BusTalk

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

As always, greatly appreciate the historical input.

IMHO, I never understood the trend towards the use of lower case letters in transit (roller curtains, station signs, etc.)

I always found that the "all caps" signs were much easier to read than those using a mix of caps and lower case.

Interestingly, one of the earliest uses of lower case lettering in "transit" was at the Southern Pacific's famed Oakland Mole (pier) in Oakland ("Red Electric" commuter trains also served this busy terminal until 1939)

I was surprised, years ago, seeing 1930's-era photos of this long-gone facility, when I saw many signs (directional or otherwise) using both caps and lower case letters.

I never cared for lower case lettering, especially in the subways.

I always preferred the "classic" caps, myself.

With buses, a bus equipped with the old-style "all cap" roller curtain indeed made it easier for riders waiting at a stop to see just what bus was approaching from a reasonable distance, instead of having wait until said bus was practically in their face.......

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Rockaway Parkway Station, 1972.

Clearly, this roller curtain was NOT so easily read from a distance!

(note prewar IND cars in the right background, signed for the "LL" and the long-defunct "KK")

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?2220

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Another 1972 view at the Rockaway Parkway station from 1972.

Here, we see #6095 displaying a bold, easy-to-read ALL CAPS sign........

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1787

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"The BOLD and the beautiful" (Jay & Myrtle, 1972).........

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1873

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

St. George terminal, 1972.

I do like this "modern" style roller curtain (as displayed by #8852), incorporating lower-case letters; here, as is easily noted, the size of even the lower case letters are large and bold enough to be easily read.........

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1688

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

5th & 86th (Brooklyn), 1979........

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?226

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Queens Blvd & 78th Avenue, 1977........

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?230

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org0

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Flatbush & Nostrand, 1978*.......

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?231

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)

First generation Fishbowl #2023 is now carrying new roller curtains, but is still painted in "Tee-Yay" green.

[MaBSTOA 15]

The RTS bus on route B63-Columbia St. was #200 an RTS-III NYCTA demo.

The destination sign was not a Mylar curtain but rather a flip-dot electronic sign (like the giant flight information board at the TWA terminal at JFK)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

146th & Archer, 1972......

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?227

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Fishbowl #2116, World's Fair bound, 1965.

I like how the "Unisphere" replaces the "O" in "WORLD's FAIR"....

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?260

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)

[MaBSTOA 15]

#8461, a TDH-5303 of 1967 with a new front destination sign curtain showing the new white on blue with upper and lower case letters.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here in NJ, even new roller curtains retained all caps, through the 70's; for some reason, operators in my area preferred to stick with the "old tried and true".

Of course, the remaining Old looks in service still were using cloth curtains....

"NYO"