BusTalk

[Mr. Linsky]

[quote="frankie"]

[Mr. Linsky]

In this 1947 pose at the company garage in the Cedar Manor section of South Jamaica we see a 1946 Ford modeled as a Business Coupe and operating as Supervisor Car #5 for Jamaica Buses, Inc. of Jamaica, New York.

The supervisor cars were and probably still are a very important part of bus operations in that they are used by company starters and inspectors to patrol the routes, make certain that buses are running on schedule, respond to emergency situations and in the collection of rear door fares where needed during rush hours.

While #5 shows no special antenna, most of these vehicles were two way radio equipped for rapid communication with company dispatchers and usually carried a milk box filled with basic tools in their cavernous trunks for minor road repairs.

Photo courtesy of 'dfwu' and is available at eBay as item # 351118839240.
Also thanks to HartBus (ECA) for the lead.

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

[Mr. Linsky]

Once again we visit the Cedar Manor facility of Jamaica Buses, Inc. (JBI) but this time in the very early 60's to see what is left of fifteen 1937 Mack Model 6-CT-3S's numbered between 100 and 130 with all being surplus transfers from commonly owned Green Bus Lines in the mid fifties.

Actually, JBI was the third operator of the fleet which had originally been purchased by the newly formed Manhattan and Queens Bus Corporation (M&Q) to replace traction equipment on the Q-60 line between South Jamaica and the east side of Manhattan - interestingly, the 30 buses carried their same fleet numbers throughout their active lives.

Note that the CT (stage left) was obviously used as a parts car to support the useable equipment.

The thirty CT's inherited in 1943 from M&Q by Green along with seventy of their own made the company the largest single operator of the model and the only outward difference between the two fleets were the factory installed sun visors over Green's windshields.

Photo courtesy of 'dfwu' and is available at eBay as item # 400742703668.
Special thanks to Hart Bus for the lead.

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

[Q65A]

Interesting that the operator's side of the windshield has 2 header-mounted wipers, yet the curbside windshield appears to have no wipers.

[B53RICH]

Q65A, it is a bit hard to see but I think there is at least one wiper on the curb side, set in the middle.

[Q65A]

Thanks B53Rich, I see it now

[Mr. Linsky]

[Q65A]

Thanks Mr. L!

[Free-transfer]

Here's a screen shot I took from a video on YouTube,
Far Rockaway Memories. Notice several GBL Macks on
the left...

[Mr. Linsky]

Free-transfer,

Yes, that's a well known shot and it appears exactly the same on page 15 of the October/December 2000 issue of Motor Coach Age devoted exclusively to the history of Green Bus Lines.

At the time the photo was taken circa late forties the backbone of the Rockaway Division fleet were the Mack CT's and no less than three can be seen at the Far Rockaway Railroad station.

The large white topped bus in the background is an ACF modeled as a 41-S operating for the Nassau Bus Line and is readying for another trip back to Long Beach via Atlantic Beach.

The station was the long time terminus for both Green and Nassau buses but was lost to them due to an outrageous rent increase in later years which they refused to pay and lead to curbside service around the corner.

Regards,

Mr. 'L'

[Mr. Linsky]

The Manhattan and Queens Bus Corporation, operator of the Q-60 line between South Jamaica and Manhattan, had many good days along with a few bad ones as seen below.

On July 10th. 1939 #101, a 1937 Mack modeled as a 6-CT-3S, traveling Jamaica bound on Queens Boulevard at Forest Hills jumped a curb and crashed into a refreshment stand and a billboard destroying both and sending four pedestrians to the hospital with flying glass injuries.

Of note is a company mechanic assessing the damage to the bus.

#101 survived its minor incursion and went on to serve commonly owned Green Bus Lines and Jamaica Buses in its later life.

BTW; #101 also shows its original factory generated livery.

It was not uncommon in the 30's and even into the late forties to find many vacant lots along the outer reaches of Queens Boulevard which became perfect venues for temporary outdoor signage.

Photo courtesy of 'cootsimagery-deluxe' and is available at eBay as item # 400745378607.
Pertinent details thanks to Acme Photo New York Bureau.

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

[Mr. Linsky]

I've often said that while I dislike the reporting of accidents they are part of the history of New York Buses and must be recorded and, in this case, most importantly to memorialize a gentlemen by the name of Michael Mennion who was crushed to death behind the wheel while trying to save his passengers and bus.

It was the rainy morning of June 5th. 1941 along Roosevelt Avenue in Woodside that we see the aftermath of a devastating accident in which Fifth Avenue Coach # 2141 was cut off forcing driver Mennion to swerve the bus which then careened across slippery pavement to the opposite side of the road and into an El structure pillar sending forty of the Manhattan bound passengers to the hospital with twelve listed in critical condition.

Two of the company's service cars including a heavy duty four wheel drive Walter (seen right of upper frame) were enlisted to dislodge and remove the bus which sustained catastrophic front end damage.

Images courtesy of Acme Photo New York Bureau and are available on eBay through 'cootsimagery-deluxe' as items 201132943335 and 201132307366 respectively.

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

[X-Astorian]

[Q65A]

Walter wreckers seemed to be popular with the old PBLs.
I recall QTC had a big Walter tow truck (painted orange and cream, of course) and perhaps also a Walter salt spreader (with a front mounted plow jack, much like DSNY rigs of the same period).
Did GBL, TCC and JBI also have similar service vehicles?

[Mr. Linsky]