BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

North Shore...............

Recall, how, not all that long ago,there were thoughts of building a busway (BRT) along the former SIRT line to Arlington?

Too, I recall proposals for light rail along the former Arlington line.........

"NYO"

["4:25 ARLINGTON LOCAL"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Staten Island buses (pre-1965)

Am curious as to when the first Fishbowls began service on the "Isle of Staten".

I have a circa-1963/1964 postcard in my collection with a panoramic vew of the St. George terminal; close to 20 buses are on hand, and all of them "Kramdens" and "Pattons"......long lines of vehicles are seen waiting to board the SI and 69th Street boats.

Any info on when the first Fishbowls began entering service on "The Isle of Staten"?

Which routes originally saw the Fishbowls, back in the 60s?

The aforementioned postcard (which Your's Truly has owned for over 60 years!) confirms my childhood memories of only Old Looks and MACKS operating on Staten Island, until later on in the decade.

As always, appreciate info.....

"NYO"

["R109"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Though we've discussed this 1965 photo before......

Here we have "Jetson" #1104 at Grasmere (oldest photo of a NYCTA Fishbowl on Staten Island, at nycsubway.org)......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?153188

(courtesy:nycsubway.org)

Note paper ads taped to the windows.

Were these ads advising passengers to the new express runs oer the V-N Bridge?

Or, possibly, the introduction of Fishbowls on the "Isle of Staten"?

Bus is signed "SPECIAL"............

"NYO"

["NYCTA"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Ironic, when you think that, back in 1965, SIRT commuters were still riding aboard 40-year old "Toonervilles".........

"NYO"

["RIDE THE RAPID"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

On this day in 1962.........

Yet another fire hit the SIRT; several "ME-1s" were incinterated, leaving the equipment-strapped SIRT with only 48 activecars on the roster.

There was even a photo of these gutted, twisted hulks in TRAINS magazine, not long afterwards.

Your's Truly was just a lad, then, but I can remember catching a glimpse of this unfortunate cars from a passing SIRT train at Clifton......sad, sad sight, indeed......

"NYO"

["5:10 TOTTENVILLE LOCAL"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Scary............

The SIRT "ME-1s". destroyed in the 1962 Clifton yard fire (as depicted in the "TRAINS" :magazine photo I mentioned previously, ) literally suffered from "melted backbone", as the car bodies (near the center) sagged seriously, due to the intense heat (the cars caught in the 1946 St. George terminal fire (from photos I have seen) suffered the same fate.

Real scary stuff, seeing solid steel cars that could double as battleships, literally melt...........

"NYO"

["SOUTH BEACH LOCAL"]

[MaBSTOA 15]

https://mtanyctransitfanon.fandom.com/wiki/Staten_Island_Rapid_Transit_rolling_stock_(mtamaster_edition)

Comments on the rolling stock?

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Detailed "ME-1" roster...........

www.subchat.com/readflat.asp?Id=1451289

["RIDE THE RAPID"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

...........I've always regretted that the MTA never thought to save a set of "ME-1s" for a Staten Island "Nostalgia Train" (when retired in 1973, there were plenty of cars to choose from, regarding a "nostalgia" /"museum" train.

Impossible to relive the old "Ride The Rapid" era, nowadays.

Curious as to the current status on the now-retired "44s"?

Wish at least a set of these long-lived "ME-2s" (restored to their original 1973 appearance) could be saved for a "Nostalgia" train.........

"NYO"

["Tottenvill

[W.B. Fishbowl]

Is it my imagination, or in the 48-year saga of the ME-1's, wasn't there something of a similarity to the situation depicted in the old song "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall"?

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

It's also interesting that in the end, there were as many ME-1's as how many years they served (4.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]