BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

(see previous postings)

The futuristic, short-lived "GREEN HORNET"............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?47349

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?46926

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["TOMORROW'S TRAIN-TODAY!"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

As mentioned previously, the R-44's* were the first production model car for "Noo Yawk" to be equipped with door chimes.........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?24695

(courtesy:nycsubway.org)

['E"]

*(Urban "artists", back in the day, referred to the 44/46 as "bing bongs")

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's an interesting photo showing a prototype digital sign for the R-44......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?115662

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["A"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Undated (vintage) R-44 interior view depicting "A" line strip map......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?115961

(courtesy:nycsubway.org)

["A"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Recall how much time and expense was involved, when the "Em-Tee-Yay" was doing clearance testing for the 44's?

I've long wondered why they simply did not keep the 44's (and later 46's) at the same length as the "Standards" (67').

And, as you know, those wonderfully- noisy old "A-B's" had NO PROBLEMS in digesting rush hour crowds!

"NYO"

["M"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Two early 70's views of the clearance test trains for the forthcoming R-44's (BMT/SIRT).......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1847

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?38900

(courtesy:nycsubway.org)

["MTA"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"Clearance train" info..........

Using cut-up and stretched-out former R-1 #192 (fitted out with detection "whiskers", and a host of other Rube Goldberg-type equipment), the clearance train used to detect obstructions on lines where the R-44's would eventually operate, did its job well.

A total of 119 obstructions were detected along the subway lines (platforms, concrete catwalks on curves, wires, light fixtures, etc.)......

"NYO"

["ST. LOUIS CAR COMPANY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's a few more photos (1969/1970) of the R-44 clearance test train at work........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1850

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1852

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1854

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?71094*

*This one depicts an interesting movement at Sunnyside Yard.

(courtesy:nycsubway.org)

["A.C.F."]

[traildriver]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver:

GREAT memories, my friend.....thanks for sharing here!

Those unforgettable "Q" cars indeed, had QUITE a history to them; starting life as open-platform elevated gate cars, they were rebuilt (as you of course know) into more up to date rolling stock for the 1939 World's Fair, with enclosed ends and automatic doors.

In 1950, these cars replaced the old IRT "Composites" on the 3rd Avenue El, where they ran until the Manhattan section of the El closed in 1955, along with the MUDC Cars.

When the "Composites" were scrapped, their trucks were then installed under the "Q" car bodies; the original BMT trucks were too heavy for the spindly elevated structure along 3rd Avenue.

They were then transferred back to the BMT, where they replaced the last convertible gate cars on the Myrtle Avenue El (1958); interestingly, their roofs had to be rebuilt/lowered so as to allow the units to have sufficient clearance in the subway to reach CIY yard.

When the Myrtle Avenue El closed in 1969, these venerable and charming old cars had the distinction of being the last wooden cars in revenue passenger service in the United States!

Yes, these cars indeed had QUITE a fascinating lifespan!

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Those memorable "Arnines".........

These cars were the also the very last new cars for New York with "deck" or "clerestory" roofs; the MULTI-SECTIONS, 1938 "Eye-Are-Tee" WF cars, and the postwar R-10/12/14's all had "monitor" roofs, as were the norm on the old "Aitch & Em".

Recall, also, that an "Arnine" (#1575) was rebuilt as an R-10 prototype, after the War; this car could not MU* with the "Thunderbird" R-10's when they arrived, and many fans of that era did a double-take when they saw what LOOKED to be an R-10, running in a train of prewar "Arnines"!

*(remember, that the older prewar "Arnines" had two motors, while the new "Are-Tens" had four).........

"NYO"

["A JAY ST-BORO HALL"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

This timeless 1969 view makes for a great "side-by-side comparison" image, depicting a "Thunderbird" alongside a prewar "Arnine".........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?44091

(courtesy:nycsubway.org)

["A FAR ROCKAWAY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here in 1980, we have a "tagged" train of veteran "Thunderbirds" at Eighth Avenue (note no route/destination signs displayed, commonplace for those days)...........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl//show?2498

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["A.C.F."]