BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Roosevelt & Prince, 1978......

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1766

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Flatbush & 3rd, 1980 (PLENTY of action here for the Flex fans!)

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1768

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Queensville Depot, 1977.......

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1773

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Broadway & 49th, 1981.

The classic "HOWARD JOHNSONS" electric sign, on the left, was once as familiar a sight in "Noo Yawk" as were the GMC's and the Flexies themselves......

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1817

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"LEADER OF THE PACK" (Hillside & Merrick, 1982)..........

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1842

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

South Ferry, 1976.......

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1660

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"LEADER OF THE PACK II" (Flatbush & Empire, 1976)......

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1841

(courtesy:bus.nycsubway.org)

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[MaBSTOA 15]

Look at the roofline of 7522... there are two protusions, one above the beginning of the first window and the second a little ahead of the rear door (not the side clearance light) I wonder if these protrusion were electrical connectors or mounting hardware for the “proposed” bat wings on these buses?!

Also look at the photo of 7650

I’ve only seen these protrusions on Flxibles without standee windows?

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Fellows:

Again, always interesting to read your comments, observations, etc....always something new (old?) to learn!

Chicago, as we know, despite the number of GM Fishbowls they operated, was indeed a Flexible town; even back in the 50's, the CTA was showing their obvious preference to TWIN COACH/FAGEOL (CMMCo's Old Look fleet later went into the CTA (through the 60's, the CTA also operated WHITES and MACKS, as well as ACF-BRILLS)

As I had learned quite awhile back (via "WELCOME ABOARD THE GM NEW LOOK BUS" (McKane/Squier):

".........CTA purchased a group of a 150 New Looks that were purchased in conjunction with 150 GM's for side-by-side comparison. CTA would continue to favor Flxible until the summer of 1972, when the CTA received a massive order of T8H-5307A's, followed by additional large infusions in 1974 and 1976........"

Now, getting back to "Noo Yawk"........

I always wondered why the "Tee-Yay" and MaBSTOA did not opt only for an all GM-fleet; in other words, why were both GMC's and Flxibles purchased.

Obviously, both the "Tee-Yay" and MaBSTOA seemed pretty much pleased with both builders.

Too, in going through the many, many hundreds of vintage "Tee-Yay"/"Em-Tee-Yay"/MTA bus photos (bus.nycsubway.org), I have noticed that, in both the photo collections for the 'Tee-Yay" and MaBSTOA, there are far more GM photos than there are of Flxibles.

Did the bus photographers of that era in the city prefer the GM's over the Flexies?

To Your's Truly, I must admit, it DOES seem that way........

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

.....here in New Jersey, Flexible New Looks were not to be seen until the massive influx of both transit and suburban models (NJDOT) around 1976, began arriving.

Previously, I had only seen Flexies in "Noo Yawk", and, prior to the NJDOT buses arriving, considered the Flexies quite "exotic", even though it was clear what buses inspired their overall appearance........

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Roosevelt & Main, 1976......

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1657

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

No info given on these latter day b/w photos.......

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1390

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1375 (note some sort of "patch up" on the dash, where an ad rack would usually be)

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Clove & Hylan, 1977..........

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1658

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)