BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

While on the subject of streetcars (and buses) on former BRT/BMT property, this postwar photo (snapped at the former ENY car house) might, indeed, gladden the hearts of MACK fans, but not be all that particularly endearing to streetcar buffs.

The forecourt of the former car house is now a sea of new MACKS; note the old line poles, and, if you look carefully, you'll just glimpse traces of the streetcar rails entering the old car house forecourt.

A lone 8000-series double-ended Peter Witt reminds us trhat this was once an area where the streetcar once ruled.....

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?46323

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["ENY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's an interesting view of B&QT streetcar private ROW underneath the El, circa-1940; the streetcar looks more modern than the bus just coming into the photo on the left.....

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?117802

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["Flushing-Ridgewood"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

B&QT's elderly, charming convertible streetcars indeed roamed the teeming streets of Brooklyn far, far longer than the sleek, new postwar TWIN COACH buses.,.....

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?140880

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["Gates Av."]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

In this wonderfully dated and nostalgic circa-1940 scene at East New York, the word "antiques" comes to my mind, regarding both the rubber-tired and steel-wheeled transit vehicles seen here......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?117437

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["Bergen"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Agreed; I did not see that "connection" until you mentioned it; I agree 100%, there.

Strange, though, the postwar "Bee-oh-Tee" TWINS did not have the "Borough Bomber's" afflicted reputation for literally falling apart on the streets.

Interestingly enough, in James Clifford Greller's softcover book "New York Transit System Bus & Trolley Coach Fleet", Mr. Greller states that, while the postwar TWINS quite attractive, they were not, on the other hand, "structurally sound"*.

Regardless, the "pre-Dangerfields" seemed quite the "oddballs" in the postwar "Bee-O-Tee"/"Tee-Yay" fleet.......

"NYO"

["33-Hamilton Av"]

*(The TWINS were indeed sleek and modern in appearance, but, they had more of a "lightweight" appearance about them, and didn't seem as they could compete for structural strength against Old Looks, and, most especially, the tough, swaggering MACKS (aka "Bulldogs")

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"NO RESPECT", 1955-style......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156961

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156967

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156989

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["18-Wyckoff"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"END OF THE LINE".......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156998

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["Ulmer Park"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"END OF THE LINE" (II).............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156991

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["2-Flatbush"]

(I've always wondered, why, when the postwar TWINS were retired (still practically new) they were scrapped instead of being sold to other operators for further service......seems a waste, IMHO)

[W.B. Fishbowl]

As I was saying . . . in its performance under 'Bee O'Tee' and 'Tee-Yay' aegis, Twins seemed on average to be somewhere in-between the later "Dangerfields" and the even later "Borough Bombers."

Those Twins that served under Surface in 'da Bronx' didn't serve all that long either, did they? I hardly remember any that went into Manhattan . . .

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Rare photo of a SURFACE "pre-'Dangerfield Dangerfield"......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154551

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

As I've said in other topics, though prewar TWINS were still to be seen in my area of "Joisey", into the 1960's (operated by Jersey City-area "indies"), I know that none of these companies (and, most certainly NOT the far-flung PSNJ) ever rostered postwar TWINS.

In fact, the only NJ company I knew of that operated them (postwar TWINS) was SOMERSET, which operated a small number of suburban "FAGEOLINERS".

In fact, the first time Your's Truly ever saw one was during my senior class trip into Manhattan in 1974, when I saw one obviously being used by either a dry-cleaning service or garment company; the overhead handhold stanchions were being used to hang the garments from! ........

"NYO"

["Ride The Surface Way"]

["Bx12-Fordham"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

...........postwar TWIN #171, in July 1947, was originally part of a 40-bus order for NORTH SHORE (according to Guy bE. Martin's book)

Instead, the bus was delivered to the "Bee-oh-Tee" (in North Shore colors)

In Guy E. Martin's book, "NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT BUSES", there is a photo of postwar TWIN #151; this was part of the first order of TWINS to NORTH SHORE, but, delivered instead to the "Bee-oh-Tee".

This bus ran in Queens until 1949, when it and other TWINS were transferred to Brooklyn, which helped to keep the concentration of postwar TWINS in that borough.......

"NYO"

{"Q 48 La Guardia Airport"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"Pre-Dangerfield" TWINS, while still running in Brooklyn......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156953

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156954

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156956

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

{"B5"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Talk about "no respect"......

In Guy E. Martin's "NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT BUSES" (in the SURFACE chapter) there is not ONE mention of a postwar TWIN*, nor was there a photo........

"NYO"

["Ride The Surface Way"]

*I am now recalling Mr. Greller's FACCo book, where there was only ONE photo of a Fishbowl (at least in Mr. Martin's book, there are TWO photos of FACCo Fishbowls).........

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

......small wonder, needless to say, why FACCo was not at all interested in postwar TWINS........

"NYO"

["15 Fifth Ave."]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"THE LONE MISFIT",(1955)..........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156999

(courtesy: nycsubway.org

{"Twin Coach"]