BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Lincoln Tunnel Helix, 1981.

This first-generation ex-PSNJ suburan Fishbowl now displays the "TNJ" insignia (although, by this time, NJT was at the helm)

I have ridden buses through this location countless times during the many years I commuted into lower Manhattan.

Up above, note the CONTINENTAL TRAILWAYS Eagle (outbound from the PABT) still wearing its original paint...............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?155342

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["NEW YORK"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Same location, same year...............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?155363

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

This ex-PSNJ Fishbowl is one of the later, post-1962 models (note the "bullet" clearance lights); also, note the "sightseeing panels" in the roof.

Several NJ suburban companies rostered such buses; some were originally owned by GREYHOUND for World's Fair sightseeing service (1964/1965)

Buses on the "PARK-RIDE" route (rush hours only) were based out of the now-demolished Union City garage

"NYO"

["PARK RIDE"}

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The 1960s.............

The 1960s was the last full decade of PSNJ; in 1971, the transit operation broke away from the utility conglomerate, becoming "TRANSPORT OF NEW JERSEY".

Though some Fishbowls were repainted into a new red/white/blue scheme (remember, the Bicentennial was then only a few years into the future), many buses (including the remaining Old Looks, which were replaced by the Flex New Looks) retained their old PS paint until they were retired.

The very last Old Looks were gone by 1977, after being replaced by a massive influx of new NJDOT Flex New Looks.

TNJ, by 1980, would become part of a new agency, NJT............

"NYO"

['NJDOT"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Further:

By the mid-1970s, the Newark City Subway's PCC fleet had been repainted into the new "Bicentennial" scheme; I never cared at all for this new paint job, especially on the PCCs.

The original PS gray was indeed far more smart-looking and stylish.....

"NYO"

["CITY SUBWAY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Remembering.........

The very last of what had once been proud members of PSNJ's vast fleet were retired early in the 1990s; the NJDOT New Looks (FLXIBLE), which wore "TNJ" logos, lasted a bit longer into the 1990s, before themselves being retired by NJT............

"B-1 BERGEN MALL"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Forever a PSNJ mystery............

For whatever reason, PSNJ's BERGEN Division was the ONLY one of its several divisions NOT to see conversions from streetcars to ASV.

Oddly enough, one ASV route (HUDSON Division) the "21 WEST NEW YORK" DID in fact, operate into BERGEN Division territory (Palisades Junction, Fort lee), BUT, NOT under wire.

Drivers pulled down the poles at Nungessers (about a mile south) and switched to gas power; the ASV wires went no further noth than Nungessers (90th Street)

Oddly enough, certain "short turns" of the #21 went only as far north as Nungessers, but this move required the ASVs to use several local side streets (off wire) to return back to Bergenline Avenue, where a rewiring pan was located.

The driver then raised the poles and the coach then proceeded on its inbound run to Hoboken (Hudson Place terminal)

ASV operations on the HUDSON Division were converted to buses in 1947; the ESSEX Division ASV routes followed one year later, in 1948.............

"NYO"

['21 WEST EW YORK"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Check out this nostalgic 1950s PS-issued postcard promoting express bus service from New York to Atlantic City (service from Newark was also available)

By the 1960s, 4106s also ran in express service to Atlantic City (I have this same postcard in my collection!)

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/445926800583671016/

["EXPRESS"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here is a rare photo of the experiment diesel-electric GM-built ASV "D900" in 1950 (a customized 4509) at the Bell St. car house in Montclair; sadly, this unique coach never carried revenue passengers under wire.

Converted to diesel, it ran until 1969, when it and a group of other 4509s were sold for further service in Puerto Rico.

It was assigned to the ESSEX Division until 1960; it was then transferred to the HUDSON Division, based out of the Greenville (Jersey City) garage,,,,,,,,

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/531213718540144106/

["SPECIAL"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Footnote:

While the one-of-a-kind FM ASV "D900" was being fitted out for test runs at PS's Plank Road shops (Newark), a stretch of specially-erected overhead was put up in Montclair along Bloomfield Avenue (recall, the last of the original ASV overhead came down two years earlier in 1948, when the last ESSEX Division ASV lines were converted to diesel bus)

Had the City of Newark paid to have the City Subway paved for ASV use, the Subway (and its connecting subway-surface lines, including those already abandoned) would have also converted the feeder streetcars with new GM-built ASVs.............

"NYO"

["29 BLOOMFIELD"]

[Cyberider]