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W.B. Fishbowl
Age: 57
Joined: 02 Oct 2014
Posts: 2423
Location: New York, New York, USA
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 Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 1:47 am Post subject: |
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It's funny - of the "Torpedoes," I've noticed more pics of the first group (in " 'stoa's" case, 2201-PA2579) than the second group (PA2580-PA2704) in the overall scheme of things. The "Bombers' " electronic front and side signs used an early Luminator system with RO3-2513 typesetting. The first "Torpedoes" used TransDot which is not my favorite, but the second did use another Luminator sign display which modified the '2', '3', '6' and '9' to avoid directly copying the whole RO3-2513 font.
The last 80-90 of the 1967 lot of A/C batwing "Bullets" (up to 8780) were mainstays of the 146th Street (now Mother Hale) depot almost from the start at that point. (The M7 route was assigned from there, as were the M1, M2 and M10 among others.)
And in the pic of the "Dangerfields," it took the "Em-Tee-Yay's" orders from 1973-77 for them to finally hit the roads on "tony" Manhattan routes, especially Fifth Avenue (via the 1975 order with no standee windows, as one of them in that pic was).
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22673
Location: NEW JOISEY
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| Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:34 am Post subject: |
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W.B.:
Again, I greatly appreciate your always "in depth" historical info.
I am sure that the following question had to have been posed (and answered) long ago here in another topic, but, when the first batch of "Torpedoes" arrived, what garage(s) got them first?
And what older buses were replaced first, as the "Torpedoes" began making inroads into the "Em-Tee-Yay" fleet?
Were the infamous "Bombers" the first to be replaced?
Fishbowls?
"Dangerfields"
As always, greatly appreciate info.............
"NYO"
["WELCOME ABOARD"]
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22673
Location: NEW JOISEY
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W.B. Fishbowl
Age: 57
Joined: 02 Oct 2014
Posts: 2423
Location: New York, New York, USA
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| Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 12:45 pm Post subject: |
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| NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 wrote: | W.B.:
Again, I greatly appreciate your always "in depth" historical info.
I am sure that the following question had to have been posed (and answered) long ago here in another topic, but, when the first batch of "Torpedoes" arrived, what garage(s) got them first?
And what older buses were replaced first, as the "Torpedoes" began making inroads into the "Em-Tee-Yay" fleet?
Were the infamous "Bombers" the first to be replaced?
Fishbowls?
"Dangerfields"
As always, greatly appreciate info.............
"NYO"
["WELCOME ABOARD"] |
If any Fishbowls were retired as the "Torpedos" began accumulating, it would have been the 1965-66 set (6401-6900) first (being they had no air conditioning), ditto for the other, non-A/C buses (up to the 1965-66 "Dangerfields"). The A/C lot, of course, would have much of its roster rebuilt by Blitz, which was how they lasted right through 1995. I think the last photos of any pre-'66 bus date to 1983. After returning to the roads, the "Bombers" would hang on (for dear life) until they were grounded for good in early 1984; there were already at least three, maybe four groups of "Torpedoes" on the streets by the time that happened.
One key Manhattan depot from where the first "Torpedos" from '81 made their splash was 146th Street (now Mother Hale); I saw many an M1, M2, M7 or M10, as well as Bx30, in these photos that were the "Are-Tee-Ess." The other was 132nd Street (now Manhattanville), from which the M3, M4 and M5 emanated. Early "Torpedo" photos showed them running those routes. Another which may've gotten the new kids on the block would have been Kingsbridge, based on a pic I saw of one of 'em running on the Bx38 and others on the Bx1, Bx2, Bx4, Bx20 and Bx55. Coliseum had some, that was where Bx12 and Bx17 were assigned. Amsterdam also may've gotten a few, based on what I saw of an M100 "Torpedo." Hudson depot also got a few of that first batch of "Torpedos," I saw one pic taken around the 42nd Street pier where it'd been assigned to the M16. I remember riding to and from high school on the M11 via these newies. 54th Street depot got some; I saw pics of "Torpedos" running on the then-M106 (now M42), M6 (now defunct) and M32 (now Q32).
Generally, of that first lot, the lower numbers were assigned to Manhattan, the higher numbers (up to PA2579) to "da Bronx."
Here is what is possibly the earliest photo of a "Torpedo" running on a " 'stoa" line - the M4:
https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?153772
(courtesy: nycsubway.org)
There aren't as many "Tee-Yay" "Torpedo" photos as with " 'stoa," but here's the earliest of that (behind a Fishbowl "Bullet"), from out in Brooklyn:
https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?153320
(courtesy: nycsubway.org)
Both from August, 1981.
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22673
Location: NEW JOISEY
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| Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 4:39 pm Post subject: |
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W.B.:
As usual, you MORE than come through, regarding providing historic "Noo Yawk" bus operations.....THANK YOU (again!) for taking the time to post this great info!
Here in "Joisey", I may be wrong, but I think that (at least in part) the NOVA "Torpedoes" purchased by "En-Jay-Tee" around 1997/1998 were the buses that replaced the veteran NJDOT "Dangerfields".
I DO recall "En-Jay-Tee's" tried-and-true FLXIBLE 870's ("new and improved GRUMMAN") being replaced close to 20 years ago by the insipid NABI's (economy-sized shoe boxes)
I WAS very fortunate to ride (pretty frequently) the ex-"Em-Tee-Yay" RTS that had been purchased by ACADEMY (I remember them best on the #22 HILLSIDE); GOOD-riding buses, and always a fave of Your's Truly! 
Thinking back now to 1981; I was then 25(!!), and working down on "The Street" (dang, where did the years get to?) 
Like many bus enthusiasts, I know I took the "Torpedo" for granted, assuming that they would always be around.......well, guess I was wrong....... 
"NYO"
["22 HILLSIDE"]
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22673
Location: NEW JOISEY
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| Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 4:54 pm Post subject: |
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I just posted this 1983 "rear view" photo earlier, but what I like is that it highlights the rear number plates affixed to the "Torpedos"; the style of numbering (here demonstrated by #2219) clearly recalls the style of numbers displayed by many "Noo Yawk" transit vehicles in past decades...... 
https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?153764
(courtesy: nycsubway.org)
["M4"]
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22673
Location: NEW JOISEY
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| Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 4:59 pm Post subject: |
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Here "Torpedo" #2237 strikes a classic pose at the 126th Street garage, back in 1986 (almost 40 years ago!) 
https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?155965
(courtesy: nycsubway.org)
["Rapid Transit Series"]
Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Fri Mar 15, 2024 5:03 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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MaBSTOA 15
Age: 70
Joined: 27 Feb 2013
Posts: 1059
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| Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 4:59 pm Post subject: |
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Rather than type out all this information, and more to follow, I decided to let official NYCTA data speak for it self.
I received this information, in a large packet, back in 1966.
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MaBSTOA 15
Age: 70
Joined: 27 Feb 2013
Posts: 1059
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| Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 5:02 pm Post subject: |
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The following came from a Fact and Figure brochure supplied by the MTA
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MaBSTOA 15
Age: 70
Joined: 27 Feb 2013
Posts: 1059
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| Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 5:04 pm Post subject: |
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Bus depot assignments for 1965 and 1970
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MaBSTOA 15
Age: 70
Joined: 27 Feb 2013
Posts: 1059
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| Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 5:06 pm Post subject: |
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Bus depot assignments for 1980 and 1981
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MaBSTOA 15
Age: 70
Joined: 27 Feb 2013
Posts: 1059
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| Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 5:09 pm Post subject: |
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Bus depot assignments for 1982
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22673
Location: NEW JOISEY
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| Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 5:10 pm Post subject: |
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MaBSTOA 15:
Once again, you indeed provide us with still more rare old documents/photos/etc; THANK YOU for taking the time!
As I had stated earlier, we here in "Joisey" did not see any "Torpedoes" until NJT purchased the NOVA buses around 1997; I liked them right from the get-go (but, then again, I always liked the RTS!)
IMHO, they were the LAST bus to operate ANYWHERE to have any sort of appeal for enthusiasts; I have disliked EVERYTHING since (it's hard to "warm" to a giant caterpillar or a milk carton on wheels!) 
Too bad that the "Em-Tee-Yay" did not purchase the RTS from the get-go, instead of going gung-ho with the "Borough Bombers"............
'NYO"
["MTA"]
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22673
Location: NEW JOISEY
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22673
Location: NEW JOISEY
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