BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Was VERY fortunate indeed to have come across this page; there are many rare old Bronx photos here, with a number of TARS scenes and views of the Els**.

In some of these nostalgic scenes, SURFACE* buses can also be found.......

"NYO"

https://backinthebronx.com/address-book/?sf_paged=26

*Towards the bottom of the page there is a nice "portrait" shot of SURFACE #674.......

**There are also few photos of gate cars on the Dyre Avenue shuttle, and one of the former NYW&B station house at Hunts Point.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

I had noted in my previous posting that there was a photo of SURFACE #674 on the page whose link I had posted; here's a photo of fleetmate #601, looking more than a bit work-weary......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154552

(courtesy:nycsubway.org)

["Ride The Surface Way"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"Bronx Trolley Terminals & Hubs" (more vintage photos).......

www.forgottenbronxtransit.mysite.com/photo.html

["Third Avenue Railways System"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Came across this snowy scene from the late 1940's, showing an elderly TARS deck roof streetcar (running on Route "X") followed by a new SURFACE Old Look.

The old being pursued by the new.....

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ottomatic77/6967311182/

["Tars Rt 'X'"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

........even though SURFACE buses vanquished the old TARS streetcars in Da Bronx, their legacy, like that of the streetcars, has now disappeared without a trace (AFAIK)

Though a small section of long-disused track might, every so often, be seen poking through worn pavement (line poles, except, perhaps, a single lonely and solitary example), have also disappeared.

But, what remains of SURFACE nowadays?

Today, only older, long-term residents and transportation enthusiasts would even know that SURFACE buses once lumbered and snorted through the streets.

Then again, it would only be the older folks who could even recall MaBSTOA........time marches on, but too much is forever lost in the process.....

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Excavated remains of an ancient society.......

https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/Tracks_on_Broadway

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Since these photos were taken in the later 1990's, even these fleeting remains of the streetcar in "Noo Yawk" have since vanished.

Recall, the remaining Brooklyn trolleys ran for nearly a decade after the last TARS cars in "Da Bronx" were replaced with SURFACE buses......

https://www.forgotten-ny.com/1998/12/trolley-tracks/

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

On a related note, this page features vintage and modern-era photos detailing the last remaining trolley line poles in the Coney Island area (recall, streetcars served Coney Island well into the 1950's)

Though not impossible, it would seem highly unlikely that any of the old TARS poles in "Da Bronx" have survived until the present day.....

https://www.forgotten-ny.com/2012/03/coney-island-trolley-poles/

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

When these now-timeless photos of MaBSTOA Fishbowls were snapped 50-odd years ago, I doubt that the photographer had any inclination that he was, in fact, recording "Noo Yawk" bus history.

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154201

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?155055

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

Note only due the buses themselves recall a long-since departed era in the City, but, also, the classic "OA" MaBSTOA insignias, and the stylish script over the windows; too, the distinctive "space age-60's" MaBSTOA "OA" medallions would also disappear.

All too soon, however, the buses would lose their familiar "Tee-Yay" green paint schemes, and the smart-looking script above the windows would also vanish.

How quickly today's commonplace becomes tomorrow's history......

"NYO"

["1 To 147st-Lenox Av"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's a photo gallery on MaBSTOA's TDH-5303's...........

www.busdrawings.com/Transit/ny/mabstoa/1963tdh5303/3301to3375/index.htm

["9 to 225 St"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Appreciate, as always, your "in depth" historical feedback!

Back in the day, seeing buses bearing scripts that read "NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT AUTHORITY" and "MANHATTAN AND BRONX SURFACE OPERATING AUTHORITY" added so much diversity and interest to the "Noo Yawk" bus scene.

In today's world of giant, people-eating caterpillars and oversized milk cartons, what, really, is there, to distinguish the "divisions"?

Going back to our old friends, the "Dangerfields", look at the "Tee-Yay" and "MaBSTOA" photo galleries at nycsubway.org; there are far, far more pics of the Fishbowls than there are of the "Dangerfields".

Getting back to the "diversity" era that we all took for granted, the "batwings" really gave us something else interesting to whet are "appetites", so to speak.

I especially loved the side signs, which always reminded me of the signs carried either between or above the rear doors on many center-entrance streetcars.

How much we took for granted.....

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

.......I think we're all pretty much showing our age, in this (and other) discussions......well, at least, we older fellows can HONESTLY say we cam remember BUSES that LOOKED like buses, and not oversized Dustbusters or rubber-tired milk cartons.......

"NYO"

["25 To Alabama Ave"]