BusTalk

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 1:52 am Post subject: 'JAMAICA BUSES # 13'

Shown (circa 1950) somewhere in the outer reaches of Queens County and heading for Jamaica on one of its company's four routes, we see fleet number 13 - a 1942 Twin Coach Model 44R and one of ten numbered 11 through 20 delivered to Jamaica Buses, Inc., of Baisley Park, New York in that year.

Other than three 1939 ACF's purchased for World's Fair use and subsequently sold to Triboro Coach Corporation, the company was devout Twin Coach from its inception in 1933 until the delivery of these 44R's - the post war years saw a switch to Mack and then GM.

This order for Jamaica was among the last before Twin retooled for the war effort and it wasn't until 1946 that completely new models were offered for peacetime uses.

Notice the ribbed side panels on #13 which strengthened the thinner steel sheet metal that replaced aluminum commandeered for military projects.

If the photo were in color it would show a cream roof over a very bright red under the window line.

Photo borrowed for educational purposes only.

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

Q65A · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 8:06 pm Post subject:

Interesting to see an "Old Look" Twin in service: looks a bit like a lowered GM Old Look, That NY State required vent appears to be a "bump on the noggin" Smile

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 11:15 pm Post subject:

Bob,

Twin didn't have the same imagination as GM and Mack when it came to the required mechanical ventilators for New York operators (ACF's were even worse!).

Another interesting note; to my knowledge, these ten buses were the only prewar 44 passenger Twins to operate in New York City and, what makes that so unbelievable is that Jamaica was the smallest of all the operators.

The largest prewar Twin operators were Brooklyn Bus Corporation, Surface Transportation and North Shore Bus Company and none had anything over 40 passenger capacity.

Regards,

Mr. 'L'

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 11:56 pm Post subject:

Jamaica's last prewar order of Twin Coaches is growing in my Jamaica album as can be seen by the arrival of fleet number 16 - a 1942 Model 44G (straight gasoline power).

#16, signed for Route 'B' (now Q 113) Jamaica to Far Rockaway, stands at the company's curbside terminal on Parsons Boulevard in Jamaica awaiting its next run in a photo taken sometime in 1951.

Behind #16 is one of many Mack's that made up Jamaica's modern postwar fleet.

Note Twin's innovative third windshield wiper for the driver's vent window.

Photo thanks to Bruce K. at eBay.

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

Q65A · Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 9:27 am Post subject:

Great photo! It appears that JBI 16 does not have the same rooftop vent arrangement as JBI 13.

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 1:18 pm Post subject:

Bob,

That same notion occurred to me but I think it's the angle of the shot because if you look closely you can just see the leading edge of it.

It would have to have it not only because #13 has it but because it was mandatory for New York operation.

Regards,

Mr. 'L'

Q65A · Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 11:53 am Post subject:

Makes sense to me. When did JBI start eliminating these Twins from their roster? Did GBL run any Twins?

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 1:43 pm Post subject:

Bob,

Glad you asked! - I'll answer the second question first; Green Line never ran Twins and, in fact, never even inherited any from the original companies that made up the their Queens routes in the early thirties.

I can speak from some personal experience on Jamaica's Twins; the 44G's from 1942 were their last Twin purchases and they ran well into the beginning of the fifties.

I went to day camp in Far Rockaway in 45, 46, 47, 48 and 49 and, while the main campus was located in town, we swam and played baseball at Beach 19th. Street and Seagirt Avenue (now Boulevard).

Our swimming pool was at the Ostend Baths and between the Ostend and Roaches Beach and Hotel (name eventually changed to 'Bed Bug' - I couldn't resist that one!) next door was a semi circular drive where Jamaica's 'B' line terminated and I can remember to this day that they were the bright red and cream Twins.

Another interesting fact; across Seagirt at Beach 19th. was our baseball field from which I remember seeing Green Line's 1934 Brockways laying over on the Bayswater route - that is the earliest Green Line bus I can remember and it was among the first that they ever bought.

That's why they say that I'm a piece of Green Line history!!!!

Regards,

Mr. 'L'

Q65A · Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 2:23 pm Post subject:

Thanks for those memories, Mr. L!!!