BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

(SEE PREVIOUS POST/LINK)

Here's a rare shot from 1964 of an ex-"ELECTROLINER" at the 72nd Street yards, just arrived from the defunct CNS&M, soon to be refurbished into a "LIBERTY LINER".

The rear of a "RED ARROW" ACF-BRILL can just be glimpsed behind the train..........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?46042

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["ACF-BRILL"]

[Cyberider]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

There was the old "RED ARROW" Media and Sharon Hill lines that ran BRILL cars into the 1980s; there was also the old P&W out of 69th Street, that ran BRILL cars ("Straffords" and "Bullets") until about 1990 (cars operated off third rail; today, this is SEPTA's Route #100)

This railway also hosted the Lehigh Valley Transit's "LIBERTY BELL LIMITEDS" through 1949, with through service between Allentown and 69th Street.

In 1949, the P&W cancelled its contract to run over the P&W to 69th Street, and passengers now had to transfer (an extra fare) to P&W cars at Norristown.

Ridership dropped off sharply after 1949, and all "LIBERTY BELL" service ended in 1951.

Most of the 1000-Series "Limiteds" came from the CL&E; one lone car (the only survivor) is #1030, which originally ran for the INDIANA RAILROAD, today resides at the Seashore Trolley Museum.

All of the other cars in the famed 1000 series were scrapped soon after LVT service ended..........

"NYO"

["ALLENTOWN LIMITED"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here are a few interior/exterior views of the sole remaining 1000-series "LIBERTY BELL LIMITED" car, #1030, residing up at Seashore.

As can be seen by the interior photo of the passenger area, these cars were quite posh, smartly-appointed, and stylish (they could also hit speeds of 75 MPH on stretches of private ROW!)

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?69400

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?53098 *

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?53099

*Note the big, bulky NCR ticket machine; many NJ bus companies which ran suburban service used these ancient machines until the mid-1980s.....I have one (ex-PS) in my collection today!)

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["1030"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here is a 1973 photo showing an ex-P&W BRILL "Bullet" (now sporting updated windshields) at the yards just outside the 69th Street terminal.

Note, too the yard jammed with Fishbowls and FLXIBLE New Looks...........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?151645

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

['69TH STREET"]

[Cyberider]

Great photo! The Bullet car looks like an anachronism with the "modern" buses. Amazing how long those and some of their other cars lasted. Didn't they also have some cars with PCC bodies that weren't PCC's?

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Also........

In the late 1950s, TRAINS magazine ran a great photo feature on the Philadelphia & Western, aptly titled:

"BOULEVARD FOR BULLETS"

In the late 1960s, RAILROAD MODEL CRAFTSMEN had a great article (w/photos) on how to model the P&W.

Into the 1980s, the oldest cars on the roster were the "Straffords" (dating to the mid-1920s), and the iconic "Bullets" of 1930 were the newest.

The trolley-like "Straffords" got their name for the branch they originally operated on, which was abandoned in the 1950s.

On an interesting sidenote, Norristown was where the LVT Cars ramped down to street trackage, and switched from third rail to overhead wires.

After through LVT service to 69th Street ended in 1949, a bumper was installed at the head of the ramp, which was later removed (the original P&W station, also, no longer exists)

"NYO"

["NORRISTOWN EXP"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here are a few views of the original P&W terminal at Norristown; this facility has since been replaced by a modern, lackluster station, totally without any charm or any "traction ambience"........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?151666

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?151636

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?159238

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?57492

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["PHILADELPHIA & WESTERN"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's a classic scene at the busy 69th Street terminal in 1958; here we see a Red Arrow "PCC" and an Old Look, both poised to begin their outbound runs..........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?87927

(courtesy: nycsubway.org_

["ST. LOUIS CAR COMPANY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here you can compare both the original and modernized winshields of the ancient "Strafford" cars; note both their trolley-like appearance and their railroad-style marker lights.

Also notice the outside-hung doors, which were also used on several generations of Boston's rapid transit fleet...............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?151638

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?52131

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["PHILA. SUBURBAN TRANSPORTATION"]

[Cyberider]

[Cyberider]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Ctberider:

Yes, you are correct.

SEPTA (aka "SEPTIC") today operates the streetcars (IF you can call them that!), the Norristown line, and the old "Red Arrow"/PSTC lines out of 69th Street (as well as the subways and commuter rail lines)

The trolleybuses look like giant mutated partially-hatched insect larvae.......NO REDEEMING QUALITIES at all!

Regarding the Red Arrow "PCCs" (double ended); until the 1950s, the IT (ILLINOIS TERMINAL) also operated a fleet of similar cars..............

"NYO"

["ST. LOUIS CAR COMPANY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

Here are a few photos of the double-ended suburban "PCCs" which were operated by IT; they were also part of the group that went to "RED ARROW".

Only one of these distinctive cars survives today..............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?34795

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?89080

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?89077

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["ST. LOUIS"]