BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

The SURFACE Fishbowls must have looked QUITE state-of-the-art, compared to the oldest square-window Old Looks and MACKS!

From: the aformentioned Martin book (regarding SURFACE):

".......in general, the oldest equipment, YELLOW 718's and rebuilt 740's) were assigned to downtown, crosstown routes, while the new TDH-4509's held down the longer avenue runs......"

".......TDH-4509's were also the exclusive domains of the more posh 79th and 86th St. crosstowns,, while the remaining routes shared different equipment......"

Also:

"......New York Omnibus generally assigned specific buses to routes and garages......"

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Quick question regarding SURFACE buses:

When were the ex-SURFACE Old Looks (4506's/4507's/5104's) and postwar MACKS retired?

I'm guessing mid-1960's for the oldest buses......

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

By the time that "old workhorse" #1700 was caught on camera (1962), the battered old veteran had to be at least 16 years old.

Note how the company lettering appears only on the emergency door, in this offside view, giving the bus a distinct "bare bones/no-frills" look.

This old wonderful photo is also full of nostalgia as well.......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156387

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Appreciate the correct locale for that photo of #1700; here in NJ, when Your's Truly was a LOT younger, square-window Old Looks were quite commonplace until about 1966/1967 or thereabouts, when new Fishbowls began replacing the oldest Old Looks, WHITES, and MACKS.......

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

.......in my area (Hudson County), when I was growing up, only PSNJ operated "first generation" Fishbowls (on certain routes); it was not until later in the 60's that "second generation" Fishbowls began to appear (especially on the Jersey City-area "indy lines), easily identified as such by their bullet-shaped clearance lights......

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

....we have often talked about the lack of photo coverage/lack of interest in FACCo Fishbowls; a good example of this is the FACCo gallery at nycsubway.org......not surprisingly, there is not ONE Fishbowl photo to be seen.

At least, to Mr. Martin's credit, there are TWO FACCo Fishbowl photos in his book.......

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's a long-ago, bustling "downtown" scene into which TARS car #387 (on Route #1) blends right in; note the bus entering the photo from the left........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?116484

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's a TARS route map; it would be interesting to compare this map with a SURFACE/MaBSTOA map.......

https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/TARS_Route_Map

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

A classic scene from 1945, snapped at TARS Garden Avenue yard, focusing on an elderly sweeper; note prewar bus in the right background........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?116920

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here is TARS #387 once again (this time running on line #9), this time trailed by a FORD bus.......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?116499

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Ancient TARS work car #19, seen here in long-ago 1944, sunning itself in the Garden Avenue yard.

Note the prewar TWIN on the left; also, the classic bus stop sign........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?116916

(courtesy: nycsubwaay.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Note the bus approaching from beneath the elevated IRT terminal (on the right, we see a TARS streetcar, assigned to Route #2).......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?116375

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[W.B. Fishbowl]