BusTalk

[Henry Gray]

Greetings Bus Forum,

Hope everyone is doing well. I have a question-I know that before the early 60's, Jamaica Buses Routes were labled as follows: A (Belmont Park), B (New York Blvd. routes), and C (Liberty Avenue-Ozone Park). Can someone tell me when they changed to the route designations we know them as now (Q110, Q111, Q112, Q113), and when did the Far Rockaway route start, and was that called a D? Thanks for your help.

Take it easy,
Henry Gray :D

[Mr. Linsky]

H.G.,

Welcome to BusTalk and let me say that we look forward to your valued contributions.

Within the next couple of months, Motor Coach Age will publish a rather complete history of Jamaica Buses and I have the privilege of assisting in that production.

In the meantime, I can tell you that Jamaica Buses was the successor to the Jamaica Central Railway Company which dated back to nearly the beginning of the twentieth century and ran four major traction routes from Jamaica including one to Belmont Park in Nassau County (was Route 'A' - now Q-110) and one to Far Rockaway via Rockaway Boulevard (was Route 'B' - now Q-113).

In 1933, buses began to replace all of the traction lines and continued in residence at the Baisley Park car barn (also pictured below is one of Jamaica's first buses).

Now; as to when the designations were changed from letters to numbers; I can't give you an exact date but I can sure narrow it down a might bit.

Attached is a photo of Jamaica Buses # 207 (ex Green Line 207, ex ex Manhattan and Queens Bus Corporation 207) showing Q-111 (New York Blvd.).

This bus was transferred from Green to Jamaica in the late fifties and ran in various assignments until it was junked in the mid sixties.

So, we can be certain that the changeover in route designations took place sometime during that period.

Hope I've been of some help.

Regards,

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