BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Double-ended Peter Witts and new PCC's dominate this view in downtown Brooklyn (circa-1937) at Court Street & Boro Hall.

Look closely in the lower center, and you'll see the remains of a former third track, which had been paved over prior to this photograph being taken........

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/nyc/htm/bqt799.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Interior view of B&QT PCC #1002; note the turnstile.

According to the caption here, the turnstiles were removed in 1947, when the fare rose from five cents to seven cents.......

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/nyc/htm/bqt725.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

PCC #1000, the only CLARK-built PCC in the B&QT fleet.......

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/nyc/htm/bqt406.htm

(courtesy: newdavesraillpix.com)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here we see PCC #1000 (signed for the "#15 CHURCH" route) is seen here laying over on the tight loop at the "short turn" terminal at McDonald (Gravesend) and 16th Avenue.........

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/nyc/htm/bqt299.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

This photo of CLARK PCC #1000 dates to post-1944, after the BMT elevated trains stopped crossing the Brooklyn Bridge, and the streetcars were shifted over to the former El tracks.

#1000 is seen here holding down a run on the "#67" line.........

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/nyc/htm/bqt059.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's a 5000 series single-end car at Williamsburg Bridge Plaza; aside from the front end, note the similarity to the single-ended Peter Witts; they were built both by BRILL and in the 39th St. shops in 1912.

These cars were originally built as trailers; in 1931, these cars were rebuilt as one-man motor cars, and, also, had a new set of doors cut into one end at the front.

On the left-hand side of the car body, the center doors were sealed, and seats were installed where the stepwell was.

The cars ran on a number of lines, and were retired between 1946 and 1948........

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/nyc/htm/bqt660.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here, single-ended (ex-trailer) #5030 is seen "on the job" at an unknown location; again, note, from the side, the 5000's resembled the 6000 series single-ended Peter Witts.......

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/nyc/htm/bqt142.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Eight 3900 series convertibles were rebuilt as single-ended, one-man, non-convertible cars in 1927, and re-numbered into the 4700 series, for service on the Canarsie shuttle.

You can see how the left-side doors were eliminated (PSNJ converted many double-ended cars into single-ended units in much the same fashion, in the late 1920's/early 1930's); though the 4700's were now single-ended, they still retained the extra trolley pole.......

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/nyc/htm/bqt711.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's a 3900 series convertible at Canarsie, before conversion into a one-man, single-ended, non-convertible, re-numbered into the 4700 series)........

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/nyc/htm/bqt706.htm

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Diminutive #781 is seen passing the CROSSTOWN depot in 1938; at first glance, this car looks like a single-trucker.

The 700's were built by several car builders,

The cars of the 700 series also introduced electric push-bells beneath the windows, to allow a passenger to signal the motorman that he/she wished to alight.

In the early 1920's, the 700's were rebuilt as one-man cars; bulkhead doors were eliminated, and pneumatic platform doors were installed.

The last major rebuilding took place in the early 1930's, eliminating their semi-convertible configuration........

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/nyc/htm/bqt714.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's #767, circa-early 1930's (note taxicab on the left); by this time, the 700's were averaging 30 years old........

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/nyc/htm/bqt775.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

This stripped 700-series car, like sister cars, were stored on the second floor of the 58th St. depot, when the PCC's arrived in 1936.

However, a number of these cars were brought out of storage in 1942, to help with the sharp upswing in traffic during WW2.

They were the oldest cars in service, by this late date.........

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/nyc/htm/bqt400.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Interestingly, Brooklyn once experimented with Boston's unique articulated "two rooms and a bath" design; two single-truck cars were used to build this new unit, but it was not successful, unlike in Boston.

It was retired in 1925.

A more modern and sophisticated articulated unit was built from two convertibles (#'s 4528 and 4529), at the DE KALB shops in 1915; the car(s) had a sliding front door, and was used only on the DE KALB line.

This one-of-a-kind unit was retired in 1933...........

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The first streamline car to operate in Brooklyn pre-dated the PCC's by two years; here, Flash Gordon-ish #5300 (Pullman-Standard Model "B") poses for the photographer at the East New York depot (note the old BRT/BMT "men's clubhouse" on the right)

This car also ran in Chicago; as in Brooklyn, the car was not a success........

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/nyc/htm/bqt653.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)

[N4 Jamaica]