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PSNJ streetcars: "The Twilight 30's"
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PostPosted: Tue May 19, 2020 10:06 pm    Post subject: PSNJ streetcars: "The Twilight 30's" Reply with quote

Fellows:

With the exception of the opening of the Newark City Subway in 1935, the 1930's (especially between 1937 and 1938) were indeed bleak days for area streetcar enthusiasts in northern New Jersey.

During those two years, PS converted almost all of its vast streetcar network to either ASV or motor bus.

In 1938, the entire BERGEN Division became all bus; in that same year, the last streetcar line operating on the surface in the downtown Newark business district (the "#43 JERSEY CITY) was converted to ASV.

Not including the two wartime lines ("FEDERAL"/"WESTERN ELECTRIC"), the once-vast PS streetcar network was now down to only eight lines on two divisions:

HUDSON DIVISION:

"UNION CITY"

"SUMMIT"

""JACKSON"

"OAKLAND
______________________________

ESSEX DIVISION:

"#7 CITY SUBWAY"

"#21 ORANGE" (two branches)

"#23 CENTRAL"

"#29 BLOOMFIELD"

Only four car houses remained to serve the cars; on the HUDSON Division, cars were based at:

UNION CITY

GREENVILLE
________________________________

On the ESSEX Division:

ROSEVILLE (Newark)

BELL STREET (Montclair)

With all surface track connections to Passaic Wharf severed in 1938, the HUDSON and ESSEX Divisions were now totally cut off from one another.

For a good chunk of the 1930's, however, New Jersey trolley enthusiasts (for a time) could still ride the old cars on any of a number of BERGEN, HUDSON, ESSEX, and CENTRAL Divisions, before the mass conversions to rubber-tired vehicles........

"NYO"
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PostPosted: Tue May 19, 2020 10:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The 1930's was also the last decade where many PS streetcars were sporting the "De Luxe" scheme of the late 1920's; the last such cars were repainted during late 1941/early 1942.

Here, #2443 is seen running on the "JACKSON" line in Jersey City; on the extreme left, the joint CNJ/LV "JACKSON AVENUE" passenger station can just be glimpsed.......

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/psct/htm/psct035.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)
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PostPosted: Tue May 19, 2020 10:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

In August, 1938, PS converted the entire BERGEN Division to buses (no ASV's were ever operated by the BERGEN Division)

Here, in 1935 we see a 3500 series car at Hackensack, heading east to the 125th St. ferry terminal at Edgewater (PS also operated this ferry until 1943)

The "Golden Glow" headlight would suggest that this car might have been on a late afternoon run; note also, the ad for Palisades Amusement Park on the dash.

For a number of years, 3500 and 3600-series cars were also MU equipped.......

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/psct/htm/psct143.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)
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PostPosted: Tue May 19, 2020 10:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here, deck roof car #3213 are on one of PS's popular "Mystery Trolley Tour" fan excursions (note the dash sign, barely visible, on the left side of the dash)

Multiple car fan trips were quite commonplace on PS, particularly during the mid-late 1930's; this photo looks to have been taken near the Heller Parkway station on the City Subway.

Several such well-patronized excursions used the City Subway as its starting point, and then went on to travel on every line then still in operation, on the ESSEX, HUDSON, and BERGEN Divisions.

After 1938, such grand excursions were impossible; th BERGEN Division was now all buses, most ESSEX Division line had been converted to either ASV or bus (only those lines that connected to the City Subway survived), and all track connections between the ESSEX and HUDSON Divisions were severed, along with the connections to Passaic Wharf.........

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/psct/htm/psct009.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)
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PostPosted: Tue May 19, 2020 10:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here's "De Luxe" car #2213 operating another "Mystery Trolley Tour", circa-1935.

Note that car (ESSEX Division) is signed for the "#27 MT. PROSPECT", which was converted to ASV in December, 1937.......

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/psct/htm/psct067.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)
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PostPosted: Tue May 19, 2020 10:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Compromise roof car #2704 is seen here operating on the "3 BERGEN" line in Newark, circa-1936 (note the signal for streetcars mounted on the pole on the right)

This line went over to ASV in late 1936..........

http://www.newdvesrailpix.com/psct/htm/psct041.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix.com)
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PostPosted: Tue May 19, 2020 10:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here's deck roof #3159 at Camden.

PS phased out most of its (wide gauge) Camden car lines at an early date; about 1932, some of the 3100's were shipped north, re-gauged, and went on to serve several ESSEX Division lines, including the City Subway.....

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/psct/htm/psct139.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)
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PostPosted: Tue May 19, 2020 11:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

By the 1930's, PSNJ's unique, home-built one-man open cars were indeed on borrowed time (the older, double-ended, two-man open cars had been retired by the mid-1920's)

This proud and natty motorman was clearly proud to be in command in such a fine car!*

These cars (which were single-ended and featured front-loading only, aisle seats, and lacked traditional running boards) were retired after the summer season of 1937; by this late date, the opens were running only on the ESSEX Division.........

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/psct/htm/psct051.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)

*the "#31" went to ASV's in late 1936.
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PostPosted: Tue May 19, 2020 11:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Preparing to "change ends", we see a 2300-series car on the "#3 BERGEN" line in Newark, circa-1936........

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/psct/htm/psct034.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)
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PostPosted: Tue May 19, 2020 11:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This motorman is also "changing ends" on his 3500 series car, sometime about 1936; this timeless photo might have been snapped on the "COYTESVILLE" (Fort Lee) line.

The 3500's were heavily used on the BERGEN Division......

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/psct/htm/psct160.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)
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PostPosted: Tue May 19, 2020 11:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Like hundreds of others of now-redundant PS streetcars, the once-proud 3500's met their demise at Passaic Wharf; though most were scrapped by 1940, a few stragglers remained on the property until they, too, were scrapped in 1943, just before Passaic Wharf was closed by PS.

Passaic Wharf was, indeed, a dismal "no man's land" to area streetcar fans of that era.

Note the car body of a former NJRT Jewett on the left, then being used as a crew room/yard office.

The late and legendary E. J. Quinby (once an NJRT motormen himself) tried in vain (along with several other traction historians) to save the old Jewett car body for eventual preservation, but, sadly, PS did not want to sell the car body, which, itself, was later scrapped........ Sad

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/psct/htm/psct049.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)
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PostPosted: Tue May 19, 2020 11:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This 2300-series car (still wearing its "old-tyme" paint and distinctive headlight shield) is seen on the "PASSIAC" line, before its conversion to ASV, in 1937........

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/psct/htm/psct068.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)
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PostPosted: Tue May 19, 2020 11:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

In this pre-1938 view, we see two of the handsome "De Luxe" 3500-series cars sunning themselves between runs at the EDGEWATER, near the busy 125th St. ferry terminal.........

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/psct/htm/psct072.htm

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)
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PostPosted: Tue May 19, 2020 11:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Another dismal scene at Passaic Wharf, circa-1939, showing two lonely 3500's await the torch........

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/psct/htm/psct048.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)
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PostPosted: Wed May 20, 2020 12:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

This majestic PSNJ car, without a doubt, should have been preserved......

This car originally was based at Camden, where it had served as a private car to local PS brass, as well as an inspection car, for many years

Sometime around 1930, this car was shipped north, re-gauged, and used in much the same manner until it was retired about 1936; it was stored at PLANK ROAD (ironically, surrounded by buses) until it was finally scrapped. Sad

What a STATELY vehicle this car had to have been, back in its glory days! Very Happy

http://www.newdavesrailpix.com/psct/htm/psct032.htm

(courtesy: newdavesrailpix)
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