BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Decades before the the "NTT" trains came to dominate the subways, classic scenes like this (14th ST./BMT Canarsie line terminal, 1969*) were indeed commonplace.

Here we see those rugged monsters of yesterday, "Standards" and "Arnines" both chomping at the bits, ready to start their next run out to Canarsie.

And.............could you just imagine what that big (and, indeed, CLASSIC!) "NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT AUTHORITY TRAINING CENTER-USE STAIRWAY P-6" sign would be worth today, if it still existed!!!

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?6467

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

Nostalgia indeed dominates this once-commonplace scene, snapped over a half-century ago!*

* (The Amazin' Mets had a VERY good year, that year, as well!)

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Washington Plaza, 1970.

....t'was so many eons ago, now.....how much has since disappeared that we once took for granted..........

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1650

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

....who knew what the future held, when these long-ago photos were snapped?

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?3561

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?3566

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Yesterday's "lemon", today's historic bus...........

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?306

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Recalling the days of rugged, well-built subway cars, decades before "aid to lemons" became a reality......

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?3095

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?3188

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

FACCCo. buses, by the "NUMBERS"...........

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?2386

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?2388

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1382

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1383

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1378

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Getting back to the "subways of yore" for just a moment.......

Back in the day, "mixed trains" were common on the "Tee-Yay", but, this train (seen at the BMT's Fresh Pond Yard in 1971) is in a class unto itself!

IRT World's Fair "Bluebird" #9331 (still in original paint, and, as yet, not yet disfigured by graffiti) is seen here leading an R-44 clearance test train; note that the IRT car is displaying regular route signage, instead of the expected "NO PASSENGERS". (look closely, a sister "Bluebird" is at the other end of the consist)

Here, I am thinking of the connection between the former IRT and BMT at QP, trip arms, etc.

It is interesting, to say the least, to find IRT cars at each end of this unusual "B" Division train!

Also, note the ancient BRT trolley wire lines poles, still intact in the yard, in the shadows of the timeless, clothesline-adorned "Honeymooners" tenements........

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?38900

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Here again, with all due respect to Mr. Ogden's work on FACCo, I truly believe that there is so much more that needs to be documented in print, in addition to what has already been documented.

In particular (especially if a detailed work on MaBASTOA is ever published) I would like to read more in detail about the last years of SURFACE era, the Fishbowls, and the 1962 strike.

I truly believe that there is far more to FACCo. and its "affiliates", than what is already in print.........

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

A few random MaBSTOA scenes......

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?780

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?800

http://bus/nycsubway.org/perl/show?808

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show/810

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1260

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

While touching on MaBSTOA here.......

Regarding Mr. Ogden's work (and, once again, putting aside the glaring, near-total omission of the Fishbowls), there should have been a chapter on the early MaBSTOA era (and its buses)

As MaBSTOA's "ancestor", so to speak, was FACCo., the aforementioned book should have also touched the early MaBSTOA era; the eventual retirement of the Old Looks, the purchases of Fishbowls, routes, garages, etc.

Also, I have a strong feeling that, back in the MaBSTOA era, many regular riders knew little or nothing about MaBSTOA itself, outside of what was emblazoned on the buses themselves.

It would also not surprise me in the slightest to learn that many (if not all) of the "kids" into New York City buses these days have no idea that MaBSTOA (let alone FACCo.) ever existed..........

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Recall the days when those legendary "THUNDERBIRDS" (aka R-10's*) ruled the "A" line; those hulking monsters could really FLY on their express dashes!

The hi-tech, ill-fated R-179's sidelined today would indeed be no match for "THUNDERBIRDS" of yesterday!!

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?122431

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

*The legendary R-10's, retired in 1989, were the very last cars in service to feature "monitor" roofs, as well as being the last cars in use where the conductors "slapped the caps" between the cars, to operate the doors. I rode these old cars too many times to count on the "CC"/"C" back in the day, and still miss them today. I'm also VERY fortunate to own a builder's plate from an R-10, as well as an orange-numbered number plate (#3157)

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Only a few sets of long-neglected R-42's remain in use today, pinch-hitting for the sidelined R-179's.

When this timeless photo was taken at W. 4th St., the 42's were then truly "state-of-the-art", and quite the flashy "new kid on the block".....

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?12857

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

No "lemons" in the MasBSTOA fleet (or elsewhere in the city, for that matter) when these now-vintage photos were snapped........

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?872

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?875

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?888

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

When this photo was snapped way back in 1969, time was indeed running out for the remaining BMT "Standards" (I SHUDDER to think what would happen if a R-179 had even the SLIGHTEST "encounter" with one of these battleship-like monsters......OUCH!!!!!!!!!)

Also, note the buses in the background; they, too, like the Standards, were then bowing out to allow for a new generation of equipment to "take the helm".

Of course, in those long-ago days, both buses and rail cars were STILL being built in the United States, and what was then coming on line went on to provide many more years of good, solid, reliable service to millions of riders each day.........

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?88057

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

*Once again, note the ancient BRT-era line poles, still in place, silent sentinals of a long-ago era........