BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

I might be mistaken, but, I seem to remember reading that the B&O had a Bronx bus depot; if this was the case, could that front-engined coach seen on the left have been a B&O unit?

If not, any clues as to who might have been the operator?

John

http://world.nycsubway.org/perl/show?116722

[N4 Jamaica]

Thanks for pointing to a great photo! I came north on Webster Avenue yesterday, just like the streetcar. Maybe the B&O had a pickup point at Rogers, I don't know. Can anyone read the year on the license plate to the right. At one time, New York plates with Z were rental cars or maybe non-taxi livery cars.
Joe

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Hey, Joe:

Glad you liked the photo.......I only came across it earlier this afternoon......sure is a time warp of a bygone Bronx!

The B&O had several depots in Manhattan (including Columbus Circle), and also picked up/discharged in Brooklyn.

This interesting bus service came to an end in 1958, when the B&O curtailed all passenger service east of DC.

Buses crossed over to Jersey City via the CNJ ferry from Liberty St.

In earlier years, some of the buses used CNJ ferries from the foot of W. 23rd St. (this line was shut down in November of 1941).

Whatever company owned that vintage coach seen in that circa-1939 photo, it certainly makes for a interesting old view of old New York!

Pic looks to be late 30's/early 40's........

John

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's another classic TARS photo; look closely on the right, and you can see a portion of the electric sign fronting the B&O bus station at Columbus Circle......

http://www.davesrailpix.com/tars/htm/tars063.htm

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

WHOA!!!

Just decided to do some more "hunting", and came upon this magnificent, rare circa-1930 photo of B&O buses at the station on 42nd St., Manhattan!

Man, what a show this had to be!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nypl/3593429770/in/photostream

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Some additional info on the B&O bus service:

Service began in 1926, and, through the decades, three generations of buses were used.

First were front-engined YELLOWS.

Then, in 1936, air-conditioned WHITES (w/custom-built, streamlined bodies) were introduced.

The last buses used were also WHITES (suburban models).

Manhattan stations were:

COLUMBUS CIRCLE

ROCKERFELLER CENTER (Hotels TAFT and VICTORIA)

34th ST. (buses called at several hotels)

42nd St. (opposite Grand Central)

Buses also stopped at 9th St. (Wannamaker's)

Downtown Brooklyn, too, was served by the B&O coaches.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

NOT A B&O coach, but, for obvious reasons, I just HAD to share this long-ago Bronx scene here......a RARE pic, indeed!!!!

Talk about a "Golden Oldie"!!

http://world.nycsubway.org/perl/show?116596

[Mr. Linsky]

Here's a nostalgic look the B & O office on Broadway at Columbus Circle circa the mid fifties.

The bus, one of 30 delivered to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad for connection service, is a 1950 White Model 1136 (which will be discussed in more detail in a piece being prepared for 'Vintage New York City' as we speak).

That B & O office must have 'rocked around the clock' because above it was where WINS—Crosley, then Westinghouse broadcasting—held forth in the days of Murray 'the K' Kaufman, Alan Freed and Pete Myers who were the #1 disc jockeys in New York radio dispensing pre-Beatles rock and roll.

Photo and info courtesy of 'A Rain of Frogs'

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

[HwyHaulier]

John -

Somewhere around here (and if it still on some servers), much discussion of the B & O, Jersey City - New York support.
In its (ca.) 1938 Timetables, a graphic displayed routes operated, and points served. I don't recall anything about a
Bronx service; not to say whether it ever happened.

There was reason for some established carriers to make a Bronx stop. This favored an intermediate on a New York
(Manhattan) - North or New England route.

In any case, this venerable photo suffers from overall "grainy". Worse, the parlor coach moved, with a too slow shutter
speed by photog. Midway along side of the coach, apparent marks which could be a carrier's logo. All much too murky...

.......................Vern....................

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Mr"L"/Vern........

I'd seen that photo of the B&O coach quite awhile ago; "1010 WINS" has been an all-news station for decades now!
That wonderful old photo is truly a nostalgic slice of a bygone New York!

Vern: Yes, I agree.....too many otherwise fine old shots are often marred by grainy and/or blurred images. Too, this is often more than highlighted when photos are scanned for 'net use.

The CNJ's Jersey City terminal at the underground bus depot at the DIXIE HOTEL both were unique in that they utilized turntables for turning the buses......certainly, this had to be great fun to watch!

One of the railroad videos I have (which showcases the CNJ) features awesome late 50's color footage of the B&O coaches traveling through Manhattan, and then crossing over to Jersey City via the ferry.

A closeup of one of the coach's desination signs reads:

"B&O TRAIN CONNECTION FROM 33RD ST."

Also, some great footage of a 1936 WHITE being turned at Jersey City!

In the circa-1930 photo I found, note the large "TRAIN CONNECTION" sign boxes on the buses; a photo of a YELLOW used in BLUE COMET train connection service (CNJ), which can be seen in the book "THE UNIQUE NEW YORK & LONG BRANCH" sports the same type of signbox.

John

BTW: In the last photo link I posted (color shot), any clues as to owner of coach?

Thought it looked similiar to GREYHOUND, but could not spot a hint of the "running dog" logo......

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Rare interior shot of one of the B&O's early YELLOWS.

Photo is virtually identicle to the interior photo of a 1927 MACK "AB" rostered by PSNJ, seen in an old book I have about the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nypl/3593430060/in/photostream/

[HwyHaulier]

John -

Refer to yours, TU 22 FEB, 11:11 PM, link to "116596" item?

A,: Don't know. Photo comes with exposure and grain violations! In the view, see just above the sign box.
There is a three light, "ICC bar" affixed, and looks like an aftermarket product.

IMHO, I'm not buying the coach was ever a GREYHOUND. Here, again! Dates, dates, dates!..

Today, yours. Missed the screamingly obvious one here? <G>
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nypl/3593429770/in/photostream/

........................Vern.......................

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Vern......

I did a double-take (to put it mildly!) when I came across that rare gem last evening!

Man, talk about a CLASS operation!

No wonder our hobby was once such a rewarding and enjoyable one!

We'll never see the likes of such operations again!

In my copy of "RAILROAD FERRIES OF THE HUDSON", by Raymond J. Baxter and Arthur G. Adams, there is a great photo showing (from the rear) one of the B&O's front-engined YELLOWS aboard one of the CNJ boats.

Caption dates the photo to about 1934.

Two-tone paint job, rooftop luggage rack, and dual spares bringing up the rear, sure made for a handsome coach indeed!

An interesting note here, is that, according to the text, the CNJ once operated a bus line between Allentown (PA) and NYC, along old US Route 22.

This line was later sold to PSNJ.

Ahhh, the good old days, my friend!

John

[HwyHaulier]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Vern......

In circa-1930 photo, small sign above coach windshield reads : "LIBERTY ST. ROUTE".

As I stated earlier, some routes utilized the CNJ's W.23rd St. ferry; that option came to an end in late 1941, when the CNJ abadoned uptown boat service.

Just imagining......had the B&O continued passenger service into NY via Jersey City until the ill-fated Aldene Plan of 1967.......perhaps, by that time, TDM's or Fishbowls would have been doing the honors, all gussied up in classic B&O colors.....<G>

John

*Regarding CNJ bus service from Allentown to NYC, via US Route 22, recall "READING LINES" coaches, which operated from Philadelphia to NYC.

As the RDG then operated trains into Jersey City via the CNJ, it would make sense to have these coaches utilize the CNJ boats to cross over into Manhattan......