BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

(SEE PREVIOUS POSTS)

In this undated photo, we see "Borough Bomber" #647 basking in the glare of florescent lighting at an unidentified garage..........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154358

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["GRUMMAN"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Excerpts from my copy of "THE NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT AUTHORITY OPERATING BUDGET PROPOSAL: 1988-1991".......

"BUS DEPOT PLAN"

".......a key to providing more efficient bus service is improving the condition of the garages in which the Authority's buses are stored and serviced. At present, sixteen of the Authority's nineteen depots are in deteriorated condition, and 23 percent of the bus fleet cannot be properly garaged......."

"........much of this shortfall in capacity occurs in Manhattan depots. Without increased capacity, especially in Manhattan, service will be jeopardized......."

".......earlier this year, the second floor of the 54th street Depot was determined to be structurally unsound. Temporary repairs have been made, which will allow 54th Street to operate for approximately five years, after which time it will have to b e closed to either be rebuilt or replaced....."

".........Manhattan depot capacity is already strained, due to the 132nd Street Depot in 1986, due to structural problems within the building......."

"........however, due to Manhattan bus storage needs, 54th Street cannot be closed for rebuilding until the new Manhattanville depot opens as a replacement for the 132nd Street depot, and the dilapidated Hudson Depot can be replaced with a new West Side Depot.........."

"NYO"

["M"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Continued............

"........the 1987-1991 Capital program includes $572 million for depot construction, rehabilitation, and related support projects. To support Manhattan service, almost $200 million is allocated for construction of Manhattanville and Hudson replacements, reconstruction of the 126th and 146th Street depots, and design, demolition, and site preparation to either rebuild or replace the 54th Street depot........."

"........the program also includes replacement of the Kingsbridge and Flushing Depots, construction of a new repair facility and the rehabilitation of the current facility at Fresh Pond, as well as construction of two base Maintenance Shops, a bus radio system for the entire fleet, and major rehabilitation projects at ENY, Flatbush, and Jamaica depots. The new Flushing Depot service building foundation was completed this year, and the depot construction contract is expected to be awarded by the end of the year........"

"NYO"

["MTA BUS"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Continued............

(this page listed the MTA's current bus depots, and whether they would be rebuilt or replaced)

BRONX
--------------------------

KINGSBRIDGE

WALNUT

COLISEUM

GUN HILL
------------------------------

MANHATTAN
-------------------------------

HUDSON

54th Street

100th STREET

126th STREET

132nd STREET

MANHATTANVILLE

AMSTERDAM

146th STREET
-----------------------------------------

BROOKLYN
-------------------------------------------

EAST NEW YORK

FIFTH AVENUE

FLATBUSH

FRESH POND

ULMER PARK
-----------------------------------------

QUEENS
------------------------------------------

QUEENS VILLAGE

FLUSHING

JAMAICA
--------------------------------------------

STATEN ISLAND
---------------------------------------------

CASTLETON

YUKON

EDGEWATER (closed)

"NYO"

["COME ON BACK WITH US!"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Also......

One photo shows "Dangerfield" #7562, retired from revenue service, with "NYCTA EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING" over the windows.

Photo caption states that:

"...........three buses have been converted into mobile training laboratories. Employees use computers to receive essential chemical safety training about potentially hazardous substances they may handle in their work. In 1988, 40,000 employees will be trained on the three converted buses, as well as at three stationary classrooms located through the system........"

Another photo caption reads as follows:

".........by July, the entire bus fleet will be equipped with new electronic registering fare boxes. At the end of 1987, at least 80% of the bus fleet will be retrofitted with this equipment........."

"NYO"

["FLXIBLE"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

You mentioned "farebox codes"; it would be interesting to see a list of farebox codes (regarding the different depots) from, say, the 1950s through to the present day.

Think of the closure and demolition of old depots, and the opening of new facilities; also, the re-naming of depots in later years (for instance, what was the original name for the "Jackie Gleason depot"?)

It would also seem that, through the decades, that, with the introduction of each new type of farebox, familiarization classes would have to be held, to introduce the new boxes to drivers.

I would guess that today's "hi-tech" registers are far and away removed from the machines of even a couple of decades ago (tokens NOT accepted!)

Since I have not ridden on a "Noo Yawk" bus in close to 40 years, and have not ridden on an NJT bus in over 8 years , I know that the registers are now vastly different than anything Your's Truly remembers.

Is cash even accepted on the MTA's buses today? (I'm leaning towards a "no")

I would guess it's all electric fare cards, etc, these days.

So, in closing, it would seem that most (all) the MTA's depots are now either new or rebuilt, with little remaining from the "Tee-Yay" era?

Time indeed flies by much too fast for my tastes; the once-familiar becomes today's rarity in the blink of an eye.........

"NYO"

["New York City Transit Authority"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

1969: a new era is dawning............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154028

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154157

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

['Manhattan & Bronx Surface Operating Authority"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

A quiet scene at the old 132nd Street yards, back in '72..............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?153837

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["3301"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Greatly appreciate your taking the time to post this listing of farebox codes; thanks to you, I now also know that codes were not used until after 1972/1973. Being from "Joisey", I was totally unaware of this.

I now wonder how PS issued codes for their many garages; recall, in my day, ALL buses (operated by PS) were equipped with NCR registers; the Hudson County independents, of course, would have had no need for farebox codes, as each company only had one garage/depot.

Back around early 2002 (the last time I visited the NYCTM) I remember they had a farebox for sale (I believe it was from the '70s); believe me, had Your's Truly had the $$$$, and a way to get it over to "Noo Joisey", I would have not hesitated to purchase it!

The old "indy" companies I grew up with all used ancient glass-topped Johnson "D"-types; the very last I remember was back in 1997, serving aboard (of all things!) an ex-WAMATA "Dangerfield", running on the old NHBL #1 to JSQ!

Ahhh, memories..........

"NYO"

["5 NEW YORK"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Flatbush depot, 1968; here we have a nice portrait of "Jetson" Fishbowl #1, snoozing peacefully in the sun.

The farebox can just be glimpsed through the windshield...........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?153213

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["78 MILL BASIN"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Queens Village garage, 1977..............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?153265

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154778

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["Q1 Bellrose"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Castleton garage, 1975 (also, note vintage light fixtures on facade).............

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154630

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["R7"]