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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22558 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 9:33 pm Post subject: "Go The Motor Coach Way": FACC musings |
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DOUBLE DECKERS:
The famed double deckers of FACC were doomed after the War, due to a combination of declining ridership and increased labor costs. But, had FACC instead decided to continue with double decker operation, IMHO, I think that, when it came time to retire the old late 1930's YELLOWS, FACC would have had to switch over to single-deckers regardless, as I cannot see GMC building new double-deck coaches.
The ancient, charming, open-toppers, as they required both a driver and a conductor, clearly were, by this late date, simply too expensive to continue operating with their two-man crews.
Too, from the company's standpoint, they were also, quite simply, getting too long in the tooth.
I still recall, back in the 70's, when there was a less-than-successful experiment dealing with attempting to bring the double deckers back to Fifth Avenue.
Given NY's rising crime rate at that time (not to mention the ever-worsening epidemic of transit vandalism/grafitti), as well as the fuel crunch, it would have been quite foolhardy to expect that type of coach to be utilized again on the old FACC routes.
MACKS:
Being that FACC was such a GMC stronghold in the postwar years, I often wonder why the company decided to order MACKS ( C-50-DT's, dating to 1951, numbered in the 2400's).
Though there were only 25 buses in this order, I feel that this order just as easily could have been given to GMC.
FISHBOWLS:
The first Fishbowls ordered by FACC were 10 TDH-5301's, and were air-conditioned. The next order of Fishbowls (the 3100 series) were not air-conditioned.
Why were only the first order of Fishbowls equipped with a/c, and not the newer 3100's?
Appreciate any info.......
NYO
*I had mentioned that the main reason that FACC did away with double-decker operation was a combination of declining ridership and rising labor costs (this info from "NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT BUSES", by Guy E. Martin); yet, the text also states that:
"......these buses (the double deckers) dominated the scene until 1953, and were only retired because none were manufactured after World War II......."
This statement seems to contradict one made earlier (from the same book):
"......after World War II, increased labor costs and declining ridership made double-decker operation unprofitable......"
Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Fri Apr 22, 2011 12:12 am; edited 3 times in total |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22558 Location: NEW JOISEY
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22558 Location: NEW JOISEY
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22558 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Mr. Linsky BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 5071 Location: BRENTWOOD, CA. - WOODMERE, N.Y.
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Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 12:43 am Post subject: |
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NYO,
The only part of your interesting synopsis on Fifth Avenue Coach that I can address with any degree certainty would be the company's first order of 10 New Looks - 1960 TDH 5301's numbered 1 to 10 with Air Conditioning.
As you may know, the Omnibus Corporation (the parent of Fifth Avenue) had a very close relationship with Yellow/GM for years and, in fact, was in on much of the design work in the thirties including the Double Decked jobs for New York and Chicago and, contrary to what you state, any decision on further production of post war DD's would probably have come from Chicago and not Pontiac!
Anyway - sorry I drifted off the subject - about the A/C units; I believe they were the first long haul field tests of what was designed for the New Looks.
New York City did not require air conditioned transits until the mid sixties and that's why subsequent FACCO New Look orders did not have the feature.
Regards,
Mr. 'L' |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22558 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 8:34 am Post subject: |
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Mr, "L":
As always, I do appreciate your taking the time to share some historical info......always GREAT:Y appreciated!
Regarding FACC coaches equipped with a/c, recall #3100 (TDH-5106), built in 1956, and purchased by FACC two years later in 1958.
Though obviously both passengers and operators certainly appreciated having a/c during those hot, sweltering, New York summers, it is obvious that no one was interested in spending money that was getting tighter on any more coaches of this type.
By this late date, FACC was only going to be in existence for four more years, before being taken over by MABSTOA in 1962.
NYO
Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Fri Apr 22, 2011 9:13 am; edited 1 time in total |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22558 Location: NEW JOISEY
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22558 Location: NEW JOISEY
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22558 Location: NEW JOISEY
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22558 Location: NEW JOISEY
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22558 Location: NEW JOISEY
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22558 Location: NEW JOISEY
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22558 Location: NEW JOISEY
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22558 Location: NEW JOISEY
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22558 Location: NEW JOISEY
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