BusTalk

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2026 12:05 am Post subject:

Three more excellent books ("IMAGES OF RAIL" series):

"BROOKLYN STREETCARS" (Branford Electric Railway Association)

"LOST TROLLEYS OF QUEENS AND LONG ISLAND" (Meyers)

"METROPOLITAN NEW YORK'S THIRD AVENUE RAILWAY SYSTEM" (Ballard)

All three books have a wealth of historical photos, maps, etc.....excellent for reference! Wink

"NYO"

["FLATBUSH"]

Cyberider · Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 1334 Location: Tempe, AZ

I have the Meyers book and will re-visit it. The author was a member of the NYC Transit Modelers group I belong to.

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2026 3:37 pm Post subject:

Cyberider:

Brooklyn's streetcars, indeed, have a rich and colorful history.

They ran on streets, private trackage, El trackage, as well as underground (Delancey Street terminal)

They also operated over the mighty Brooklyn Bridge (until 1950)

There were many large depots/car houses/yards throughout the vast network; some, like Fresh Pond, were shared with BMT trains.

So much diversity, both in rolling stock and in operations! Very Happy

"NYO"

["B&QT"]

Cyberider · Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 1334 Location: Tempe, AZ

Thanks, NYO.

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2026 6:10 pm Post subject:

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2026 12:22 am Post subject:

As I had noted awhile back, the ancestor of the modern articulated LRV was Boston's unique "Two Rooms and a Bath" cars.

The first utilized pairs of single-truck cars; later units used double-truck cars.

The "Two Rooms" concept was briefly tried out in Brooklyn; it was not at all successful.

This car was identical to those used in Boston.........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?117693

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["4900"]

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2026 12:33 am Post subject:

It is also interesting to note that cable cars once ran in Brooklyn (and Manhattan); there were once four companies in Brooklyn which operated the cars (scroll down for links)......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?118138

(courtesy:nycsubway.org)

See also:

www.cable-car-guy.com/html/ccnynj.html

["WALL ST. FERRY"]

Cyberider · Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 1334 Location: Tempe, AZ

Lots of cable action in NY and a lot of information on that website. Thanks, NYO!

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2026 5:27 pm Post subject:

Cyberider · Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 1334 Location: Tempe, AZ

I thought I saw a resemblance between cable and conduit slots. Now, that's recycling!

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2026 9:48 pm Post subject:

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2026 12:06 am Post subject:

Cyberider:

You are sure to be interested in this very detailed (illustrated) technical article from 1996.... Wink

https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/Tracks_on_Broadway

["3RD AVE"]