BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Fresh Pond Rd., 1974

In this photo, it is clear that the Fishbowls stored between the El ramps are permanently OOS (sadly, these coaches did not enjoy a long service life)......

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?38573

Finally, in this last view (1979), the derelict buses are gone altogether, and a few parked autos now sit in their places........

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?4617

(courtesy nycsubway.org)

[Hart Bus]

When I saw that the photographer of the last picture was the late Steve Hoskins, it reminds me of what a loss suffered when he passed. I remember by several of Bill "Newkirk"'s subway calender. He knew that I lived in Huntington, LI and sent me a photo he had taken of a HART Gillig at the factory in California.

May he rest in peace knowing that we are trying to keep up his legacy.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Undated winter view (possibly early 80's?) of the area between the El ramps at Fresh Pond Rd.

Note that all but two of the OOS buses are now gone; the ones remaining are now keeping company with a few parked cars......

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?41792

(courtesy nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

This vintage set of retired BMT "Triplex" cars (retired 1965) is seen on a fantrip at Fresh Pond Rd., crowded with happy transit buffs.

Note that there is not much left to the windshield of the OOS Fishbowl at center........

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?24054

(courtesy nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

These three views (1950's through the 60's) show that the area between the El ramps at Fresh Pond Rd. was devoid of any sort of transit vehicles.

But, look closely in the 1950's view (where the yards are jammed with ancient elevated "gate cars"), you can just make out what appears to the remnants of a trolley track as well as a line pole, where the buses were stored between the El ramps in later years.

This pole was gone by the time the later photos were taken.

Perhaps, at one time in the past, trolleys were stored here (also, some BRT elevated routes once utilized trolley poles)......

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?112541

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?26392

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?35309

(courtesy nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The same location, 1956.

The BMT yard at the left is crowded with gate cars, Bluebirds, and Multi-Section units; here again, that short section of long-disused track in-between the ramps is still visible, along with line poles.

Even back in 1956, it is clear that it had not been used for a quite some time.

Some 25-odd years later, this empty space would be used to store buses; Old Looks at first, and then, later on, Fishbowls.....buses that clearly had run their last revenue mile.

The old tenements and their wash-laden clotheslines at left easily reminds one of the Kramdens and the Nortons.......

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?31937

(courtesy nycsubway.org)

This photo, taken in 1960, features the soon to be retired BMT Multi-Section articulated cars at Fresh Pond Rd.

This photo affords a better view of the old line poles that were later taken out, so that OOS buses could be stored......

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?113377

(courtesy nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Another Lo-V fantrip at Fresh Pond Rd., 1974

Now that the Old Looks formerly stored here have been removed, these Fishbowls are clearly next in line for the scrapper, silently awaiting their appointment with the cutting torch.

I would imagine that the OOS buses seen here in these views, for whatever reason, had reached the point that it was no longer economically feasible to repair them, even though they certainly weren't "old" in bus-years......

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?8070

(courtesy nycsubway.org)

[Mr. Linsky]

[Mr. Linsky]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Mr. "L":

As always, appreciate your comments and trivia!

Also appreciate your info regarding the OOS buses between the El ramps at Fresh Pond Road; now I see why such "young" buses were no longer operating.

Seeing the Old Looks there at such a late date more or less told you that they were only sitting at that location until they could be taken away to be scrapped.

But, seeing "new" Fishbowls there, clearly never to see service again, was a little more challenging to fathom for this Jersey boy.

Too, IMHO, the original NYCTA green with script lettering was the most handsome of the paint schemes worn by the Fishbowls.

Time is all too fleeting.......

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

All:

From the collection of photos available showing this location at Fresh Pond Road, it seems that the earliest picture to show OOS buses stored between the El ramps was about 1969/1970.

By the late 70's, no buses remained.

So, it would seem, this narrow area was only used as OOS bus storage for less than a decade.

This newest photo (1988) shows nothing except the hulk of an old truck sitting where the buses were once stored.........

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?108110

(courtesy nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

All:

On reviewing this series of vintage Fresh Pond Road photos, this one, dated 1969, is the oldest showing OOS buses stored between the El ramps; prior to that time, the area was empty, save for the remnants of what appears to be a long-disused trolley track and several line poles.

The few Old Looks seen here, though obviously awaiting the last trip to the scrapyard, appear to be in better shape than most of the Fishbowls that would later occupy this narrow space between the tracks.....

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?6843

(courtesy nycsubway.org)

[Hart Bus]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Gentlemen:

In this photo from 1971. we see IND R-7 #1440 leading a fantrip special at Fresh Pond Road; note that the Fishbowls seen here appear to be in much better shape than when viewed in later photos ( a few of the bus numbers can also be seen here)

In fact, these buses almost seem ready to pull out for thier runs with the tolling of the next rush hour......

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?2099

(courtesy nycsubway.org)