BusTalk

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 1:01 am Post subject: 'MY FAVORITE ATLANTIC CITY LTO'

Here's a photo one of my favorite Atlantic City LTO's in the form of a 1950's International 'Metro Coach' Jitney - such a familiar sight on the streets of that famous east coast resort.

The Metro Coach, which was built basically to be a light duty city delivery van, was proportioned nicely as compared to other manufacturers converted models and had a proven track record in both performance and endurance.

I once rode in one myself and it seemed to handle pretty solidly even on some of the city's less than perfectly paved arteries.

A little history of Atlantic City's Jitneys;

The Atlantic City Jitney Association, established in 1915, claims to be the longest-running unsubsidized transit company in the United States.

Each jitney is individually owned and operated, and drivers keep the fares. The Association awards the franchises and regulates the appearance of the buses and drivers and the Association also issues fines for violations and holds its own traffic court.

By Atlantic City ordinance, the number of jitney franchises is limited to 190. City ordinance also regulates the price per trip and controls the jitney routes.

Most of the jitney's routes run along Pacific Avenue. A jitney shuttle also runs from the Atlantic City Train Station to the various Casinos.

Photo by Flickr.

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

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2011 3:01 pm Post subject:

Here's a more concise history of the Jitney business in Atlantic City as originally seen in the April/June 1997 issue of Motor Bus Society's 'Motor Coach Today'

Regards,

Mr. 'L'

Q65A · Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2011 7:07 pm Post subject:

I remember those Metros working in AC during the early 1970's. Metro vans were very popular delivery vehicles in NYC during the 1960's and 1970's.

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2011 1:58 am Post subject:

Bob,

International's Metro route delivery model dates back to at least the early forties and was extremely popular with bakeries, laundries and dry cleaners especially in the boroughs of New York City.

Here's one though that lost its fight with an Omnibus in Manhattan.

I'm afraid that their centers of gravity were just slightly too high!

Enjoy,

Mr. 'L'

Q65A · Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2011 9:23 am Post subject:

That TD-4506 (?) packed quite a punch!

traildriver · Joined: 26 Mar 2011 Posts: 2458 Location: South Florida

That scene reminds me that Metro's were also used by the city as ambulances....

JimmiB · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:23 am Post subject:

They were top heavy. I put a dry cleaner Metro "driver side down" like that and I didn't even get hit by anything. Lost it in the snow.