BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Gentlemen:

What middle-aged NY-Metro area bus fan could ever forget the "Great Grumman Debacle", now over 30 years ago?

How well I recall the extensive newspaper and TV news coverage, showing the convoys of WAMATA Fishbowls and New Looks snaking thier way up towards Gotham, to fill in for the ill-fated Grummans, which were, literally, not at all living up to the MTA's expectations.

Tow trucks, mechanics, and other service personell accompanied the DC coaches on their long trip North.

I still remember watching a TV news report (I believe that this was an WNEW-5 report), watching "decade-and-a-half-old clunkers" (as one less-than-kind news reporter put it) pull out of a garage, after long slumbering in storage.

Though I got quite used to seeing the DC coaches every day downtown where I then worked, I did not get to ride one of these veterans until 1995, when I discovered an ex-WAMATA New Look Flex operating on the old #1 BOULEVARD line to the JSQ PATH station.

Aaaaaaah, those deep, soft bucket seats!

I rode this bus (complete with an ancient Johnson farebox, which was obviously inherited from an old NHBL coach) pretty much regularly for the next few years, before it vanished.

Of course, I never thought to take a picture or two!

Anyway, the following images should bring back memories of that distant time, when the "CAPITAL CONVOY" made its way north to The Big Apple......

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's a few pics.....

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?2308

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?2309

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?2310

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?2311

(courtesy bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

An interesting view from 1975 that I wanted to include here.

This DC Fishbowl, seen at 6th & Bleeker, is still sporting its old DC TRANSIT colors, but now also wearing the new METROBUS logo.

A loooong way from Pennsylvania Avenue......

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?279

(courtesy of bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Remember when the future looked bright......

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1355

(courtesy bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"Business as usual.....for now....."

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1386

(courtesy bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

An excellent article regarding the MTA's ill-fated Grummans and the DC "rescue" buses.......

http://talk.nycsubway.org/perl/read?bustalk=115962

[traildriver]

I remember that crisis.....IIRC, they also leased a bunch of white-painted ex-Greyhound MC-8 coaches from Hausman to help fill in on some express tripss......

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

DC Flex New Look #2650 at Hylan & Richmond, trailed by an MTA Fishbowl (1981).........

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?2773

(courtesy bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

All is calm.....for now......

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?212

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?276

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?277

(courtesy bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

With the mighty Verrazano Narrows Bridge looming majestically in the background, we see DC New Look #6834 on the job, on a sunny day back in 1981.....

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?2776

(courtesy bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Bay St. & Victory, 1981......

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?2777

(courtesy bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

WAMATA #6883 departing the St. George ferry terminal, 1981......

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?2782

(courtesy bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Waiting for passengers......and a less-than-successful future......

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?306

(courtesy of bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]