BusTalk

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Good point; I had forgotten the width issue.

Speaking of widths,"bowling alley" seating always gave the impression of a wide, commodius bus.

When ndid such seating start to come into play?

This type of seating arrangement would seem to be especially suited for the heaviest routes.......

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

.....hoping for a strike at the "Tee-Yay Lanes".......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?153283

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"......the first Flxibles arrived in 1964; eating capacity was 46....."

"......all longitudinal seating reduced that number to 43, with the second order of 190 Flxibles in 1965-1966......." (#'s5601-5790)

From:

"NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT BUSES" (Guy E. Martin)

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Appreciate the info, as always.

When express service from Staten Island began (via the VZ Bridge) were the buses used on this route equipped with "bowling alley" seating, or forward-facing seats?

From the Martin book:

".......starting in 1971, some GM T6H-5305A's were delivered with 47 forward-facing seats for new, premium express service between Manhattan and the outer boroughs......"

"....many other buses buses were later converted with the increasing popularity of express service"......

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

From the same book (I found this interesting)*:

".....Staten Island saw almost every type of New Look bus delivred with transfers of small lots from other garages....."

For most of the 60's, I remember only Old looks and MACKS at St. George......

"NYO"

*Also:

"......the last of the Macks on Staten Island were retired in 1969, replaced with the newest of the TDH-5106 Old Looks from other boroughs as they were replaced by New Looks......"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Flex #9153 on an express run, back in 1981, with the mighty VZ Bridge looming in the background.........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154959

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Same location, this time with a borrowed WAMATA Flex on the job.....

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?155776

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Battery Place, 1981......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154642

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

West & Barclay, 1978 (note the elevated Wet Side Highway)

Until the late 1960's, the old DL&W/E-L ferry terminal (service to Hoboken) would have been located just out of the picture, on the left.......

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154807

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's Old Look #9043 working the "R7", back in 1970.

According to the roller curtain, the destination was the VZ Bridge; I assume that this "local" route began at the St. George ferry terminal.

I'm thinking that either this route did not exist prior to the opening of the Bridge in late 1964, or, if it was already in service, had its terminal point extended from its original location to the Bridge......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154946

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Battery Place, 1976.

Note that #8879's roller curtain reads only:

"STATEN ISLAND EXP." (no route number displayed)

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154704

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Narrows & North, 1981..........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154805

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

On the BQE, 1978.............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?155222

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)