BusTalk

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 8:29 pm Post subject: 'NEED Q65A'S OPINION'

Bob,

Thanks to Northern California Bus Fans for the picture of what to me is a mystery bus.

Fleet numbered 877, its livery appears to be that of Queens Nassau Transit Lines.

However, it also appears to be 102 inches wide (probably a 5103 or a 5105), and OMT records only show new 5104 and 5106 purchases for Q/N.

BTW; it is signed for Parsons Boulevard.

Can you fill me in?

Please excuse quality of photo (or try this URL);

http://norcalbusfans.googlegroups.com/attach/d894fcedd7e6fba8/QTC877JH.jpg?view=1&part=4&hl=en

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

Mr RT · Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Posts: 102

My records show it as a TDH5105
#872 - 879 xDetroit St. Ry GMC 1954

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:23 pm Post subject:

Thanks,

I knew I could count on you for the info.

Detroit? boy, those buses must have had a zillion miles on them - what was Q/N thinking?

They must have gotten a really good deal!

Thanks again,

Mr. 'L'

ripta42 · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:47 pm Post subject:

It makes sense if that is an ex-DSR 5105, but the fleet number looks like 871 to me.

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 1:25 am Post subject:

Michael,

You are absolutely right in that in the fuzzy photo it appears to be #871.

However, if you go to the referenced URL you'll see a clear shot in which the 877 can't be mistaken.

I dug up a little more information on #877;

#877 was one of 355 GM TDH 5105's (1201 to 1555) delivered to Detroit's Department of Street Railways (DSR) between 1953 and 1957.

The first 100 of these buses (1201 to 1300) were equipped with passenger safety split sashes and 877 was in that order.

DSR began to sell off the earlier 5105's in 1969 with many of the 1200's going to Virginia Transit, Queens Transit and Westchester Street Transportation among others.

The balance of the fleet remained with the company and were mostly scrapped by 1974.

Pictured below (top) is fleet number 1320 with the interior of 1319 below it.

Photos courtesy of the Motor Bus Society.

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

Q65A · Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 1:23 pm Post subject:

Sorry for the tardy response, Mr. L!
If I recall correctly, QTC's TDH-5106 fleet ran up as far as 870 or 871.
Even though the photo certainly shows the number 871, something doesn't compute.
Those second-hand ex-DSR 5105's upon arrival at QTC had fleet numbers running up into the 880 series.
Even though these erstwhile Detroiters probably had been around the block a million+ times, as I recall their interiors were pretty decent.
Perhaps Hausman had done a very good job in restoring them before they headed over to College Point.

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 1:55 pm Post subject:

Bob,

Try this picture on for size;

Sorry about the first picture but I had difficulty converting it to jpg.

Mr. 'L'

Hart Bus · Age: 74 Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 1150

ripta42 · Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 9:10 pm Post subject:

ripta42 · Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 9:16 pm Post subject:

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 1:36 am Post subject:

An interesting note;

876 and 877 above were definately from Detroit's 1200 series complete with passenger safety split sashes.

My question though is where 882 (the one with the black eye) above comes from?

It is a 5105 but with regular passenger windows.

Any ideas?

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