BusTalk

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Appreciate in info, as always.

Again, as with other aspects of bygone "Noo Yawk" buses, "side slot" signs were (AFAIK) not something that was seen here in "Joisey".

IMHO, I cannot see the logic of such miniscule signs; as was the case in later years with some variants of "flip dot"/electronic signs, these "slot" signs indeed had to be taxing to the average eye......

"NYO"

["MaBSTOA"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Comparing "Borough Bomber" front signs (roller curtain/electronic); I am guessing that the size of the font used on these MSBA buses was the largest used on city buses......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?155088

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156580

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["N 24 ROOSEVELT FIELD"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"ALL CAPS" (MSBA Fishbowl #844 (note, too, the stylized Fishbowls depicted on the bus stop signs).......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156570

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["N 20 FLUSHING"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Jamaica Buses.......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?155796

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?155800

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["Q111 FARMERS BLVD."]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"Hi-Tech" signage for this STEINWAY "Borough Bomber".......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?153412

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["WELCOME ABOARD"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"Tee-Yay" Old Look #7166..............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154833

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["Q1"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Back in the 80's, when NJT was getting both re-conditioned "Bombers" from the "Em-Tee-Yay" as well as Flex Metros, I recall that on a bright, sunny day, these electronic signs were almost impossible to decipher; on overcast days, or at night, they were easily read.

Your's Truly, for many years, was quite friendly with a number of ACADEMY drivers (#22 HILLSIDE/BOULEVARD EAST) not one of them was a happy camper when ACADEMY decided to replace the HUGE font roller curtains with electronic signage.

Virtually all the drivers I knew had a lot of difficulty trying to remember the punch codes to display the route information (at the start of an inbound run, my "job" was to stand in front of the parked bus and then give a "thumbs up" to the driver when he had the correct reading up)

I (unofficially, of course), gave myself the title of "Official Sign Reading Designator" ("OSRD"}

Man, it was a LOT of fun while it lasted (for my efforts, I was ALWAYS allowed to ride for free!)

Too, I kept the mostly Latino drivers splitting their collective sides, when, on the inbound AM runs, they would request that I do my "Speedy Gonzalez" imitation for the other drivers, via the radio (I NEVER refused!)

Some of the older drivers would (quite honestly) be wheezing from laughing so hard!

Dang, it's all so long ago, now....

"NYO"

["HOBOKEN PATH TUBES"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's ACADEMY #3275 (Flex Metro) at Hoboken Terminal in the 1990's, some time after the roller curtains were replaced with new electronic signs (as you can see, the sign is not all that clear)

The 3200's were high-back seat buses, and were often assigned to the rush hour-only "BOULEVARD EAST" route; I commuted on these buses for a number of years.

The ACADEMY drivers I was friendly with often referred to the 3200's as "limousines" and "town cars".....

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156356

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["WILLOW/CLINTON"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Unlike NYC's "Em-Tee-Yay", Baltimore's "Em-Tee-Yay" once rostered RTS buses which were equipped with roller curtains.

Much has been written of how the riding public in Baltimore simply HATED these non a/c buses (ditto drivers); passengers regularly let an RTS go by in order to catch an older bus (Fishbowl or "Dangerfield") that, at least, were equipped with a/c, during those hot, humid Baltimore summers.......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156802

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["84 FAIRFIELD"]

[Tiny Tim]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Tiny Tim:

Thanks for sharing this info.

Here's a photo of one of the company's Flex New Looks (aka "Dangerfields") after being repainted into the new scheme.......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?153668

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["CHARTER"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

In this chilly (and most refreshing!) wintertime scene from 1983, we see a JAMAICA "Dangerfield" New Look alongside an "Em-Tee-Yay" RTS.

A "Borough Bomber" (GRUMMAN) is also just edging into the photo......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156799

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["JAMAICA BUSES"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

No "Dangerfields" ever were rostered by the BTC (Baltimore); these buses were purchased after the MTA took the reins.

All were a/c-equipped from the get-go.......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156799

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["MTA"]