BusTalk

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2024 7:19 pm Post subject:

W.B.:

I THOUGHT that it should have been "WILLIS", but, I thought that the photographer knew more than I did; thanks for the clarification.

You mentioned the "BX55"; when did the last "Shermans"/"Pattons" hold down this line?

You also mentioned non-a/c subway cars; recall, that the R-27/30s bit the dust at a fairly young age (for a subway car) as retrofitting them with a/c would have made the cars too heavy (and yet, the non-ac R-10 "Thunderbirds" remained in service for 40 years!)

BTW:

On the previous page here, I posted the link to a circa-1985 photo showing two MTA "Torpedoes" running underneath a dormant section of the former "Bee-Em-Tee" elevated Jamaica line; any idea on what line these buses would have been running on?

"NYO"

["M"]

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2024 7:31 pm Post subject:

W.B.:

You being from "Noo Yawk" might be able shed some light on this one............

Going through the vast nycsubway.org subway photo archives, I have come across quite a few photos where stations no longer display advertisements.

I have seen photos of vast "Eye-En-Dee" mezzanines where all of the ad "frames" in the walls are emprty; even many elevated stations seem to be devoid of ads.

As I know that the "Em-Tee-Yay" is forever looking towards gleaning additional revenue, I am wondering why so many stations no longer display ads (underground mezzanines where no ads are displayed, IMHO, have a "creepy" look that makes me a bit uneasy)

Recall, also, that as the stations of the new 8th Avenue IND were not fully completed when service started in 1932, and many stations were devoid of ads; I've read that many straphangers thought that the stations looked "naked and incomplete" without the usual gallery of colorful ads festooning the walls.

I was always greatly fascinated by "traditional" transit advertising......in vintage photos, seeing the station ads indeed can accurately "date" a photo, telling us about the era when the photo was taken............

"NYO"

["8th Avenue Subway"]

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2024 7:41 pm Post subject:

Though this vast area of the IND's 182nd/183rd St. station is now closed off, the total lack of ads (or any signage) does indeed give one an uneasy, "creepy" feeling (recall how, back in the IND's heyday, the vast mezzanine areas were not regarded as "caverns of crime")..............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?86767

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["INDEPENDENT SUBWAY SYSTEM"]

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2024 7:55 pm Post subject:

Greenpoint Avenue platform (IND Crosstown line), 1999........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?916

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["TRAINS TO MANHATTAN"]

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2024 8:08 pm Post subject:

Though the entrance to the IND's ancient and unique 190th St. station is both handsome and rugged; these interior views make you think of being an urban "Indiana Jones", discovering the long lost "Temple of Doom"............ Shocked

Strangely, to this day, Your's Truly is vastly intrigued by long closed off/sealed off subway entrances/mezzanines, etc.

Oddly, walking through a vast mezzanine devoid of any sort of advertising, always gave me a vague, uneasy feeling.

The same goes for some of the borderline bizarre sculptures/artwork seen in many stations these days........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?73144

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?669

["IND"]

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2024 8:18 pm Post subject:

This photo from 1977, snapped at the now-demolished BMT El station at Sutphin Boulevard is indeed worthy of inclusion here............ Wink

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?43014

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["ALL TRAINS TO MANHATTAN"]

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2024 11:29 pm Post subject:

W.B.:

During my photo search, I came across this highly unusual "montage" at the IND's 6th Avenue station at 42nd St./Bryant Park (photo dates to 2007)

For obvious reasons, I am sharing this here with you....... Wink

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?73302

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["IND"]

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Fri Apr 12, 2024 10:05 am Post subject:

A dismal platform indeed at the IND's Grand Avenue-Newtown station (Queens Boulevard line)..........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?70882

(courtersy: nycsubway.org)

["MTA"]

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Fri Apr 12, 2024 10:17 am Post subject:

The IND's "MYRTLE-WILLOUGHBY" station ("GG"/"G') was, for many years, the "home station" of transit historian/hockey maven Stan Fischler; his family's brownstone sat directly above this station; he could hear the whine of "Arnine" motors through the living room floor!

At this station, a long-closed fare control and mezzanine exist.

Indeed, I have no problem at all picturing Indiana Jones himself exploring the dark, dank, mysterious, abandoned areas of this station, long closed to the public (hey, Indy's trademark bullwhip could come in QUITE handy, to repel the colonies subway rats, lurking in the dark recesses)..... Wink

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?921

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?922

(courtsey: nycsubway.org)

["GG B'KLYN-QUEENS LOCAL"]

W.B. Fishbowl · Posted: Fri Apr 12, 2024 1:37 pm Post subject:

W.B. Fishbowl · Posted: Fri Apr 12, 2024 1:38 pm Post subject:

W.B. Fishbowl · Posted: Fri Apr 12, 2024 1:48 pm Post subject:

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Fri Apr 12, 2024 2:23 pm Post subject:

W.B.:

As always, greatly appreciate your input.

Funny, the "Atrens" (aka "Thunderbirds") lasted until 1989, whereas their smaller "Eye-Are-Tee" cousins (the R-12/14s) had already been gone several years.

That had to have been due to the massive influx of "62s" being delivered; if I am not mistaken, the remaining "Thunderbirds" had to wait for the R-68 "Hippos" to arrive, before they were put out to pasture (1988/1989)

When I worked at the NYSE, there was a now-closed entrance to the BMT's Broad Street station, right next to the building; when the weather was nasty during the PM homeward trek, I would dash right down the stairs, and board a "J" or an "M" to Fulton Street, where I could transfer to the uptown IRT.

I still recall there being an underpass between platforms (that i sometimes used) that was later closed off due to some sort of assault.

Things were starting to go downhill, but not to the extent we see today.

Speaking of IND mezzanines, these were, indeed, a hallmark of the new City-owned subway; their vastness gave an open, uncluttered spaciousness to the stations; it would be many decades before many of these mezzaninews were either closed off or reduced in area, due to the surge in underground crime...........

"NYO"

["8th AVENUE SUBWAY SYSTEM"]