BusTalk

[Cyberider]

I didn't know they were sent to Mexico. Wonder how they did there and whether they're still in service?

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"South"............

The "STATEN ISLAND RAILROAD" (formerly "STATEN ISLAND RAPID TRANSIT") has the distinction of having the southernmost rail station in New York State.

This is the unimpressive, lonely Tottenville station, nearly 14 miles out of the St. George Ferry terminal; until late 1963, there was a ferry which crossed from the adjacent slip to Perth Amboy, New Jersey (Mom and I rode that ferry a number of times, well over six decades ago!)

"NYO"

["TOTTENVILLE LOCAL"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

People do not usually associate rapid transit with San Juan, but, for a number of years now, it has its own (albeit small) rapid transit line.........

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

Here is a close-up of one of the cars, which could easily be at home on many North American systems.......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?44187

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["Tren Urbano"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Lima, Peru, after many years of delays and setbacks, today also has a rapid transit operation..........

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

["M"]

[Cyberider]

I had no idea about the San Juan and Lima transit systems. I am aware of rather extensive one in Santiago, Chile, though.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[Cyberider]

Si, senor!

BusTalk seems to have a problem handling Spanish! Doesn't like upside down exclamation marks nor the wiggly thing over the n. So, this is the best I can do.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Perhaps the most unique "south of the border" tram system was that of Havana; as noted earlier, it utilized double overhead, as did Cincinnati.

In fact, these two systems were the only ones to utilize double overhead in the Western hemisphere.

Unlike Cincinnati, which also once operated PCCs (and older steel cars), Havana never saw modern rolling stock, instead, utilizing ancient, wooden-bodied "Toonervilles" right until the very end in the early 1950s, never seeing any truly modern equipment.............this, however, is what made the system so endearingly charming!

"NYO"

["J.G.BRILL"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Speaking of South American "Toonervilles"........

(OUTSTANDING collection of rare historical photos here!)

www.tramz.com/br/rj/cv/cv.html

["ESPECIAL"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The late Gerald Brookings (who founded the now-defunct "Trolleyville USA"), many years ago, rescued two elderly (BRILL) single-truck open cars that had just been retired from operation (early 1970s), down in Mexico.

He brought them back to the States and had them lovingly restored (amazing how equipment dating back to the 1900s was STILL in operation, "south of the border", until fairly recent times.......talk about being BUILT TO LAST!!)

"NYO"

["BRILL"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Due South from Los Angeles...........

Interesting indeed in that a large number of retired transit vehicles from Los Angeles, upon retirement, were sent "south of the border" for further service.

Qute a few of PE's famed "Red Cars" ran for many years in Mexico as well as South America.

A number of ex-LAMTA and PE Old Looks (still in their original paint) were still at work in Lima, Peru, through the 1960s.

AFAIK, the very last vestige of the "Red Car" in South America was one of the unique double-ended PCCs, converted at some point to a self-powered rail car.

I heard reports about this car on and off over the years, but, most likely, it has either long since been scrapped, or, laying gutted and abandoned at some remote location.

Then, too, was the group of ex-PSNJ ASV's that went to Havana; they were supposed to run as trolleybuses, but ended their service lives as conventional gas buses instead................

"NYO"

["BELLFLOWER"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Also.............

In 1969, a group of just retired PSNJ 4509s were purchased for further service in San Juan.

One of these buses was "D900", originally built in 1950 as an experimental diesel-electric ASV.

After PSNJ's attempt of bring back ASV's to Newark was shelved, "D900" was converted into a "straight diesel", and ran on the ESSEX Division until 1960, when it was transferred to the HUDSON Division, based out of the now-demolished GREENVILLE (Jersey City) garage..............

"NYO"

["D900"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Sheer waste............

To think that, in its heyday, the legendary "Red Car" was the largest electric railway network in the world.

Into the 1950s, the PE's massive and diverse fleet of "Red Cars" were still running on an extensive network of local, suburban, and interurban lines.

By 1961, only the Long Beach line remained, but, sadly, was abandoned that same year.

By the 1950s, electric rail transit was deemed antiquated and old fashioned; it was not until decades later, when virtually all vestiges of the "Red Car" had vanished, that FINALLY it was realized that electric rail transit is VITAL to a city as large as Los Angeles.

Today, there is both light rail and heavy rail electric transit in Los Angeles, but it is but a mere drop in the bucket, compared to what was in existence, 80 years ago.

One can only imagine what the LA transit scene would be like today, had the "Red Car" network not been so foolishly scrapped, and its lines still in use today, moving the masses......talk about short-sidedness.........

["NYO"

["GLENDALE"]