BusTalk

MaBSTOA 15 · Age: 70 Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 1059

All three NYC private companies, FACCo, NYCO, and Surface Transportation, each had one White model 788 all acquired in 1938 as demos.
FACCo... #1086
NYCO..... #499
ST...........#1200

The ex-NYCO went to Triboro Coach as their #1030 in 1951.
Surface's #1200 was renumbered 5200 in 1946 and it might have gone to Westchester Stree5 Transportation shortly thereafter.

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2023 10:21 am Post subject:

MaBSTOA 15:

Thanks for this info; how odd that each company had but one WHITE apiece.

Here in my area of northeastern New Jersey, back in the 60's, though most fleets were "Gee-Em"-dominated, there were a number of WHITES in use through a good chunk of the 1960's; these were mostly the older 798 models, but there were also some Model 1150's.

As I had mentioned previously, none of the companies in my area ever operated postwar TWINS (New Jersey suburban carrier "SOMERSET", however, DID have eight Model FS-40 "FAGEOLINERS", delivered in 1952)

These unique buses were also the part of the very last buses built by TWIN...........

"NYO"

["NEWARK-141"]

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2023 12:10 pm Post subject:

Here's one of Atlantic City's postwar "Oddballs", #335............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?157291

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?157292

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["ATLANTIC CITY"]

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2023 12:19 pm Post subject:

In a fleet where "Shermans" and "Pattons" more than dominated, "Oddball" #6000 was indeed more than in the ultra-minority.........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154551

['RIDE THE SURFACE WAY"]

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2023 12:27 pm Post subject:

An "oddball" itself among other "Noo Yawk"-area independents, the long-defunct "NORTH SHORE BUS COMPANY operated a small number of postwar TWIN COACHES.

Interestingly, the first of ten were ordered by "NS", but, instead, were delivered to the "Bee-oh-Tee".

In 1947, 'NS" ordered 40 "Oddballs"; these buses were never received by the company, as all in the order went to the "Bee-oh-Tee"...........

Source: "NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT BUSES" (Martin)

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2023 9:33 am Post subject:

Perhaps it is not all that surprising that the "Bee-oh-Tee" had little interest in the postwar TWINS (aka "Oddballs")

Not only were these buses in the ultra-minority in the greater NY/NJ-area, they (from what I've read and the photos I have seen) they also seemed to be more commonplace (though pretty much in the minority in most areas) in the Midwest and Far West (again, Chicago was a noteworthy exception, rostering 1,000-odd of the postwar TWINS)

You would also find these buses on some Southern properties; again, in small numbers.

For instance, "GEORGIA POWER COMPANY" (Atlanta) only rostered four.

Utica, New York, had a small fleet.

Interestingly, some of the postwar "Oddballs" were built at a plant in Cheektowaga, NY; a plant was also built at Fort Erie, Ontario, for the building of buses for Canadian customers.

Getting back to "Noo Yawk", the postwar "Oddballs" which WERE in the "Bee-oh-Tee" fleet were pretty much confined to Brooklyn routes...........

"NYO"

["48 LORIMER ST."]

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2023 9:46 am Post subject:

Here's a few early "Tee-Yay"-era photos depicting the "Oddballs" in service...........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156997

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156972

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156953

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156956

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["33 HAMILTON AV"]

W.B. Fishbowl · Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2023 10:13 am Post subject:

There was at least one "Oddball" that'd nibbled a bit at Manhattan - a color photo at that, a "posed" shot of one prying the M-104 Broadway route (probably taken in upper Manhattan) which is in one of these threads if not this one, several pages back. But that seemed a rarity with Surface, given the majority of their "Oddball" fleet were concentrated in "da Bronx" . . .

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2023 1:37 pm Post subject:

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2023 4:57 pm Post subject:

"Bee-oh-Tee's" postwar TWIN (aka "Oddball") purchases........

Model 41-S ((1947)

Model 44-S (1947-1948)

Source:

"NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT SYSTEM BUS & TROLLEY COACH FLEET" (Greller)

["FLATBUSH"]

MaBSTOA 15 · Age: 70 Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 1059

Speaking of oddballs what about the White model 1144 sent to Surface Transportation as a demo in early 1950s and numbered W-50 and it worked on the M104 Broadway line.

MaBSTOA 15 · Age: 70 Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 1059

And just as odd are the Fords acquired by Public Service in the 1940s.

240 model 49B in 1944
40 model 69B in 1946
246 model 79B in 1947

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2023 5:45 pm Post subject:

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2023 6:53 pm Post subject:

Speaking of PSNJ "Oddballs".......

I recall seeing a photo in one of our past discussions, quite awhile ago, showing one of the little TWIN COACH/HIGHWAY PRODUCTS (Model T-31?) buses operating in PSNJ regalia.

I, personally, recall seeing a few of these little buses (I cannot recall the operator) in and around Orange, NJ, around 1973/1974.

These small buses were built between 1968 and 1975.

There was also another New Jersey outfit, "GARDEN STATE COACHWAYS" that operated at least one Model TC-25 (bus was purchased by NJDOT)

If ANY bus was an "oddball", it was these little guys, for sure! Wink

"NYO"

["BRIDGETON LOCAL"]

MaBSTOA 15 · Age: 70 Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 1059

Talk about oddballs... you can't get any more odd than a Pickwick Duplex used by North Shore Bus Company in transit service!

It was acquired in 1931 and numbered 626. Renumbered to 700 in 1932 and finally renumbered 500 in 1935.

Adding to its oddness is the fact that it made it into City ownership in 1947. If the BoT ever used it as a transit bus will never know!