BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Back in the 60's, HEMPSTEAD BUS also operated "Pattons", as is exemplified here by a smart-looking #403, seen here in 1964..............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?153632

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["HICKSVILLE"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

This rare 1950's color photo of two MACKS (C-45s?) is interesting.

Note that the bus nearest the camera is #5098.

I consulted the Greller book ("NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT SYSTEM BUSES & TROLLEY COACHES"), but could not find any MACKS in this number series.

Were these buses re-numbered by the "Tee-Yay", after the "Bee-oh-Tee" passed into history?

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154598

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["BoT"]

[X-Astorian]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

X-Astorian:

Thank you for the "heads-up"; what had obviously happened, several pages of my book were sticking together, and, as I was flipping through it fairly quickly, did not see anything on the 5000 series MACKS.

Thanks again for your input.......

"NYO"

["NYCTA"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Different MACK models take center stage at South Ferry, back in 1955.........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156970

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["M-13 FIRST AVE"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

In the vicinity of Chatham Square, 1955............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156964

(courtesy:nycsubway.org)

["5028"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's MACK #5076, holding down an "M-15" run, 1955.......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?156966

(courtesy:nycsubway.org)

["M-15"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

Those Macks a.k.a. "Pattons" did not get any updated front route roll signs; notice when they went uptown they indicated "M-13 First Ave" and traveling downtown, "M-15 Second Ave." They had already, by the time 1953 came round and the 'Tee-Yay' replaced the "Bee O'Tee" as the governing body, both routes had been consolidated into "M-15 First & Second Aves" - which would not show up on roll signs until the 7000 series Old Look "Shermans" first entered service in Manhattan in 1957. (Since 1954, "M-13" was reused for their Journal Building shuttle in lower Manhattan which would run through a month after the Journal-American's demise in April 1966.)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

As always, I am always most impressed by your extensive knowledge of roll signs; makes for a most INTERESTING study, in itself!

Those C-45 "Pattons" were quite common in my area, well into the 1960's; NHBL and SHBL lines had them prior to the arrival of the first Fishbowls, as well as other Hudson County "indies".

Do you ever wonder if anyone among the "Powers That Be" at the "Tee-Yay" ever showed even the slightest bit of interest in the "New Look" MACKS?

I know none of the Queens independents rostered them; none of the Hudson County independents ever had them.

The only such buses I knew were the ex-YONKERS units that were purchased second-hand by the now-defunct BLUE & WHITE (North Bergen), which operated them on the former INTER-CITY #97 (JSQ-PATERSON); this was back in the mid-70's.

One borough, it seems (in my day) that seemed never to have a shortage of "Pattons" was Staten Island; for most of the 1960's, I can remember seeing only "Shermans" and "Pattons"at the St. George terminal.

The "Tee-Yay's dwindling fleet of "Pattons" lasted until 1969; the last in my area were already gone at least two years by that late date (these, brawny brutes even SOUNDED tough!!)

"NYO"

["113- ARTHUR KILL RD"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Just thinking.........

The "Bee-oh-Tee" purchased "Pattons" in 1947 and 1948, and again in 1948 and 1949.

The last "Bee-oh-Tee" MACKS were the "Binghams"(1950-1951)

The C-49's of 1956 (the 6000's) were the only MACKS purchased by the "Tee-Yay".

Unless these buses (the 6000's) were less expensive then the "Shermans", I wonder why the "Tee-Yay" purchased the 6000's, instead of purchasing new GM's...........

"NYO"

["39 WILLIAMSBURGH BRIDGE"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"Pattons" in Queens...........

It was obvious, back in the day, that "Pattons" were NOT the most popular transit bus in the borough of Queens.

From what I've read, the only Queens independent company to roster postwar "Pattons" (MACKS) was "JAMAICA BUSES" (C-41/C-45 models)

Back in "da Bronx", it was QUITE another story; there was, indeed, NO shortage of "Pattons" in the SURFACE fleet.

In retrospect, I've always wondered why SURFACE never purchased any C-49's or C-50's (recall, FACCO operated C-50's)..........

"NYO"

["SURFACE TRANSIT"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Interesting to know this.

Strange, then, that no photos of C-49's appear the Guy E. Martin book, in the chapter on SURFACE.

There is ONE photo of a C-50-DT in the FACCo chapter (#2497)............

"NYO"

["15 FIFTH AVE"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

You are correct; I just went back a few pages to check out the photo.

Still odd, though, that no photos of these "bullish" buses were in the Martin book.

Thinking of "Pattons" has me now wondering if any city ever operated any that were a/c-equipped (this is something I very much doubt)

The only MACK equipped with a/c that I can think of was the one-of-a-kind experimental (and unsuccessful) "MV-620-D" highway coach, which ran in GREYHOUND service from 1958 through 1960 (this rare bus is today preserved)..........

"NYO"

["BULLDOG SURFACE LINES"]