BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Thomas N. McCarter was the head of both Public Service (New Jersey), the State's largest utility, as well as the president of PSNJ (the State's largest transit operator), until he retired in the mid-1940s.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_N._McCarter

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Service_Corporation

Though he had already been retired for several years, Mr. McCarter was on hand to inspect PSNJ's new 4104s, when they began arriving in 1953/1954 (I am sure he was MOST impressed!)

These sleek, modern, air-conditioned buses indeed were a far cry from the antiquated, clattering streetcars that his massive, conglomerate company once rostered in the thousands.

By the time he passed on in 1955, the Newark Subway was the sole remaining reminder of the once-complex PS streetcar network.

The ASV's, by this late date, had already been gone nearly a decade.

I have also seen publicity photos of this distinguished, large-framed gentleman taken in 1937, showing him at Penn Station (Newark) on the day that the City Subway had been extended one stop from Broad Street to the then-new Pennsylvania Station; one photo showed this dapper, straw-hatted fellow posing with a freshly-painted deck roof car, ready to depart Penn Station.......

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

PSNJ's 4104s...........

The first of these handsome buses arrived in 1953.

These 15 buses were numbered in the "G" series; interestingly, these first 15 were equipped with glass panels in the roof (PSNJ then operated sightseeing tours, and also did much charter work)

Back in the 1960s, I well remember my folks and I riding 4104s (and 4106s) down to the Jersey shore, to visit relatives (LOVED those smooooooooooth sounds of a powerful GM power plant at work, in full cry, out on the open road!

Ahhhh, the memories!

"NYO"

["ASBURY PARK"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Like most NJ suburban carriers, PSNJ purchased their first Fishbowls (transit and suburban) in 1960.

All suburban models were, of course, air-conditioned.

After the 4104s, the next "highway" coach purchased by PS were the 4106; several years later, "Buffalos" were added to the fleet, used primarily on the longer commuter runs, and, also, for charter work, a pattern followed by other NJ companies of the day..........

"NYO"

["CHARTERED"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

By the time of this nostalgic 1972 photo (taken near the PABT) PSNJ bus operations had been taken over by TNJ (Transport of New Jersey); the bus operations were now separate from the utility "arm" of PS.

Here we see a "Buffalo", still wearing the distinctive PS nosewings.

The lot where the "RED & TAN" Fishbowls are parked (on the right, behind the church) has now been built over....................

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154497

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["603A"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

PSNJ's unique bus numbering........

PSNJ buses, for decades, had a letter prefix BEFORE the fleet number.

By the later 1960s, the "Z"prefix had already been used, so now, new buses used a suffix letter AFTER the fleet number.............

"NYO"

["Z338"]

["426A"]

[Cyberider]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

Indeed you are correct; that there is a big, bad, "6"!

I've always liked this tough-looking buses; the tinplate toy I have of a "6" is QUITE rare!

Originally, GREYHOUND operated 85 of these big bruisers on the East Coast; but were later sent out to the West Coast to finish their service days with "The Hound".

GREYHOUND retired the "6" in 1980, and sold them to independent operators......

"NYO"

["SEE AMERICA THE GREYHOUND WAY!"]

[Cyberider]

It was a very distinctive mean looking bus with a big Detroit 12V-71 engine. Saw a few of them back in the day but wasn't fortunate to ever ride in one.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

In this timeless 1981 scene (which I saw twice a day, five days a week, for many years!) we see an MCI (GREYHOUND) trailing a "MANHATTAN LINES" Fishbowl..........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156506

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["LOCAL"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

Check out this truly classic CTA/GREYHOUND scene from 1969!

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?45904

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["GREYHOUND"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

See also:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_Coach_Industries

https://www.mcicoach.com

["MOTOR COACH INDUSTRIES"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Another timeless scene (one that I experienced daily for many years!) taken during a PABT rush hour, back in 1981:

Note how the "classic-era" MCI is overshadowed by all the Fishbowls; back then, GM-built buses still dominated here.....

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156412

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["NEW YORK CITY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

It is indeed a given that, had PSNJ (or TNJ) still been in existence today, that MC1s would be the solid backbone of the commuter fleet.

With the exception of a few postwar demos, PS was a loyal and dedicated GM customer for many, many years, right through to the TNJ era of the early 1970s.........

"NYO"

["165 MEW YORK"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Lincoln Tunnel (Weehawken) helix, 1981; note the outbound GREYHOUND MCI overhead, with a DE CAMP Fishbowl inbound to the "Port-of-Authority" (an ex-PSNJ/TNJ Fishbowl is also in view, here)

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154715

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

(DE CAMP, the last family-owned bus company in New Jersey, dropped out of the commuter business within the last few years; earlier this year, the fabled and familiar DE CAMP folded altogether.

At the close of operations, DE CAMP had a good-sized fleet of MCIs........