BusTalk

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 9:58 am Post subject:

W.B.:

I have also seen "DON'T WALK" signs in DC, in some 1940's-era streetcar photos; there is also a VERY quick close-up of a DC "DON"T WALK" scene drrng a rush-hour traffic montage in the WW2 film, "GOVERNMENT GIRL", starring Olivia De Haviland (some great streetcar and WHITE bus shots, as well!)

I've seen photos of traffic light collectors (some of these collections fill two-car garages!); vintage "DON'T WALK" signs are often included; I'm also quite interested in vintage traffic lights (the ones seen today, like the streetlights, simply do nothing for me)

I DO collect vintage toy traffic lights of different scales and sizes; one I have had since I was a kid was made by "BUDDY L", and features illuminated 'WALK"/"WAIT" signs (as well as lights!)....it STILL works, and looks super-cool with some of my vintage tin-litho buses! Wink

Another neat oldie I have is a plastic two-light traffic light (about 7" tall), where, when you twist the top, the "lights" (plastic strips inside the "head" change from red to green, along with the "WALK"/"DON'T WALK" signs....this one is one my all-time faves! Very Happy

We had some classic 1940's era traffic signals up here into the early 1990's; today, it's all the "ho-hum" modern stuff......

"NYO"

N4 Jamaica · Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 858 Location: Long Island

Long ago, I purchased two excellent histories of the PCC, one by cities, one chronological, but I cannot find them. The two portal views in the previous post show some of the many differences as the cars evolved later. The Committee did a lot of testing before the sale to Brooklyn in 1936. Philadelphia car 2054 has air brakes in addition to the magnetic track brakes. Car 2164 is "All electric," without a thumping air compressor. It must have had something more than the track brakes, I don't know what. Note the addition of standee windows, presumptive of crush loads and people having to see where they were. In the older photo, 2054 has wipers already simpler than the 1936 design, which had two vertical blades on each window and the ability to tilt the window a bit open for ventilation.
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In my opinion, the blinker doors and narrow doorways were a mistake made in the first design.

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 10:14 am Post subject:

Joe:

As you certainly know, the one B&QT "oddball" PCC (non-St. Louis) was #1000, built by CLARK (#1010 featured a front roof vent, similar to that used on Old Looks)

I've only ridden "all-electric" PCC's (Newark and Boston); I never had the chance to ride on an "air car".

Chicago and Pittsburgh had the largest PCC fleets in the nation, at one time; sadly, only a very few from either city survive today; it is also sad that none of the unique PE double-ended PCC's survive (they had all been shipped to South America after PE retired them, and they ran in MU trains, utilizing third rail, in suburban service......

"NYO"

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 10:18 am Post subject:

W.B.:

Speaking of old two-light traffic signals*.....

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154693

*Avenue J & Bedford, 1972

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

**This vintage traffic light is a REAL museum piece; another example of just how much vintaage "street hardware" we took for granted, back in the day.....

"NYO"

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 10:51 am Post subject:

A lot of "street hardware nostalgia" is present here, in this busy scene at Centre & Chambers, back in 1972.....

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?153379

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

*Was Fishbowl #66 being piloted by an invisible driver? Rolling Eyes

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 12:37 pm Post subject:

Glenwood & Rockaway Parkway, 1972 (note, also, the long-disused B&QT line pole, which was still in place, long after the streetcars stopped running)

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154697

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 12:46 pm Post subject:

Church & Cedar, 1974; from 1979 through early 2004, I worked just a few blocks away, on Wall Street.

I knew this area well.......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154567

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 1:00 pm Post subject:

"TWO LIGHTS" (Grand & Varick, 1973).......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?153002

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 1:08 pm Post subject:

"TWO LIGHTS" (Flushing/Franklin, circa-1959).........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156102

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 4:09 pm Post subject:

"TWO LIGHTS" (Church Avenue, Brooklyn)......

https://newdavesrailpix.com/nyc/htm/bqt739.htm

(courtesy: nycubway.org)

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 4:23 pm Post subject:

Tremont & Southern Boulevard, 1940's.

Note, here, the unusual hanging traffic signal with three "units"......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?116587

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 4:27 pm Post subject:

163rd & Westchester, during the TARS era.

Note the two small two-aspect signals mounted on the El columns; these might have been used only by the streetcars, but, then again, motor traffic also might have used them......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?116758

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 4:32 pm Post subject:

1st Avenue & 34th, 1972......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154996

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

W.B. Fishbowl · Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 4:45 pm Post subject: