BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[Cyberider]

NYO:

The PSNJ equipment had a very "professional" appearing livery. One of the best, in my opinion.

On another note, if SF dumps the F-line and PCC's, maybe we can talk NJT into buying them to replace the "B-B's" on the City Subway line.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

In the early 1960s, PS began repainting the Old Look suburbans into an attractive blue/white scheme, retaining the stylish "nose wings".

Buses like these were once the backbone of the New Jersey suburban operators......I grew up with these classic buses.....they even SOUNDED powerful!

"NYO"

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154502

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154504

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["166 DUMONT"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

This timeless 1955 photo shows two PSNJ Old Look suburbans at Coney Island, wearing their original (and classic!)gray paint scheme.

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156331

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

AFAIK (I'm going by memory here, also, by a few photos I had seen in the past), the last PS buses wearing the old gray paint were repainted by about 1966........

"NYO"

["EXPRESS- PS TERMINAL"]

[Cyberider]

NYO,

Those PS Suburban Old Looks were real beauties. Thanks for sharing.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

You are quite welcome!

Those operated by "ORANGE & BLACK" and "SOMERSET" were also particularly smart-looking!

The ones that had the roof-mounted a/c units were always my faves!

"NYO"

["NEWARK-141"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The now long-defunct "BLUE & WHITE" (North Bergen) rostered quite a collection of vintage second-hand buses in the 1970s (I took photos at the yard back in the mid-70s!); they rostered buses that had been purchased from PSNJ, "ORANGE & BLACK", and "INTER-CITY".

They also rostered several rare "New Look" MACKS, that had come down from Yonkers.

Here is one of the handsome Old Look suburbans at the yard; note the ex-PSNJ 4509 on the right.........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?153135

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["CHARTERED"]

['

[Cyberider]

NYO,

It does appear that NJ had more than it's share of those gorgeous buses with some beautiful paint schemes.

At least we in Phoenix had Sun Valley's "Queen Mary."

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

Though, of course, many operators across the country rostered Old Look suburbans for many years, they were so commonplace here in my home state, that I've long referred to them as the "Official State Bus Of New Jersey"

When I was growing up, and even into the 1970s, many area charter outfits also rostered them.

There were many interesting variations among them; some had metal fluting on the dash (I was particularly fond of these!), while others did not.

Some had full silversiding, while others had but a narrow fluted strip under the windows, while still others lacked any such "ornamentation".

The very last suburban Old Looks vanished from my area in 1977.......a lifetime ago.

Man, how I LOVED these big, powerful, handsome buses!

"NYO"

["22 JERSEY CITY"]

[Cyberider]

NYO,

The only other Suburban Old Looks I saw were the ones in the LA area in the early 70's. They were primarily used on the long runs out to Pomona, San Bernardino, and Riverside. I remember seeing them climbing the hill heading east to Pomona on the San Bernardino (now I-10) freeway. Sadly, I never rode them. My one bus trip out that way was on a Suburban Fishbowl with an 8V71 and a manual transmission.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

In my day, the Old Look suburbans dominated most New Jersey fleets; however, well into the 1960s, some companies also operated ACF-BRILL C-44s, MACKS, and WHITES.

Then, Fishbowls pretty much became dominant; the first purchased by NJ suburban carriers was in 1960.

Many outfits rostered 4104s (and later 4106s) for both charters and the longer commuter runs.

By 1977, with the rapid (and massive) influx of Flxible New Looks (NJDOT-purchased, nearly 900 strong), all of New Jersey's Old Look suburbans were retired, save for the handful still running for "SOMERSET" ("The Blue Star Route")

These handsome veterans of the road during 1981, the very last Old Look suburbans to run into the PABT (and Newark).

Indeed, a long and colorful era ended...........I'm so fortunate to have so many great memories........

"NYO"

["RIVER ROAD EXPRESS"]

[traildriver]

Brings to mind the six GM SDM-5304's that Denver's RTD bought in 1975, to use on longer runs. They were so reminiscent of PS buses, to me.
The only problem with them was they had the manual transmission's, and the division they were used on had driver's that only knew automatics. Needless to say, they took a lot of gear clashing abuse by driver's just learning the art of double-clutching.

When my local railfan club chartered a bus from RTD, we specifically requested one of these on our railroad history tour. We also requested one of our members as the driver, and he did pretty well.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Back in 1977, we see an Old Look suburban rostered by a now long-defunct New Jersey charter company (note the DE CAMP "Buffalo" just to the rear)........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154483

Courtesy: nycsubway.org)

Note the big school bus flashers; many transit and suburban buses in New Jersey once did "double duty" as school buses, during off-peak hours.

This interesting practice ended when NJT took over virtually all of the old "indy" companies then still in operation.

I remember seeing buses equipped with school flashers QUITE well, back in my much younger days.........

"NYO"

['SCHOOL BUS"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's another classic (and handsome!) example of a New Jersey Old Look suburban (Now, THIS is a BUS!)

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154530

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["H-V"]