BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

X-Astorian:

In my area of New Jersey (just south of the GWB) it's all NJT, nothing else.

When my folks and I moved here in 1974, there was still much variety, bus-wise.

There were Old Look and Fishbowl suburbans of ORANGE & BLACK, TNJ's #21 (later #181) to Hoboken, as well as the #22 HILLSIDE, operated at different times by FranMar, Academy, and NJT.

NHBL's #4 mostly Fishbowls and a few Old Looks) ran on the #4 to Nungessers, on Bergen Boulevard.

Just south of me, at Nungessers, you had TNJ's #'s 165 and 166, as well as MANHATTAN LINES buses; the NHBL's off-street terminal there, alongside the old White Castle, was also still in use.

In New York City, as a kid, I love the MaBSTOA buses especially, in particularly the Old Looks with the protruding destination sign box; we had nothing like these in New Jersey!

You mentioned COACH USA; I recall when they took over RED & TAN years ago, and I always thought the old "R&T" name simply did not go with the "paint" of COACH!

Recall, too, when "WESTWOOD" buses were known as "the Blue Coach" (these also served Nungessers)

If one consolidated all the bus companies of a half-century ago in the greater NY/NJ metro area, you would, indeed, have one heckuva "RAINBOW FLEET"!

Today, everything is all too "cookie cutter" and "homongenized" for my tastes, bus-wise......oh, well, there's always vintage photos and memories........

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

A few random images from the days of COMMAND and PIONEER.......

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?561

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?556

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?622

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?624

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Old and new "RED & TAN" paint (1975 and 1981).........

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1511

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1514

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)

[MaBSTOA 15]

X-Astorian is correct in that Queens Transit and Steinway Transit were owned together but operated separately... Queens Transit had their depot in Willets Point and Steinway had theirs in Astoria close to Long Island City. The Willets Point depot was much nicer and in better shape than Steinway's.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[MaBSTOA 15]

I need to correct my post. The Queens transit depot was not at Willits Point but rather at College Point. When the MTA took over Queens Surface they kept that depot and is now known as MTA College Point Depot. The Astoria depot use by Steinway Transit close along time ago.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

MaBSTOA 15:

Thanks!

Appreciate the information.......

"NYO"