BusTalk

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 12:58 am Post subject: 'AN INTERESTING SERVICE CAR'

Pictured below is City of New York Board of Transportation Brooklyn Division service car number 1.

Number 1 is a converted Mack 30 passenger Model 6-CL-3S and was purchased new in 1932 by either the Brooklyn Bus Corporation or the East Side and Comprehensive Omnibus Corporations for which a total of 103 were originally built.

It was not an uncommon practice years ago, with the artisans that bus companies employed as mechanics, to salvage still usable buses and turn them into road service vehicles.

These cars would carry air, oil, fuel, spare front tires with wheels and tools to make most roadside engine repairs which kept the buses running and saved the operators time and money especially during the war years where very little extra equipment was to be had.

Just another piece of New York's fascinating transit bus history!

Special thanks goes to Mel Bernero for furnishing this marvelous photo.

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

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

If one looks at page 99 of James Greller's book "NYC Transit System Bus & Trolley Coach Fleet" there is a picture of what may or may not be the same vehicle, but from the drivers side.

The one pictured does not have a fleet number behind the "Brooklyn Division" wording. Also the one pictured seems to have a smooth roof, while this vehicle has some sort of protrusion from roof.

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 11:46 pm Post subject:

ECA,

The protrusion on the roof of car # 1 was part of a fresh air circulating system that was required on all transit type buses sold for use in the City of New York.

I'm not certain as to exactly when the forced air systems, which included electric fans built into the roofs, were mandated (as shown below on M & Q # 210).

BTW; the ThermoMatic systems eliminated all such roof appendages.

Another BTW; photo under #210 is an ACF city service car working the Queens Division out of the old North Shore Bus Company Garage in Flushing and came originally from the Staten Island Coach Company.

# 210 Photo by Dennis M. Linsky
Service car photo borrowed for educational purposes only.

WCA

Catfish 44 · Age: 47 Joined: 29 Dec 2007 Posts: 68 Location: Rockaway

Great pics!