BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

In James Clifford Greller's "NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT SYSTEM: BUS AND TROLLEY COACH FLEET", there are several interior photos of a new MACK C-50-DT set up as an ambulance.

According to the text, these buses (5200-5599), purchased during the very early Cold War era, could be converted into ambulances in case of an emergency.

I think that this is something that is quite obscure to many area bus enthusiasts, and also something worth mentioning here.

Anyone here have any more info (or photos) on these MACKS (as ambulances?)

"NYO"

[Hankg42]

I have a few pictures of C50-DTs, most of which have been seen before. I do not know the original sources. This picture shows one in good condition, prior to the rigors of NYC service having effect.

I have also seen the pictures of the interiors set up as an ambulance, and close ups of the "S" shaped seats. Unfortunately, I do not have any of those.

Edit: I loved the fact that ALL of the windows could be slid open, including the 2 rear windows over the engine bay.

[Mr. Linsky]

As originally seen April 20th. 2013 in the 'Vintage New York City' thread;



Bus Transportation Magazine (circa 1950) brings us this interesting ad introducing Mack's specially designed C-50 series built for the then City of New York Board of Transportation (BofT).

400 of the 49 passenger C-50's numbered 5200 to 5599 hit New York's highways and byways between 1950 and 1951 and, as the brainchild of then BofT Commissioner Col. Sidney H. Bingham (pictured) were commonly referred to as 'Bingham Class Macks'.

While the C-50's were solid runners and steered like baby carriages, their immense weight of over 23,000 lbs (the heaviest buses in the city's arsenal at the time) played havoc with their consumption of both fuel and oil.

The cold war was in full swing at the time and the Colonel, an old Army man and being very civil defense minded, thought it to be a good idea to design the C-50's for use as emergency ambulances in the event of attack and incorporated an elaborate system of brackets to accommodate overhead stretchers.

Photo courtesy of '4509bus' and was sold on eBay.

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

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Fellows:

Appreciate your contributions....thank you!

Speaking of buses that could be used as ambulances, I wonder how many cities used retired buses as mobile medical examination units?

Years ago, I saw a 1960's CTA photo of a retired ex-CSL WHITE, showing the bus as a converted mobile medical examination unit.

Other than that photo, it cames as quite a surprise to see these MACKS equipped for ambulance conversion.......

"NYO"

BTW:

On a somewhat related note, at one time, there were elevated cars in Chicago that operated as hearses. After funeral service on the el lines ceased in the 1930's. one car (#2756) was converted into a medical examination car, that not only served the CRT lines, but also, the CA&E and the North Shore.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

All:

Came across the following (good comments!)......

http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_71120-Mack-C50-DT-1951.html

(courtesy imcdb.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"Bingham" MACKS.......

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?4251

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?3620

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?3329

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?3622

(courtesy bus.nycsubway.org)

[Mr. Linsky]

Here's an interesting shot of a Bingham Mack interior in ambulance ready mode thanks to Frankie.

Regards,

Mr. 'L'

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Mr. "L" (also Frankie):

Thanks for sharing this rare image; it is one of the several photos I mentioned seeing in the Greller work (page 55)

I'm willing to wager that the vast majority of New Yorkers who rode those buses every day had no inkling whatsoever that the coach they were aboard could be converted into an ambulance in case of emergency.....

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

More vintage scenes of "Bingham MACKS" in action......

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?3965

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?3978

(courtesy. bus.nycsubway.org)

[Q65A]

Imagine being a stretcher patient swinging from the handrails as a large transit bus pounds the old Belgian block streets of Gotham in the '50's

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

On a related note (from the present day).......

http://www.waynefas.com/mobile-ambulance-bus/

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

From the Greller work:

".......#C-50 was the demonstrator for the C-50 fleet that was purchased by the BofT in 1950. After demonstrating in other cities, the bus was sold to the BofT as a replacement for MACK #5369 that was damaged in a fire....."

"........this bus was similiar to the production C-50, lacking the aluminum belt rail, , and the window frames were slightly different from the production model. This was a modernized version of a standard MACK. It finished its days with the C-50 fleet as #5369......"

(IMHO, the pictures of this bus (page 59) show a coach, that, if possible, had an even tougher "attitude" than your usual MACK. Too bad that this fine coach wasn't saved from the scrap yard)

"NYO"

[Hankg42]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Hankg42:

Back in the 60's, in my area of northern New Jersey, most MACKS seemed to be C-45's; the only suburban MACKS I remember were those rostered by ORANGE & BLACK.

The other companies I remember using MACKS were NHBL, SHBL, and CENTRAL AVENUE; I knew these old veterans well growing up.

By the late 60's, the MACKS were all becoming endangered species.

The last MACKS on the NHBL's #1 local were about 1967/68; I recall one suffering a serious engine fire a few blocks from our old apartment house, on a hot summer's day. For some strange reason, it was not towed away in a more or less timeley manner, but sat for quite a long spell until it was finally towed away.

Never saw the MACKS again on the old "Boulevard" lines; whatever the model, MACKS were very distinctive buses......their sounds and smells still remain with me after all these years.

They truly were buses with personalities....

"NYO"