BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

(SEE PREVIOUS POST/LINKS)

The BMT "Zephyr"..........

Also from the early 1930s was the sleek, shiny articulated "ZEPHYR"; this modern unit was also designed to replace antiquated wooden El cars on the BMT's Brooklyn elevated lines.

It also featured florescent lighting, QUITE futuristic at that time.

Unlike the "GREEN HORNET", the BUDD-built "Zephyr" had a decent service life, and ran until 1954.......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?75915

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?46944

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?112948

(courtesy:nycsubway.org)

["16 CANARSIE"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Further:

On this day in 1941, the BMT's "GREEN HORNET" was removed from revenue service on the #7 Franklin Avenue shuttle in Brooklyn; as I had noted previously, this aluminum-bodied trainset was scrapped in 1942, after lying idle in the BMT shops for some time, awaiting spare parts.......

"NYO"

["7"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here is a rare photo of the once-proud "GREEN HORNET", undergoing scrapping, photographed in the BMT's shops...........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?46924

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["B.M.T. LINES"]

[Cyberider]

Too bad such a short life for the Green Hornet. It was a good looking train.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The fearsome and hulking BMT "Triplex" units entered service in 1925;these were the BMT's first "production mode;" articulateds.

These units were also the first in New York to use illuminated end roller signs.

They gave decades of solid, reliable service until retirement in 1865 (thankfully, Mom and I rode these rail-bound battleships, way back in the day!

They last ran on the Astoria line in 1965............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?26383

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?150753

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?6572

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["5 CHAMBERS STREET"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The last articulated trains built for the BMT were the quick-steppin' "Multi-Section" units; built by ST. LOUIS and PULLMAN-STANDARD; the first entered service in 1936.

These trains (originally designed for eventual conversion to one-man operation, were the first in New York to feature the now-standard full-width cab.

They also were novel in that they featured chain-driven station announcement signs (located over the passageways between units), which featured metal sign plates operated by a unique "carousel" arrangement.

These lightweight trains were also able to run on the old (long since razed) Fulton el, which was not built to handle steel rolling stock.

As the TA wanted to retire all "non-standard" rolling stock from its roster by the 1960s, these fast and commodious trains were retired in 1961, when they still had a lor of "pep" to them...........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?75622

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?132282

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?46936

(courtesy:nycsubway.org)

["7004"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Taking a brief "detour" from Brooklyn for a moment.......

On this day in 1941, the famed CNS&M "ELECTROLINERS" enter service, running between Chicago's Loop and Milwaukee.

After the CNS&M was abandoned in 1963, the two trains headed east, and were rehabbed for service on the Red Arrow's Norristown line (former P&W), where they operated until the 1970s (their trolley poles, of course, were not needed, as this line was 100% third rail)

Thankfully, both of these sleek and historic electric trains survive today......

"NYO"

["CNS&M"]

["RED ARROW LINES"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

BUDD-built electrics for the NYW&B.......

I've seen a drawing of what would have been a new generation of rolling stock for the long-defunct NYW&B(abandoned 1937)

Had the "Westchester" been able to survicve, the new rolling stock would have been built by BUDD; these two-unit articulated trains closely resembled the BMT's "Zephyr".

These trains would have also had motorman's portholes, which were found on the original 1912 MUs.

Alas,it was not to be.....

"NYO"

["WHITE PLAINSEXPRESS"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Interesting........

In New York, only the BMT ever experimented with (and operated) articulated trains; neither the IRT nor the IND ever showed any interest in the concept of articulation.

Articulation would have certainly seemed appropriate for the IRT, with its tight curves and twisting tunnels (like PATH/H&M)...........

"NYO"

["INTERBOROUGH"]