Did it get a retrofit A/C similar to 1001, 1003-1015 or was it always slope back? |
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