BusTalk

[traildriver]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver:

A GOOD point to bring up!

We tend to forget the WW2 years, where the liners were converted into troop transports, providing a vital service to our brave servicemen, heading to Europe for active combat.

It is also very interesting to note that, when the legendary, stately UNITED STATES was being planned and developed, there was an aura of mystery, as supposed "secret features" were being incorporated into her design at the direction of the U.S. Navy to make the ship, during any future war, making her the most effective troop ship of all time (this, according to Brian Cudhay's "AROUND MANHATTAN ISLAND AND OTHER MARITIME TAILS OF NEW YORK")

The UNITED STATES was built for rapid conversion into a troop ship, one that could carry 14.000 soldiers (virtually a full division!) from North America to any port on Earth.

As an example, her kitchens were designed so that they could turn out basic meals for 14,000 soldiers as easily as they could turn out elegant cuisine for well-heeled passengers.

The rusting hulk of this famous, iconic liner, grossly neglected for decades, is an insult to her once-grand, opulent, ocean-going days.......

"NYO"

["UNITED STATES LINES"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Recalling the oft-forgotten troop ships.........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troopship *

*(see links)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here is an excellent, "in depth" page (with a number of rare, historic photos) on the Liberty Ships of WW2.

Many were built at the now-defunct FEDERAL SHIPYARDS in South Kearny, NJ (also served by CNJ trains until 1967)

Ironically, after the War, many of the ships built at FEDERAL sailed back to their place of origin, only to sit rusting and neglected for many years until they were finally scrapped..........

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

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

For many years, nearly 200 former Liberty Ships were part of the now-vanished "Hudson River Reserve Fleet", near Tarrytown.

My family and I viewed these silent, hulking "ghost ships" several times back in the 60's; the images of these empty, silent, once-vital ships still remains in my memory today...............

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

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

While on the subject of WW2 troop ships...............

www.ww2troopships.com

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's an interesting page on the HMS "OTRANTO"............

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

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Now, here's a classic ship with truly classic lines*!

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

["FAIRSTAR"]

*Sadly, this handsome liner ended her days as scrap in India......

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Check out these most impressive vessels..........

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney_Wish *

*(Be sure to read of this massive ship's impressive "musical" horns.....18 horns in all!)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's another quite impressive modern ship, the "MS NIEUW STATENDAM".............

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

["HOLLAND AMERICA"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

This page details ROYAL CARRIBBEAN's massive, impressive "QUANTUM"-class vessels.........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum-class_cruise_ship

["QUANTUM"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The "CONCORDIA" class...............

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concordia-class_cruise_ship

["COSTA CRUISES"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Last night on Eyewitness News (ABC-7), just prior the the weather report, a magnificent live view was shown, showing one of the Disney cruise ships in lower New York Bay, outbound near the Narrows.

Between the massive and impressive size of this beautiful and stately ship, and the stunning sunset highlighting the surrounding harbor activity, this breath-taking scene was truly MAGNIFICENT!

See:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Disney_Cruise_Line_ships *

*The "DISNEY WONDER" (my personal fave!) indeed has the stately air of dignity, and echoes of the classic lines so commonplace with the great liners of old!

["BON VOYAGE"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's the newest ship in the Disney fleet, the monolithic and handsome "DISNEY WISH"............

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

["ALL AHEAD SLOW"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

While watching the news earlier on the Gaza crises, the cruise ship "RHAPSODY OF THE SEAS" was shown; this is one of the ships being used to evacuate civilians from Gaza...........

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

["E31"]