BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Chesapeake Bay auto ferries...........

http://www.esva.net/~rwest/ferries.html

[traildriver]

One of the original Virginia Ferries, had a very interesting life...from Naval ship to Virginia Ferry to Cape May-Lewes ferry to Cross Sound Ferry...
And she is still in service!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_LST-510

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver:

Talk about LONGEVITY....obviously BUILT TO LAST!

We quite often forget that buses have often crossed waterways on ferryboats for many decades; as an example, several bus lines used the old NEWBURGH-BEACON ferry, which ceased operations in late 1963, when a new bridge opened to vehicular traffic.

The classic lines of the ancient coal-burning ferries contrasted sharply with the modern buses and tail-finned autos that they carried in their final years.....

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Just came across this interesting page........

http://www.virginiaplaces.org/transportation/ferries.html

See also:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Creek-Cape_Charles_Ferry

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Just imagine how many buses must have traveled along this unique crossing, over the past-half-century.......

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesapeake_Bay_Bridge-Tunnel

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Interesting page on the Cape May-Lewes ferries.........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_May_Lewes_Ferry

[traildriver]

NYO-
Great stuff! Love it!

When I worked for Safeway Trails in the late sixties, during the height of the Vietnam War, we ran as many as 19 sections on one schedule on a Sunday night, that went over the Bridge-Tunnel.
It was basically the 10:30 PM trip to Norfolk and south to Wilmington, NC.
Civilians loaded out of gate 19, and military loaded upstairs on borrowed gate 51. We loaded solid buses to the NOB, NAS, D&S Piers, Oceana, and Damneck, for the sailor's. They came up to New York on Friday night. The Armed Forces Police had a booth in the port, that was manned at those times

And Greyhound got a good chunk of the business, as well. They loaded civilians at gate 40W, and sailor's at borrowed gate 46 'on the wall'....

Carolina got the bulk of the business, because of their extensive operation on the Eastern Shore, as well as their direct routes south out of Norfolk.

Greyhound carried more passengers via the 'overland route', via Washington, and Richmond or Colonial Beach to Norfolk.



I drove my car back from Miami Beach in the seventies over the "Ocean Highway", including the ferry from Lewes to Cape May. I cannot recall which boat, but it was one of the larger type like the SS Pocahontas. While it was painted for the Delaware River and Bay Authority, it still carried the original builder's plate for the Virginia Ferry Commission.

Another ferry I drove my car over was also back in the seventies on the C&O run across Lake Michigan...can't remember if it was the SS Gopher or SS Badger...

Also drove across the Burlington-Port Kent ferry in the sixties.

And the Marine Atlantic "Joseph and Clara Smallwood" round trip between North Sydney, NS and Port Aux Basque, NL.

Did the Bay Ridge 69th Street - Staten Island several times in the fifties.

Most recent auto ferry rides with my car, was the North and the South Ferries to/from Shelter Island, LI.

Besides the Jamestown-Newport Ferry, the other time I rode a bus over a ferry was the BC ferry from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay (Vancouver to Victoria), on a Pacific Stage Lines trip.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver:

GREAT STUFF.....thanks for sharing some great info and personal memories!

Hard to believe that, today, the only vehicular ferry in New York harbor are is the Governor's Island crossing; the Staten Island Ferry, you will recall, has not carried any vehicles since 9/11.

At that, only the 1965-vintage "KENNEDY" boat is still able to carry vehicles; all boats since the BARBERI and the NEWHOUSE have been of passenger-only design.

When I was a kid, there were still the boats of the ERIE-LACKAWANNA and the CNJ carrying rail commuters and vehicles across the Hudson.

The SI Ferry, of course, then still carried heavy vehicular loads, as did the old Brooklyn 69th St. line, which often operated all seven boats during peak periods.

Two of the boats, "THE TIDES" and "THE NARROWS" were on charter to the CNJ between 1965 and 1967, operating between the rail terminal in Jersey City and Liberty Street.

After the CNJ shut down ferry operations, both boats went to the US COAST GUARD; "THE NARROWS" was stripped of parts to keep "THE TIDES" running, and the former ran until the 90's between Whitehall Street and Governor's Island.

SUNRISE FERRIES operated (until late 1963) the former SIRT crossing from Tottenville to Perth Amboy; they also operated the Bayonne-Port Richmond ferry (this had been a PSNJ operation, many years earlier)

These last two crossings operated small open-deck diesels, that carried about 10 vehicles, along with foot passengers.

Going back further in my memory, I do recall two ACADEMY Old Look suburbans (I still remember the buses having NY plates) aboard a Brooklyn-bound 69th St. boat that Mom and I were aboard (this would have been about 1963; the buses were obviously on a charter run)

It would have been interesting to know what bus companies utilized the old Newburgh-Beacon ferry (until 1963)...........

"NYO"

[traildriver]

NYO-

Since we're talkin' ferries...
I just happened to take my 'vehicle' ( a 1989 Schwinn World Sport ) aboard the John F Kennedy from Whitehall to St. George, and return two weeks ago.

What a wonderful trip, and the price was right.

What was really neat, was they boarded us before the pedestrian's, using the vehicle ramp. Got to get the best viewing spot, that way. And the same on the return...they let me turn right around, on the vehicle ramp, and not have to go back thru the terminal, like the pedestrian's do.

What was really nostalgic, was when we slipped away, and those EMD 12-567's spooled up to cruising speed....I could close my eyes and imagine it was an E-9, with that unmistakable EMD 2-stroke 'music'.
And speaking of music....
I played this while underway...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cv-0mmVnxPA

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver:

Further on the "KENNEDY" and her sisters.......

In the Theodore W. Scull book, "THE STATEN ISLAND FERRY", one chapter, "BELOW DECKS-IN THE ENGINE ROOM OF A DIESEL FERRY", tells you everything you ever wanted to know how the "KENNEDY" boats operated, but were afraid to ask!

The men below decks wore/wear earmuffs/mufflers to at least try to muffle the sounds of the screaming diesel engines!

The "JFK" even graces the cover of this excellent softcover; it was published in 1982, when the "BARBERI" and the "NEWHOUSE" were still virtually new craft.....hard to believe these big boats are now getting near their 40th year of service!

Man, where have all those years gone...........??

"NYO"

*Mom bought me a postcard at the newsstand at the Whitehall St. terminal in 1965, showing the "JFK" docking at St. George; today, I have it framed and up on my wall, reminding me of a long-ago era.......

[traildriver]

NYO--

Funny you should be mentioning Ted Scull....I will see him on Friday, the 21st, at my monthly World Ship Society meeting....
If you can, I would be very glad to welcome you to attend and get to hear him do this lecture in person. I have had the pleasure of reading many of his books on railways and ships, and hearing his lecture's at these meetings, as well as aboard the now retired QE2. He is a noted transportation author, and lecturer.

It would give us the opportunity to meet in person, and discuss all manner of buses, boats, and trains....

http://www.worldshipny.com/UpcomingPONY.shtml

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Recalling the late, great Hudson River DayLiner, "ALEXANDER HAMILITON"; here is a selection of nostalgic photos taken back in 1966.....be sure to check out all the buses (Fishbowls and school buses) waiting at the West Point landing!

Ahhhh, to go back in time, if only for a week or two.......

http://www.worldshipny.com/AHessay.shtml

Truly tragic that the very last of the great DAY LINE sidewheelers met such a sad end in the late 70's.......