BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN MEXICO" (1971)

Decades after the CONNECTICUT COMPANY operated its last streetcars, this ex-CCo. car was still carrying passengers, just as had done for many years, back on home rails........

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/odds/mx/htm/vcz26.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Decades after the last Peter Witts operated on US (or Canadian) rails, these two (ex-Mexico City Tramways) Peter Witts were still in service in Vera Cruz, seen here in 1978.

Ahhh, the legendary longevity of vintage traction equipment.......

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/odds/mx/htm/vcz58.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

With its bus-style headlights and European-styled windows, this modernized PCC reminds of the modern (now classic) TATRA trams that were once so commonplace throughout Europe.

All that was needed with this upgrade were either a bow collector or a pantograph!

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/odds/mx/htm/mxc17.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

See also.......

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/odds/mx/htm/mxc44.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's a nice 1950's-era PCC "action" shot (#2411); also, note the bus passing by on the left.......

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/odds/mx/htm/mxc12.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Undated view of an ex-TCRT PCC running in Mexico City; recall, PSNJ also purchased 30 PCC's from TCRT for use in the Newark City Subway, back in 1953........

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/odds/mx/htm/mxc05.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Another portrait of a "A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN MEXICO"......

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/odds/mx/htm/vcz31.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Havana, Cuba, until 1952, operated a true "Toonerville" system, in every sense of the word; like Cincinnati, Havana's ancient cars used double overhead.

So run-down and decrepit was the tramway system, it could, indeed, be called "picturesque"!

This is an interesting history, with many rare old photos......

http://www.tramz.com/cu/hb/hb.html

http://www.tramz.com/cu/hb/hbb.html

(courtesy: tramz.com)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"TROLLEY BUS PIONEERS IN LATIN AMERICA"

Here are some QUITE unusual examples of early trolley coaches; note that in Caracas, Venezuela, they "installed tramway equipment in gasoline buses"........South American "ASV's"(!!)

Some wonderful (and rare) old photos here*.......

http://www.tramz.com/tb/p.html

(courtesy: tramz.com)

Also, note that, in 1931, Lima (Peru) rebuilt its six trolleybuses into TRAMS.....(!!)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The rich history of Mexico City's trams, beginning with the earliest horse-powered days of 1857.........

http://www.tramz.com/mx/mc/mc00.html

(courtesy: tramz.com)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"AMERICAN, CHINESE, FRENCH, and SWISS TROLLEYBUSES IN CHILE"

Talk about electric public transport with a TRUE "international" flair......(!!)

http://www.tramz.com/cl/tb/tb.html

(courtesy: trams.com)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Interesting, detailed history (w/photos) of the trams that once operated in Veracruz........

http://www.tramz.com/mx/vc/vc.html

(courtesy: tramz.com)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"LOS TROLEBUSES de BOGOTA" (text is in Spanish, but there are many neat photos on this page!)

http://www.tramz.com/co/bg/b/bs.html

(courtesy: tramz.com)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"THE TROLLEYBUSES OF MERIDA" (Venuzuela)

Note that this modern system was quite short-lived, operating only until 2016.

(Also, note that the modern coaches were diesel-electric "ASV's"!)

Another awesome collection of photos...........

http://www.tramz.com/ve/me/me.html

(courtesy: tramz.com)

[N4 Jamaica]

It is 38 years since I rode PCC's to and from Xochimilco. As shown in your links, those Twin City and Detroit cars were large. Therefore, some of my slides (wherever in the closet they are) show very tight quarters as the cars looped through narrow streets of Xochilmilco. I could never figure out why the front right double doors were narrowed to single-entry. At that time, the only streetcar operation in the Distrito Federal was from a Metro terminal to Xochimilco. It's now 2020, and with the coronavirus the packed Metro trains may well be a danger to life. From what I can figure out, the light rail cars that replaced the PCC's used parts of the PCC's, and now even that group has been replaced. The map that appears current shows Tren Ligero from Tasquena to Xochimilco.