BusTalk

[W.B. Fishbowl]

B.T.W., this blizzard couldn't have come at a worse time for the "Isle of Staten"; it was 79 years ago yesterday (the 23d of February in 1947) that the "Bee O'Tee" took over operation of all Staten Island buses from Isle Transportation which had gone bankrupt (and, the year before, had taken over those routes from Staten Island Coach).

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Though but a lad, Your's Truly still recalls the Blizzard of January, '64; I've seen photos of the SI boats operating during that storm (recall, at that time, the fleet was still ALL steam (the "KENNEDY"-class diesels would not arrive until the following year)

In the interesting "IMAGES OF AMERICA" book,"STATEN ISLAND FERRY"(Staten Island Museum) there is a chapter dedicated to the various weather conditions that the Ferry has encountered since the 1800s.

Fog, ice, and snow are all well-documented.

In Theodore W. Scull's excellent "THE STATEN ISLAND FERRY" there are severa lphotos of the boats during the Blizzard of April, 1982 (took me 6 1/2 hours to get home from Hoboken!)'

Outside of such major, destructive storms ,such as SupersSorm Sandy (the boats,of course, were not rynning) the Ferry has proven MORE than resilient, through the course of many decades.

Recall, also, the Blizzard of '78, which brought virtually all transit in "Noo Yawk" ground to a halt; the Ferry, it must be remembered, kept on with its appointed rounds.

Radar, taken so for granted these days, came to the Ferry with the arrival of the "MERRELL"-class in the early1950s.........

"NYO"

["NEXT BOAT"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"Slinky Sidelining"........

The MTA, IMHO, exhibited good common sense in sidelining their "Slinkies" with "conventionals", for the duration of the Blizzard of 2026.

NJT, on the other hand, shut down ALL bus and rail operations, so, of course, there were no worries about their "Slinkies" jackknifing.....

"NYO"

["159R NEW YORK"].

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

That Metro-North was able to keep on running during the storm, while the entire "El-Eye-Double-Are" was totally shut down, clearly shows just how brutally pounded "The Isle of Great Length" was slammed.

I think even those fearsome, stalwart, owl-eyed "MP-54s" would have been hard pressed to successfully battle this brutal storm......

"NYO"

["L O N G I S L A N D"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Interesting.........

From what I've read, the old LIRR "M-1s" and M"-3s" were not at all too conducive to reliable operation during snow storrms......

"NYO"

["M"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Gleaned from "Hizzoner's" press conference (1010 WINS)

".....Staten Island bus routes are running wuth severe delays....."

.....the Staten Island Ferry is once again running........."

".....express subway trains are running local......."

"NYO"

["RIDE THE RAPID"]

["DEPARTMENT OF MARINE & AVIATION"]

["NYCTA"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Superstorm Sandy......

Suspension of SI Ferry service for several days following this monstrous storm resulted in the longest shutdown in the history of the SI Ferry.......

'NYO"

["GOVERNOR HERBERT H. LEHMAN"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Thought...........

The old North Shore (SIRT) line to Arlington would have been hit particularly hard during the blizzard; ;sections of the ROW were practically on the water's edge.......and, of course, electricity and water do NOT mix....neither do rails laid almost on top of the water...........(!!)

"NYO"

["5:22 ARLINGTON LOCAL"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"THE WATER LEVEL ROUTE"(SIRT-style).........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?115411

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?96211

(courtesy:nycsubway.org)

['TO ST. GEORGE"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

FACCo fightin' "da snow".........

According to the Ogden book on FACCo, the company, at one time or another, rostered 26 plows, several with twin blades; these plows were operated by specially-trained men.

In many severe winter storms, FACCo's buses were still running, even when surface car lines (TARS/NYRys) ground to a halt.

Sure paid for FACCo to employ its own snow-fighting team!

Like most street railways of that era, FACCo was required to clear the streets where their buses operated .............

"NYO"

"GO THE MOTOR COACH WAY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Further.............

It would be interesting to see photos of FACCo's soriginal snow-fighting equipment.

Did FACL still have a snow-fighting "team" at the rime of the '62 strike?

Photos, it would seem, are indeed rare...........

"NYO"

["FIFTH AVENUE COACH LINES"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

On a related note.....

I've seen some photos of (prewar) CSL/CTA trolleybuses fitted with snowplows.......

"NYO"

["CJICAGO SURFACE LINES"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

There was an explosion involving one of the R-46 cars on the Q line as it was arriving at 34th Street; some are saying it's time to put the rest of those evergreens out to pasture. However, some noted that it may've come from "da snow," as snow is all over the surface of the cars:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeHWaPpqfp8

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

I was not aware of this; thanks for this news.

I would think you might just be on to something; this incident could have been the result of the snow causing some sort of electrical malfunction/short circuit..........

Recall, back in the blizzard of February, 1958, the fine, crystal-like snow pellets of the storm entered the traction motor air intakes of the mighty GG-1s, causing multiple short circuits, halting virtually non MU-service on the NEC.

In fact, after this incident, the PRR repositioned the vents, and used a different mesh at the vent intajes..........

"NYO"

["PENNSYLVANIA"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Scroll down page to "Incidents"........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania_Railroad_class_GG1