BusTalk

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2023 1:03 pm Post subject:

W.B.:

As always, THANK YOU for taking the time to post a tremendous wealth of "Noo Yawk" bus history, not only regarding the buses themselves, but also, the routes they once ran over.....MUCH appreciated!

From: "NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT BUSES" (Martin).........

".......most of the routes remained unchanged after the creation of MABSTOA. Manhattan route changes were largely the result of combining routes due to avenues being converted to one-way traffic............."

"........one was the elimination of OMNIBUS Route 5 taken over by Route 6, when Broadway and Sixth Avenue became one-way............."

"NYO"

["101 TO 6 ST"]

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2023 6:59 pm Post subject:

Interesting-----------According to "RAPID TRANSIT SERIES BUSES" a huge influx of "Torpedoes" entered the fleets of both the "Tee-Yay" and "stoa" between 1981 and 1983 (these were "T8W-204s")-----in fact the total production during these years was nearly all for "Noo Yawk" with a few exceptions-------------"NYO"

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2023 1:50 am Post subject:

Courtesy of "RAPID TRANSIT SERIES BUSES"-------------"CTA specified an array of additional hardware which were quite unique-the CTA did not see fit to specify 'Series 08' buses with air conditioning-as a result all of their 'Series 08s' with a tiny rear window in the rear cap of the bus-later when the CTA retrofitted select buses with a/c the rear windows were replaced with a standard RTS end cap------------" Further: "The 'T80-608' buses' narrow width facilitated their use under the now-defunct El line on Lake Street-but once this El route was abandoned there was no longer a justifiable need for the CTA to operate these narrow-width buses-all of these buses were retired by 2005"--------"NYO"

W.B. Fishbowl · Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2023 4:14 am Post subject:

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2023 10:14 am Post subject:

WB--------Agreed; one would naturally think-regarding "Shik-aga's" quirky weather-that a/c would be standard on 'See-Tay-Ay's" buses since at least the 60's; oddly-SOUTH SUBURBAN SAFEWAY was operating suburban (w/standee windows) Old Looks (TDH-5105s) in the late 1950's and into the 60s-purchased second-hand; these buses had the long boxy a/c duct on the roof (ORANGE & BLACK had buses like these also)-on another interesting note- FACCo's "Shik-aga" counterpart once rostered 101 TDH-5502 Old Looks; these were the largest then being built and were also interestingly the only ones built-----------"NYO"

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2023 10:25 am Post subject:

CTA ""Bullets"------------As they already had experience with a 150 earlier 5301s-the CTA insisted on additional changes when they later ordered another 150; this included non-standard turn signals; the last of the 5301s also featured a different style of tailgate for easier cleaning--------the "See-Tee-Yay" also had the distinction of purchasing the largest order of Fishbowls in the 1970s-the bulk of these buses were 5307As--------------"NYO"

W.B. Fishbowl · Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2023 10:39 am Post subject:

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2023 11:03 am Post subject:

WB: Likewise------clearly that ill-fated bus was NOT one that the "See-Tee-Yay" wanted on their busier "tony" routes-------recall too that the later "See-Tee-Yay" Fishbowls ("Bullets") had fixed windows (sans clips); these I recall on the Newark-Caldwell #144 ("TRACKLESS TRANSIT") back in the 1970's---------------"NYO"

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2023 12:41 pm Post subject:

According to "RAPID TRANSIT SERIES BUSES" the RTSs then running in "Shik-aga" were supposed to be retired by 2007 (far far earlier than the last runs of the RTS here in "Noo Yawk")-----the CTA operated 476 "08s"; these buses were in the 4400-4800 series---------the CTA requested a host of rear-end changes-this included rear windows-which put the squash on a/c-the CTA felt that the rear windows were a needed safety feature; the round taillights were a standardized "Shik-aga" part and were also used on other CTA buses including the FLXIBLEs already in the fleet------------"NYO"

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2023 12:25 am Post subject:

Interesting to recall that "GREEN BUS LINES" once operated three generations of "Torpedoes" (RTS) according to "RAPID TRANSIT SERIES BUSES"; then-between 1993 and 1994-"QUEENS SURFACE" returned to the RTS by purchasing "T80-206s"---------------the NYCTA obtained quite a few "T80-206s" in 1996; outside of different engines these buses were essentially atkin to their first Series "04s"--------------------------"NYO"

W.B. Fishbowl · Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2023 8:51 am Post subject:

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2023 10:11 am Post subject:

WB: Appreciate your input as always; speaking of electronic signs can you share any photos showing the different electronic signs used on the "Torpedoes" through the years-while I certainly recall such signage I gotta be honest and state that I did pay attention to these signs as I did the old roller curtains------I'd like to jog personal recollections as to what Your's Truly does recall ages ago on our "Joisey" buses in years past----------thanks---------"NYO" (BTW what type signs were used on NJT's 870s and later RTS?)------------------*I DO clearly recall seeing what looked like a lot of tubing in the front sign boxes of the 870's I knew (NJT/NHBL etc)

W.B. Fishbowl · Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2023 1:13 pm Post subject:

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2023 2:27 pm Post subject:

WB: THANK YOU! Wink

These pictures clearly show the "graphics" that distinguished the different type-signs; interestingly the Queens "indies" preferred old-fashioned roller curtains on their "Torpedos"-----at least early on----------BTW: what types of electronic signage is used on the "Slinkies"/"shoeboxes"/"Dusbusters" of today? Are these of the type used on the subway cars or are they are of a different type altogether? (I know those used on the subway cars are "color coded" for the different lines)------"NYO"

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2023 7:06 pm Post subject:

Interesting bit- courtesy: "RAPID TRANSIT SERIES BUSES"------Fort Worth (Texas) purchased T8J-204s in 1981; they also purchased a handful of ex-NYCTA units in the late 1990's-these buses were originally used on express runs-----------"NYO"