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'VINTAGE WESTCHESTER SURFACE WAYS, INC. (NY)'
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Mr. Linsky
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Location: BRENTWOOD, CA. - WOODMERE, N.Y.

PostPosted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 3:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

In researching my rare hand written copies of Mack pre-war production records (1933 to 1942) courtesy of the Mack Truck Museum, I find that Westchester Surface Ways, Inc. (WSW) purchased only four buses during that period and none in the post war era when it turned entirely to used equipment.

Seen brand new somewhere in the environs of Mount Vernon, New York but already inspected by the State Public Service Commission are fleet numbers 106 and 104 and both of 1942 vintage.

# 106 (foreground), one of two with the other numbered 107, is a 31 passenger double door Mack Model RB-3G followed by # 104 - a single door 27 passenger Mack Model L-25 and also one of two with the other numbered 105.

Both models were considered by Mack to be of light to medium duty and were ideal for a small company with only four local lines such as WSW had.

Of note on both buses are the roof mounted New York State required full time mechanical ventilation systems which were not under driver control.

Also of note is the openable emergency door window on # 106.

Photo courtesy of 'Vintage-Vault75' and has been sold on eBay.

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

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Mr. Linsky
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Joined: 16 Apr 2007
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Location: BRENTWOOD, CA. - WOODMERE, N.Y.

PostPosted: Fri Jan 04, 2013 2:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Seen sometime in the 1940's at what appears to be a park at an unknown location is fleet # 314 - a mid thirties Mack Model CT and operating for Westchester Surface Ways, Inc. (WSW) of Mount Vernon, New York.

# 314 is a rare and unlisted stretched version of Mack's heavy duty 37 passenger CT adding four seats and an additional window on each side which would make it way out of character for a company that ran only light to medium weight low capacity buses before the war.

Production records show no such new purchase by WSW and the unusual Air Horn on the roof might be a clue as to who # 314's original owner may have been.

Also very unusual for a pre war Mack is what appears to be an add on set of Michigan Markers over the destination sign.

Photo courtesy of 'Vintage-Vault75' and is up for bid on eBay as item # 170968988936.

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

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Mr. Linsky
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 4:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Looking at what may be the earliest specimen thus far from the Mount Vernon, New York based Westchester Surface Ways, Inc., we see fleet # 100 - a 1935 Mack Model CG-5 posed at an unknown location but unquestionably in the year of delivery.

The 20 passenger CG-5, dubbed by Mack as their 'Junior' transit bus for minor routes, was heavier and tougher then the 'Metropolitan' type Twin 19's or Yellow 712's and boasted an all steel body, four wheel air brakes and a 309 cubic inch, 70 horsepower gasoline engine mounted aside the driver (the last such configuration from Mack).

76 Model CG's were built between 1933 and 1937 with many finding homes in the northeast including Club Transportation, Utility Lines, Scarsdale Transportation and Auch Inter-Borough Transit.

Photo borrowed for educational purposes only.

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

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Mr. Linsky
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PostPosted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 4:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Filling in the blanks so to speak in my effort to build some kind of a roster for the tiny Westchester Surface Ways, Inc. of Mount Vernon, New York, we find fleet # 107 - a 1942 Mack Model RB-3G - standing at attention along with its well dressed driver in proud pose while being captured on camera in the late forties in Special assignment (location unknown).

Unlike its twin, # 106, that can be seen earlier on this page in repaint and without its under windshield Mack badge, # 107 appears exactly as it did originally from the factory including a wisp of color along the cream roof line.

Photo courtesy of 'Vintage-Vault75' and is up for auction on eBay as item # 181062801578.

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

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Mr. Linsky
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 4:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Normally, I don't feature School Buses in my presentations probably because I've always thought them to be nothing more than seats sitting on truck chassis - but, then again, every Mack bus ever built was exactly that!

I make exception here both because the focus, an early forties Mack school bus chassis model 'EF' (body of unknown origin), is operating for Westchester Surface Ways, Inc. for which this thread is dedicated and the fact that if its got the famous Bull Dog over the radiator, it's O.K. with me!

In a photo taken at the company's Mount Vernon garage no earlier than 1957 (as evidenced by the 'conference' license plate), fleet # 51 is seen in excellent condition considering its age and looks rather attractive in its then required National School Bus Chrome paint job with its single built in stop light over the windshield.

Also of note is the New York State mandated full time mechanical ventilation system as seen just behind the signal on the roof.

Photo courtesy of 'Vintage-Vault75' and has been sold on eBay.

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

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frankie



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PostPosted: Sat Feb 16, 2013 12:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mr. Linsky wrote:

I make exception here both because the focus, an early forties Mack school bus chassis model 'EF' (body of unknown origin)

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


That's definitely a Superior Body. The teardrop contour over the rear wheel is the giveaway!

Frankie
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Mr. Linsky
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 14, 2013 2:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

We can add fleet # 457 - a freshly painted late forties or early fifties Mack Model C-45-DT to our Westchester Surface Ways, Inc. pictorial roster.

While I have no information on # 457's original owner, I think we can narrow it down to at least a charter operator as evidenced by the high back seats, and the factory fog lights might indicate a New Jersey background.

The touch of Silversides (ala GM) under the window belt could also be a clue - but of no assistance to me.

# 457 is seen sitting at a railroad siding sometime in 1958 - location unknown.

Photo courtesy of 'Vintage-Vauly75' and is up for adoption on eBay as item # 171022982115.

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

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Mr. Linsky
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PostPosted: Mon May 13, 2013 1:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Seen somewhere in Mount Vernon, New York sometime in 1958 is fleet # 561 - a 1947/48 41 passenger GM Coach Model PD 4151 operating for the Westchester Surface Ways, Inc. (WSW) of Mount Vernon.

It's interesting to note that tiny WSW with only four local lines and never even a wink from Third Avenue Railway System endeavored to enter the luxury end of the charter business albeit with a used Greyhound coach!

Exactly 2000 of these 35 foot long buses were built between 1947 and 1948 exclusively for the Greyhound Corporation and its licensed affiliates more to replace war worn equipment and also as an interim step while awaiting the development of the very much anticipated Scenicruiser line.

Of the two-thousand built, 1,643 were 37 seat PD 3751's and 357 were 41 seat PD 4151's and, while both models were identical on the outside, only the seating arrangement dictated the model number.

Commonly known as 'Silversides' for their generous use of fluted aluminum siding, the 37 and 41 models featured Detroit Diesel model DDA 6-71 engines, Air Conditioners and cavernous underfloor luggage and freight compartments.

Most were sold off to private operators in the mid fifties with many unused years of service ahead of them.

Photo courtesy of 'Vintage-Vault75' and is available on eBay as item # 171036981148.

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

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Mr. Linsky
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Location: BRENTWOOD, CA. - WOODMERE, N.Y.

PostPosted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 3:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You're probably wondering why the attached photo of a piece of Mount Vernon Bus Company equipment has found its way onto the Westchester Surface Ways (WSW) thread and that's a good question with somewhat of a complicated answer.

With the opening of the Cross County Shopping Center in Yonkers in mid 1954, WSW began service to the new mecca bringing eager shoppers from both nearby Mount Vernon and Fleetwood to the venue but were thwarted when attempting to enter the property thus leaving their passenger fully a half mile from the main plaza.

Several tries at applying to the Yonkers City Counsel for what permission would be needed were denied and, according to the May 1st. 1954 edition of the Yonkers Herald, it would seem that there was a personality conflict between the counsel and WSW general manager Albert Gilcher.

Apparently, Mr Gilcher was not one to take something like this lying down so he took at least one of his WSW buses (#611 seen below) and created the Mount Vernon Bus Company with his son Robert as operator of record.

As to whether Mr. Gilcher's ruse was successful or not in gaining Yonkers approval is unknown.

For the record, fleet # 611 is a 1942 40 passenger Mack Model 'Improved' CM-3G and is seen in 1954 somewhere in Mount Vernon destined for a charter assignment.

Of note is the flag change which appears to be a slightly different shade of white than the fleet number under the window belt.

Photo courtesy of 'Vintage-Vault75' and is available at eBay as item # 171056415709.

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

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S-60 To Smith Haven Mall




Joined: 29 Nov 2007
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Location: Suffolk County, NY

PostPosted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 3:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mr. Linsky wrote:
You're probably wondering why the attached photo of a piece of Mount Vernon Bus Company equipment has found its way onto the Westchester Surface Ways (WSW) thread and that's a good question with somewhat of a complicated answer.

With the opening of the Cross County Shopping Center in Yonkers in mid 1954, WSW began service to the new mecca bringing eager shoppers from both nearby Mount Vernon and Fleetwood to the venue but were thwarted when attempting to enter the property thus leaving their passenger fully a half mile from the main plaza.

Several tries at applying to the Yonkers City Counsel for what permission would be needed were denied and, according to the May 1st. 1954 edition of the Yonkers Herald, it would seem that there was a personality conflict between the counsel and WSW general manager Albert Gilcher.

Apparently, Mr Gilcher was not one to take something like this lying down so he took at least one of his WSW buses (#611 seen below) and created the Mount Vernon Bus Company with his son Robert as operator of record.

As to whether Mr. Gilcher's ruse was successful or not in gaining Yonkers approval is unknown.

For the record, fleet # 611 is a 1942 40 passenger Mack Model 'Improved' CM-3G and is seen in 1954 somewhere in Mount Vernon destined for a charter assignment.

Of note is the flag change which appears to be a slightly different shade of white than the fleet number under the window belt.

Photo courtesy of 'Vintage-Vault75' and is available at eBay as item # 171056415709.

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



That didn't seem that complicated to me Mr. L, or maybe it didn't seem complicated to me because I had realized that #611 had to have some connection to Westchester Surface Ways (WSW) at some point in its life, otherwise you probably wouldn't have posted it in the thread.

Interesting story. I bet Mr. Gilcher wasn't the first person to form a company and list a family member as owner to get around some sort of conflict. I mean one or two companies in the Babylon Transit-ICMC family of companies were listed as being owned by members of the same family.
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Mr. Linsky
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee



Joined: 16 Apr 2007
Posts: 5071
Location: BRENTWOOD, CA. - WOODMERE, N.Y.

PostPosted: Tue Oct 08, 2013 4:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

In keeping with the company's well known policy of buying only pristine pre owned equipment, we see fleet# 337 - a 1939 single door 42 passenger Mack Model CM 3G, 4G or 4D operating for the charter division of Westchester Surface Ways, Inc. of Mount Vernon, New York.

Note that without pedigree it is impossible to assign a drive train option to #337 which could be either 3G (gas mechanical) or 4G (gas electric) or 4D (Diesel electric) - the likelihood though would be 3G because so few of the gas and Diesel electric model CM's were built.

The CM Mack, which came in either a 40 or a stretched 44 passenger version and featured an air clutch that eliminated the clutch pedal affording a jolt free ride, was by far the company's largest selling pre war model with nearly 2,000 built between 1939 and 1943 and, while they were very popular across the river in Jersey and elsewhere, only Surface Transportation and Green Bus Lines of New York City stocked them on their properties.

No location or date is given for this shot in which a very proud driver shows off his ride.

Photo courtesy of 'Vintage-Vault75' and is available at eBay as item # 171141891557.

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

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Mr. Linsky
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Location: BRENTWOOD, CA. - WOODMERE, N.Y.

PostPosted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 4:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It is obviously a wintry day and said to be about 1950 that we see another of the potpourri of often used Mack buses operating for Westchester Surface Ways, Inc. - a small transit and charter carrier based in Mount Vernon, New York.

The focus, standing in front of the company shop, is fleet # 344 - an 'improved' 1942 44 passenger Mack Model CM-4D (Diesel/Electric) outfitted for suburban operation with high back seats and no rear door.

This model, which was not in the catalog, was a stretched version of the company's very successful 40 passenger CM and only less than 100 were built with 50 going to Surface Transportation, 15 to Jersey City and Lyndhurst and a handful to Capital Transit and Howard Bus Line and it would be presumed that #344 comes originally from one of the last three operators mentioned.

Of note on #344 are the unmatched pair of door slats, a touch of silversides, an angled windshield (the improvement), an updated under windshield treatment, a static strap forward of the front wheels and a Diesel engine fresh air intake over the rear section of the roof.

Photo courtesy of 'Vintage-Vault75' and is available at eBay as item # 181279054447.

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

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Mr. Linsky
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Location: BRENTWOOD, CA. - WOODMERE, N.Y.

PostPosted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 5:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Seen on a warm summer day sometime shortly after the end of the war in Mount Vernon, New York and boarding young campers for a few hours of frolic at Glen Island off New Rochelle are fleet #'s 212 and 217 with both being mid forties 27 Passenger Ford Universal Transit Buses modeled as 29B's.

Operating for Westchester Surface Ways, Inc. of Mount Vernon, these Fords were unique to a company that prided itself on being an almost all Mack property albeit with most of their equipment purchased used but usually in excellent condition as can be seen on a Model L-25 standing behind the Fords.

These 29B's were probably bought from another New York operator as evidenced by both their New York required full time mechanical ventilation systems and Persons Majestic marble side reflectors.

About Glen Island;

Easily reachable by a quaint two lane draw bridge from New Rochelle, Glen Island Park is a picturesque 105-acre retreat located in Long Island Sound and is owned and operated by Westchester County and shares Glen Island with a privately operated but county-owned entertainment facility known as the Glen Island Harbour Club (formerly the Glen Island Casino).

Photo courtesy of 'Vintage-Vault75' and is available at eBay as item # 171248420616.

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

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