BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's a 3100 series (wide gauge) deck roof car at Camden, circa-1932.

As I had mentioned earlier, a group of now-redundant Camden cars were shipped north, rehabbed, and re-entered service on the ESSEX Division.........

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/psct/htm/psct044.htm

(courtesy: davesrailpix)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Interesting note:

Oddly enough, PS's BERGEN Division was the only division that saw no conversions to ASV; all BERGEN Division car lines were converted to motor bus.

The lone ASV line to enter the BERGEN Division was the "#21", which, in part, replaced the "PALISADE" (HUDSON Division) car line in September of 1938.......

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's the spectacular "horseshoe curve" on the BERGEN Division, climbing the side of the Palisades, between Fort Lee and Edgewater the deck roof open car glimpsed in this view would date the photo to sometime prior to 1925)

Residents living in Riverside Drive apartment buildings recalled the bright "Golden Glow" headlights of the PS cars, as the beams swept across the Hudson River, and illuminated their apartments for a brief instant!

Several busy BERGEN Division lines used this TIGHT curve (connecting with the 125th St. Ferry) until the entire BERGEN Division went to buses in 1938 (talk about a "SCENIC" ride!)

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/psct/htm/psct145.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix.com)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Circa-1920, this proud crew poses for the photographer alongside their handsome (and fast!) 3500 series car on the "PERTH AMBOY" line.

Cars of the 3500 and 3600-series were also commonplace for a number of years on the "FAST LINE", between Newark and Trenton.

For high-speed service on this line, the 3500's and 3600's could attain speeds of up to 70 MPH!!

Note that these cars were also equipped for MU operation......

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/psct/htm/psct154.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Until sometime in the mid-1920's, 3500's operated in MU service during rush hours on the BERGEN Division's "HUDSON RIVER" line, between the Edgewater ferry terminal and Paterson.

This 1920's-era photo shows a two car train of 3500's, somewhere along the "HUDSON RIVER" line.

At that time, long stretches of this line (on private ROW) were almost interurban-like, ideal for high-speed running.

The "HUDSON RIVER" line went to buses in August, 1938*

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/psct/htm/psct147.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)

*In later years, this bus route was known as the "B-1" (TNJ years), and later, NJT's #751; I rode the "#B-1" many times, back in the day......

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's another classic "changing ends" view, this one showing a 2700 series Compromise roof car, operating on the "#9 CLIFTON", about 1936.

This route was converted to ASV in June of 1937.

This car, interestingly, was one of a number of OOS Compromise roof cars stored at Passaic Wharf, which were rescued in 1942, and rehabbed for wartime service.......

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/psct/htm/psct062.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

After the mass scrappings at Passaic Wharf between 1937 and 1940, the only streetcars in the PS fleet that were scrapped were those damaged in accidents that were deemed too costly to repair.

However, after the "#29" subway-surface line went to buses in March of 1952, PS began the scrapping of the surplus cars*; however, Passaic Wharf had then been closed for about a decade at that time, so the cars were trucked out to the Federal scrapyard in Newark (the ASV's were also scrapped here)

When ROSEVILLE was closed to the "CITY SUBWAY" cars in 1953, a number of dead 2600-series cars, stored at ROSEVILLE, were either scrapped on the spot, or trucked to FEDERAL.

After the second-hand PCC's took over all "CITY SUBWAY" service in early 1954, a small number of Compromise roof cars were stored in the disused (inbound) Cedar St. connector as spares; however, they, too, were soon removed from the property.

The cars ran under their own power to the Franklin Avenue loop, where they were loaded onto flatbeds for the one-way journey to Federal scrapyard.......

"NYO"

*When the "#23 CENTRAL" subway-surface line went to buses in December of 1947, the cars assigned to that line were no longer needed, and were sent to the scrapyard.

Ditto the cars used on the "#21 ORANGE" line until early 1952.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

During the 1930's, the vast majority of PSNJ's bus fleet were built by YELLOW; all but one ASV were also built by YELLOW (the one "oddball" was one ASV built by MACK)

After the War, PS became one of GM's biggest customers; with the exception of a small group of ACF-BRILL C-44 suburbans purchased in 1948 (these buses were eventually sold to DE CAMP) and a lone MACK demo, all of PS's buses were built by GM.

By 1938, with the conversion of the "#43 JERSEY CITY" streetcar line to ASV, the PS terminal in Newark was totally devoid of streetcars.

Prior to 1938, Newark boasted several car houses; after 1938, (with the exception of ROSEVILLE) these former car houses had either been converted into garages for the replacement buses/ASV's, or sold outright for non-transit use.........

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here is a builder's photo of a PS 900-series car; the 900's dated to just prior to the formation of PS.

The 900's were double-ended cars (built by several builders) but used one "swivel base" trolley pole.

Some of the 900's were still in service as rush hour and school trippers, into the 1930's........

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/psct/htm/psct155.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Circa 1936, a group of "De Luxe" deck roof and Compromise roof cars (assigned to the "#21 ORANGE" subway-surface line) patiently await their next runs (this photo might have been taken at ROSEVILLE, where cars of all the subway-surface lines were then based, with the exception of the "#29", which was based at BELL ST., Montclair)........

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?118337

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Having just passed under the electrified DL&W tracks in Newark, we see #2477 holding down a "#11 ELIZABETH" run (cars of the "#49 UNION" also used these rails until September, 1935, when the line was converted to ASV)

Note the "LACKAWANNA GRILL" on the right.......

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?118321

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

One-man open car #4173 is seen here running on the "#25 SPRINGFIELD" in Newark, circa-1936.

These unique cars, built in the PS shops, were most unusual for open cars; they loaded from the front only, had fixed seating on either side of an aisle, and were of one-man configuration from the start.

Note, also, the lack of running boards and the screened-in sides.

These unusual open cars were retired after the 1937 summer season; the "#25" line was converted to ASV in June of 1937.........

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?118341

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Through the 1930's, PS rostered a huge amount of work cars, including scores of sweepers and plows.

This hulking sweeper is seen on the east side (New York Avenue) of the UNION CITY car house (the bus seen in the background is on 29th St.)

Note the car is marked "BIG TREE"; "BIG TREE" (Nutley) saw its last streetcars in 1937, and this sweeper was transferred from that location to the HUDSON Division for further service.........

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?117966

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Just in front of the UNION CITY car house on New York Avenue, we see a home-built rail grinder, circa-1937.

PS sold this odd-looking little car in 1938 to CAPITAL TRANSIT (DC)

Until September, 1935, this car was assigned to the "#49 UNION", was was converted to ASV.........

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?117975

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Like virtually every other street railway operation, PS converted many retired cars into work equipment, as seen here at UNION CITY, in the late 1930's

In the background (looking north), on 29th St., is "EIFLER'S", this was a long-established (and popular) electrical supply store, that was still in business in the 1960's (my step-grandfather was a very steady customer at this store, into the 1960's.......

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?117972

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)