BusTalk

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Appreciate the info....thanks!

Yes, I well recall the controversy over the assignment of "old buses" to certain areas; indeed, this would have been a moot point 50-60 years ago.

Recall, also, the last "en masse" stomping grounds for the venerable "Shermans" was pretty much Brooklyn, by the early 1970s.

Most recent nycsubway.org photo showing a "Sherman" operating on a Manhattan route dates to 1972; I am sure, by that late date, only a handful were still running in Manhattan..........

"NYO"

["NYCTA"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Most recent photo of a "Sherman" in Manhattan (Broadway & Park Row, 1972)......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154821

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

Note that #7075's* sign box is devoid of a roller curtain (a sure sign the end is nigh); another "Sherman" is just behind #7075, followed by a Fishbowl.

The "Tee-Yay"-era fellow here further dates this photo, taken over a half-century ago..........

*(BTW: What depot was #7075 then assigned to?)

["New York City Transit Authority"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

As always, greatly appreciate your taking the time to post historical bus info/stats.......thank you!

Here is a photo I came across of #7075 operating on the "tony" M15 in 1972; here the bus was clearly not on a Brooklyn route!

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154822

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

If I am not mistaken, weren't the last "Pattons" running operating only on Brooklyn and SI routes, as they neared retirement in the late 1960's?

"NYO"

['New York City Transit Authority"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Appreciate the info.

After the very last "Pattons" (NHBL) in my general area vanished about 1967, the only ones that would be seen in the Hudson County-area were the second-hand ex-YONKERS TRANSIT "New Look" MACKS, purchased by the now long-defunct "BLUE & WHITE", whose oily, greasy, junk-strewn "bus museum" yard was located on Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen (thankfully, Your's Truly took pics, back then!)

These handsome"Pattons" I know where gone by at least 1976, or shortly thereafter.

The company also had two (ex-Yonkers) non-New Look "Pattons", quite decrepit, being used as storage sheds (one of the good fellows there even gave me a few roll sign sections as a parting gift!)

The engine areas of these two old "Pattons" had been cut out, but the long-dated tout; "RIDE ON AIR" was still clearly visible below the rear windows.......

"NYO"

["SURE-IT'S A MACK!"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Back in 1975, we see " 'burban Sherman" #101 enjoying a brief respite at the "BLUE & WHITE's" Tonnelle Avenue yard in North Bergen.

Not only did the company roster second-hand "Patton" New Looks, but a number of suburban models (mostly "Shermans"); I know they rostered several ex-PSNJ and O&B buses, as well as the ex-Yonkers "Pattons"...........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?153135

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["COACH CHARTERED"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's a handsome-looking ex-YONKERS TRANSIT New Look "Patton" on a "Noo Yawk" fan trip on a sunny day back in '73.

(Imagine if the "Tee-Yay"/FACL or SURFACE had purchased New Look "Pattons"!)

Note the classic "97 JOURNAL SQUARE" reading on the roll sign; this once-familiar line had been a long-established INTER-CITY route, then running from JSQ to Paterson (" 'burban Shermans"/WHITE 798s and 1150s/ACF-BRILL "Rocky Brill-boa" C-44s) worked this line which ran by our old Union City apartment building, back in the 1960s...............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?153145

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["THE BROWN BUS WITH THE ORANGE BAND"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

.....at least two New York cities once operated New Look "Pattons" (Yonkers and Buffalo)

AFAIK, no New Jersey cities ever operated this type of "Patton".

Again, it would have interesting, to say the least, if the "Tee-Yay" had ordered a group of these unique buses (also, the old Queens independent companies)

Here in "Joisey", I do recall clearly many (out-of-the-box) "Pattons" back in the 1960s, but no New Look MACKS, until I came across the ex-YONKERS TRANSIT buses being operated by BLUE & WHITE in the mid-1970s..........

"NYO"

["97 PATERSON"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Now THAT's an EXCELLENT question to ponder: WHY didn't "AVENUE B", indeed, a loyal and steadfast MACK operator, did not see fit to roster any of the New Look "Pattons"?

I had not thought about this until you brought it up just now.

None of the Hudson County "indies" I knew purchased new buses (Fishbowls) until about 1966 or thereafter; none of their "Shermans" were all that new, and the "Pattons" and the WHITES (and assorted other antiques) were already "veterans".

By the time that the Hudson County independents started purchasing new buses (replacing the square-window "Shermans", "Pattons", WHITES, etc) MACK had already been out of the bus business for a number of years.

But, yes.....WHY didn't "AVENUE B" purchase any New Look "Pattons"? (or, for that matter, "Shermans")

Alas, we'll never know the reason why............

"NYO"

["BERGEN AVE. LOCAL"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Another "AVENUE B" mystery............

Recall in the mid-70s, the company purchased several "Shermans" that had formerly run in the Chicago area.

Mystery?

Why didn't "AVENUE B" simply purchase "Shermans" from the "Tee-Yay" (or 'stoa) when they were being retired?

After all, these were "home" buses to begin with.

Too, being that "AVENUE B" was still a "Patton" stronghold through the 60s (and into the 70s), why weren't a few ex-"Tee-Yay" MACKS purchased?

Makes you think......

"NYO"

["M8 GRAND ST."]

[MaBSTOA 15]

Avenue B did not buy those "Shermans" from Chicago. They were leased from Hausman Bus Sales and they were ex-South Suburban Bus Lines from the Chicago area.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]