The other day (5/29), the Q10 started a split-stop operation at its subway terminal in Kew Gardens - but only for the PM shoulder and peak (3p-10p). The specifics are as follows:
* Through trips to JFK Airport still load on Kew Gardens Road and use the regular route (left 80th Road, left Austin, right Lefferts).
* Short trips to Lefferts/Rockaway, 131st/Rockaway, or 130th/150 Av now load on Queens Blvd and proceed via Queens Blvd, right 82nd Av, left Kew Gardens Road, right Lefferts. (Some drivers use 82nd Road or 83rd Avenue instead of 82nd Avenue.)
This move does't necessarily save time. However, it does (1) reduce crowding on the sidewalk by grouping passengers according to their destinations, and (2) prevent lots of buses from tripping over one another and blocking traffic.
I'm not sure if Green Bus Lines or NYCDOT (or both) came up with this, but it works.
1.What is the turnaround routing at 131 -Rockaway
2.What is the Return Routing to Queens--has it changed?
Thank you
Steve
[1. What is the turnaround routing at 131 - Rockaway?]
I know there is one - the one time I rode the Q9 (which ends there full-time), it arrived and then went off somewhere to turn around.
However, according to the March 1999 public timetable, the PM peak northbound short trips start at Lefferts/Rockaway rather than 131st/Rockaway. It would seem that the 131st Street trips just deadhead back to the subway (presumably via Rockaway Blvd, Van Wyck Expressway, Queens Blvd).
[2. What is the return routing...]
All northbound Q10's still run up Lefferts, make the left at Kew Gardens Road, and drop off at the near side of 80th Road. Passengers then walk through the "breezeway" arcade to the subway stair on Queens Blvd.
As a final note, there seem to be two new loading bays on Queens Blvd, extending for about 100 feet. However, the Q10 drivers and dispatchers use only one of them and have the second Q10 block the Q60 stop (which causes Q60 riders to miss their bus).
Via Lincoln St SB,Rockway Blvd Eastbound,North on 134 St,West on 120 Av,Right onto Rockaway Blvd,Right onto Lincoln St and Stand
If anyone needs the Turnarounds for the Southern Portions of the Q10 ,please let me know
Steve
Do the through trips to JFK Airport skip any stops, or do they run local all the way?
The Q10 Airport trips are unchanged - they still load on Kew Gardens Road at all times.
Also, the Q10A Airport Express trips (AM peak only, southbound only) still load on Queens Blvd. There are only six such trips, leaving the subway at 7:14, 7:34. 7:54, 7:14, 8:34, and 8:54. After the subway, they go non-stop on the Van Wyck to Federal Circle, then make the full airport loop.
If you are interested in transit photography please visit our new website:
Transit World
Enjoy and have a great day!
Kevin Barsky
The idea of taking over the MTA has come up before. But, I think BusTalk could run ATE/Ryder much better. In the past few months on the Ride-On buses operated by ATE/Ryder, I have had to direct the driver to the terminal, they arrive at terminals late, take the scheduled break even if they arrive late, and then the buses have problems so we become even later. I also read an article reading that a blind woman was not allowed to take her guide dog on ATE/Ryder's buses.
BusTalk should take over ATE/Ryder. It may improve things (or we can hope).
union rules probably dictate the driver gets his scheduled break even if late.
Why? Isn't it serve the passengers first?
He should have had 7 minutes, he took a 5 minute break.
Saw her in full view yesterday as there were no buses next to her:
1. Yes it was an ex NJT commuter bus as the old paint scheme depicts this.
2. Look like she was cannibalized for parts. Tires and windows are missing.....
B46#7000Mike
a couple of months ago there was a thread about the gm futureliner, a strange looking bus from the 1930's... only 12 of them were manufactured... it appears now that 9 of them are still in existence and several of them are being restored... peter pan is restoring one of them... there is a website devoted to one individual's restoration project...
it is www.futurliner.com
there is no e in futureliner.
futureliner website
WOW! The past few days on a side street right off the bus route I drive through Costa Mesa, California, is one of the restored units!!! I saw it parked there for a couple days, and wondered what the hell it was -- thanks for posting the link to that website!!
According to the website, the bus is a 1953 model. It also LOOKS more 50's than 30's. If there were only 12 built, I would have to say they were built in the 50's, NOT the 30's.
-Hank
When you see the bus, it's not hard to imagine where the design engineers for Boeing Aircraft came up with the shape for the 747.
They were rebuilt and upgraded around 53. They were originally built in 1940.
For you multi-lingual or ethnicity other than American, TransiTALK is now catering to your specific needs. Effective today, a spanish version of the site has been posted. Soon to follow will be a french, german and itlian version of the site during the summer of 2000.
This should make for easier understanding if you like to speak your own nationality's language over english!
Pieces!
R142 Boi 2K
www.transitalk.com
Some more LI Bus breakdowns sighted,
Bus 153 looked dark and adandoned waiting for a tow last night on Northern Blvd in Great Neck. The back lights were not flashing, perhaps the battery went dead, instead reflective triangles were behind it.
Another Orion CNG, bus 116 was at Long Beach with a wheel chair lift stuck in the out position, crew were on scene and fixing it.
Also today I saw one of the JFK flyer buses being towed northbound on Peninsula Blvd. I think it was 709, one of those Thomas Builts. They must have been roasting today (they don't have any A/C to my knowledge).
Also heard over the bus radio that an N27 broke down on Glen Cove Road. And it's gonna be even hotter tomorrow!
Not instead on those reflectors. As per the CDL license requirements, reflectors and/or flares need to be set up to a distance of 150' (or within a reasonable distance, given hills, curves and such) behind the disabled vehicle.
-Hank
For all you number watchers out there ... look out for #361, she's back from a long absence. She replaces 305 who will rest on the side lines until the new fareboxes come in.
Mr t__:^)
294-296 replaced which 2 Orions? All that I know is that QS is waiting the arrival of 3 CNG Orions: 404, 437 and 499. And 2 of those (404, 437 I'm guessing) will have a John Deer CNG Engine. I'll keep my eye out for 361-I knew this 1 guy on the Q104 had her regularly but he no longer drives on that route.
Q66#361Gary
[294-296 replaced which 2 Orions? All that I know is that QS is waiting the arrival of 3 CNG Orions: 404, 437 and 499.]
There are a few new Orions still due for delivery here and a few of the RTS are on the side lines waiting for fareboxes on a order pending with Cubic, i.e. we, except for the Orions, have our "authorized" fleet size on the property. When the boxes come in we'll be able to add more SERVICE for our favorite Queens residents, and maybe have the luxury of a box for the training dept. and a couple of spares :-)
Mr t
Some time ago, mention was made about a roadeo to be held in a South Beach parking lot on Saturday, June 10. With eight more days till then, there's no further mention of it. Is it still on?
Thanks for any info.
Yes, the rodeo is still on. See you there. BIG AL
Hey, anyone here need info on it?
I got some... just reply.
If you give me an EXACT location, I'll give out directions...
-Hank
Father Capadono Blvd., just south of Lily Pond Ave.
And BTW, it's on 6/10 AND 6/11, starting around 8 or 9 am. (Got all this straight from the Dept. of Buses.).
I know where Father Capodano Blvd is. It's also nearly 3 miles long. Telling me it's on Father Cap is like telling me that the airport is on the Belt Parkway.
-Hank
He said just south of Lily Pond Avenue.
Again, that describes the whole thing. The only parking lot near there is at Sand Lane, that's the only place they could put it 'just south' of Lily Pond.
-Hank
Just is supposed to express a small distance. If that word was not included, then it would describe all of Cap Boulevard.
If the MTA told me any more, I'd tell you.
Although, they did say "you can't miss it".
Well, the best bet is to take the s51, whcih runs the length of Father Capadano. You can get it at the ferry (Ramp B) or at Lilly Pond and McClean Aves, just off the V-Z from the s53. If you take the s79 from Brooklyn, you can get the s52, which runs on Father Capadano from Sand Lane to Seaview Ave at Fingerboard Rd, which is the first stop off the V-Z.
If you want to take the train from the ferry, you can get the northbound s51 at the Grant City train station, on Midland Ave.
-Hank
What about driving?
I thought you were 12.
Did I say I was gonna drive on my own?
Anyway, some other people might wanna know too.
You won't be!
But for those who are, expect to have to park far away. Crossing the V-Z, use the lower level, and keep right at the toll booths. Take the Bay St exit, and at the end of the ramp, turn right. Follow this road around under the bridge approach (BTW, you're now on the South Beach ROW) onto Lily Pond Ave. Follow Lily Pond around the curve, and you're on Father Capodano. Look for the buses on the left side.
From NJ and points west of the V-Z, take the Lily Pond Ave exit off I278, and follow the same direction as above when you get to the end of the ramp.
-Hank
Title is self explainatory!
R142 Boi 2K
www.transitalk.com
MTA said they're not sure.
Thanks :)
I will be coming from Bklyn. Does both the s53 and s79 both stop in front of the 86St(R) station????
BM34x
Yes. Board at the corner of 85th and 4th, on 4th.
-Hank
Were any old (40s, 50s) buses stored at the 100 Street Depot? If so, anyone out there where they were sent when 100 Street closed?
The majority went to Westside as well as the fleet at Amsterdam Depot. Walnuts buses were split between Amsterdam and Kingsbridge.
And were there still any of the old stick-shift buses, or any of the red, white and blue War Bond buses, or any of the open-top double-deckers left that were once stored there?
i just ran into news of a $500 million, 3 year bus order, placed by jersey transit with mci for 1244 coaches that was made in early april this year... i came across the press release for this order on the message board of the motor coach drivers' club at yahoo clubs... in case anyone is interested, here is a link to the announcement:
http://www.motorcoach.ca/news/press/040500.html
Sorry Paul, This is now old new to most of us, when this order was made, it was widely publicized in Newspapers and on BusTalk!
In new news, the first two pilot buses from this order is due by months end, one will pilot in the southern divison, while the order pilots in the Northern/Central Division.
R142 Boi 2K
www.transitalk.com
I saw a "weird" sight this afternoon...I saw what looked like a Prevost articulated tour bus drive past me...Is this a custom bus for this company? or do coach builders market Artics?
Prevost made this coach a while back but it was discontinued due to low buyer-ship! It's called the Prevost H5-60 Articulated Coach. Very few properties have this bus, I know for one Annett Coach has a few along with some others.
R142 Boi 2K
www.transitalk.com
Hampton Jitney has one and Annett has two. There is a co. in Alaska that has 5 or 6 of them doing land tours for a cruise line.
I saw one yesterday morning on Wisconsin Avenue between Dorset Avenue and Somerset Terrace, about 1/2 mile north of the MD-DC line. I had never seen one before. It didn't look much longer than a regular tour bus.
I am trying to locate or obtain copies of official photographs of NYC Omnibus Corp. Holy Name Society communion breakfasts circa 1946-52, some of which were attended by my father (Dan Harrington, driver, 86th St. Crosstown, 1930s-1959) and myself. My family used to have such photographs and they gradually took on great sentimental value, but unfortunately they were lost over the years. Any old Omnibus Corp. ex-drivers or their families out there know where such photographs still might be viewed or copies obtained? Any help or hints would be greatly appreciated.
Today on the M14 (14th & Ave. C) around 1 o'clock I saw 6058, yes, a Mother Clara Hale Orion, IN SERVICE. About an hour later I saw 6015, same spot. Now could somebody please explain this, and will they be keeping these? Is HUD gonna get any more?
Noting there is no L train bewteen 8 avenue and union sq this weekend, i will theorize that they were doing extra service on the 14 to accomodate the displaced L train riders.
AS HUD may not have had the personnel to cover the 'x-pieces" they probably made it a borough-wide thing.
"AS HUD may not have had the personnel to cover the 'x-pieces" they probably made it a borough-wide thing."
Even though MCH is a bronx division depot.
It doesn't matter which boro. They spread out the overtime for the drivers and don't want to overburden any one depot into providing many extra buses to cover for a subway G.O. I remember one weekend G.O. on the L line in Brooklyn, no service from Lormier St. to Myrtle Ave. Bus service substituted. All Brooklyn depots covered it as well as 126 St. depot! Around a year ago, no M shuttle service one holiday weekend. All service was provided by the 3 Queens depots. So as to spread out the overtime and to have Queens provide the bus mileage/wear & tear eventhough FP, practically around the corner from Metropolitan, could have easily provided all the needed service.
If FP had the last M line G.O., I would've not minded if they took my beloved 4212 off the Q58 for this one time.
This weekend on the 3 line Ive seen buses from Manhattan and 2 Orions from SI (Castleton) doing shuttle bus work. ENY depot is right up the street from Livonia.......(A shuttle bus, sound like a NOVA just passed as I am writing this.)
B46M Limited
Ah.
I got some MHV's and WS's too, along with more MCH.
MCH really seems to be getting this one.
<Even though MCH is a bronx division depot>>
right didnt i say borough-wide??. i corrected myself before i made the post as i had written "division-wide" then remembered MCh is a bronx div
If anyone is interested in seeing the one and only GM artic in the USA....... I will be in Buffalo Tuesday night thru Wednesday morning. The bus is Mississagua Transit # 5034 and I am adding it to my bus collection. I am driving it to Riverside, CA. Hope to see some of you true fishbowl fans come out for this.
Remember when BusTalk got cleaned out? Well, the message is STILL HERE.
Also, we go REALLY far back with my names here, you can check out the transition.
Check out this message by Defy Reason
New Updates for September will appear in the NYCBUSNEWS Egroup.
I will list the old sign first ,then the revision.
M1 Park Pl---NEW Reading
Hudson Depot
M9 Union Sq
15 st
M9 Union Sq
Hudson Depot
M10 Bat Pk City
M10 Midtown
Penn Sta
via Central Pk W
via 7 Av
West Side Depot
M10 West Village
Abingdon Sq ----- Eliminate this sign
West Side Depot
M10 Houston St ------Eliminate this sign
West Side Depot
M20 Lincoln Ctr
66 st
via 8 Av
West Side ,Hudson depots
M20 Bat Pk City
via 7 Av
West Side and Hudson Depots
M72 York Av
Crosstown
M72 East Side
York Av
Crosstown
West Side Depot
M72 West End Av
Crosstown
M72 West Side
Freedom Pl
Crosstown
West Side Depot
M96 1 Av
Crosstown
M96 East Side
1 Av
Crosstown
West Side Depot
M96 Riverside Dr
Crosstown ------------delete this sign
West Side Depot
M100 E Harlem
2 Av
Via Bway / 125 St
M100 E Harlem
2 Av==125 St
via Bway
via Amstrdm
Kingsbridge Depot
M100 Inwood
220 St
M100 Inwood
220 St
via Amstrdm
via Bway
Kingsbridge Depot
M104 50 St
via 8 Av --New Reading---Short turns
Amsterdam Depot
M106 West End Av
Crosstown
M106 West Side
West End Av
Crosstown
West Side Depot
M106 Riverside Dr----Delete this reading
West Side Depot
Bx1 Limited
165 St ----New Shorturn Reading
Kingsbridge Depot
Bx26 Co-op City
Earhart La
Bx26 Co-op City
Earhart La
via ALlertn
Gun Hull Depot
Bx26 Paul--205
via ALlertn
Bx26 Bedford Pk
Lehman Coll
via Allertn
Gun Hill Depot
Bx28 Co-op City
Earhart La
Bx28 Co-op CIty
Earhart La
via Gun Hill
Gun Hill Depot
Bx28 Fordham Ctr
192 St
Bx28 Fordham Ctr
192 St
Via Gun Hill
Gun Hill Depot
Bx41 Mott Haven
133 st
Via Webster
Bx41 Mott Haven
136 St
Via Webster
Kingsbridge Depot
Bx41 Murdock Av
Bx41 233 St
Kingsbridge Depot
Bx41 Limited
Mott Haven
133 St
Via Webster
Bx41 Limited
Mott Haven
136 St
Via Webster
Kingsbridge Depot
B9 Kings Plaza
B9 Kings Plz
via 60 St
via Avenue M
Gleason Depot
B9 Bay Ridge
Shore Rd
B9 Bay Ridge
Shore Rd
Via Avenue M
via 60 St
Gleason Depot
S53 Bay Ridge
95 st Sta======Delete reading
Castleton Depot
X14 Downtown
Loop
Delete this reading
Castleton Depot
X17 East Midtown
via West St
via Madisn=====Delete this reading
Yukon Depot
L3 Lenox Term
148 st==Powell ---delete this reading
Hale Depot
L3 135--Lenox
Delete this reading
Hale Depot
FS Shuttle To
Prospect Pk
Subway Sta --Delete this reading
Gleason Depot
FS SHuttle to
Fulton St
Subway Sta=====Delete this reading
Reception Ctr---Delete this reading
All depots
E/F Trains to
71-Continental
E/F Trains to
Forest Hills--71 Av
Alll Depots
#3 Train to
Penns Av
#3 Train to
Penn Av
All Depot
I have printed the list for September 2000 ,earlier,,there will be a new listing updated in NYCBUS NEWS
reflecting the Bx26 and the Bx25,B6 LTD,B43 B48 ,B16
Whats the code for M1 Park Place?
Thanks
Please note,,I do not give out the Codes,,for very obvious reasons.
I will only give out the Readings,,my material is now updated to September 2000 .
Steve
Old Sign Reading First
New Sign Reading Second
IF only 1 reading is shown,this will be either
Deleted-----D
Added----- A
M23 Avenue C
Crosstown
M23 East Side
F D R Drive
Crosstown
Hudson and West Side Depots
M34 ! av
Crosstown
M34 East Side
1 AV
Crosstown
Hudson and West side Depots
M18 110 St - 5 Av
via Convent
M18 Cntrl Pk N.
110 St-- 5 Av
via Convent
Manhattanville
Bx2 Ft Indep St
via Concrse
Bx2 Kngsbrdrg Hts
Ft Indep St
via Concrse
Kingsbridge Depot
Bx2 Limited
Ft Indep St
Via Concrse
Bx2 Limited
Kngsbrdg Hts
Ft Indep St
via Concrse
Kingsbridge Depot
Bx16 Mundy La
Bx16 Wakefield
Mundy La
Gun Hill Hill
Bx16 Boston rd
Ropes Av
Bx16 Pelham
Ropes Av
Bx25 Co-City
Earhart La
Via Allerton-----A
Gun Hill Depot
Bx25 Bedford Pk
Lehman Coll
VIa Allertn
Gun Hill Depot
Bx26 Fordham Ctr
192 st --------D
Gun Hill depot
Bx28 Co=op City
Earhart La
Via Allerton
Bx28 Co-op City
Earhart La
VIa Gun Hill
Gun Hill Depot
B6 Limited
East N Y
New Lots Sta
B6 Limited
East N Y
New Lots Sta
Ulmer Park and Flatbush Depots
B6 Limited
Bensonhurst
Harway Av
B6 Limited
Bensonhurst
Harway Av
Ulmer Pk and Flat Depots only
B6 Limited
ROck Pky Sta
B6 Limited
Rock Pky Sta
ulmer pk and Flatbush Depots only
B35 Sunset Park
1 Av
B35 Sunset Park
1 Av
via Church
Gleason Depots
B40 Kings Plaza ---D
ENY Depot
B86 Manhatn Bch
Kngboro Col
via 86 St====D
B86 Bay Ridge
4 Av== 86 st----D
B86 25 Av--86 St--D
B86 13 Av-----D
Ulmer Pk Depots for the B86 Route
B86 Stilwel Av---D
B86 Stillwell Av---D
Ulmer Pk Depots for all B86
q50 Pelham Bay --D
Q50 FLushing
Main St---D
Casey Stengel Depot for the Q50 Route
S51 Lincoln Av
Richmond Rd
via Bay St
S51 Grant City
Via Bay St
Castleton and Yukon Depots
S60 St George
via Howard ---D
Castleon and Yukon Depots
#3 Train
to Penns Av
#3 Train to
Penn Av
All Depots
Dear friends, this past weekend , there existed an M14 "subway Shuttle", supposedly between Union Square and 8th Aves., to replace "L" service; I discovered that the route actually extended over the entire M14D route. My question: why only on the "D" branch not on the already overcrowded "A" branch, as well? The "A" always seems to get shafted by Transit.
Did the sign display the M14 at all????,,or just the Words Subway Shuttle
M14 Subway Shuttle
or just
Subway Shuttle
Thanks
Steve
The signs read like this:
M14 Lower East Side
Delancey-FDR
Crosstown
Via Ave D
SUBWAY SHUTTLE
Peace & Blessings
DaShawn
Because the folks over on the Grand-FDR end doesn't want the pile up of extra buses in "their" area. Because of this the M14D got the extra service for that one reason and also the other reason is that at night the M14D does not operate during the "Owl" times. It's really nice to have a 20 minute wait for a bus at night instead of 60. Another note on the Delancey-FDR end of the M14C/D there is ample room for layovers, a whole block from the FDR Drive service road to Columbia Street. There is no parking during the day on the right hand side of the street so that area is perfect for that. The M14A does not carry as many people as the M14C/D lines and this is why is runs more than the M14A. I have ridden this line for 25 years and I can tell you that for a fact.
Peace & Blessings
DaShawn
Overcrowded A branch?
Now there's an oxymoron if I ever heard one?
I've ridden this line quite a while, and the A's always, and I'm saying ALWAYS get less people.
Exactly! This is why the A line doesn't have as many buses as the C/D line which has way more ridership in both directions at all times.
Peace & Blessings
DaShawn
Does anybody know of a good website where I can get MTA bus photos?
Are you in the Washington area? I ask this because of "WMATA" in your hnadle.
Gee. How many NYCTA fans are in the DC area? Maybe a get together would be in order.
Here at:
NYC Subway Resource's Bus Page - www.nycsubway.org/bus/
TransiTALK - www.transitalk.com
Transit World - www.transitworld.org
NYC TransiTrans - http://geocities.com/Justin2669/NYCTransiTrans.html
Hope these help you out!
R142 Boi 2K
Trevor Logan
www.transitalk.com
Have you looked around here? There's much more to this site than just the message boards.
-Hank
06/05/2000
I was having lunch today on 86th St. and Lex when I spotted a "wrap" bus I really like. It was advertising the return of the "Honeymooners" on Channel 11. The bus was a GM Classic and was traveling east on 86th and made a turn to go south on Lex. I couldn't figure out which company it belongs to because the "wrap" just about covered everything.
To describe to you what it looks like, it's that familiar shot of the cast members poking their heads out of #2629 (the real one). Even GM old look standee and sash windows line up with the "classics" windows.
I didn't get the bus number, any idea what company?
Bill "Newkirk"
86 Street and Lexington Ave- it's eiter a NYBS or LL Bus.
R36Gary
Who said the bus was from NYC?
Could really be anything... from Wisconsin for all we know.
Why would a Wisconsin bus advertise a program on a New York station?
Aah, touché.
Not with an advertisement for a TV show on a local NY station. Now, if it was an ad for GMA, maybe.
-Hank
As I have said before,
Aah, touché.
in the episode of the honeymooners when norton was offered the supervisory job at the bus company that ralph had been hoping for, norton later came down to ralph's apartment and told him:
as long as i am executive at the bus company, you can rest assured of being a bus driver for the rest of your life...
one of my all time favorite comedy lines...
A "I Love Lucy" adv. I realy liked was on the South & West wall of a building. If you stood so you could see both, they were kissing.
(Sorry for the off topic, I was waiting for a B-U-S when I saw it)
Mr t__:^)
The bus is Liberty Lines'. Caught a fleeting picture of it Sunday heading west on Van Cortland Ave toward the Grand Concourse, operating on the BXM4. The best wrap to date!
Joe C
Hi Steve:
I just wanted to send this note to sincerely thank you and everyone involved in your first show for the tremendous and extremely professional effort put into it. I do want to let you know everyone - but most especially the dealers - that I've spoken to has felt the same way. You have certainly proven that such a show does not have to be in an expensive, sometimes difficult-to-reach, location to be successful, and you may rest assured that I will make every effort to have additional dealers and attendees at any future shows you may have. It is comforting to know you are so readily open to suggestion and do not just render lip service.
And, just as a reminder of what we had spoken about, I am again suggesting the renting of a school along the Flushing Line, making your show public transit accessible to far more people. Another thought might be to rent a portion of the New York City Transit Museum's mezzanine area. If you needing any scouting for locations, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Again, my sincere thanks for your unparalleled effort.
Best regards,
Joe Saitta
Four SubTalkers made it to the show & thoroughly enjoyed it !
We even got a shot of your bus in the parking lot. You've got her in fine shape ! One of the SubTalk lurkers, with us, got a nice shot & plans to offer it to Dave for the site.
Sorry I didn't meet you ... where was your table ?
BTW, There was a number of buses & trackless trolleys mixed in with many track related mass transit goodies.
Mr t__:^)
In the Lincoln Tunnel bus lane around 0715, NJT Eagle 5555(!) with a blown engine in the pull-off area, just past the entrance to the bus lane. PANYNJ K-truck was on the scene, and workers were spreding sand and absorbant to contain a rather sizable oil spill beneath the engine compartment.
-Hank
That bus #5555 has been the biggest trouble maker for NJ Transit, It's the loudest, roughest riding, quick to over-heat bus in the Eagle AE-20 Cruiser Series for NJ Transit. At one point they tried out a Modified 8.3L Cummins ISC-300 Horsepower Engine in that bus and it made the situation 100x worse. That was back in December of 1999. Since then the regular 9.2L Detroit Diesel Series 92 DDEC Engine was place back in here and has been a real pain in the a$$ since!
R142 Boi 2K
www.transitalk.com
Can somebody please tell me where exactly the DOT yard is that has been mentioned in past posts.
Is it East or West of Pennsylvania (and how far) and is it on the north or south side.
I will be in Brooklyn Wednesday and would like to stop to see if there is anything I'd like to photograph. Depending on the hour I then want go to Linden & Springfield Blvd's around 7 PM and hope to catch the slope back RTS for a few pictures.
#9306WF
Command Storage is located at 626 Wortman Ave. The B20 Bus goes as far as the Stanley Ave Post Office. Once you get off the B20 at the post office, make a left. Then the 1st left that you can make, make. Walk down about a block or 2 then make a right. You'll see the storage lot on your right. I apologize but I forgot the exact names of the streets that you turn down on, it has been a while since I checked the place out. If you do go, please let us know what exact buses that are in there. It would be greatly appreciated. Especially GBL'S 1979 1000s. I know that 1007 and 1009 are there. I bet that there are more- haven't seen 1 in service for about 2 weeks now. Last time I saw one in service was 1003 on the Q7. Also I'm not certain which CTC Methanols are left operating at Triboro Coach. Last that I knew, 2136, 2138, 2140-2142, 2144 and 2147 were there. There may be more there now at Command Storage. Hope this helps you out.
R36Gary
WRONG!
The DOT depot discussed is the new depot for the Command Bus Company (replacing the Wortman Avenue one you mentioned) at 12755 Flatlands Avenue at the dead end past Fountain Avenue. Get off at the penultimate stop on the B13 Crescent Street (which runs along Fountain Avenue at this point) and walk eastward (the bus runs south from the rest of the settled world).
The yard mentioned by R36Gary will be at the corner where the bus turns from Cozine Avenue (next avenue south of Wortman) onto Fountain. The bus uses Cozine Avenue to get between Crescent Street and Fountain Avenue.
Thanks to both of you. Since I'll be driving from the Fort Greene Section I'll take my trusty Hagstrom and (at my age) a magnifying glass. I'll also take a note pad. Don't want to run out of film so that if and when the RTS slope-back comes S/B on Springfield at Linden by 7:20PM or so I can take some pictures. BTW bought a nice Slope Back RTS in a glass case at the Model Train Show last Saturday in Kendall Park, NJ.
#9306 WF a/k/a Hart Bus
If you are driving from Ft Greene, then take Fulton straight down to Bway Jct. Take a look at ENY depot/train yard/complex. Then come straight down Penn Av until Flatlands. Make a left on Flatlands and keep going straight and should come up on it........... Im not too far from the Storage Lot. Any more questions email me......
B46M Limited
I'm not sure, but I have a feeling that the yellow slope back RTS I mentioned awhile back MIGHT be coming from Belmont Park via W/B on Hempstead ave and S/B on Springfield blvd. So if you can get down to the area maybe about 45 minutes earlier, drive over to Belmont Park and see if you can find it. It won't be hard, I guarantee you that. If not, then it should pass through Linden and Springfield around the time you mentioned. BIG AL
Hi, there; What are the changes for the Summer pick, please?
I passed the old Command Depot/Varsity Transit yard yesterday and noticed that Bus 351 which was one of the 6 RTS that Command owned
was missing.
Also saw a couple of Green Lines 1980 GMC-RTS stored there for the first time These are buses 1000 etc.
This lot is not the yard that DOT is storing buses which is across the street on Cozine Ave
Any body know what happened to 351
Thank You
The spanish and italian versions of TransiTALK is up and running. Now for you spanish and italian speaking bus fans can enjoy it in your own language! Soon to follow German, French and possibly Portugese!
R142 Boi 2K
www.transitalk.com
I was riding 4215 last week on the Q17 and I saw 4558 with a Limited Sign to Archer Ave. I'm assuming that this is an error on the operator's part. Big Al can you clarify this cause you work out of Jamaica Depot. (BTW BIG AL: What line do you operate? I'm a frequent rider on the Q17 but that's the only line out of Jamaica that I ride.)
Q17#5159Gary
I believe what you saw was a text message added to the regular destination message that said "LIMITED STOPS". These are regular added messages that the operator can add to a destination sign routing. Other messages are, "Next Bus Please", "See Sign Below", and "Subway Shuttle". I think there are a few more, but I can't think of them right now. What probably happened is that the operator just pulled out and that sign was up there from the previous route and the operator did not know. Unless you see those words flash on the screen at the moment they do, you will not know it is up there. Unless you check that the added text button (P/R key) is on 000, again you will not know and on the Q17 there is no reason to hit the P/R key except for maybe when you have a full bus and you want to throw up a "next bus please" sign. This sometimes happens to me also and the only time I find out is when a passenger tells me, or says I should be doing limited stops since that's what the sign says. I currently drive the Q5 but am going on vacation in 2 weeks, for 2 weeks. When I come back, we will be on summer pick. I pick my new schedule this Friday 6/9. BIG AL
See it on eBay, Item #351004494: No reserve, minimum bid applies. Negative-original (not a copy, nor a scan, but printed from the actual camera negative), an 8x10 inch copyright-registered photograph of one of the most famous scenes in Brooklyn, New York. This extremely sharp and clear photo, taken November 6, 1947, just after the end of the baseball season, shows Brooklyn in its finest hour. As all Brooklyn Dodger fans are aware, the team was originally known as the “Trolley Dodgers” since the fans found it necessary to dodge the numerous trolley lines that operated in the not only in the entire Borough of Brooklyn but especially in the vicinity of Ebbets Field (opened April 9, 1913; closed September 24, 1957 after after the last game; demolished February 23, 1960; replaced by a huge housing project). Ironically, the last trolley operated in Brooklyn on October 31, 1956, but an electric trolleybus line (#48-Lorimer Street) continued to operate past the stadium until it too was replaced by diesel buses on July 27, 1960. This classic photo shows two of Brooklyn’s famous “Peter Witt” type trolleys southbound on Empire Boulevard, about to turn west onto Empire Boulevard; trolley #8346 is in the foreground. Note also the classic two-color cast iron traffic signal (the last of which was replaced in Far Rockaway, Queens about five years ago), the standard Brooklyn “Trolley Station” sign and Mel’s Expert Repairs, who also offered parking at a monthly rate of ten dollars. The photograph was taken by Robert Wasche, noted trolley and transportation photographer, who walked and photographed, generally block-by-block, each of Brooklyn’s trolley and elevated lines, starting upon his return from the U.S. Military in World War II, photographing a clean and dependable means of transportation never to be forgotten. The photograph is hand-printed and developed on Agfa archival glossy stock, and will last a lifetime under proper storage conditions. The labels and cross-hatch lines shown on the photograph below do not, of course, appear on the actual photograph. Here is an opportunity to possess an original photograph of one of brooklyn’s most classic and historic scenes. •For further information or additional items that may be listed in the category above, do eBay Seller Search for JoePCC699@AOL.com. New items are added on almost a daily basis. Check our listings as often as possible; you wouldn’t want to miss an item you were looking for. Over 25,000 items in all categories are to be listed in the future. •Buyer pays shipping/insurance.
I remember the B53 bus line (starting from Bridge Plaze, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and terminating on Jamaica Avenue and 171 Street) had its number and letter changed to Q54. Same starting point and ending so why was it changed? The change took place in the mid-80's. I remember my mother was coming back from a trip. She prefers traveling by buses rather than trains. Even if it means taking 5 buses when all it would take is 2 trains. She likes the views. She was waiting for the B53 on Metropolitian Avenue, where you can transfer for the bus that takes you to Kennedy Airport. She waited and waited. Q54 after Q54 passes. Finaly she asks a driver when the next B53 is arriving. He had to break the sad news that she had been waiting in vain. The letter and number had been changed to Q54. I forgot to tell her that.
The routes changed from B to Q were mainly Queens routes and had a B prefix only because they were historically run the Brooklyn and Queens Transit division (the trolley division) of the BMT. The change coincided with the bus reroutes for the opening of the Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer station on December 11, 1988.
I once lived at that corner where the B53(Q54) transfers with the Q10.
Our Bus Talk handle is almost the same. Mine has been B53 Rich for about a year and a half now. I have been keeping up with the B53/Q54's rosters since the early 70's.
The "foreign" Q-routes (Q24, Q32, Q54, Q55, Q56, Q58, Q59) got Queens numbers because the routes themselves, as well as their riders, are mostly in Queens.
In fact, the Q55 and Q58 don't touch Brooklyn at all. At the Ridgewood terminal, the border is the center line of Wyckoff Ave. The Q55 and Q58 come close to that line, but they don't cross it.
q58---wrappd around wykff ave when i drove it---behind mcdonalds,thats brooklyn---bear
Yes, the Q58 uses three or four blocks of Wyckoff Avenue. BUT, Wyckoff is the border at that point, and the Q58 uses the northbound (Queens) side, not the southbound (Brooklyn) side.
Well those of us that boarded the bus on Grand Street took it personally. It was a huge slap in the face. Hehehehehe. It will always be the B53. I guess the bonehead that made that decision had nothing better to do that day.
Well those of us that boarded the bus on Grand Street took it personally. It was a huge slap in the face. Hehehehehe. It will always be the B53. I guess the bonehead that made that decision had nothing better to do that day.
There are about six changes on the inside of the buses.
1) The light were moved from the top of the bus roof, to under the vents lower to the seats.
2) There are now more vents on the bus, they put them up to wear the light was.
3) The floors on the old buses are flat, the new buses have the grooved floors.
4) They rased the box that are behind the driver up alittle so they can get under the bus easer.
5) They put a wheel chair key in to work the ramp. (The older one are getting this put in over time.)
6) The kneeler now can be put down with the front door closed. (the older one the door had to be opened, this is also being chaced.)
If anyone see any other changes to the new buses let us know.
Robert
PS. Sorry about some of the speeling.
Onee more thing, the buses that are in JG so far.
857, 858, 860, 861(I drove it already), 862, 864, 865, 914 & 917.
I now drive on the B77 Sunday #3, Monday #3, Thur & Fri #2, and Saturday B35 #25, if anyone want to day hi.
Today on the M9, a little after noon, going north on Ave. B, we turned up (west) on 10th street, up Ave A to 14th, then on regular route. I saw another M9 coming back the same way. And I am fairly sure I did see an M9 go all the way down Ave. B until 14th street... what's going on?
You are the M9 man, I would expect you if anyone on the board to know!
Just kidding.:-)
Lol
;P
Back in the days of the red bus (Avenue B and East Broadway), the MaBSTOA dispatcher would have a cow if he saw passengers being let on or off on Ave A. Especially when Ave B's fare was only 25 cents vs the city of 30 cents.
Lol :)
Anything ever happen,or just some screaming? (Back then, in south Loisaida, people not screaming would be unusual.
And yes, I know 10th-14th is/was northern Loisaida, but screams go a logn way.
this 1982 hard seater actually exists and will be at the bus roadeo on 6/10 and 6/11 hopefully. it is currently at yukon and yesterday was at south beach parking lot where transit officials were doing a run thru of the roadeo.
Yo, I was comin home on the 79 and a truck was on the transverse in the left lane and we were in the middle, there was gridlock so we were inching along with the truck on our left. The truck of course was half on the island, and he turned and he SCRAPED the bus' left side and I felt the bus rock back and forth and my heart skipped like 2 beats. Bus was 1032, if you want to take a pic of its left side w/the two parallel lines towards the bottom I think.
Clayton Parker
Technical Administrator@TransiTALK
Since when does a technical administrator use the words holy, crap, and "yo"?
LOL
Since he is on a vacation from the said position! LOL!
R142 Boi 2K
www.transitalk.com
Exactly, I'm not coming back until Saturday. Finals have gotten me tied up.
Clayton Parker
Technical Administrator (On Vacation to make you happy) @TransiTALK
Not to leave my BusTalker friends out let me alert you to a Field Trip to Boston & Kennebunkport comming Sat & Sun July 15th & 16th (more details available on Comming Events section of SubTalk section).
We plan to spend all day Saturday at Kennebunkport's Seashore trolley museum. Our friend Todd has obtained permission to roll out their Fishbowl and tells me that he has a few surprises in mind for us, i.e. maybe a trip to downtown Kennebunkport mid-day with him turning the wheel of this coach. At the end of the day their set of INDs (R-4 & R-7A) will make a trip down the line. The 3/4 ton crew Shoreline members are hopping to each get a turn "Assuming the position", i.e. standing between the cars to operate the doors.
Sunday will be a Boston "T" party. For you bus & tourist out there I previously took a trolley & bus to reach Old Iron Sides. Anyhow we'll ride the many lines until they roll the streets up, which they still do about midnight.
So if you're interested check out the hotel & travel details as there is still some room on the B-U-S (at Seashore).
Mr t__:^)
I know this is little news but it's worth mentioning. Bus 5519 has been running around with a broken destination sign and no stop requested sign. Yesterday while riding the Q60, I saw her with a working sign and the Stop Requested sign finally fixed after I'd say a year in that condition.
Q60#5542Gary
They probably didn't have the parts to fix it. Why they don't pull the parts from other scrapped buses I'll never know but NYCT often does the same thing, however, not as long. BIG AL
On most older coaches and transit bus drum brakes are used on almost all wheels. Howcome they don't use discs units? They seems to help stop the bus quicker. I heard something like matainence personal like
drum brakes.
About Greyhound and Peter Pan bus lines, why do they tailgate so much?
Can't get there ahead of schedule if they get into a accident.
Air Brakes. The hotter the brake gets, the less effective it is. For some odd reason, drum brakes stay cooler than discs. Also, drum-type air brakes are less of a maintainance headache.
-Hank
The trucking industry uses drum brakes, maybe for the same reason.
"About Greyhound and Peter Pan bus lines, why do they tailgate so much?
Can't get there ahead of schedule if they get into a accident."
Regarding the above - Many car and SUV drivers don't realize that in most states - buses are not permitted in the left lane of a six lane highway. So if you are motoring along at a leisurely 55MPH in the middle lane expecting faster drivers to move to the left - recognize that the bus or for that matter - truck driver may get a violation for passing on the left.
The right thing to do is remeber that the bus driver is earning a living, performing a public service and HAS to be out there. Give him/her a break and move to the righ with slower traffic. Let them move with the faster traffic.
Remember that most Peter Pan, Greyhound and other over the road buses are governed at between 65MPH and 73MPH. They can't go fast enough to be dangerous. But they can keep their schedules and their passengers to their destinations on time if you behave curteously and stay to the right. Let them pass.
In other words, if you obey the law, and a bus driver isn't, pull over and let the lawbreaker pass because he's gotta make a living? I'm going to try that if I ever get pulled over.
"Do you know how fast you were going?"
"Does it matter? I'm trying to make a living!"
"Ok sir, carry on."
-Hank (who DOES think the double-nickel is absurd in some places)
Hank - for a guy who normally posts some pretty smart stuff - you disappoint me on your last one.
- Do you really think you are the right person (I assume you drive a car) to hold back a 17 ton bus by boxing him in and not giving him a chance to pass? What possible good can come of that? Why make other people more stressed than they already are behind the wheel? It's a big lose for any party involved in a pissing contest when behind the wheel.
- When was the last time you saw ANYONE pulled over for doing 70 MPH in a 55 MPH zone in the New York Metro area? If the cops don't see reason to pull people over for minor speeding, why on earth would you see fit to hold back a bus driver as a civilian?
- You talk about obeying the law and the law generally says - stay to the right except to pass and/or slower traffic move to the right. So the "lawbreaker" in a slow moving car (assuming he's not in the right lane where he belongs) holding the bus back is no more right than the bus driver trying to drive at a speed that even police don't make a big deal about.
- Since you agree the double nickle is absurd in some places, and the cops show their agreement that 55 MPH is ridiculous through their tacit approval of people speeding up to around 70 MPH in a 55 MPH - then who are you to have this sarcastic attitude?
Sheesh - for a guy who normally sounds pretty reasonable - your last post did NOT.
Dave, I'm sorry to say, but YOUR post doesn't sound very reasonable either.
If the speed limit is 55 miles an hour, and an automobile is doing 55 miles an hour, it is NOT breaking any law as might be implied in your post. Even if an auto IS "holding back traffic" but IS doing the speed limit, there is nothing at all illegal about it.
OK Steve - maybe you have a point. If the auto is doing 55MPH and that's the speed limit - on the face of it - there's nothing illegal about it.
OTOH - if that vehicle is in the left lane and not passing anyone - he may well be violating a law that says you keep right except to pass. That law is posted in the form of signs all along major interstates in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. So if one is violating that law - it's not at all reasonable.
As far as "reasonable" goes - nobody is being reasonable if they think it's their job to hold up traffic that wants to get around them. If somebody is looking for a speeding ticket - let them get it. And if you are a cop - have fun writing that ticket.
Cops have the authority to enforce the law. And they have the training and hopefully the proper judgement as to how to enforce the law. Let's leave that judgement to them.
Above all - I hope most of us would agree that it never pays to annoy another driver - whether it's of a bus, car or truck.
If you really have a problem with the way a driver handles his vehicle - and it is for example - Peter Pan or Greyhound - call the company - report the driver and make sure you have the bus or license plate number.
But don't hold the driver up. That could incite road rage if the driver is really screwy and things could get very ugly from that point.
Even if you don't do anything they'll get on your case, as QS 952 once did to me in the QM-Tunnel.
Now all that, I agree with -- and it was very reasonably stated.
I live in California -- and not sure if the laws agree back there -- but if one is going slower than the "flow of traffic" up to and including the speed limit, they can be cited for bogging things down, unless they are in the far right lane or at the speed limit, no violation.
As Dave said, though, it isn't reasonable to "annoy" othr drivers -- let them get the ticket they deserve if they are speeding, etc. Enough road rage exists as it is without adding to the situation.
And also as Dave mentions -- if ANY company-marked vehicle is operating in an unsafe manner, it is always best to call or write the company, in a business-like manner, with all the details (vehicle number, time, route, direction etc.) There are also some "800" telephone numbers for commercial trucking safety organizations that want to hear of violators, whether they are a truck or bus -- basically any commercial vehicle.
What about the trucks that tell you to call 1-800-328-7448?
Have you ever dialed it? Someone set up a tape!
-Hank
I remember the SNL sketch in the 1999-2000 season premiere (hosted by Jerry Seinfeld) where Will Ferrell actually does call and there's a hotline at the other end.
So, thinking that some wiseguy did open a hotline at that number, I called. As the phone company message indicated, no such number is accessible from New York City. It could be available elsewhere.
I think that common sense should be applied on the roads. Sure 55 MPH (or 65MPH) is the max. speed limit in many places, but if the flow of traffic is moving along at 65-70 MPH... I think it's not very wise to decide to drive at 55 MPH. The cops are not going to pull over anyone who's moving with the flow of traffic. On most highways those slow driving motorists seem to be creating an unsafe condition.
Wayne
Well, it's obvious things ARE different on the west coast.
An old girlfriend was doing 70, just like everyone else was -- when the speed limit was 55mph.
She told the cop "I was doing the same speed everyone else was!"
Cop said "Well, I pulled YOU over! Sign the ticket."
My goodness! ...and some folks wonder why cops are disliked so much. I heard from a friend recently that the Greyhound bus he was a passenger on Between Richmond, VA and Washington, DC was pulled over on I-95 and the driver was given a ticket.
Wayne
Today I had an experience with the rudest, meanest bus driver I ever had. I needed to get from Old Country Road in Carle Place to Glen Cove avenue in SW Glen Cove.
So I boarded an N22 Jamaica and had to transfer to the N23 bus heading north. The thing is I had to wait a while in between so I figured I'd transfer at Jericho Tpke and Willis avenue, since there's nowhere to eat in Mineola, so I had a quick bite at the new KFC and then waited for the bus. The N23 came 15 minutes later than it was supposed to, and he pulled in way ahead of the stop making me run for the bus. I got on and put my transfer in the box, and the box said "Transfer OK". I asked for another transfer. Then the bus driver keeps saying "hello" in a nasty way and we weren't moving. Then his words were "you can't transfer here, there is no "T" on the sign". I told him I've transferred there before other times and have seen others do it to. He refused to go, and pretty much threw me off the bus. Before he told me "leave or pay another fare" I asked for my transfer back. He then picked a paper transfer out of the box, gave it to me and he said "get off". I replied "Thanks for nothing" and stormed off the bus. I realized there must be a stupid rule, and I had to transfer at Hillside avenue instead, and proceeded to walk there and catch the next bus. Then I looked at the back of the transfer.
06/07/00 06:54A 4004 173
The damn thing was expired! $$^#^#^ jerk!
The run was all wrong and the time was well over 6 hours ago!
Not only are the transfer rules confusing, the bus driver deliberately screwed me up! I realized if he knew I was transfering where I wasn't supposed to, he would've realized it BEFORE i put the transfer in. Then he didn't return the transfer I used.
Apparently, according to the stupid schedule, the driver is technically "right", because it only notes a transfer at Hillside and Willis, not Jericho and Willis, even though the N22 stops at the same stops at the N23 on Willis avenue between Jericho and Hillside.
Other points aren't listed on schedules either, like East Gate Blvd and Old Country road where routes like the N22, N27, N15,etc.
I've transferred there often without problems. Many people do because of the tight scheduling, they will miss their connection at RF.
So I figured I didn't want to wait at Mineola terminal because it's cruddy there and I'd wait at Jericho and Wills instead.
I always thought you could transfer where ever two bus routes intesect
as long as it aint the same bus route you got it on. The farebox accepted the transfer. Because of that damn jerk of a bus driver I missed that bus and had to wait for the next bus, and had to pay fare again, and missed the N21, thus missed my appointment in Glen Cove.
The "designated transfer point" was only a few stops away, but this guy just refused to accept it. I can't stand these stupid LI Bus rules.
I am definately reporting this bus driver, he was rude and very unproffessional. After all, what kind of jerk yells at me saying "hello, hello, you can't transfer here, pay another fare"?
I guess I have to read that damn schedule word for word, not assuming where two bus routes intersect is automatically a transfer point.
That means that I may miss connections, go hungry, and be inconvenienced all because of some stupid beaurocratic rules and mean bus drivers who don't care at all about the riders, and treat them like s***.
You have every right to report him to MSBA public relations dept.
["...stupic bureaucratic rules and mean bus drivers who don't care at all about the riders..."]
You forgot to add: "...at an agency which might not exist for much longer, given Nassau County's precarious fiscal condition."
For the future, try using a MetroCard for your trip, for two reasons:
1. No 25-cent charge for the paper transfer.
2. The two-part transfer privilege is encoded on the card, so that each connecting bus FAREBOX (not driver) will decide whether to accept or not. Each box is programed with the appropriate route's Transfer Acceptance Table - for each destination sign code, the TAT lists the sign codes FROM which it will accept a transfer (so that each driver had better be using the correct sign). However, the farebox is not hooked into the odometer, so it doesn't know WHERE the bus is when the transfer is used (even though you and the driver DO know)!! Once the box gives the high-pitched beep and displays "1 Xfer OK / $0.00 Paid," you're good to go.
The problem with Metrocard is sometimes the farebox won't accept a transfer even if it is valid, and the farebox automatically deducts another fare.
But I was thinking the driver could still know I'm transferring since Xfer is noted on the driver's side of the box too, and he could still have given me a hard time.
Perhaps it's time to just start thinking UNLIMITED?
In one situation, a driver pestered me for not paying on board the express bus, even though I was completely right. I called customer service on the spot.
As for what happened, I had previously boarded the M3 downtown at Powell Boulevard and CPN. Now I was going to take a BM1 from 38th Street and used the same Metrocard. When the thing debited my transfer, and then I paid the $1.50 step up, the driver stopped me. He told me that the farebox turned up zero and I was $1.50 short. I told him I was not, as I transferred. He asked me how many times I rode that day and I said it was the third. Then he told me you can't transfer twice, I told him I didn't and that I paid in full for the M3 because it was more then two hours from the time I entered the subway. After lecturing him on the processes of farebox operation, and then him telling me not to try that again (after I told him I always transfer from another bus and pay $1.50), I sat down and called customer service.
Was Customer Service any more helpful than that bus operator?
The bus operator let me go, although I was still on the line with them as I sat to confirm that I was right, I then told the B/O. If I were to ride the bus again, the operator would finally know the rules, and the farebox even accepted the fare (it beeped, the green LED came on and the thing reset to zero when I put in only $1.50).
Let's hope that you get a better customer-oriented bus op. next time. Also, you are correct about the transfer from S 78/79 to Bx 29. As long as it is within 2:18 and not the same route, and not "corridor-restricted", you may use any transfer on any other bus route.
[sometimes the farebox won't accept a transfer even if it is valid]
The driver could have logged into the farebox/destination sign for the wrong route. On the TA check the sign before you board, then you'll have a better reply. If you're right the driver will respond just like Gilda Radner "Oh .... well never mind".
BTW, I've had reason to look at the report that shows how our drivers logged on, most of the time they do it right, but don't know if this is typical system wide.
Mr t__:^)
Of course, in most cases it doesn't matter as transfers are open. I can transfer free from the S78 to the Bx29 so long as I provide my own transit between the two.
I wouldn't bet money on an S78 transfer being accepted on the Bx29.
As I've mentioned before, every NYCT, NYCDOT, and LIB farebox has a chip which contains all of the pertinent Transfer Acceptance Tables for the depot in question.
If a bus is operating on the Bx29, every MetroCard and transfer that is presented would be checked against the Bx29 Transfer Acceptance Table. Assuming an eastbound trip (toward City Island), the farebox would "know" to accept transfers from ONLY the following routes:
Bx5 NB, SB
Bx12 EB
Bx14 WB, EB
Bx26 EB
Bx28 EB
Bx30 EB
QBx1 NB, SB
BxM7 NB [Co-op City/Midtown]
BxM7A NB [Pelham Bay/Midtown]
Any subway station (including Pelham Bay - I've tried it!)
Since the Bx29 has a three-leg transfer privilege with most other Bronx routes (Bx12 becomes the second leg), the table goes further goes further to find a "proper" first leg:
Bx1 NB, SB
Bx2 NB, SB
Bx3 NB, SB
Bx7 NB, SB
Bx8 NB, SB
Bx9 NB, SB
Bx15 NB
Bx17 NB
Bx19 NB, SB
Bx20 SB
Bx22 NB, SB
Bx31 NB, SB
Bx32 NB, SB
Bx34 SB
Bx39 NB, SB
Bx41 NB, SB
Bx55 NB, SB
M100 NB
Sorry to burst your bubble, but "Staten Island to City Island via Royal Island" won't work.
I think you chose a bad example. The three-legged trips have separate rules. Ordinarily, you can use any bus transfer on another bus route, within 2hr. 18 min, appx. That is the rule for two legs (one connection). THERE MAY BE CERTAIN CORRIDOR EXCEPTIONS IN MANHATTAN AND THE BRONX. THESE ARE SPELLED OUT AND WERE MENTIONED ALREADY ON THIS WEBSITE.
Concerning LI Bus, for whatever it is worth, let me quote a 1999 timetable: "Regular MetroCard Transfers: You can transfer free from bus to subway, subway to bus or bus to bus to bus at designated connection locations, if you do it within two hours of the time you pay your fare." (Note the 3rd bus ride.) I also have a 12/1996 System Transfer Guide for the entire LI Bus system, and I think I have seen an update that specifies only certain subway stations. I recall complaining one time to a LI Bus official (VP?) at a public hearing a few years ago that the restriction to transfer points was a nuisance, particularly because a passenger might guess that he missed the connection, begin walking, then find the bus catching up to him late at a further bus stop. The official said that the policy was partly to control fraud. When MSBA paper transfers were free, fellows at the largest transfer point were offering 25 cents for them, and then reselling them with a markup, but less than the bus fare. I also recall T.A.R.S. and the B.M.T. streetcars restrictive on use of transfers only at cross-points. In the city, I enjoy the wide options, particularly subway-to-bus, and I think LI Bus policy is a nuisance to riders.
I do check the destination sign before I board, but since LI Bus has so many broken signs they are not to be trusted, and I'll board after asking the driver what bus number it is.
I have seen wrong signs on a number of occasions.
BTW, I also had the pleasure of riding 609 today on the N79 from Hicksville to Roosevelt Field with no A/C in this hot weather.
I saw two Gilligs with no A/C either, and 601 didn't have it either (windows all open).
How does one get hold of a TAT for various (or All) boroughs/depots?
Sounds like bad SERVICE to me, you would have thought the driver had stock in the company or something. At this depot our drivers don't argue with the customers. If someone is making a disturbance or something like that they can call the Dispatcher or the police.
If they show up every day a dime short or with an expired/invalid Transfer, well we expect them to do something about it, but first give the customer the benifit of the dought. In the subway the turnstile prevents them from getting in (somewhat), but the driver has enough to worry about without haveing to worry about getting a punch in the nose. So the procedure is EXPLAIN what the customer appears to be doing wrong.
Item last I agree with the other poster, write it up, at this depot the driver would get talked to & the customer would get a written answer, but understand that we wouldn't necessarily tell you that we talked to the driver, however we might depending on what occured.
Disclaimer: I am not a official spokesman of MTA, TA, nycDOT or my employeer, just someone who thinks our main business is service.
Mr t__:^)
There's a article in today's times that speaks to MTA service, or more correctly the lack there of. It's a report prepaired by the MTA board so they can't just discount it, some detail:
- TA gets 8,000 calls per day, some folks wait 5 minutes
- LIRR, some folks wait 14 minutes
- Last year some of the test letters the survey group send weren't answered.
- M-N seems to do a better job in this area then any other MTA group.
I'll relate a short story that speaks to the attitude at this depot:
One of our colleagues who works in the group that answers the phones was leaving for a better paying job at the TA. His group bought a cake & card to say fairwell one afternoon. I found out about it and invited myself. When the boss saw me he asked how I knew they were giving him a party. I responded it was because no one was answering the phones. He imediatly turned to the supvr. for assurance that in fact someone was answering the phones ... I didn't get a piece of cake.
Mr t__:^)
I would've just moved back, and sat down.
-Hank
Well knowing the way that driver was I'd be afraid he'd call the cops on me for fare evasion. And I have a feeling our friendly Nassau cops would've sided with the driver too. Not a risk worth taking.
He would not have moved the bus either, which would get pax mad at me or him.
Best thing was just to get off and report it.
And if he was the last bus of the day, or if you were on your way someplace important, and it was 60 minute service? I'd have stood my ground. Let him call the cops. They'll have to call a transit supervisor. If the bus accepts your fare, he has NO RIGHT to ask you to leave the bus, unless you're doing something idiotic such as vandalizing the bus or terrorizing passengers.
-Hank
[If the bus accepts your fare, he has NO RIGHT to ask you to leave the bus, ...]
Well lets be a little careful here, just because the MetroCard went into then back out of the farebox doesn't mean that everything was OK. I think our friend said that the box said "Xfer Accepted", that's pritty clear. I don't know what that driver could have saw on his screen in this case (shows more words because it's larger).
Just for the record the box is designed to return the MC wheather or not there was enough money on it (sometimes it keeps it, but that's an error or malfunction). Transfer (not the MetroCard variety) are designed to be retained, i.e. wheather it's good or not, it can't be used for any reason a second time ... same goes for "Single Ride" MC (the green ones on transfer stock).
Disclaimer: This is not a official statement by anyone in the MTA, TA, nycDOT or my employeer.
Mr t__:^)
NJT Volvo? Artics 9214 and 9219 in the pull-off area. 9214 with a maintainence worker under the front end, and 9219 on a hook from Meadowlands, a large swath of yellow paint on the left rear section.
-Hank
Those Volvo artics are 14 years old, so an occasional breakdown should not be surprising. I believe they are due to be replaced in a few years.
Yesterday I stopped at the DOT yard. It is located between Cozine and Flatlands, Milford and Logan Streets. It is about a mile east of Pennsylvania Ave. and about 4 blocks west of the Command Depot at 12755 Flatlands. It is next to a Sanitation Dept Garage.
I took down the numbers and styles of buses of those I could see. I will put them on an Excel spreadsheet in the next week and E-mail to anyone who wants it. There were several GMC Fishbowls, two CTC Menthanols, one MCI suburban from Command, a Flxible Fishbowl (non-A/c)from Command, a QS RTS still shrink-wrapped with Infinity Broadcasting, and a bus of unknown manufacturer. It looked like a Gillig or a European design. It had no livery and very boxy looking. It was parked in between some Command buses (the Flx was one away from it). Since there was a row of QS parked across the bow it was hard to tell who it belonged to.
On Logan Street at this minute was RTS #9100 from UP training new recruits on backing up techniques.
About two blocks east on Cozine is a large yard for Varsity School buses. In one corner of the lot was about 3 former GBL RTS's and 5 Command RTS's. All had license plates but the Commands had the C word removed but kept the rest of the livery. No modification to the GBL livery could be detected.
Was unable to get to Springfield and Linden to photo the Slope-Back RTS. Will try again in about two weeks.
As soon as I have the inventory set up, I'll post a notice to that effect. If someone has the computer skill to post it you're free to do that after I e-mail it to you.
#9306 WF a/k/a Hart Bus
That bus that you saw is a Thomas CL-960 Commercial Transit Bus. The operator though is unknown.
R142 Boi 2K
www.transitalk.com
Thanx for the info. It is a real cheesy looking design. Thomas should stick to school buses. Also can't believe that the Command RTS that fried at Belmont is put in the northwest corner of the lot for everyone passing by on Cozine Ave. to see. Would make more sense to park in in the middle of the field. The cheap blue tarp (available at hardware stores) billows in the wind so you can see a little from the front. The back of the bus is not covered at all....
Can anyone provide the number so that I can put it on the inventory that I'll prepare in the next week.
Thanx #9306WF a/k/a Hart Bus
That Crispified TMC RTS-06 for Command, actually two of them, one is 4927 (Probably the Blue Tarp one) and 4918 (which is the Belmont Boy).
R142 Boi 2K
www.transitalk.com
TMC #4918 is the one parked next to the fence right next to MCI #431. Each day you can see more and more of bus #4918 as the cover on the bus is deteriorating. The boxy looking bus you saw was operated by Varsity...I believe on the shuttle route between Hunter and Baruch College in Manhattan. It has been in the storage lot for at least two years now. I will have pictures of 4918 soon and will post them here for those of you who cant make it to the storage yard.
Kevin Barsky
Transit World
I once had a smaller version of the blue tarp to keep over a car. It is made of a vinyl that dries out quickly. It has holes on the end with metal rings to pass rope through. With the bus being out in the sun I don't doubt that a windy day will tear that tarp to shreds.
Kevin is right that the burnt marshmellow is 4918 because I saw 4927 in the yard and the number was burned off of Belmont.
I guess we spoke too soon cause TMC #4918 was recovered. They did the same thing with 431 and 4927 but i guess after a few times they stop recovering them. Ill take pictures as soon as the cover is off again.
Peace,
Kevin
Transit World
Perhaps if the DOT sprang for a few more bucks and used a heavy cloth or burlap type cover they would dry out and/or tear like the cheap vinyl one they're using.
Anybody looking to get rid of old TA bus maps (60s/70s/80s), please drop me a line via e-mail. perhaps we can strike a deal. Thanks
Me too! I'd like some old TA bus maps too.
Drop me a line at philiphom@aol.com . I have been thining my holdings on e-bay.
New Advertising Slogan from New Flyer to promote the Galaxy Artic -
"The new 2000 Galaxy series articulated bus, 0-10mph in 6 seconds!(60mph not possible)
How 'bout this: NYCTA transit bus 0-20 in ten minutes.
How 'bout this: NYCTA transit bus 0-20 in ten minutes. MAx speed 25 MPH.
Good Ki Ki on the Joke! BUT NOT TRUE!
Before the TA gets there nasty little hands on the DDEC units those boys clock in at 80 MPH!
R142 Boi 2K
www.transitalk.com
What the hell is a "ki-Ki"?
By the way 6045 is back on the road!
Ki Ki is Jersey slang for a real good laugh! Cool! Thanks for letting me get a pic of her in mid re-construction!
R142 Boi 2K
How about they also develop a special speed rated tire for NYCTA buses . On cars you have max. speed ratings like H=130 MPH, S=112 MPH, V=149 MPH etc. The TA's tire could be P (Pitiful) with a maximum speed rating of 40 MPH (downhill).
Wayne
whats the deal?-
Saw 194 this evening, another LI Bus casualty in Flushing.
A maintainance truck was there with what appeared to be jumper cables, and hooked it up from the truck to the bus.
Must've been a dead battery. Once they got the bus started it went out of service and back to the depot.
As a result of the breakdown quite a line developed, because the bus must've broken down on an earlier N21 run.
Most people went on the N20, but the N21 showed up at 8:40pm. At first I thought it was the 8:53pm, but, the guy who does the 7:58pm was driving.
We then left at 8:43pm, so I guess the 7:58pm was running REAL late, probably because of the breakdown.
At least they didn't have to get the tow for 194, but to say the least they were having problems getting the bus to function properly.
I had 620, a diesel Orion on the N21 which is unusual, probably a replacement for the bus that broke down.
That 620 is a real "seat rattler" if you know what I mean!
If a bus (or any vehicle) stalls out and needs a jump to restart, it usually is a sign that the alternator is bad. Once started, the alternator provides all electrical power to a 'normal' vehicle (ie, one that hasn't been modified for some reason or another to use additional battery power)
-Hank
One of the few WMATA New look Flxibles may have seen her last day of service yesterday. I spotted Flxible 8597 (53096-6-1) hooked up to a wrecker yesterday around 8 PM. The bus had been S/B on Georgia Ave (I guessing the Y8 route) just north of Wheaton and there was a long spill of what appeared to be motor oil. The crews had already spread the absorbing substance over the spill.
About an hour earlier - I paced an 1979 RTS II-03 doing 65 MPH on Randolph Road. Also - I've riden 3 (5725,5711 & 5712) of Montgomery County Ride-On new 40 ft Orion V's and there very quick. I curious as to why Ride-On chose to have the vertical and horizontal grab iron painted yellow.
Wayne
An RTS doing 65?? They do haul down Randolph and Viers Mill. I know I've been on some Q2's when I used to go to Montgomery College and we'd do Mach I once in a while.
Poor 8597. The high 8590's and low 8600's were cool because they were the only New Look Flx's that had flip dot destination signs. I think 8594-8603 had them.
I was wondering about the yellow bars too. Not sure what the idea is behind them. I guess to make it easier for people to see.
RE:RTS doing 65... Sorry I meant to say 60 MPH, but that's still pretty good especially for a 21 year old bus. Sometime last year I paced a Flxible new look at 55 MPH on Georgia Ave and from the sound of it - the engine didn't seem to be laboring very hard.
Wayne
Those buses can move pretty good. The driver must have been having a good time with that. When I used to go to Univ. of Md. College Park, I drove the buses there for a while. The Flx Metros, especially with Cummins engines ran really fast, except there were regulators on them to hold the speed to 67mph. I used to push it whenever I had to take groups up to Baltimore on I-95.
I would like to know, probably along with the rest of us bus talkers here in good old New York, what year are these Flxibles you guys are talking about? BIG AL
The WMATA Flx that was spotted broken down was a 1979 Flx New Look. There are barely a handful left here. The Flx Metros that I drove at University of Md were 1986's 1987's and 1991's.
I have a question to you WAMATA bus talkers. How does Maryland get away with having the old Flxibles on the rode when all public buses are supposed to be wheelchair lift equipped per the ADA laws? If you are not WAMATA workers and don't know the answer, please ask one of the operators and post back. I would really like to know. Thanx. BIG AL
I'll have to ask. I know the one bus spotted by Wayne Johnson (number 8597) is wheelchair equipped. The Flx New Looks numbered 8400-8661 all had wheelchair lifts. However, the remaining fishbowls on the road here, all the RTS's, the MAN articulated and even some Flxible Metros, are not wheelchair lift equipped. For some odd reason, I noticed a few Flx Metros numbered in the 8700's, 8900's, 9200's and 9400's did not have lifts because there was no place in the front or back of the bus to secure the wheelchairs. I know all new buses had to be lift equipped, but did not know that all buses on the road period had to be so equipped.
Only New buses built after a certin year are required to have lifts in them. So the older 1979 Flxible are not required to have them.
The ADA requires the agency to phase in the purchase of lift eqipment buses, that is to say buses purchased with Fed funds after 19XX must have lifts. At the same time any public accomadations must meet ADA requirements if they remodel an lobby of a building after a certain year. Meeting ADA requirements is not an overnight thing. Case in point, How long will be before all buses will have automatic announcement (by using GPS)?
spotted at south beach parking lot this morning-nyct buses 5096 2679 and 3899 preparing for roadeo. 2679 was being operated with the rear door open through the cones. the festivities should be in full swing from 10am to 4pm on sat and sun and i hear some food will be available along with some of transits vintage fleet.
ill b there.......
BM34x
nyct has brought out several museum buses for the occasion including 6259,9098 and a rare appearance by grumman flxible 218 along with several others. also present is brand new new flyer low floor 868 as well as an articulated and mci bus. 4396 the phoenix will also be there. there should be food and hopefully bus memorabilia for sale.
NYCT's museum Grumman Flxible is 236.
David
you are correct. that was my mistake. went to open house at eny in 1980 and saw 218 and it stuck in my mind.
Yes those buses were there, including Grumman 236. I wich there were more Grummans around. I enjoyed myself and got a couple of sodas..... The TM had a little area set up to sell their memoribilia.
I have a question. Can the S53 and S79 use both levels of the VZ or they must use one level?
BM34x
all buses are to use lower level except for manhattan bound expresses unless lower level is closed or blocked.
Manhattan bound expresses can use upper level??
during am rush hours they are required to use upper level. they will soon merge into a contraflow lane on gowanus bypassing truck traffic entering gowanus from lower level.
Ah. What about the express buses that enter from Lily Pond Avenue? Do they just have to fly across 10 lanes of traffic, or what?
They're supposed to use a new entrance that requires a left turn from Lilly Pond, just before the overpass. This ramp puts them 5 lanes over from where the regular ramp puts them.
-Hank
Aah, thanks :)
Also Hybrid 6357 was there as well as MCI 2080........
BM34x
NF 868, NF 5303 also
A TRIBUTE TO BUS OPERATORS
As they deftly weave
36,900 pounds of wood, glass
steel, plastic, in and out of
city traffic
Did you know his child was very sick?
They smile at your great aunt
help your sister with her carriage
her mother passed away last month
Safely carry hundreds of people every morning
with headaches, backaches, and sore knees.
Some smile some are grumpy,
but, all are alert
for the Vans cut them off
to make the dollar
Bicyclist trying to race the bus
Kids playing chicken with them
BUT ALL ARE ALERT!!!!!!!
Kneel the bus for ur Grandma
listen to everybody's woes
Break up fights
Make announcements, give directions
Hand out tissues to your children
His wife is dying of Cancer.
Find ur books, bags, glasses, wallets, and keys too!
Her Daughter got arrested last night.
Put the Wheelchair on
Listen to the children talk that ugly stuff
Get threatened
Get Assaulted
Sexually Harassed
All the while getting you safely
to your destination
Linda Harris-Cresswell
Bus operator from
Jamaica Depot
Run number 001 on Q84
until June 25 when she goes
to the Q17
Bus drivers do seem to be some of the nicest people, thanks for sharing.
Mr t__:^)
Many of you might already know me. I dunno if u have seen my face, but Most of you might know Richard Roach, My Dad, A Queens Village B/O who is currently number 10 on the Q88 until The summer pick starts. My Dad is somewhat humorous, so when I asked him what did he get for his new pick, he said A run. He likes me to Track him down like a Detective. But I need ur help. I dunno if any of you know what mr Roach(my DAD) looks like, but he wears glasses and his Badge is 46413. If u see him, please Email me at the above address. Thank you
I used to see him but there's another QV Operator that I haven't seen for about 6 weeks. He has run 035 on the Q46 Badge 24135. If Rich Roach knows what happened to him, please email me. Thanks.
Q46#8357Gary
An early reminder for anyone making plans for a chat. Nobody showed up last Saturday (I didn't either, so I don't actually know if anybody came).
Please join the SubTalk Live message list, it's used to send announcements about upcoming chats and special events (I will discuss this in Saturday's chat). There are also two polls, they will be used to determine the chat night most suitable to all, and you have to be a member to participate in the polls.
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While the room may be called SUBTalk Live, BusTalkers are MORE THAN WELCOME! Maybe one day, as here, a separate bus room can be created if the chat has a greater following
1. Saw 4075 at Fulton and BB Blvd. There was no "Quality Control" Sign above the rear logo depot sticker. There were no numbers in the back of the bus either.
2. Coming out of Green Acres Mall, I saw a Green Line RTS on a flatbed truck on Sunrise Hwy. It was LI bound. Where was it going?????????
BM34x
The GBL was probably headed to Atlantic Diesel in Bohemia. He probably would go E/B on Sunrise out to Suffolk County, make a left at Sycamore Ave, proceed N/B to Vet's Highway (Rt. 454), left onto 454, proceed N/W and make a right into the facility. Since GBL is located down by JFK it makes more sense to go Sunrise than going up to the LIE east to Exit 59,then south to 454 then make a right to proceed up 454 to AD.
#9306WF a/k/a Hart Bus
That Green Line you saw on the flatbed was 612. I pass Atlantic Diesel everyday and saw her arrive on that flatbed. Green Line also has several others there: 1170, 646, 5522. Recently there was 243 and 5544 but I'm not sure if they still are. I also got to see 721 (ex-NYBS) about a week or so ago.
seen on 5th and 49th street this brand new hybrid bus being followed by nyct road truck.
spotted the remains of this bus being towed on the si xpwy toward nj. the bus last saw service at the castleton depot around 1999. a sad site indeed.
2267 used to operate out of Q.V. depot, then when they started getting in their 9300's it was tranferred over to Jamaica. However, it left again when we started getting in the 9500's, BIG AL
I remember QV having of MABSTOA 2200 series RTS. I can remember 2267 as a brand new bus at Coliseum depot.
Wayne
Changes take effect on June 24. This solves the mystery of the new bus stop signs and shows that the service isn't as popular as it was envisioned to be.14A, 14B, 14M Bethesda-Tysons Express Line
14A peak hour trips will be rescheduled to run every 20 to 30 minutes. Service via the Jones Branch Drive loop will be replaced by 2C, 3W, 3Z and Fairfax Connector 421, 941 and 942.
14M midday trips will be renamed 14A and will continue to operate hourly between Bethesda station and Tysons-Westpark Transit Station. Trips will be rescheduled to shorten travel time for 23A riders connecting to or from Tysons Corner Center or Tysons Galleria. Midday service between Tysons-Westpark Transit Station and Tysons Corner Center will be replaced by 2C, 23A and Fairfax Connector 421 and 904. Service after 7:43 p.m. will be discontinued. Trips will leave Bethesda station at 6:17, 6:37, 6:57, 7:17, 7:37, 7:57, 8:14, 8:34, 8:54, 9:16, 10 and 11 a.m., 12 noon, 1 and 2 p.m. Trips will leave Tysons-Westpark Transit Station at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m., 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3:43, 4:01, 4:21, 4:42, 5:05, 5:25, 5:45, 6:05, 6:25, 6:45, 7:15 and 7:43 p.m.
14B trips will operate every 20 to 30 minutes. Trips will leave Tysons-Westpark Transit Station at 6:30, 6:50, 7:13, 7:33, 7:53, 8:13, 8:33, 8:53 and 9:15 a.m. Trips will leave Bethesda station at 2:52, 3:33, 3:55, 4:15, 4:35, 4:55, 5:15, 5:36, 6:03 and 6:33 p.m.
14C, 14D Lakeforest-Tysons Express Line
14C and 14D trips will operate every 20 to 30 minutes. 14C trips will leave Lakeforest Transit Center at 6, 6:20, 6:40, 7:00, 7:10, 7:32, 7:52, 8:15, 8:35 and 8:59 a.m. (the 8:59 trip goes to Rock Spring Park), and leave Tysons-Westpark Transit Station at 3:45, 4:05, 4:25, 4:45, 5:05, 5:25, 5:45, 6:05, 6:25, 6:47 and 7:15 p.m. 14D trips will leave the transit station at 6:50, 7:11, 7:33, 7:53, 8:13, 8:33 and 8:53 a.m. The last two trips will go to Rock Spring Park only. 14D trips will leave Rock Spring Park at 3:41, 4:02, 4:24 and 4:42 p.m. going to the transit station. 14D trips will leave Lakeforest Transit Center at 4:39, 4:59, 5:25, 5:54, 6:22 and 6:50.
14T, 14W Tysons-Westpark Shuttle Line
14T will operate every 20 to 30 minutes to permit timed transfers at Tysons-Westpark Transit Station with 14A, 14B, 14C and 14D trips. Trips will leave the station at 6:15, 6:34, 6:42, 7:02, 7:22, 7:42, 8:02, 8:22, 8:45, 9:07, 9:27 and 9:42 a.m. and stop at Westwood Center, Old Courthouse Road, Tysons Corner Center and return to the station. The first two trips will leave from Old Courthouse and Chain Bridge roads. Trips will leave the station at 3:08, 3:27, 3:47, 4:08, 4:31, 4:43, 5:04, 5:24, 5:44, 6:14, 6:44, 7:12, 7:43 p.m. going to Tysons Corner Center, Old Courthouse Road, Westwood Center and return to the station.
Additional peak hour service is available on 2C, 3W, 23A and Fairfax Connector 574, 904, 941, 942 and 984 between Tysons-Westpark Transit Station and Tysons Corner Center. Additional service via Tyco Road is available on Fairfax Connector 574 and 984 to Leesburg Pike and Westwood Center Drive.
14W will operate every 20 minutes to permit timed transfers at Tysons-Westpark Transit Station with 14A, 14B, 14C and 14D trips. Service before 7 and after 9:07 a.m. and after 6:47 p.m. will be discontinued. All trips will operate via the Old Meadow Road and Mitretek Building loops. Trips will leave the transit station at 7:02, 7:22, 7:42, 8:02, 8:22, 8:42 and 9:07 a.m. and at 3:32, 3:52, 4:13, 4:33, 4:56, 5:14, 5:36, 5:57, 6:17 and 6:47 p.m.
In short, less trips because VDOT won't let the buses on the shoulder, decreasing ridership.
I have put the inventory of the DOT Yard that I saw this past Wednesday evening on an Excel 97 worksheet. Anybody wanting a copy, please E-mail me and I will be happy to send it to you. Perhaps one of the more computer-literate B-T'er's would be able to translate it and post it on B-T for all to see
Thanx - #9306 WF a/k/a Hart Bus
Auction closes about 8pm this evening! eBay Item 351004494, Brooklyn Trolley and Ebbets Field Photo from 1947. No reserve, minimum bid applies. Negative-original (not a copy, nor a scan, but printed from the actual camera negative), an 8x10 inch copyright-registered photograph of one of the most famous scenes in Brooklyn, New York. This extremely sharp and clear photo, taken November 6, 1947, just after the end of the baseball season, shows Brooklyn in its finest hour. As all Brooklyn Dodger fans are aware, the team was originally known as the “Trolley Dodgers” since the fans found it necessary to dodge the numerous trolley lines that operated in the not only in the entire Borough of Brooklyn but especially in the vicinity of Ebbets Field (opened April 9, 1913; closed September 24, 1957 after after the last game; demolished February 23, 1960; replaced by a huge housing project). Ironically, the last trolley operated in Brooklyn on October 31, 1956, but an electric trolleybus line (Lorimer Street) continued to operate past the stadium until it too was replaced by diesel buses on July 27, 1960. This classic photo shows two of Brooklyn’s famous “Peter Witt” type trolleys southbound on Franklin Avenue, about to turn west onto Empire Boulevard; trolley #8346 is in the foreground. Note also the classic two-color cast iron traffic signal (the last of which was replaced in Far Rockaway, Queens about five years ago), the standard Brooklyn “Trolley Station” sign and Mel’s Expert Repairs, who also offered parking at a monthly rate of ten dollars. The photograph was taken by Robert Wasche, noted trolley and transportation photographer, who walked and photographed, generally block-by-block, each of Brooklyn’s trolley and elevated lines, starting upon his return from the U.S. Military in World War II, photographing a clean and dependable means of transportation never to be forgotten. The photograph is hand-printed and developed on Agfa archival glossy stock, and will last a lifetime under proper storage conditions. The labels and cross-hatch lines shown on the photograph below do not, of course, appear on the actual photograph. Here is an opportunity to possess an original photograph of one of brooklyn’s most classic and historic scenes. •For further information or additional items that may be listed in the category above, do eBay Seller Search for JoePCC699@AOL.com. New items are added on almost a daily basis. Check our listings as often as possible; you wouldn’t want to miss an item you were looking for. Over 25,000 items in all categories are to be listed in the future. •Buyer pays shipping/insurance.
Does anyone have a picture of the hitch mechanism on an artic? I'm kina curious. What differences are there between say, a MAN artic hitch (which is a 'pull' chassis) and a New Flyer (a 'push' chassis).
-Hank
All I know is that "pusher" artics have to have an anti-jacknife unit as part of the articulation. Early push artics have a Schultz Anti-Jacknife unit which was made in Germany, I suspect that there are domestic manufacturers today.
I didn't think people would actually come and vandalize the buses... on the first day most of them were in good working order, but on the second day I didn't find too many of the buses even seemingly possible to work. 5303 was in excellent shape the first day, driver's seat and even windshield wipers working, sunday, nothing worked. Same story with the driver's seat on 2080. And driver's seats didn't work from the start on 6357 and 868. On about half the buses there, the back door emergency release was open, I went out (and in) through the back doors on these. Although two things I have a question on. One, on 236, there were actually 2 seperated aisles to exit the back door, and on one of the older buses, when the back door closed, it closed halfway and then closed with air the rest of the way. Why was this (for both things)?
From what you describe, it sounds like the buses just ranout of air in their tanks and the accessories stopped working due to lack of air. The air loss probably occurred from people stepping on brake pedals, turning air operated wipers on and off, etc.
The rear door emergency valves were probably opened because the doors wouldn'topen otherwise due to lack of air. Sometimes there is just enough air in the door system to keep the door from working properly but also enough to keep it shut.
40-50 images have been added to TransitWorld By Kevin Barsky, Gary Chatterton and Jason Davis. Check em out. More updates to come soon.
Q46#4900Gary
You three have done a marvelous job ... applause applause ...
Eye particularly like the Queens Surface section ;-)
Mr t
As some of you might have heard, there was a small fire in a room at the Parkview Nursing Home, Massapequa NY, early yesterday morning. As a child whose mother is in another facility, I can feel a sense of relief that there were very few injuries.
While watching the report on News 12 Long Island, a piece of the video showed some people climbing onto a GMC Fishbowl. They only showed the front door and maybe six inches of the rest of the body.
Above the door was painted the number 117 and then a larger number 9 before it to read 9117. Does anybody know where this bus came from?
I wonder if it belongs to the Red Cross or another rescue agency since I thought I saw two parallel stripes starting under the triangular window. This would mean that it is not currently a MSBA
06/13/2000
I was there after the fire since I live nearby. That bus was MSBA #117 with a #9 in front of the number, (9117). This is a suburban bus with no back door and high back padded seats. I observed that this bus was one that was painted with the black window treatment and the twin orange and blue bands in the center.
Funny, but any markings that tie the bus to MSBA or the MTA have been removed or painted over. I noticed there are "official" plates on the bus, but there is no markings whatsoever of who that hbus belongs to. That's the mystery.
Bill "Newkirk"
that bus is owned by Nassau County it was delivered to MSBA in 1973. it is a suburban 5304.
06/17/2000
BIGfoot,
Does Nassau County still own this bus. There are no markings whatsoever as to which branch of county government owns and maintains this bus. There was no Nassau County Shield on it to show it is a county vehicle. Only the "official plates" are the giveaway, otherwise it looks like an ex-MSBA bus to me!!
Bill "Newkirk"
In an article by Joe Brennan on this site at http://www.nycsubway.org/bus/busroutes.html he writes the following:
Meanwhile, Fifth Ave Coach Lines had become heavily involved in stock investing, and that part of the business was not taken by the City The company continued in business as an investment company until it was nailed by the Securities and Exchange Commission in 1967 for illegal business practices, not registering as an investment company. It and Gray Line Corp went into receivership. This was not the end. FACL registered with the SEC in 1968, got its final condemnation award for the bus lines in 1970, and emerged from receivership in 1971. In 1973 it changed its name to "South Bay Corporation" and shortly after that it became privately held (stock not publicly traded).
Loose ends: What ever happened to the South Bay Corporation? What is the relation of these companies to the Gray Line that runs tour buses in Manhattan today? What's the story with Green Bus Lines, which still has some sweetheart relationship with the City's franchise bureau? Will I sleep with the fishes if I pry into this? :-)
So, what ever did happen with this interesting arrangement?
I actually took a lot of time to think of something useful to say so I can restore my cookies, and my cookies still weren't restored!
So I might as well do this.
First of the new NovaBUS RTS-06 Hybrid Eletrics are here. Bus #6360 spotted twice, once deadheading down Fort Washington Avenue in Washington Heights about a week ago and again yesterday crossing the George Washington Bridge heading in to New Jersey around 6pm.
Be on the look out, she can be mistaken for a 5000 series Nova. Very similar looking.
Flxible Metro B #3511
If you are familiar with brakes on old buses or trolley coaches, please look here for a description of a part we need. The Trolley Museum of New York has a trolley car fitted with these brakes, and we need the tapered bellows that goes on the ends.
This AM on Union Tpke, i spotted what looked to be an old MC-8 in orange paint with a hand painted sign on the right side describing express service into manhattan for $3.00 and a number to phone for information.
I know this was not a QSC bus.
It was plain ugly and out of place.
Any body have any kind of info on this bus or previous sightings??
MJM
That's some outfit operating from Hempstead and Elmont, probably an independent owner covering his/her commute to Manhattan. It's been there for years, always running somebody else's leftover junk.
To be honest, the rickety bus itself may not be worth more than $3!
As a matter of fact, i remember seeing 'malverne' on this hand painted ign on the bus.
Saw this bus on the Q32 yesterday with aluminum wheels- which was kinda weird for a TMC and a high destination sign? Don't the 8400-8500 TMC Series have low destination signs? And 9609 wason Q32 today with steel wheels.
Q32#5204Gary
On Sunday I saw 8519 on the D63 and it had it's side moved up high. It just came from the Baseshop and was giving it's 12 year upgrade, so I guest they finley got the message that the lower sign are no good to see the raod when chaging lines.
Out
Robert
Corration B63 not D63.
A 12-year upgrade on a bus that's less than 5 yeears old?
-Hank
8400's are at 10 year old. I think that they were the last RTSs with a 6 cylinder engines.
8400s were built in 1993, so we're both off a few years. Still, quite early for a 12-year upgrade.
-Hank
Buses #8401-8566 are not 10 nor 12 years old, they are only 7 years old. You are mistaking these buses for the 8000-8399 order which is now 10 years old.
Flxible Metro B #3511
These buses are going through their 2nd upgrade since purchased known as the 6 year upgrade. The TA does a 3 year upgrade which includes an engine and transmission change, and exterior repaint. Then the unit goes through a 6 year upgrade which includes the same and if necessary it also gets a bulkhead replacement and interior repaint. Then the 3rd and final part is the 12 year upgrade which includes chasis anaylsis and work if necessary and all of the other things mentioned above. You can find this information in the Dept of Buses insiders guide for more information.
Peace & Blessings
DaShawn
8480 is one of very few TMC RTS-06s with this sign error. It's a program error and not purposly done.
As for the aluminum wheels, this is kinda strange based on chats with DOB that the aluminum wheels on all buses are being swaped back to steel wheels because the aluminum wheels are not designed for stop and go transit. With the braking and all, the wheel edges get sharp fast and cut/destroy tires on the buses.
What's been happening is that since the TA is implimenting this steel wheel change, they weren't prepared for the amount that they needed and now they are taking the aluminum rims that they removed from some of the buses already and using those as back ups.
Flxible Metro B #3511
I notice that newer Orions (6000 series) and the new CNG's QS has have A/C vents on the upper portion on the sides of the bus. This seems to work alot better than the other types, with the vent blowing air from the windowsill vents (like on LI Bus Orions).
However I've been on the 500s at Casey Stengal and they can be ice cold. Which buses have the best A/C?
One thing I can say is the A/C on QS Orion CNG's is much better than LI Bus A/C.
The MCI Coaches in SI express service. Meat lockers on wheels.
-Hank
Who was there, I was there! I was there from 12:15-1:30PM, I was the only 12 year old there!
Hi Mista,
I got there at 9:30, as usual. Got a few things I needed, then left about 11. Took my camera and went photographing, although in the heat I did so with some hesitation.
Joe C.
Picked up a copy of the 'Bus Talk' flyer on the x31 this morning. Feature of the issue? "Meet the Fleet". Inside are drawings of 7 buses, similar to the one printed in the Times a few months ago. Except this one only got 4 out of 7 right. Starting at the top left and going down the column, there's pic of an RTS-type, properly labeled 'RTS-04, RTS-06-Our standard model'
Next is a picture of a New Flyer C40LF, improperly labeled as 'Orion 5-Now in daily service'
Next is an MCI Coach 'Over the Road(Express)-Introduced last year'
Next is a New Flyer D60 'Articulated Bus-Bends its way through traffic'
On the right, a picture of an Orion V with no CNG tanks, 'CNG Bus-Runs on compressed natural gas'
A picture of an Orion VI Low-Floor Hybrid, 'Low-Floor Hybrid-Electric motor and wheelchair ramp instead of a lift'
Last is a picture of another C40LF, identical to the one labeled 'Orion 5', only this time the label says 'NOVA LFS-Low-floor bus, on loan to us for testing'
Go figure. All this time, I thought there was only ONE LFS in NYC. Turns out that there's more than 50 at Jackie Gleason!
-Hank
I have just updated the TrAnSiTiNfO homepage, the first time in over three months. I am now looking for somebody, or people, who is/are interested in Transit, who want(s) to help maintain and design the TrAnSiTiNfO webpage, and who will be really dedicated to the page. If you are interested, please contact me at jcxp15@hotmail.com sometime before June 23rd. Help is really needed.
Sincerely,
Clark Palicka
CEO TrAnSiTiNfO
http://www.transitinfo.cjb.net
I'll help you!
Flxible Metro B #3511
webmaster@transitalk.com
I'd love to help with HTML and JavaScript!!! Every so often I make a website just so I can play with those. I can also work on design and image editing.
Basically, a data to presentation liaison.
On my last visit to the Island,I drove around just to see how much it has changed,and notice every single city bus around was an orion model[brand new at that]. Question; Are all buses there ORION's[besides exp] or are there still RTS models around ?
Castleton Depot still has a number of RTS buses. I'm not on Staten Island regularly, so I don't know how often they run. Up to about a year ago, both SI depots had numerous 1981 and 1982 RTS's, running in both local and express service. Most of those are gone.
THANK YOU .KAME OUT
Sorry, I meant Yukon Depot, not Castleton! Castleton currently has no RTS buses.
8328 is the only RTS at CAS Depot and is used for training purposes.
S44#6300Gary
8328 was towed to eny for repairs and will be sent to flatbush. rts buses at yukon are 4892-4899 and 8293-8316.
There are about a dozen RTS left in service on SI, all in the 8300 series.
They seem to make mostly school trips. There are no RTS left in x-bus service. There are still Orion coaches in x-bus service.
-Hank
As a real busbuff and one who enjoys all different kinds of antique vehicles, I was very disappointed to see that the former New York City Transit Authority 1963 General Motors TDH-5303 model New Look Fishbowl
green body Museum Bus #3758 featuring the script Transit Authority logo across the top did not show up at this years New York City Transit Bus Roadeo down at South Beach. I was informed from senior Transit Officials that the 1963 GM Fishbowl bus which is currently housed at the Jackie Gleason Bus Depot in Brooklyn had major mechanical and electrical defects. So in place of bus #3758, the maintenance crew decided to send out a former express bus the 1968 GM
TDH-5305AC Fishbowl Bus #8928 with the soft seats.
In any case, I was told that the New York Transit Museum is sponsoring an Open House at the Jackie Gleason Bus Depot on Saturday August 12th
at 11:00AM to the public. I was wondering if there would be any possible way for the maintenance crew at Gleason to have their Museum
1963 GMC Fishbowl Transit Bus#3758 available for display to the public on August 12th where there are no other buses or vehicle's blocking the green body 1963 GM bus? Last year when I visited the Jackie Gleason Bus Depot and tried to take a picture of this vintage bus, it was parked way in the rear of the garage blocked by other buses.
I just wish that NYC Transit can have this 1963 GMC Bus #3758 parked in a location where there is more space without other vehicles blocking so busfans like myself can take a full view photo of this Museum Bus.
"I was told that the New York Transit Museum is sponsoring an Open House at the Jackie Gleason Bus Depot on Saturday August 12th."
It's not an open house. You need to reserve a space through the TA.
I would supose that you probably need to make reservations well in advance with the New York Transit Museum coupled with becoming a full pledged member of the Museum to have the priverleges of attending events such as the Jackie Gleason Bus Depot Tour on August 12th.
But for me that is besides the point since I am just trying to get a full view close up photo of the 1963 GMC TDH-5303 Transit Museum bus
#3758. It was just so much of a shame that TA bus #3758 could not make it to the NYC Transit Bus Roadeo down at South Beach on June 10th.
Nonetheless, would you happen to know a Transit employee who has or can take a full view photograph themselves of this 1963 GM former New York City Transit Authority bus? Thank you for keeping me informed.
The Jackie Gleason bus was not at the Roadeo ether. I is going the acomplet rewiring it's self. The TA is afraide of loosing one of the older noreplaceable busses.
HEY MTA BOI 2000 !!! WHERE ARE YOU DUDE?
I'm here dude!!!!!!!!
Flxible Metro B #3511
Going north on West street today around 3:00 near Vesey Street, I saw an older model RTS with a full wrap ad (with those weird stick figure people, I think it said "MAI" in the front, possibly). The odd thing was that it had a Jackie Gleason sticker on the driver's window. Any ideas?
bus 1848 is operated by hospital audiences inc and is garaged at jg.
What is really interesting is that this unit went in with the 7000 series remans and is remanufactured just like the CMF remans. They recieved donations from Atlantic Detroit Diesel Allison, The MTA, and somebody else but I can't recall right now. This unit is nice with full L.E.D. turn and brake signals along with seperate yellow LED turn signal where the rear destination sign would be on either side. It's always at MSG or other popular places. It's a nice gift to HAI.
Peace & Blessings
DaShawn
Today, my bus (M9) came about an hour late. I called customer service at the 45 min. mark, and they said it's traffic and a bus will come soon. Well, a bus did come in about 5 minutes, but, this wasa terminal, so it sat for about 10 minutes. Anyway, it turns out that we were re-routed totally around Chatam Sq. So, from Park Row and city hall, we went East Frankfort St., North Pearl St., East Madison St., North Pike St., East East Bdwy, regular routing. Does anyone know what was going on at Chatam Sq?
Also, you were briefly northbound on Saint James Place between Pearl and Madison. Pearl turns westbound to end at Centre (used to end on Broadway).
Are both the M9 and M15 involved,,and what is the routing in BOTH DIRECTIONS
Steve (thanks)
Both M9 and M15 involved, I gave the routing for north, I do not know the routing for south.
Oh, I'm there every week. Apparently, the city is doing work to the entire area, so it's a big mess. Somehow the roads mutate every week. I'm not sure what the new area is going to look like, but they have a blue sign at the corner of Division and Bowery. It shows a diagram of how it's going to look when the work has completed.
Ooh thanks, I'll go over there sometime and take a look.
The Bowery is all torn up from Canal Street to Chatham Square since the begining of the year. Only one lane of traffic in each direction is going through. Cement pads at the bus stop are included in the project. Once the streets are finished, it shouldn't be long before ConEd or the local Bell to open up the street again. I hate driving through this area, but I have to.
What are cement pads?
Cement pads - As you know the streets are paved with asphalt. At the bus stop, a renforced concrete area (About the size for one bus) is created just for the bus. It may be because at bus stops the asphalt, on a hot summer day, would give a bit (like play dough). Sooner or later you a a mound of asphalt, creating problems for people exiting/entering the bus. Cement pads will not create a mound for people to trip over as the exit/enter the bus. It is better to have this as a safety measure than to have an exiting passenger under the rear wheel.
On 2080 the other day, I noticed the first parcel rack sections on both sides were covered with small doors and not the ropes. On the driver's side, there was a fire extinguisher, but on the passenger side, just an empty compartment. Why was there the enclosed compartment on the passenger side?
its actually meant for storage of the drivers belongings since mci buses are meant for long hauls. the compartment on the left contains road flares i believe. of course nyct never told us this and they are in a locked box.
Oh, thanks for the info! :)
The first of the new MCI G3 Coach fleet is now in operation! Operating out of the Dallas Depot, mainly used on the LA-Dallas run, be prepared they can be hitting your streets anyday.
TransiTALK to premier first photos some during the day on June 14th.
Flxible Metro B #3511
I would like to know if the Bus Fair past for 2000. If anyone know plase post.
No fear not because this year the NYC Transit Bus Fest is scheduled for Saturday September 16th, 2000.
Thank You
Robert
For months I have been trying to get into the Jackie Gleason Bus Depot to take a picture of one of their Museum Buses the 1963 General Motors
TDH-5303 New Look Fishbowl bus #3758 painted in green with the script New York City Transit Authority logo on the top. I understand that outsiders other than Transit employees are prohibited from traspassing on the grounds of the Gleason Depot. However, would there be any NYC Transit bus operators or maintenance workers who can take a full overall view photo of the 1963 GM bus #3758 and have the photo sent to me? If anything, where can you purchase calendars featuring now Vintage New York City Transit Authority buses? For example, I know that someone was selling 1997 and 1998 Transit Bus Calendars at the
1999 New York Transit Bus Fest. Thank you for helping me.
I work at Jackie Gleason I might be able to get a picture the 3758. There two problem, one is that the door side is up agents a wall, so i can only get the full drivers side. Two I don't have a scanner to down load it to you, so if you can e-mail me to let me know how you would like it done i would try to get you a good picture of 3758.
Robert
Dear Rob:
Thank you for showing your interest in helping me with getting a picture of this 1963 GMC TDH-5303 New Look Transit Bus #3758. Even if you can only get a descent view of bus #3758 from the drivers side, would you still be able to get a full overall side view of that bus including the script Transit Authority logo across the top? If you can get a picture taken of the green body 1963 GM Fishbowl Transit bus, would you be able to tell me off hand how much it would cost to send me an 8X10 or 11X14 photo reprint of the vehicle on glossy photo paper? Remember, I would have no problem paying you for having the picture processed and mailed to me because I have been trying so desperately to try to get into the Gleason Depot myself to get a picture of it. Either way, please let me know if you can take a photo of that 1963 GMC bus #3758. Thank you for taking the time to help me.
PS: I can be contacted at the following Postal Mailing Address...
Mr. Anders J. Updale Jr.
104 Duer Ave.
Staten Island, N.Y. 10305
I use APC Film. I will try to take A picture of it on Monday when I go back in the after noon to pick. When I finsh the roll the I will get it develet I will send you a print to you so you can copy it.
One more thing the bus is covered with bird dropings on the roof.
One more thing if you want any of the other buses let me know OK.
Some Florida coach operators are sending their buses up to the New York metro area to operate charters originating here. Dynamic Tours of Orlando has 4 Van Hool 2045s here and FAME of Ocala has 7 Prevost HP-45s up here with 12 more on the way. There is no work in Florida now, so they will stay here at least through September.
how do these companies get charter work up here?
They get most of their work from the Chinese tour operators in Chinatown. My company, Royal Lines is now starting to use them to a greater degree as we are frequently overbooking more than our 30 bus fleet can handle.
Are any of these buses working for Hampton Jitney or Sunrise Coach because I assume that their business must pick up exponentially in the summer but be too slow in winter to buy/lease buses and not use them for months at a time.
Do these Southern Buses have a livery on them? If they are on LI I'll try to get a picture of them.
Hampton owns a co here in Fla. now. Happy Trails was the name, in the winter most of the buses are here and in the summer on the island. Also they were looking for drivers to go up north for the summer to work there.
As far as I know, none of these buses have made their way to Long Island yet. Dynamic Tours has their 4 Van Hool 2045s parked in a lot at the foot of Columbia St. in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn. FAME has their 7 Prevost HP45s parked at the Palace Hotel in Weehawken, NJ where their drivers are staying. None of them are working for Hampton Jitney which has its own Florida subsidiary.
Saw this bus operating for the 1st time in a long time on the Q65 today. The only difference on her was tha she had no rear destination sign. When I saw her last at QS, her fate wasn't looking good. Thought she was going to get scrapped. She had no rear at all. QS did a heck of a job overhauling this bus into operating shape. Good job, QS!!!!!
Q66#361Gary
Thanks for the kind words Gary, I'll pass on your comments to my maint. friend as they don't get many "good job"s.
Mr t__:^)
This is right up some peoples alley
METROCARD ARTICLE
Peace,
ANDEE
I have 6 of those Snug Harbor cards. Anyone want them? Only $25!
(Yes, I'm deadly serious)
-Hank
i am looking for 2 old '60s silver colored uniform buttons. one is a bus driver's button with MABSTOA in raised letters on it. the other is a larger version that was on the dispatcher's coat. please e-mail me if you have these. i would like to buy them to add to my collection. i am at-- jtgm@webtv.net thanx
TrAnSiTiNfO is pleased to announce that Thursday, June 15th, at 9:00 PM, Trevor Logan, CEO of TransiTalk, joined the TrAnSiTiNfO team. Expect to see many new things come to TrAnSiTiNfO in the near future.
Clark Palicka
CEO TrAnSiTiNfO
http://www.transitinfo.cjb.net
GREAT!
My world is so complete upon reading this post!
I will sleep better tonight!
See what positive effect TrAnSiTiNfO has on people!!!
Clark Palicka
CEO TrAnSiTiNfO
http://www.transitinfo.cjb.net
LOL! See what being smart aleck gets you Mr. Mabstoa! I'll see you again soon at Mother Clara Hale! LOL!
Regards,
Trevor Logan - Flxible Metro B #3511
TransiTALK & TrAnSiTiNfO
Mr.Mabostoa, what route do you drive at MCH?
--Clayton Parker--
Head Techie@The Tech Room
http://www.thetechroom.com
hotline://216.232.120.20:5555
He doesn't - he is now a Dispatcher at Mother Hale.
And don't forget Dan, a certified handbrake streeetcar operator as well!
Got your feet wet, if you really wish "certified", I'll give you a crack at the requal exam and if you do reasonably well, you can consider yourself "certified" :)
I presume that Shoreline has seen fit to let you get a crack at their hand brakers. If not, fie on them.
While riding cross country with gmartic several NJT NovaBus RTS were spotted on thier way from the factory.
Also spotted were some casper whte RTS # in the 1500's belved bound for NJT operators. ADise.
Also a RTS demo "RTS Express" painted greay black and orange with the flames up the side look was seen on a rig in Ohio.
Anyone have more info on these?
RTS
This is the NYC Omnibus/Fifth Avenue/Eighth Avenue/Madison Avenue Bus Roster.
800-854 1941 Yellow Coach TD-4502 NYC Omnibus
855-916 1942 Yellow Coach TD-4505 Eighth Avenue Coach
1700-1724 1946 Yellow Coach TD-4506 Madison Avenue Coach
1725-1739 1946 Yellow Coach TD-4506 NYC Omnibus
1740-1757 1946 Yellow Coach TD-4506 Eighth Avenue Coach
1758-1809 1946 Yellow Coach TD-4506 NYC Omnibus
1810-1835 1946 Yellow Coach TD-4506 Madison Avenue Coach
1836-1845 1947 GM TDH-4507 Madison Avenue Coach
1846-1851 1947 GM TDH-4507 NYC Omnibus
1852-1886 1948 GM TDH-4507 NYC Omnibus/Eighth Avenue Coach
1887-1899 1948 GM TDH-4507 NYC Omnibus
2200-2217 1945 Yellow Coach TD-4506 Fifth Avenue Coach
2218-2259 1946 Yellow Coach TD-4506 Fifth Avenue Coach
2260-2334 1946 GM TDH-4507 Fifth Avenue Coach
2335-2350 1947 GM TDH-4507 Fifth Avenue Coach
2351-2362 1948 GM TDH-4507 Fifth Avenue Coach
2363-2437 1950 GM TDH-4509 Fifth Avenue Coach
2475-2499 1952 Mack C-50 Fifth Avenue Coach
2500 1940 Yellow Coach TD-5401 Fifth Avenue Coach
2501 1949 GM TDH-5102 Fifth Avenue Coach
2502-2551 1952 GM TDH-5102 Fifth Avenue Coach
2605-2644 1958 GM TDH-5106 Fifth Avenue Coach
2645-2694 1959 GM TDH-5106 Fifth Avenue Coach
2700-2736 1948 GM TDH-4507 NYC Omnibus
2737-2836 1949 GM TDH-4509 NYC Omnibus
2837-2896 1949 GM TDH-4509 Eighth Avenue Coach
2897-2946 1949 GM TDH-4509 NYC Omnibus
2947-3021 1950 GM TDH-4509 NYC Omnibus
3022-3096 1951 GM TDH-4509 NYC Omnibus
3100 1956 GM TDH-5106 Fifth Avenue Coach
3101-3110 1960 GM TDH-5301 Fifth Avenue Coach
3111-3160 1960 GM TDH-5301 Fifth Avenue Coach
If anyone has information on NYC bus roster numbers dated back before 1940 please post it.
I saw bus 288 on the N28 this morning at Roslyn. Is this a new bus? It was an Orion CNG, but the front destination sign had large letters, and the rear looked liked the QSC Orions.
Also I think it sounded more like a QSC one too. Could it be LI Bus is finally getting new Orion CNG's with a DETROIT DIESEL CNG engine in it?
The CNG's at Mitchell are getting old, and hopefully this is start to upgrading the whole fleet to Queens Surface's standards.
I didn't get a look at the interior of 288, but perhaps they have those semi-soft seats QSC has?
Anyone with info on what new buses are coming to LIB please post here.
I was told some time ago that LI Bus was scheduled for some new coaches, guess it's true.
Mr t__:^)
Bus 288 is the first of (I believe) 57 CNG Orion Vs; they are scheduled to replace the great Gilligs, which will sorely be missed by bus operators and passengers alike. No. 288 is currently being tested to hopefully weed out defects before delivery of the other units.
Does this new batch have DD engines like QS? Also I like the new bigger destination signs, they are much easier to read. The rear sign looked exactly like the ones on the QS Orions.
I wonder if the new batch has padded seats? Do you know when we'll be seeing them on the road by?
"Bus 288 is the first of (I believe) 57 CNG Orion Vs; they are scheduled to replace the great Gilligs, which will sorely be missed
by bus operators and passengers alike."
:-O
I wonder where the Gilligs are going to go. Perhaps the junkyard, since I can't imagine anybody wanting to use them. Then again, they could easily be converted to school buses!!!
06/17/2000
Joe,
These new Orion's will replace the Gilligs? They aren't all that old, could it be because they are not handicapped accessible? Or are they just plain shot!
Bill "Newkirk"
"THE CNG's AT MITCHELL ARE GETTING OLD"??!! What do you mean by old? I have never seen an OLD CNG bus. These buses can't be any older than say 5 years, at the most. The avg life span of any bus is about 12 years and nobody retires buses at that age. If you want to see some old buses, visit ENY depot in Brooklyn. They have more 17 year old buses on the road than any depot I know of. I would consider LI buses oldest CNG's as still being pretty new. Speaking of ENY depot, check out my next post. BIG AL
Was it a low floor? Wasn't there some talk about LI Bus recieving low floors?
No, it did not look like a low floor. I think RVC may get some low floors eventually to replace their diesels.
RVC?
LI Bus has two depots, Mitchell Field (the main one) and the Rockville Centre (RVC, the smaller one).
RVC depot serves routes in southern Nassau during the week only.
Well what I mean is their condition, they are getting slow and have bumpy ride (lots of seat rattling). I was on mainly 100s yesterday and they were especially slow, especially with that A/C on. The only one that I had that was reasonably fast was 208.
According to the bus roster/transfer section in this web site, 4600's are supposed to be transferred to MABSTOA, however I have been seeing them coming to ENY depot and running on the Q24 & Q56 lines on Archer ave. I saw one yesterday that still had the JG logo on it. I would assume these are replacing some of those beat up looking low 3000's they still have. Does anybody know how many 4600's ENY depot will be getting? Anyway, I know the operators must really be happy that those bombs are finally leaving. BIG AL
The 4600's, 4700's and 4800's are being split up to other depots as the new Low Flyer's coming in to Jackie Gleason.
Do you know which other depots?
ENY and UP come to mind.
R36Gary
THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY SET ASSIGNEMT FOR THE 4600's. BUSES 4602, 4644, 4646, 4648, 4649 & 4690 ARE IN ENY SERVICE RIGHT NOW.
Saw 4650 on the B82 tonight with a broken front destination sign.
David
Please don't shout. It's rude.
Oddly enough, the depot with the oldest fleet is QV. Even though ENY has all those 17-year old buses, QV has 10 1982 coaches, the most 1985 RTS's of any depot in the system (40+), and a bunch of 1986's as well. QV is forced to run a bunch of their 3900's on weekends while JAM has the luxury of running mostly 9500's and 5100's. Occaisionally, you'll see a 8900/9000 (1996 RTS) and on RARE occaisions a 4500 on a Saturday/Sunday. JAM will never run a 1985 on weekends.
Fresh Pond has around 46 from 1985 and 13 from 1984, and at least 1 from 1983.
3299 is still running saw her on B24 Thursday! QV has only 1 1983 model left: 3243 and I saw her on Q88 Tuesday.
Q88#3243Gary
3299 on the Q24! LOL. Guess the dispatcher didn't like the driver who pulled it out of the depot! Suprised it made it up the hill of the Kosciusco Bridge whatever how many trips that old clunker made!
I think I made a proposal a few months back that the three 3300s FP had should run on the B24. Someone at FP agres with me.
I think I made a proposal a few months back that the three 3300s FP had should run on the B24. Someone at FP agres with me. Also, I saw 4100 on a late P.M. run by the Willy B on Monday
3299 was on the B24, the Q24 is run by ENYT Depot.
B24#3299Gary
3299 was on the B24, the Q24 is run by ENY Depot.
B24#3299Gary
3299 was on the B24 again today! I saw it at the same time by the Willy B as yesterday,around 5:40 p.m.(4100 was on that same run yesterday). Maybe the driver likes pld buses.
Some operators do like the older buses better, mainly because the interlock is easier to operate than on the new buses. You don't have to stomp it as hard. Also, there is more room in the operator's compartment than on the new buses. The wheel chair lift is easier to work with none of that tie-down nonsense to worry about. Some old buses are very fast also. In Jamaica, 4216 & 4579 are 2 of our fastest old buses. 4139, 4346, 4554, 4584, 4589 & 4591 move very good also. The main thing I don't like about them is that: 1) most operator seats are worn out and hard as a rock and: 2)they ride very hard and most will rattle the fillings out your teeth. BIG AL
I'm a frequent rider on the Q17 and I rode on 4216 last week and I thought that her transmission was kinda shot cause every time she was speeding up, she jolted. Also she made a weird noise when taking off. Wasn't impressed with her ride. 4215, her sister I thought was much better. I've been on all of these buses that you have placed down here but 4139 and 4589. Most were pretty good. I thought that bus 4592 was very fast too. I'll now give you some of the worse 4500s in there:
4557- engine trembles when left idling. Same goes for Nova 5150.
4352 4354 4578 and 4585- very slow buses.
Q17#5159Gary
Very good Gary. You know your 4500's very well. I was going to mention 4592 in my list also, but when I had her about 2 weeks ago, I noticed she wasn't as fast as she used to be. I have not driven 4216 in about 2 months now since we've been on this current pick so it's possible it's starting to need some work but that was the only 4200 you would have been able to see running on the weekend. You are exactly right on the slow buses. 4585 is the worst. 4573, 4560, 4570, 4580 and 4590 are among the slowest to name a few so I know to stay away from any 4500 ending with a zero. BIG AL P.S. more garbage buses:4347-4349.
I forgot to mention- one of our 45's, I think it might be the one you mentioned, 4557, has a Nova engine in it which would explain the rough ideling. I'm on vaction now and don't go back until 7/5. When I'm back I'll confirm which bus definitely has the engine and post back. BIG AL
I've noticed, generally, also that the older buses compared to the newer Nova's tend to have roomier compartments, but I find this odd because on the older buses you've got stuff on all sides of you, but on the newer buses, you only have stuff on one side. It seems the legroom is a bit bigger on the old buses.
It's nice to hear some support for the older buses, especially, 4216 and 4139. At Fresh Pond, they're always trying to fix those lousy 9100s, 9500s, and 5000s.
It was re-engined with a 6V-92, so it is probably not in that bad condition.
(Saw on Q-55, and later B-13, Monday)
ENY is the last major holdout of the 6V-71!
It seems like QV has had one of the oldest (if not oldest) fleets for a long time. Before the 93XX series arrived their newest buses were those 1990 83XX TMC RTS. ....And all of those 1981/83/85 GM RTS.
Looks like QV does a pretty good job of maintaining their buses.
Wayne
Actually, Q5Merrick, I'll let you in on a little secret. Jamaica only has 7 1985 local buses, 4129, 4139 and 4214-4218. The reason you will not see them on the weekend is because the drillers go out of their way to bury these buses in the yard on Friday night so they can't be pulled out on the weekend. They bury the worst 4500's as well. I know because I used to do the same thing also when I used to drill on Fridays. As for Q.V., they have some of the most ridiculous rules I have ever seen. They will not run some of their new buses on the weekend. When they first got in the 9300's, they would never run them on Sat & Sun. That was the rule. They run them now but I am not so sure about the 4900's. So the driver's get stuck in the jalopies while the good buses sit in the depot. By the way, when was the last time you saw a 7000 during the weekend? BIG AL
I'm a frequent rider on the Q46 route and on Saturdays and Sundays, you'd see a lot of the TMC 8300 series out on the road than the new 4900 or 9300 series. Those buses are more prefered by certain drivers that I know. Here's the preference in order:
4900
9300
8300
4300
3900
7000
3800
1700
I've seen and rode on 1700s and 3800s on local routes at QV before but haven't seen that occuring in a long time.
Q46#8357Gary
Ive seen 4652 on the B12 and 4644 on the B14..........
B46M Limited
I was coming home from taking a Regents today, when all of a sudden, the Q30 said the President was in Jamaica today. The Q30 to Jamaica turned from Utopia Pkwy and went along union turnpike in the direction of the Q46 to LIJ hopsital to 188th street. Then we followed the Q17 route to Hillside and 169 making a left onto 169 and continuing the Q30 route from there to Merrick boulevard. I'm sure my Dad, Richard Roach, A QV B/O would have loved this detour, but he is number 10 on the Q88, and wasn't affected by this detour.
You got it,,it was for the President
Steve
NYC FDNY
About 25 images have been added to TransitWorld MTA and DOT Sections. More to come soon. Enjoy!!!!
R36Gary
WWW.TRANSITWORLD.ORG
Can anyone tell me is the East New York CMF facility a separate building from the East New York depot? Also buses that are in storage at the various sites are these buses that are going to the scrap yard or are they back up to the regular fleet? Thanks for the help.
Click here to read my post on SubTalk.
I have one addition to make.
On Friday, I took an M86 over to the West Side to go to Friday Night Services at B'nai Jeshrun at 88th between Broadway and West End. After I alighted, the sign was changed to
X17 E MIDTOWN
X17 VIA NEW JERSEY
Why would an West Side artic be running on that route?
Also, it seems someone has written <- 1ST CLASS and COACH -> on the stickers halfway through the bus that say to move back and keep the front platform clear. It is the same person for it is the same handwriting on each bus.
In answer to the first question, the wrong code was obviously punched into the sign keyboard, as artics are not used on express routes (although every bus in the system has every reading in the system). In answer to the second, someone at West Side Depot has (or thinks he/she has) a sense of humor. Just wait until someone takes it seriously, objects, and sues :-)
David
Actually, I think that's pretty funny. BIG AL
I actually did too. In my opinion, the front half of the bus is 1st class, the back is second, and the 4 seats in the articulated section are third.
Heh, right right right near my house, the dirty building across the street, heh...
BO BO!!!!
Bo bo...what is that?
BO BO is just another slang used for a rail or bus enthusiast. It is not meant in a bad way, just like a "buff".
Can anyone help me?
I have been searching the web trying to find pictures of older busses (pre WW II) without much luck. All the sites I have found so far seem to have mostly post 1948 vehicles. Thanks for your help.
Try www.davemackey.com/psct/index.html
and
members.aol.com/busspot/mainUS.htm
these sights have several pictures of pre-war buses in [new] Jersey.
Thanks for the direction. The sites were both interesting.
I'm still looking for the former New York 5th Ave. double deckers, both open and closed, and some old Mercedes buses I saw Germany.
Just a change of topic for today
Does anybody have Brooklyn Bus Maps from 1969-1994?
TrAnSiTiNfO's homepage has been redesigned. Stop by and see the changes.
Clark Palicka
CEO TrAnSiTiNfO
http://www.transitinfo.cjb.net
This is two transitinfo posts in three days, can we cut it down to about 1 or 2 a year!?
Does anyone need any details on either Route ,,what do you need??----routing,,,stops,,etc
Does anyone know what depots these are to be coming out of? Will they make it cutywide, divisionwide, what?
And what stops will M2000 make?
I missed something.....What's this about?
-Hank
M2000 and S2000 are going to be the special 7/4/00 (July 4th) buses.(M2000=Manhattan) (S2000=Staten Island)
And now I have a question. What will it say on the rear sign? M200?
If anyone needs schedules,--"I" have the information
Steve
M2000
from Columbus Circle via Broadway,W49 st ,12 Av,West 43 enter the Circle Line .Leave Circle Line,12 av to 23 st to Chelsea Pier,,Leave Chelsea Pier,12 Av to 11 av to West St.West S to Battery Pk Underpass to FDR ,Exit on South St,terminate on South St ,,nearside of Fulton St.
Turnaround via North on South St,RF Wagner Place,Pearl St,Frankfort St,South St, to stand between John St and Fulton St.
Return via South St,FDR Drive,Battery Pk Underpass,West St,11 Av,West 24 st 12 Av ,Enter Chelsea Pier
Continue via 12 av West 50 St,6 Av,Central Pk South t Nearside of Central Park West
the Stops of the 2000 are Circle LIne M42/50 Stop,Chelsea Pier M23 stop,,West St at the X6/7/9 stop ,south of Vesey st at the Ped.Overpass.
The stops Northbound are M9/20 Bs Stop at 1 WTC, Chelsea Pier M23 Stop,on 12 Av at he m50 stop nearside of west 44 st
------------------------------------------------------
S2000 Route from St George Ramp D,via Bay St,School Road,,Lily Pond v,Capodonna Blvd, ,Jefferson Av Bs Loop.
return via Capodonna Blvd,Lil y Pond Av,School Rd,,Bay St to Ramp D
The Stops SB on Bay at Van Duzer,Water,,HYlan Blvd,Lyman Av..On Capodonna Blvd stop at Burgher Av nr 467Capodonno
Stops NB are Burger av nr 467 Capodonno ,,on Bay St at Sea Gate Rd,Hylan Blvd,Water St,Hannah St,
These are shuttles for OpSail?
-Hank
These are the Ops Sail Routes,,,refered to in the order ,as TALL SHIPS
If a hurricane were to strike Long Island, would this interrupt CNG fueling facilities like those that serve Long Island Bus? Do these high pressure gas lines rely on electricity to function, and if there is a power outage do bus depots have emergency power for pumps?
Also would regular service be operated, for LIB routes and NYCT ones?
Electricity is still needed to pump diesel fuel just the same.
It would be imprudent to run regular service. In addition to having closed roads, transportation patterns would be highly different.
And most of the city would emerge unscathed, only peripheral areas would be at risk. This includes parts of all boroughs except Manhattan.
Not to mention that in a situation this severe, a state of emergency would be declared, and the rules imposed at that time will supercede everything else.
-Hank
There is an ad on a bus shelter at Plandome Road & Northern Blvd
with a chicken from the movie with it's arm up. From a distance it may look like someone is standing at the bus stop, now all the drivers slow when approaching the stop just to make sure no one is there!
Ther's all too many ads designed that way -- remember the ones for Forrest Gump, which showed Tom Hanks sitting at a bus stop bench?
TransitWorld was updated June 18- for Father's Day. 65 images were added by Kevin Barsky. Pics from the roadeo are here. Make sure you check them out! Enjoy! More updates to come during the week!
R36Gary
www.transitworld.org
PS Even though it's a little late- hope the fathers out there had a nice Happy Father's Day despite the dreary weather!
The only dreary thing is all these web site update posts!
I thought we went through this crap already.
I agree,,can we maybe bring it down to 1 update posting a week ,please
Steve
1 update post a week- fine cause we got grouches with nothing else to do in here but complain. We do update on a regular few day basis, BUT I will post 1 for the week. Then will you br happy Mr Groucho?
R36Gary
Phew, Not a part of this! Much to the request of the last time we all went through this, TransiTALK has not "advertised" any updates, The thing is now, you can just log onto the site and see what was done for yourself. Plus posting it here is time consuming!
I don't see it!
Flxible Metro B #3511
Trevor, I agree with you. I just thought that the people here would've like to see pics from the Bus Roadeo that was last weekend.
From now on if they would like to see an update, they know where to go. Many thanks to the "grouchos" (only some people here) on this board, the people that would like to see and be notified about updates, I could email you and let you know that the site has been updated. Just email me a notification that you'd like to be a part of this. Or just check the site on a day by day basis and it will be updated. I usually leave the link after my sign off. Many thanks-grouchos for making life so difficult!!!!
R36Gary
www.transitworld.org
Does anyone know when the 2000 Bus expo is, and please don't tell me it passed already.
according to the transit museum's calendar of events for summer 2000, the 8th annual bus festival will be on saturday september 16th, 10am - 4pm on schermerhorn street, outside of the transit museum... admission will be $5 for adults...
$2 for museum members, seniors, children, and mta employees... ( and $15 for people who regularly post on bustalk ) :-)
I dont mean to be a Groucho but, I think if someone is a regular visitor to a page he will visit regularly and thus there is no need for constant update's. How about E mailing regular visitors to let them now of any changes?
I have met Trevor and think his work is great and a very positive thing. His knowledge is very extensive and I'm a little jealous considering I'm a supervisor for NYCT and he knows more than me!
Keep up the good work Trevor, just cut down on the crappy updates!!!
Ok, Mr MabStoa, I agree with you. However, I posted about this update for a reason: cause the bus roadeo pics were up. I know that regular visitors will check the site on a daily basis for any updates. That last update was for everybody to see. This will be the last time that I post about any updates on this board unless if they're extremely necessary for bustalkers to check out. Otherwise you'll have to check out transitworld.org for them. I will no longer have any "silly" arguments about how and why I should post about updates here like the one we had again. I don't want to make this board a whole row of arguments that we could possibly lose it...again. We lost it once, we're not losing it more than that. Hope this ends the talk about any updating and a truce being made.
Peace!
R36Gary
www.transitworld.org
Well, I'll take the position in the middle ....
If your or Trevor's board adds a new section, i.e. Suffolk bues page, then a short notice would be appreciated and since that kind of change doesn't happen that often I would not mind your mentioning so other major updates that have occured in past months, i.e 50 new photos have been added to the QSC page since my last notice.
(I guess you have figured out that I don't go there every day, but recently took a second look at some fine shots of buses with orange stripes)
Mr t__:^)
Very so true! I have implimented a program into TransiTALK that if you sign up, you will get a e-mail when the site is updated. The site automatically knows when it's been updated and will e-mail out messages to those that signed up saying "I've Been Updated." Very Sucessful so far.
Another thing, there is no need for jealousy nor envy of any kind. We all on this board have a different level of knowledge of Transit, some more than others. We are all hear to learn from each other and grow more wrinkles in our brains from the knowledge we get. And I think that is the reason behind most of us creating Web Pages. You see the photos, read the info, even hear some sounds you may have never heard, and learn.
Have a Safe and Blessed Day!
Trevor Logan
Flxible Metro B #3511
www.transitalk.com / www.transitinfo.cjb.net
[Another thing, there is no need for jealousy nor envy of any kind. We all on this board have a different level of knowledge of Transit, some more than others. We are all hear to learn from each other and grow more wrinkles in our brains from the knowledge we get. And I think that is the reason behind most of us creating Web Pages. You see the photos, read the info, even hear some sounds you may have never heard, and learn.]
Trevor ... very well put ! It's why I frequent BusTalk, and I only work for a bus company.
Mr t__:^)
.......just thought I would ask if any of you have either heard & or joined the yahoo club named........
"""BUSES ARE EVIL""..........???.....
On Friday I spotted two (2152 & 2160) of WMATA's new Orion V's in Arlington. They're looking pretty good in their pure state with no advertising on them. I'll definitely have to get my last rides on some of those remaining GM new looks. I'd try for the Flxible new looks also, but it's so few of them that they're pretty hard to catch.
Wayne
I saw one for the first time yesterday on the National Mall while walking from the car (we decided not to take the Metro). I only saw the back and my cameras were both giving me trouble so I was unable to get a picture. I think it was on either the V8 or V2.
Saw mine on Jun 11 on Route 1 near Old Town
I've seen 2162 running around regularly on the Wilson Blvd routes, plus Orion VI 2002 and 2003 have been going through Ballston regulraly. Saw 2003 on the 23A to Crystal City.
I defintely have to look for those Orion VI buses. I passed by the division on Rt 1. just south of Crystal City (Is that Arlington Division???), but I didn't see the Orion VI.
Wayne
The one down by Crystal City is Four Mile run. That's where 2003 came out of. It was probably hiding in the back someplace as those buses seem to be parked all over the place. The one at Wilson and Quincy in Ballston is the Arlington Divison, thats where I saw 2002 parked. I be WMATA only has a couple because I drove by the Montgomery lot the other day and didn't see any there. The Orion VI's are funny looking. It looked like a camper. The part on top with the big hump has a big "metrobus" decal on it
Are the Orion VIs the "spaceships"? I've ridden them on the E6 and the N6 (weekends).
I think those might be the Orion II's. Those too are the strangest things I've ever seen. Never been on one, though. The Orion VI's are a lot larger than the ones that you've ridden, but still look odd. Those Orion II's look like someone tried to flatten it.
The Orion IIs are the "spaceships" -- I think they resemble the Imperial Shuttles from Star Wars.
They're incredibly low to the ground -- flat-floor -- but the driver sits up on a "tower", I think partially over the engine. It's 3 or 4 steps up to where the driver sits; he/she's about the same height as on a conventional bus like an O-V. The farebox could not be placed where both the driver and the passenger could reach it, so it's lower down where the passenger can get at it and the keypad is installed next to the steering wheel where the driver can use it. Driver's I've spoken to don't like the O-II because it's so small, and the headroom is so minimal up on the "tower."
In effect, the passengers are riding at passenger-car or minivan-height -- the flat floor is about curb level; I've never seen the wheelchair lift used though there is one -- I think it's just a ramp that slides out, while the driver is at conventional bus height, I guess so he can talk to other drivers.
The O-IIs have only one door, up front; it's a swing-aside one-piece jobber (I think it's propelled by compressed air.) They're only 26 feet and 22 passengers.
The Orion VIs look funny to me too. I saw one last summer in Albany, NY, on the Interstate ... it looks like a low-rider Orion V with a raised roof, I think someone in this thread called it a "camper-van" roof. That's what it looks like. If memory serves there were two doors but they were placed oddly.
Chris
I used to live in Hyattsville, MD and now I'm up here in Utica, NY (15mins from Orion Bus Plant) I drove passed there this weekend and saw about 100 new buses for WMATA. Have they gotten rid of the New Looks yet, or even the older Flexes? I also seen A TON of low-floor oriions for you guys down there. Are they in service yet?
New Orion Vs are in service. Not sure about anything else.
I've been seeing the new Orion V's all over the place. Yesterday, I saw a half dozen of them on my way home from work.
I just saw my third Orion VI, number 2007. It was on the 16 line on Columbia Pike heading to Culmore. I guess most are coming out of Four Mile Run in VA. Have yet to see any in Maryland.
The New look Flxs are just about gone. I haven't seen any in VA in ages, but I'm sure a couple are still in their reserve fleet to use as an as needed bus. I do see a Fishbowl every now and then, but I have a feeling that they will be gone soon with all the new Orions coming in. The RTSs should be gone soon as well, especially since they look so worn out these days.
P.S. I grew up in Hyattsville, MD as well. We used to get the oldest buses put on the lines out there, but it seems like they get pretty good equipment on them these days.
That seems to be the case since I have yet to see one in Maryland or in Northwest DC. I imagine when they do get to Western, they will go to the even 30s (I know there is a 35) which seems to have the newest buses at Western.
What would the T2 get after the RTSs go? I have noticed fewer RTSs on the T2 over the past few months. There is now sometimes an Orion and a Flx running in the mornings.
Haven't seen any new buses at Western for a while . . . latest additions to the fleet there were the Orion II buses used on the M4 and E6 routes (neighborhoods with narrow streets) in July '99. They did get the '98 Orion Vs, and I think they still have New Look Flexible #8652 on the lot, which until about six months ago was in regular morning service on the M4 route (they assigned their oldest stuff to the crowded and abusive 8:11 run filled w/ schoolkids).
RTSs are becoming a rare site but they're still the choice equipment on the L7/L8 routes outta Friendship Hts to Rockville. They're around.
Haven't seen any O-VI's yet. Are these Va.-only?
Interestingly, a lot of the 30-foot Flxibles that served local routes before the 30-foot O-V's, and later O-II's, replaced them are now in service in Montgomery County in Ride-On livery but operated by WMATA.
Chris
L7 goes from Friendship Heights to Wheaton
L8 goes from Friendship Heights to Aspen Hill
T2 goes from Friendship Heights to Rockville
I saw an Orion on the T2 this afternoon a few minutes before 5 at Willard Avenue and Friendsip Heights.
The L1 and L2 also get some old equipment from Western.
I have to laugh everytime I see the Orion II's. I have yet to ride one myself, but am almost tempted to go to Friendship Heights or something when I have time and just ride one for the heck of it.
In VA, the Fishbowls are still used once in a great while. More than likely, they can be spotted at the Pentagon. I saw a few RTSs today running around as well. At the Montgomery lot there are a whole bunch of them stationed, but their days are probably soon over. No more New Look Flx, at least in No. VA, those were my favorites. The Flx Metros are now my favorites as I am not a big fan of Orions. Some, V's, especially the 9600's feel like they are about to fall apart. I guess anything is better than the AM Generals that ran here from the 70's to mid 80's.
I'm sure the new Orion VI's will show up soon in MD and DC. Not sure why I've only seen them in VA so far, must be the way they are being distributed. I'm curious about riding on them as well. Actually, Ride On has a CNG version of the VI. I belive its 5571 or something like that.
Those Orion II's are pretty funny looking - especially when you see how high up the driver is compared to the passengers. This morning I saw a GM fishbowl as usual, but I realize that their days are definitely numbered now. I was in SE recently and noticed that so e of WMATA's Gillig Phantoms have new destination signs.
Wayne
Those Orion II's are pretty funny looking - especially when you see how high up the driver is compared to the passengers. This morning I saw a GM fishbowl as usual, but I realize that their days are definitely numbered now. I was in SE recently and noticed that some of WMATA's Gillig Phantoms have new destination signs.
Wayne
I've actually never seen a Gillig Phantom in WMATA livery . . . are those Southern Division only? I know Ride-On uses a ton of them.
Now, this was a few years ago, but I know I saw some 30-foot GMC fishbowls or New Look, I forget which, in service as recently as 1996. Anyone know if any of these are still around?
Are any of the '70s AM Generals still around? I'm too young to remember /know what they would have looked like. Photos on the Web?
Chris
I think the Phantoms are out of the Southern division. I've heard that the DC government helped pay for them or something like that, that's why they aren't really used anywhere else. They can have them as far as I'm concerned!
There used to be several 30 foot Flxible New Looks. They were numbered in the 5000's. I remember seeing those quite often on the F8 that runs from Langley Park to PG Hospital.
I'm not sure if there are any pictures of the AM Generals floating around. Actually, though, if you go to the Fort Totten bus grave yard they have there, an AM General was sitting by itself in the corner. Not sure why it was there since they haven't been on the streets in 15 years. They were numbered 7000-7620. 7000-7499 were 40 foot and the rest were 35 feet. They weren't really that good and broke down a lot and had leaky windows. When they first arrived, the seats were some kind of tweed material, but were later changed to the red vinyl that was used on the Flxible New Looks. The only one that I liked was bus 7313 since that was my address when I lived in Hyattsville.
Thanks! Where is this bus graveyard, though? I went to school near Fort Totten for four years, taking the Redline downtown and back . . . I remember a lot of industrial lots, such as the Super cement lot, and a number of warehouses, but not a bus dump lot. Is this the other way, towards Takoma, or is it not on the rail right-of-way?
I did manage to find one photo of an AM General in WMATA colors on the web -- http://www.arcticboy.com/buses/am_bus.gif -- looks like a cardboard decoy of a GM New look bus!
Chris
I'm not sure how many buses are still there. There used to be a whole lot of buses waiting disposal that would sit in this gravel parking lot at the metro station itself. What an eyesore!! If you get off at the station there, go to your right and go past the Kiss and Ride Lot and the bus lot is on your left right by some apartments. I haven't been by there in a couple of months, but I'm sure there will be some buses there. Fort Totten was my home station for years while I grew up in that area, now I am only two blocks from the Ballston Metro. Good luck!!
I'll have to check out that website you found. The AM Generals are very ugly. Just a box on wheels, basically, no character whatsover. If you want, go to www.omot.org, they have production lists of the AM Generals and they have a picture of one, not from WMATA, but similar.
The Orion V are in service now. I've only seen 2150 & 2162 so far. I believe 1C/Ballston has seen WMATA's low floor Orion VI already. Several new look GM are still operating. I didn't see any today, but I usually see at least 2 on my way to work. There's very few remaining new look Flxibles at WMATA. My guess is that there's less that 5 of them. I rarely see them unless I'm passing through Silver Spring. Of course the new look buses are only used during rush hours.
Wayne
I don't know WMATA divisions yet, but today I saw 2187 on the G2. Does the G2 operate out of Western? I while back someone posted list of the divisions and routes assigned to them. If someone could post it again - I'd appreciate it and be sure to print it this time.
Wayne
You can do a search for it. It was posted by 1C/Ballston so do a search for all posts done by 1C/Ballston.
I don't think G2 is Western.
While on my visit, I accidentally rang for Central Park West as we crossed 5th Avenue and my grandmother said there was a stop in the park (which I remembered only after she told me) but the driver skipped the stop in the park. Later that day on the M86, someone rang while the bus was wating for the three (3) artics in front of us to make the turn into the transverse and that driver skipped the stop in the park and made Central Park West the next stop. How does one get off at those stops? Verbal request?
Thanks in advance.
My advice is to tell the driver that you are getting off, or yell from the back door,"Getting off!".
I tried getting on the m86 at the Stop in the Park. I was waving to the bus as soon as I saw it and the bus flew right past me. No, it was not out of service.
What's the purpose of having a bus stop is buses aren't going to stop!
M79 have a bus stop in the middle of the Central Park because there is a Central Park Pct. & M86 don't stop in the middle because there are not bus stop.
Peace Out
David Justiniano
NYCTransiTrans Gallery PageUPDATED!!!!!
The question was how to get out there.
Here is another question for you. Did your father have artic 1038 on the M79 on the afternoon of June 14th?
I can't tell which bus number he drove but the only way i know is run number in front of bus. My father run number is #10 on M79 & will not be working M79 this summer. He will be working M72 just for summer.
Peace Out
David Justiniano
NYCTransiTrans Gallery Page
I seem to remember seeing both the NYPD Central Park Precinct and a NYC Parks Dept. support facility along the 86th Street Transverse, along with one of the very few functioning pedestrian- activated crossing signals.
OK, M86 stops in the middle on verbal request to driver because its the CP precinct, M79 stops in the middle on verbal request for the Fire Station, I've seen people get off on the M86 but not the M79...
---Clayton Parker---
Head Techie@The Tech Room
http://www.thetechroom.com
hotline://216.232.120.20:5555
Have any body took the test for MTA-NYCT Traffic Checker last July,1999?? I just got a Result from NYCT & i pass the test. This job is about $11 an hour part time depend on what assignment. So im glad im pass it & hope to get a call before this year.
Peace Out
David Justiniano
NYCTransiTrans Gallery Page
PS: I thought #4396 Phoniex bus was scrap & i saw the picture in Transit World from Roadeo 2000 & what depot this bus stored???
I think it's at KB Depot. That's where the other surviving 4300s are.
R36Gary
It's stored at JG, or UP.
A week or two ago somebody posted that they saw a GMC Classic with a Honey Mooners wrap on it and wanted to know who operated the bus. The bus you saw was Liberty Lines MCI Classic #3011.
Peace,
Kevin
06/19/2000
That was me!
Thanks for your help.
Bill "Newkirk"
I happen to have a conversation with the wrap vendor & he said there is more then one of these, but none at QSC :-(
Mr t
Being that the green body 1963 General Motors TDH-5303 model New Look Transit Museum Bus #3758 (originally a Transit Authority bus) was not present at the 2000 New York City Transit Bus Roadeo at South Beach due to a severe electrical and mechanical defect, would'nt it be ok for me to visit the Jackie Gleason Bus Depot in Brooklyn to take a photo myself of that bus? Or are there any Transit workers or bus enthuisiasts who happen to have any actual photos of 1963 GMC New Look TDH5303 buses in green featuring the script New York City Transit Authority logo on top?
I was going to take the photo myself on Monday but stuf happen over the weekend to my car so I could not run home to get my camira. I was picking on Monday so I was there after work, and I was not going to carry a $500 camira to work with me. I will try to one day on my day off go there and get so photos. OK.
Robert
Na, All I have are some TDH 5301 with the script on the roof.
As a younger bus enthusiast (in my 20s), I am always bothered by the fact that the older buses in pictures from
say 50s and before had no rear view mirrors on the right side. How in the world did the driver negotiate Right
lane changes??? All I can think of is that in those days, the buses stayed PERMANENTLY on the right most
lane. That must have been pretty boring, though. Please give me an email if you can answer this vexing question.
Also, I collect model buses and would be so happy to know where I can purchse some, especially American
models. Love to have emails from any of you.
They were not required at that time. Just like the roof top lights.
that's an interesting question about the right side view mirror... before they became standard equipment in new york, i remember that an express bus driver tried to put his own mirror on the right side of the bus, and was brought up on charges... i think i have that story right... i'd be interested in hearing from some drivers from those days of how they were able to cover their right side... it's hard to believe that they wouldn't have provided for the driver's blind spot on the right..
as an operator since 1979 i can tell you i drove many fishbowls without right side mirrors. you would set the rear view mirror to get a partial view of the right. with a standing load this did not help much. all buses in the 70s came equipped with these mirrors however many times the glass was missing and ta said no right side mirror was not a defect.
I always thought it was crazy to not have a right side mirror. Even on cars I think it should be required by law as it's very important to have, risky to not have and it doesn't add much to the price.
I was a child in the 70's but these mirrors were clearly important because I can remember riding Greyhound & Continental Trailways buses and the drivers ALWAYS checked and/or adjusted those mirrors.
I remember in the 1970's when all NYCTA/MABSTOA buses were being delivered with right side mirrors. The problem was that most of these mirrors broken and never (or rarely replaced). I know at many OA depots it was rare to see a bus with a right side mirror, unless it was new or recently overhauled. I guess that the drivers were so used to not having the mirrors that when they did get a bus that had one they didn't pay it any attention. I say this because many times the mirror would be far out of position to be used. During the early-mid 1970's I lived near West Farms Square and even though the AO buses rarely had the right side mirrors, I noticed that the TA buses from FLU on the Q44 always had them. This was a time when maintainance was clearly being deferred. It was rare to find a bus with all of it's marker lights working - again unless it was new or recently overhauled.
I think drivers finally got used to having the right side mirrors when the NYCTA started mounting those mirrors on the door that folded when the doors open. These were very similar to those now used on Queens Surface buses except the were a little bigger and the mirror was not curved. The TA really came a long way with right side mirrors as also started adding those round blind spot mirrors - by time the Grumman 870 and 1981 RTS came along all (or nearly) TA/OA buses had right side mirrors.
Wayne
Check the old auto ads. No right mirrors till the late 60's.
Even though equipment now has better mirrors, operators are still required to cover their rightside. Any accident involving an operators right side is 99% of the time charged to him.
As posted already old timers used thier inside rearview mirrors and faced them out the rightside windows to see the rightside of the bus. This method is still required by operators despite there being better mirrors. The right side mirrors are only used to see the rear wheel unlike a cars which is used for the get a better panoramic view. Thats why the right side mirror has a little spot mirror, thats used for lane changes etc. But the inside rearview mirror lets you see the top of vehicles that may be in your right lane. The problem with this is at night when the interior lights are on the reflection of the lights on the inside of the glass prevent you from seeing out.
Thanks so much for all of your comments. They help a lot. However, I still blame whoever those people were in charge for being SO CARELESS ABOUT SAFETY!!! Were they willing to sacrifice accidents as well as lives just so they can safe a few dollars??? Also, a damaged $200,000 bus is a lot more costly than a Right mirror!!! What were they thinking!!! School buses now a days have MULTIPLE MIRRORS.
How did the bus drivers see out to the right side w/ his standee inside mirror when the bus is full of standee passengers? That must have blocked their views greatly.
Also, I don't find justification in that neither did cars have right sided mirrors in the old days. In cars, its not so important b/c it is relatively SMALL and SHORT compared to the BIG, LONG bus that must have such an enormous right sided rear blind spot in comparison to any car.
My final conclusion is that the manufacturers and transit authorities were very careless about safety and made the bus drivers take unnecessary risks. Furthermore, I am glad there is more federal regulation concerning bus design and safety. Thank God for the National Transporation Safety commission and UNCLE SAM!!!
I agree that it was careless of the NYCTA to leave out the right side mirrors on the older buses. I still think they should be required by law - even on cars. I rank it up there with the CHMSL (third stop light) that's been a requirement on cars since 1986.
Wayne
Wasn't just NYCTA. Baltimore Transit never had right hand mirrors on any bus it owned, right through the Fishbowl purchases in 1963-1967.
The State of Maryland (MTA)takes BTC over in April, 1970. Its first bus purchase was the 2300-2499 class of GMC Fishbowls in 1973 and 1974. They came with right hand mirrors, which the operators loved from day one. Did MTA retrofit the ex-BTC bowls as they repainted them in the 1974-76 period? Nope. Those bowls went to the junk man the way BTC bought 'em - no right hand mirrors.
I learned to drive bus without right hand mirrors. Right hand mirros are nice but give a false sense of security because you can't see everything with them. If you learn to cover the right side, and set up your corners protecting the right side as if you don't have a right mirror, you will be a better driver. Even though I drive like I don't have one, I like to have the right side mirror because every bit of info helps.
I agree also. Law should require all cars to come equipped with right side mirrors and day time running lights. However, very very few new cars only come with one mirror nowadays. The only 2 companies I can think of that still make a car that doesn't come with a right hand mirror is Honda (Civic) and Dodge/Plymouth (Neon, I think) both with the low end models only. BIG AL
I have a number of Bus World back issues, all of which are in A+ condition. Where can I sell these, and how much should I ask for per issue?
Try E-bay.....I sometimes see people auctioning off various bus magazines (in the bus categories). Since I don't choose to collect them, I don't follow-up on the auctions to see the final price.
Does anyone know when, if ever, the New Flyer Artics that are proving themselves in Manhattan and the Bronx will make their appearance in Brooklyn?
-B61Leonard
It's in the TA's plans to have Artics come to Flatbush or East New York, but based on the newest plans I've seen, it won't happen until 2002. The next garage to see Artics will be 126th Street for the M15 Line and that won't happen until sometime in 2001. For now, if you want some Artic fun, you have to go to the Bronx or Manhattan.
Only twice do I remember a Artic doing service in Brooklyn, Once on the B41 back in 1997, 1045 made a appearance. And recently Artics served the "A" Train Fulton Avenue Shuttle!
Flxible Metro B #3511
Just got my Corgi GGT T8H5305A today, and what a disappointment. It's got to be the WORST paint job Corgi has done on any of the buses they have produced thus far!
The side stripes are in two shades of faded light green, plus they aren't totally straight (and applied with splatters!). Around the front of the bus, they did the stripes in two different shades of green!!
And the thing had Indiana license plates stamped on....hate to tell them, but GGT was in California last time anyone looked.
I saw a NF C40LF with MTA paint going southbound on West St. around 9PM at Chmabers St. I assume this buswas being delivered to JG? (This was bus 872).
All New Flyers are going to the JG. That's where the CNG fuel station is.
I'm sorry, I was misquoted. I meant that the 40 ft Low Floor NF are going to JG
I might be wrong but it could have been coming out of NJ from a repair at Atlantic Diesel...
--Clayton Parker--
Head Techie@The Tech Room
http://www.thetechroom.com
hotline://216.232.125.125:5555
True. I noticed the back sign was switching from all black to all yellow to all black to all yellow.....
a repair? this bus would be brand new. they are being delivered to atlantic diesel in bohemia. perhaps this one wound up at atlantic detroit diesel in lodi.
Where can I get some model/toy buses??? Are there websites or mail order catalogs? I would love to own some, especially transit buses. Also, let me know if you know anything about custom painting the models. Thanks very much.
Go this site:
Click Here
Scroll down, there are some links to sites that sells buses and railcars!
Flxible Metro B #3511
I picked up some nice reasonable ones at Toys R'us.Made by Road Champs I think.. had a late model transit bus, I'm not hip on the models--been out of busses too long, but they look something like the Staten Island and some bronx ones.. available in NY, CTA, Minneapolis I believe. Theywere under $l0. but I've also seen them in some hobby shops.. would go nicely on an Ho or S layout. I have a Corgi I believe l947-48 GMC done inSurface Transportation, also available in 5th ave. Bought at FAO Schartz..1/43 scale. They're expensive. By the way Roadchamps also had an intercity type bus in the same size as the transit ones, same price. I picked up a few roughly-HO scale Fishbowls at Osco drug in Bismarck for $2.00 each! Perhaps other Osco or similar stores have them too: I don't know where you live. I"ve also picked up other HO size busses in the bargain bin at Osco. Now if you live in NYC or nearby..on my visit in March there was a black man on opne corner of 3rd Ave.. someplace like 5l st..or 52 or 53rd... selling those same Fishbowl models for $3.00 each, also Checker cabs and other cars. Maybe you'll still find him nearby with some of them? Also try the Walther's catalog .. rail hobby shops usually have them, but most of the models are very expensive like about $60. for HO ones. Maybe you'll be lucky at Toys R'us. Good luck.. by the way Corgi [at about $50 each] has several 1/43 models other than the GMC transit I mentioned.
Of course you can check the auction sites on the net such as E-bay, Yahoo, etc. under various categories such as diecast bus, die cast bus, corgi bus, etc. I would suggest watching items for a while to get a feel for what is a fair price. Of course you have to add the Shipping and Handling and perhaps the cost of the money order into your calculations.
Those were the Flxible Metro-Ds I remember those buses as I often bought the NJT ones.
The Road Champs buses are no longer in production though you an still find 'em in some toy outlets. They are Flxible Metro (D version). They were available in NY MTA, NJ Transit, Chicago CTA, Minneapolis MTC, Atlanta MARTA, Miami MDTA, Dallas DART, Houston Metro, and Oakland AC Transit colors. Custom runs were also done for Philadelphia SEPTA and Las Vegas CAT, but those have to be purchased directly from those agencies.
The Corgi old looks are generally 4506/4507 models, and are 1/50th scale. They retail around $50.00 but can be had for $20.00 or so through eBay auctions, etc. They have been made in Surface Transit, Madison Ave. Bus Lines, St. Louis Public Service, NYC Board of Transportation, PSC of New Jersey (old red scheme), Wabash Railroad (fictitious bus), Lionel Bus Lines (three different versions), San Francisco Market Street Railway, New England Transportation (subsidiary of NHRR), Chicago Motor Coach, Northland Greyhound Lines, LA Transit Lines, Texas Pipeline Crew Bus, Chicago Greyhound Lines, Philly Red Arrow Lines, Peerless Stages, New Haven Railroad (fictitious bus), LA Motor Coach, Pacific Greyhound, Pacific Electric, Detroit Department of Street Railways, Fifth Avenue Coach Lines.
Corgi has also made similar new look/fishbowls. They have been made in NY Bus Service (old scheme), Lionel City Transit (2 schemes), Carolina Trailways, LA MTA (old two-tone green), Toronto TTC, Golden Gate Transit, Pacific Greyhound, San Diego Transit Corp., Pennsylvania RR (fictitious bus), Greyhound NY World's fair, Santa Monica, Peoria FD Hazmat bus, Liberty Lines, DC Transit, Chicago CTA, Oakland AC Transit, Philadelphia Transportation Company, Reading Company (fictitious bus).
The Lionel Lines and buses marked (fictitious bus) were made generally to be used on O-scale model railroads. The rest are quite well done -- except for the Golden Gate Transit bus which jus cam out. Crappy paint quality, incorrect colors used, and Indiana license plates printed on the buses (GGT is in California....)
Actually the Houston Bus is part of the new Road Champs Line. And at Toys "R" Us it sold for less than the other Flxibles and the Eagle Buses. Why there was no NJT Eagle I don't know.
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06/21/2000
I spotted was seems to be a new Gillig bus on the S-1 route in Amityville yesterday. The number was #9942 and this Suffolk Transit bus seems to be in new paint. It seems the old light blue white and olive belt line has been replaced by white, black window stripe and blue and yellow stripe on belt line. I wonder what buses are being replaced here?
Bill "Newkirk"
There were posts on the new Suffolk Transit buses many months back. I believe the buses in the 99xx series are Orion V's and were delivered towards the end of last year. I'm not too familiar with the Suffolk Transit fleet, but believe they had some fairly old Gilligs that were probably replaced by the Orions.
Yes, these are new Orions (35 ft. I believe) Suffolk Transit is running with the new paint scheme. I also see #9942 often.
06/21/2000
Sid,
Pardon me since I don't post or review here too often. Do you know if any of the not so old Gilligs will be repainted into this new scheme? I noticed there is a new logo too. I also noticed a paratransit bus in the new paint.
Bill "Newkirk"
I have seen Suffolk Transit's paratransit vehicles with the new paint scheme. I haven't seen any of the older Gilligs or Flxibles with the new paint scheme. I will keep an eye out and post here if I see any repainted.
The new buses are assigned to Inter County Motor Coach routes.I think the buses with the 3 digits are being replaced.Also, the Educational Bus Transportation Co, located on Sunrise Highway in Lindenhurst, has some Suffolk County routes. I've seen 9600 series buses there.
I thought all new SCT buses were Orions. Anybody has to be crazy to still order Gilligs.
They are Orions.
"Anybody has to be crazy to still order Gilligs."
So why hasn't the MTA ordered any at all??
They know better.
A Gillig probably couldn't stand up to the heavy loads and constant use that NY MTA has to offer!
("Anybody has to be crazy to still order Gilligs.")
Transport of Rockland (NY) has some fairly new Gilligs. Most are operated by Rockland Coach (Red and Tan), but a few are operated by ShortLine. My understanding is that Rockland County is very happy with them. I've been on them a few times, and they seem to ride very nicely. TOR has both 40 and 35 footers, all with only one door and transit seating.
They ride nicely? Geez. Rockland got lucky. Allt he ones I have driven, they ride like crap. They also handle like tanks.
I'venoticed a lot of smaller operations around the country seem to like the Gilligs. For what reason, I cannot figure except that perhaps Gillig has a good customer service report with them.
You just don't see them at larger agencies, with the exception of Minneapolis and Seattle. No other larger cities' agencies will touch them.
Doesn't Los Angeles MTA have them. I noticed that most of the private carriers in the Los Angeles area has them.
Also, MTA-LI Bus also has a few. Isn't that part of a large agency. If not, please correct me.
Thanks.
No, Los Angeles County MTA does NOT have them. There ARE a few painted in LACMTA colors -- but they belong to Laidlaw Transit Inc. who operates some routes under contract.
And, yes, most of the smaller cities surrounding Los Angeles have the Gilligs. They are more suited for light and medium sized agencies' duties. I seriously doubt if they would hold up to the demands of the larger agencies.
By large cities, we're talking Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Atlanta, Miami, Pittsburgh, Chicago, St. Louis, Houston, Dallas, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles. I'd say MTA LI Bus fits under the "medium size" when it comes to properties, they have just about the same fleet size as where I work out here in California, in a county surrounding the Los Angeles metro area. Even our agency won't go near the Gillig buses any more with all the problems we have had with three previous orders over the years.
Heheheh, I'm with you on that subject, John!
Gilligs are nothing but school buses with back doors.
Seriously, they made school buses en masse until 1980, then decided there was $$$ to be made in transits....then adapted the Phantom transit design back to school buses in 1986. They made a bunch for three years, and now it's just one every now and then in amongst the transits.
Genuine JUNK, that's what Gilligs are.
6/23/2000
[Genuine JUNK, that's what Gilligs are.]
How do the Gilligs rate against the Thomas transit buses, not the school buses either.
Bill "Newkirk"
I can't ompare those...have only driven the Gillig transits, and have never driven a Thomas (or anyother school-type bus for that matter...)
Does anyone have a current roster
Fleet numbers
Model Number
Date of Mfgr
Mfgr
Thanks
Steve
I have builder production lists which show everything they've bought since 1981. However, I don't have lists for light-duty type buses and
the latest stuff is NOT on the lists.
Might be a little hard to track down since all equipment is given to private contract carriers to operate. Best starting place perhaps is to call Suffolk Transit directly or visit their website.
Also do you want to include my namesake (Hart Bus) in your lists. I don't know if they have a website but their number is (631) Hart Bus
The L1 and L2 currently terminate at Chevy Chase Circle, about a 5-10 minute walk from Friendship Heights. Why doesn't WMATA reroute the L2, if not both so that they turn left on McKinley Street from Conneticut Avenue, the left onto Western, and stop at Friendsip Heights making all E2, E3, E4, and E6 stops along the way. Southbound trips do the reverse.
I find the L2 becomes pretty useless because it leaves me in a place so I can't get home on the same transfer.
The other option would be to recreate the L4 and have that go to Friendship, but that would be a pretty big waste.
Speaking of restarting old routes, why are they bringing back the N3?
I've always wondered what the use of the Chevy Chase Circle terminus was anyways. It looks like it used to be a place where the trolleys may have terminated at one time. It would make sense for it to go to Friendship Heights, but there you go using logic!!! The L4 was a good route, they should bring that back, at least during peak times. I'm not sure why all of a sudden a bus is needed from Friendship Heights to Federal Triangle. It seems like they are bringing back a lot of routes previously eliminated. Plus, I heard rumors that the C4 in Montogomery County may run until midnight 7 days a week, not sure if that will really happen though.
Per the previous comment on the G2. That route comes out of Bladensburg. They may occasionally use a bus or so from another division as I've noticed some do once in a while.
Running the L4 at rush hours only is a waste. It would be the same as the L1 until it gets to Washington Circle and would then head down New Hampshire to the Kennedy Center. What would make sense is cutting down L2 service, and making L4 trips to replace the eliminated L2 trips during the middle of the day. This L4 would only operate between about 9 AM and 4 PM on weekdays.
While waiting for a 99 yesterday afternoon, someone told me the reason it doesn't go to Friendship is because the E buses do that, but who wants to have to transfer from bus, to bus, to bus?
As for not operating the N3, they could give free transfers for people taking the N4 to Westmoreland Circle and then if they got on the N7, they could get on for $1.10, not $2.00.
Chevy Chase Circle was originally a trolley terminal.
I'm guessing that WMATA is trying to get so many people on the rail, that they don't want to have all the buses overlap what the rail does. But, it does make sense to have one bus do what transferring to two or three buses would do. Having the L4 run during the day does make sense. You could probably email them your ideas, you never know what they are planning on doing. I suppose the L1 could always be eliminated in favor of the L4 if they chose to run that all day, but that would take out part of the service to Potomac Park. Not really sure how many people go that far anyways. If the L4 took over part of the L2 and someone still wanted to go down K st., passengers could easily transfer to the many other buses that go down that way.
The N3 seems to be a waste. You're right that they should offer free transfers to switch to the N7, even though that has been designated an express bus. I don't consider it express since it takes forever to go up Mass. Ave. and takes over an hour to get from Federal Triangle to Montgomery Mall. I liked the old N9 better when it would go up the Whitehurst Freeway to Canal Rd and then to the Beltway, that seemed much more direct.
The N7 used to skip stops between Montgomery Mall and Goldsboro Road and Redwing Avenue, and wouldn't allow alighting on Mass Avenue in DC, reverse in the evenings. Now alighting is allowed at some points and it now stops on River Road but if it didn't, I think the route would be terminated.
I think it should be a 90 cent surcharge if you board before Goldsboro Road and Rannoch Road or alight after it in the afternoon.
Conn Avenue service would be like this:
Rush hours-L1 to CCC, L2 to Friendship Heights
Midday-L2 to Friendship Heights, L4 to CCC and Kennedy Center
Evenings and Weekends-L2 to Friendship Heights
I agree the N7 would probably be eliminated if it didn't allow more boarding/alighting. The couple of times that I rode it, it really didn't get that crowded.
Your idea with the L's looks good. I don't think the planners at WMATA ever thought of this.
My school bus ran along River Road and Mass Avenue and I did see some parts of the N7. It seems no one gets on at the mall and alot of people get on along River Road which probably accounts for most of the ridership since south of that point, there are the local N buses which are considerably less to ride.
BTW, I went through Ballston on the orange line today.
And the reason WMATA didn't think this up is because none of them are SubTalkers or BusTalkers. If you gave us control of the NYCTA, we could do better than them because in general, we know alot about a specific neighborhood or line. For instance, I could make some good suggestions about 4, 5, 6, and M79 service in NYC. Here in DC, if you got control of the 1C, it would probably see some good improvements. After all, the riders are the ones who know what they need.
Hmm... if we collect enough money... lol.
I'm thinking, even though this wouldn't work even if we supplied people with more than the money they needed to do it, combine all our ideas on NYCTA (and) WMATA improvments, and e-mail it to them.
As I said before, this won't work.
But anything's worth a try as long as you don't spend any money.
I agree. I wish these agencies would take into considertion more of what the riders (or bus drivers) for that matter, rather than making up these strange schedules and routes that aren't that feasible.
With the 1C here in VA, I always said that they should run it on Sundays and sure enough, WMATA woke up and did that. I didn't have anything to do with it, but maybe they have implanted a chip in me that anytime I think of something, they do it. There have been other times where I have questioned WMATA for not doing a certain run, like Bethesda to Tysons, which they are doing now. I would love to work for them.
I do actually have an interview with NYCT this Thursday. Its not in their scheduling dept., in their finance divison. They told me if I stay long enough, I'm only 29, I could be promoted to other areas. I am looking forward to the interview and may soon be a Brooklyn resident.
OBI might be for sale, which may result in relocation of manufacturing facility from upstate New York to South Carolina.
From the AP -
http://www.silive.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/cgi-free/getstory_ssf.cgi?o0130_BC_NY--Orion-TakeoverBid&&news&siregional
For sale again! Orion has such a history. They went from the days of Mr. Sheardown, to the Ontario Provincial Government, to Western Star Truck holdings. WOW! I wonder who will purchase them? Thanks for the information on that!
Peace & Blessings
DaShawn
I live 15 mins from Orion Bus Industries plant. The big story on todays newspaper was about the possible take-over of Orion and moving it to SC. To see the article in today's Utica Observer-Dispatch, log on to www.uticaod.com
If its freightliner than it would be High Point N.C. where they build school buses now. Thomas Built Buses whichthey bought a couple of years back.
As posted here a while ago, Thomas Built also makes a limited amount of transit buses, the CL-960. Check their website for details. Also there is one CL-960 at the DOT yard in Brooklyn
Hart Bus f/k/a #9306 WF
Argghh, Thomas Builts are garbage. LI Bus uses those extremely loud, slow, and very bumpy Thomas Builts on the JFK Flyer. They are so bad they make Gilligs look good.
I rode in one once, on the JFK Flyer. It was in summer, there was no A/C and this burning smell (it smelled like a school bus), it was very bumpy (like a school bus), and it even looks like a school bus from the inside.
Those pieces of garbage should be junked.
I rode on those buses on the JFK Flyer as well. I agree, they should be junked. VERY bumpy and when they did have a Phantom on the JFK Flyer(aka N91),I was shocked that it kept up with traffic and was air conditioned.
Saw a Thomas on the Nassau Hub shuttle today (N92) with bus 707.
All the windows were open (no A/C), and the exterior of the bus looked like it came from a third world country.
How can LI Bus justify running pieces of crap like that. Well even two buses I had today in the regular fleet weren't good. Bus 137(CNG), on the N79 almost stalled out a few times and was very slow. Then I had 595(diesel Orion) going back. I was waiting at the bus stop at Walt Whitman Mall and saw the driver start up the bus. Guess what? It stalled the first time and he had to start it again. Then we boarded, there was very little if any A/C and most of the windows were open.
The bus crawled the whole trip (0 to 30 in 25 seconds)and there was this horrible "burning smell" from the engine. Perhaps it was overheating.
With the way the rest of the LIB fleet is running lately, that probably justifies to LIB to keep the Thomas buses running.
Things like reliable A/C and running without stalling are almost unheard of at Long Island Bus.
"How can LI Bus justify running pieces of crap like that."
How can school districts around the country justify running pieces of crap like that?
There's another reason why the people you come to loathe so much hate busses. School busses are still fresh on their minds.
I missed that post but all Thomas did was turn a school bus into a upgraded school bus and is trying to pass it off as something else. Kind of like bluebird did some years ago with the city bird.A school bus made into a transit that was not well liked from what i have been told.
well then mta will probably stop buying their buses and so will end the sweetheart deal between orion and george pataki which originally began with mario cuomo.
Say it isn't so! The Orions are the fastest buses NYCT has. And what will we use at LI Bus?
Anybody know other makes of fast buses out there?
fastest bus. i drove 151 over the verrazano today and several mci buses passed me by in the right lane. after 7 years they are piles of junk.
Well the newer Orions 6xxx are pretty fast. I know at CS the 100s and 200s are quite slow, however the 500s and 600s are faster.
Still nothing is as fast as QS Orions.
Some, and I am saying some of the RTS's are good at hudson and 126th. Bot up to 40 in 2 short city blocks.
There is a MABOTA bus storage yard in The Bronx on Exterior Street along the old right of way of the Putman railroad tracks at West 230th Street & the Major Deegan Expressway.(About 1 1/2 miles from the Kingsbridge depot). Does any one know more imformation on this?
I think this is the Walnut Depot.
No. It is spill-over from Kingsbridge. Many depots have space problems now, with all the buses around. The MTA also has one near the Bruckner Expressway, near the site of the old traffic circle. Can be seen from the QBX1.
JRC
So where was Walnut?
Walnut was at 132nd Street & Walnut Ave near to the Triborough Bridge.
Wayne
There one that used to be a Bus Storage Yard at Zeraga Av & now they are building a CMF shop for MTA-NYCT Buses.
Peace Out
David Justiniano
NYCTransiTrans Gallery Page
Just saw on the Concourse today 5399 and 5400. Looking spank-branding new! Highest numbers so far?
Joe
The highest I've seen on 79th Street and 86th Street was around 5320. M79 and M86 run out of Westside.
I got a pic of 5359 on BX5 coming soon to TransitWorld. That's the highest that I have. The 1st order up to 5509 will be complete by year's end. 5510-5649, the 2nd order of artics I heard was put on temporary hold- reasons I'm not 100% sure.
M79#5301Gary
The highest number of New Flyer D60HF Galaxy Articulated in the area right now are, 5401-5402-5405, now sitting at Atantic Detroit Diesel in Lodi, NJ.
The first order of artics, 5250-5509 is slated to be completed by the fall of 2000. Buses #5510-5649 are pushed back until mid 2001. 5510-5580 are slated for 126th Street for the M15 Line & 5581-5649 are slated for Westside for usage on the M23, M102, with some stragglers assigned to the M14 lines. The reason for the hold is truely unknown but the option order will be fulfilled in 2001.
Have a Safe and Blessed Day,
Trevor Logan
Flxible Metro B #3511
www.transitalk.com
What's a straggler?
Straggler meaning, there is a certain amount of buses slated for the M79, M86, soon to be M23 & M102. Of course there is gonna be more Articulated at the Depot than need, so whatever is left will go over to the M14 line.
Trevor Logan
Flxible Metro B #3511
www.transitalk.com
Ah thank you.
when will artics go on m23. will the pick be effective 6/25 or 7/2.
It's 6-25 at QV. I'm assuming that it'll be on 6-25 there also.
R36Gary
It's 7/2 in manhattan.
Yesterday morning I passed the Caravan Transportation Yard at the corner of Eastern Parkway Extension and Bushwich Ave in Brooklyn. Posted on the fence and on the side of the building was a sign that the property is for rent and that prospective tenants should call a certain prominent commercial real estate broker.
Most of the school buses were gone from the property but I saw that there was one of the old red, white and black buses that ran between the passenger terminals at the airport still there. I did not stop so I could not get an accurate feel for how much equipment is still there or talk to anyone about the situation.
NYC TransitBus Schedules Effective Summer 2000
Changes to following routes.
Note BX4 and BX5 are going to Artic Buses.
M5,M9,M11,M15,M60,M66,M79,M86,M96,M100,M104
Bx4,Bx5,Bx29,
B2,B7,B8,B14,B16,B18,B31,B37,B38 ,B41,B46,B48,B49,B68,
Q2,Q4,Q5,Q12,Q17,Q28,Q30,Q31,Q44/Q20,,Q76,Q77,Q85,
S44/94,,S46/96,S48/98,S51,S52,S53,S54,
X1,Z10,X17,
------------------------------------------------------------
Extend Q76 via 20 Av and reroute Via Cross Island Parkway
Effective September 2000
Southbound buses rerouted via Cross Island Parkway.presently via Clintonville Av.
Extend from Parsons Blvd and 14 av then via Parsons Blvd,20 Av,to near side of 131 st to stand in the Q20A Bus Stop.
Return via 131 st,15 Av,132 st,20 Av,Parsons Blvd,14 Av
Proposals included using Whitestone Expressway bet 14 and 2 0 Av
Proposal included to extend to the Q20 15 Av/college Pt Blvd terminal .
Proposal invcluded a 7 day operation
Proposal Included all buses via Clintonville Av NB and SB
What's happening to these then?
M5,M9,M11,M15,M60,M66,M79,M86,M96,M100,M104
Bx4,Bx5,Bx29,
B2,B7,B8,B14,B16,B18,B31,B37,B38 ,B41,B46,B48,B49,B68,
Q2,Q4,Q5,Q12,Q17,Q28,Q30,Q31,Q44,Q77,Q85,
S44/94,,S46/96,S48/98,S51,S52,S53,S54,
X1,X10,X17.
?
If you need details on ANY ONE line ,,let me know ,I
will give you the information
It is too numerous to list all of them
What's going to happen to the M79? Please say the artics are now going elsewhere!
Bx4 and Bx5 are getting Artic Vehicles
Increase of running time or recovery time
Will reflect,now, school closed schedules
Implentation of Artic Bus Service
WEEKDAYS
Scheduled Headways in Minutes
Present
AM 2.5
Midday 6
PM 3.5
Proposed
3
6.5
5
Steve
Bx4 & Bx5 already got Artics running couple months ago but not full Artics.
Peace Out
David Justiniano
NYCTransiTrans Gallery Page
Info on the M9, please.
Weekday only
Presently
AM 8.5 minute headways
Mid 15 minute headways
PM 12 minute Headways
Proposed
8.5
15
12
Increased in Running times and Recovery Times only !!!
How exactly do you mean increased... more time?
<>
any specifics on the queens routes other than headway increases??
BTW, how (specifics, times) on running time and layover time increases. Thank you.
Steve
Everytime I went into New York City I'd get this gray "soot" that sticks to my face. I always thought it was subways or city pollution. Now I've been getting it when I ride LI Bus too.
I guess it's from diesel buses. I notice when ever I ride on a diesel or am around them at the bus stop I get this soot that gets into my nose and on my face when I wipe with a tissue.
Lately i've been having alot of diesel Orions on LI Bus. Alot have been sighted, even on the weekends. I don't know what's going on, but I don't appreciate riding on the noisy,slow, and smelly diesels (especially the 500s).
Also alot of buses have poor A/C, and some no A/C. Saw 657 with no A/C and all windows open.
The 7:58pm N21 to Glen Cove was always a CNG Orion, and the N27 used to be all CNG's. Also since RVC got CNG fueling the N25 was mostly CNG as well.
But lately the 7:58pm has been a diesel (as was the case today) and I saw plenty of diesel Orions operating on the N25. And there are several on the N27 as well. Most noticable is with N20/21, at least 60% of the buses are diesel.
The soot is noticable on the diesel Orions, especially on the white ceiling.
I remember when Gulotta said LI Bus would be all CNG by 2001, but the way things are going it's gonna take awhile, as it seems diesel buses are RETURNING to alot of routes.
Had 594 on the N21 going back home tonight, it was the only diesel Orion that had a cold A/C today, but, it was dirty and the diesel fumes inside were making me sick.
Just to add, emmissions from LI Bus diesel Orions appear to be much worse than NYCT's. Are LI Bus diesel Orions older than NYCT's fleet and do they use an engine that emits more fumes?
LI Bus diesel Orions definately stink alot more, especially on the inside.
Could be the fuel mix they use.
They are supposed to run on #1 Diesel. Some folks save money by rinng #2 or a blend.
Also tune-ups, clean air filters, timely rebuilds and other maintenance helps.
Had a reason to visit Command's new garage this AM (official).
While there got a 50 cent tour incl. CNG/diesel filling station & wash lanes (two lanes); paint booth, shops & stock room.
Also saw a early Orion CNG coach vs. local bus that is in Command colors but signed as Varsity. Apparently they are getting it ready for the company picnic. I assume it's an early version of the coaches orig. given to NY Bus, but now at Green.
BTW, Also saw some of our old coaches in sale/scrap lot & initially ended up at their old address which is now services their school buses. Interestingly a group of drivers hanging out didn't seem to know who Command was or where it was located.
Mr t__:^)
Thurston, the sale/scrap yard you mention near Command is the DOT Yard that I visited about 2 weeks ago. It has buses from all DOT companies..Did you see the Thomas CL-960 in between a lot of old Command stuff ?
Sorry, was late for my meeting at Command, so just glanced in the yard as I drove by.
Mr t__:^)
What is the best way between Main street Flushing and Midtown Manhattan entirely by local bus?
Why would you want to do that?
Travelling with a wheelchair bound person?
Not really, you can take the Q32 to Penn but it comes out from 74st.
There are always transfers.
http://www.nyct.org/nyct/maps/busqns.pdf (requires Adobe® Acrobat® Reader).
Actually it comes out on Roosevelt @ 82St.
B46M Limited
Probably the least complicated way is to take the QS Q66 to 82nd Street and Northern Blvd. and transfer to the Q32 at its first stop, which will take you right to mid-town along E. 60th Street and Fifth Avenue, down to W. 34th Street and over to Penn Station. It's not particularly fast compared to the #7 train, but at least you only have to change buses once.
Another 2-bus option is the Q58 to Broadway and Queens Blvd., where you transfer to the Q60, but the Q60 only takes you to the Manhattan end of the Queensboro Bridge.
The Q66 to the Q32 sounds like the best way.
I'd rather not take the #7 because it gets too hot in the subways in summer and with the recent rash of crimes down there (check out Subtalk) I'd rather just avoid the subway entirely.
A completely stupid reason.
It might be hotter in the stations than on the streets, but since the 7 is more frequent, it shouldn't be long.
There has been no increase of crime in the subways. It's your perception. If you know someone, out of the 3.5 million people that ride the subways daily who has been a victim of a crime, then it seems to you that crime is higher than if you knew no one. A total fallacy of course. But if you don't ride the subway, that's fine by me, more space for people free of irrational fears.
Perhaps you are right. It is wrong for me to allow a small minority of troublemakers to deter me from the subway. The subway is still the best way to get around NYC.
As far as the heat down there goes, I guess it's best to avoid lines like (N)ever and (R)arely as well as some parts of the IND for long waits for trains.
I am reminded of how it took 35 minutes on the M103 from Grand Central to Canal street. No thanks, I'll just take the subway!
I just miss how great 6th avenue once was. It seems like the 34th to W4th dash aint what it used to be.
["...if you don't ride the subway... more space for people free of irrational fears."]
Actually, a LITTLE bit of fear is normal and healthy - it keeps us aware of our surroundings and prepared to respond to unexpected situations.
You're right, however, that EXCESSIVE fear is totally unwarranted. The subway system, as THE major mover of people in and around this fine city, is merely an extension of the street system. Their respective crime levels tend to reflect one another.
That fact, of course, defeats Rudy's purpose in merging the Transit and Housing Police Departments into the NYPD. His idea was to shift patrols from the subways and projects to the street ("where cops belong") so that the crime would shift from the street to the subways and projects ("where crime belongs"). Hence we have Transit and Housing "Bureaus" that are mere shadows of their former, specially accredited Departmental selves.
John, you worry about crime in the subways, buses getting stuck on railroad tracks, soot on your face, rude NYCTA bus operators, farebox lights behind the operator, prostitutes on Main street----YOU NEED TO STOP WORRYING SO MUCH, MAN. You're going to give yourself a heart attack. I would worry more about that then anything else. I have a feeling you're a nice guy but you need to calm down. Life is too short. My only question is, what is your age? However, if you don't want to answer, I will not feel insulted. I'm just curious. BIG AL
Well I'll just say my age is in my 20s. I am just pointing out flaws that should be pointed out. And I won't let what's wrong with buses and subways stop me from riding them, because I enjoy it.
I rode on some subways such as the E,F,B,Q, and 4 trains yesterday and enjoyed it. Where else can I speed through as many tunnels as I want for $4 a day?
And the 34th to W4th dash was good this time, perhaps because I had an R40 Slant which by the way definately felt faster than the same trip on a Hippo.
I wish I could've found that electric diesel Hybrid bus though. I saw it once on the M103 and tried to catch it but I couldn't. Anybody know where I could catch the hybrid bus?
It could be running anywhere at any given time, so your question really can not be answered. However, I do have a solution for you if you really want to ride it. Go to the depot that it operates out of. You will have to see the yard dispatcher. Politely ask him or her what line that bus is running on,(you will need to give the bus #)and what the run # is. Tell him you left something on the bus and want to see if you can find it, or tell him you are a buff and just want to ride it. I would do the earlier as this happens all the time. Then go upstairs to the swing room (operator lounge) and ask an operator to look up the schedule for that run. It should be listed on the wall. It all sounds like alot, but it should not take any longer than 10 minutes. Then you can just meet that bus at a certain location of your choosing, depending on the time. BIG Al
I guess I could also do the same to find the whereabouts of bus 288, a new Orion CNG Bus I saw on the N28 a few weeks ago.
Are there any plans to add more hybrids to NYC bus routes?
Saw LI bus 288 at Atlantic Diesel a few days ago.
Wonder what it was doing there?
The only easy way is the #7 Flushing Line. Since you specifically said bus, you are going to have to go such a cumbersome and time consuming route it is totally nuts.....You can take a Queens Surface Bus (Thurston, forgive me, I don't know the #) that starts at Main and Roosevelt and proceeds westbound on Northern Blvd. Get off at 82nd/Northern. Cross over Northern Blvd and take the Q32 from its beginning stop. It terminates at Penn Sta.
Or.....Take the Q44 southbound on Main to Jewel Avenue. Transfer to Queens Transit's Jewel Avenue Bus Westbound to Queens. Blvd. Transfer there to Green Bus Lines Q60. Take to last stop - 60th and Second Ave. transfer there to Q32 or the Second Ave Bus.
Or if you want to take all Queens Surface buses, take the Q66 to Steinway St and 35 Ave then take the Q101 towards Manhattan. It's last stop is at 58 St and 2 Ave. The only local Queens Buses that go into Manhattan besides the Q101 are the Q32 and the Q60.
Q60#603Gary
Perhaps the express bus (X51) is the best way to go. But they don't accept Fun Pass. So I guess I have to pay a $3 fare right? Somebody said that if you use a Fun Pass you only have to pay $1.50. Is that true?
No, it isn't.
An express bus plus Metrocard (30 days) is the only unlimited ride card that allows X-bus usage. It costs $120, it also allows bus, subway and SIR usage.
You can take Q48 from Main/Roosevelt to LGA, then switch to M60 to Manhattan over the Triboro, across 125th to Amsterdam, then over to 106th and Broadway. Good route if you're going to Harlem or the Upper West Side.
There's also another way that no one mentioned - LIRR Port Washington Branch, good as long as the Manhattan destination is within a reasonable walk of Penn Sta. More expensive than the subway, of course; but twice as fast.
Why not try the QM3 ... last stop (before it goes express) is Parsons & Northern. It will cost 3.00 & you'll need to bring your own coffee & Times. I like the view of Manhattan via the LIE (special bus lane).
Comming back if they use the upper level of the Queensboro bridge, that's also a nice view, but then you weren't looking for the view.
Mr t__:^)
Most buses do use the upper level cause the lower is trecherous.
R36Gary
...and there are 24 old RTS' stored there! Stay tuned.
Buses have been stored there for about a month+.
My recount today came out to be 26. Location is at Grand Ave. & 49th Place. When the old Avis buildings are demolished and new ones are built for buses, it will be a working depot with 200 buses assigned.
To make life much simpler, instead of remembering everyones freakin' web page address, those with Photo, Info & Roster sites have been placed into one directory.
The name is The New York City's Transit Family, it's a consortium of pages such as, Transit World, TransiTALK, Metrocard.cjb.net, TrAnSiTiNfO, TransiTrans, etc. Now you just have to go to this one directory and click on the link to a site that you want to see.
The URL is: www.nyctransitfamily.net
This will be the last web page announcement I make, so no one respond with nasty comments please.
Thanks
Trevor Logan
Flxible Metro B #3511
You can make an eGroups list for people who WANT the updates. Each person in the Family can be appointed a moderator and post messages giving out updates.
And also, today I'm back in the website game (I used to run Metrocard.cjb.net, remember?) with my TV Captures page. Since I don't have a digital camera or scanner, I can't contribute pictures of the standard variety and there are many sites that do that already.
However, I can make still captures from TV, and that's what I'm going to do.
I tried searching through the archives of old messages to see if this subject had been already discussed. Unfortunately I was unsuccessful so I apologize in advance if this is old news.
Back in 1985 I was hired by a company that imported textiles. The textiles were stored in a warehouse located in Port Newark New Jersey. Part of my job was to conduct periodic inventories of these textiles. I first went out to the Port Newark warehouse in the fall of 1985. Upon arrival I noticed what appeared to be an old T.A. GMC New Look bus parked across the street from the warehouse. I made a mental note to check it out before I left for the day. After a morning spent inventorying textiles I asked the warehouse personnel where I could find a place to eat. They told me to go to the place across the street. Seeing the look of puzzlement across my face they laughed and said that the old bus was actually a restaurant. Sure enough I entered the bus (#8137) and saw that directly behind the driver's compartment an actual restaurant had been created. All the passenger seats had been removed and a counter ran directly down the center of the bus. On one side of the counter was the griddle, stove sink, refrigerator and all the other equipment necessary to run a restaurant. On the other side of the counter had been bolted about six stools for customers to sit on. Once you finished eating you paid your bill at the cash register adjacent to the rear door and exited through those same doors. I never forgot that experience and have related it to numerous colleagues of mine since becoming a driver with the T.A. in 1990. Therefore I was pleasantly surprised when a colleague of mine recently showed me a copy of the February 2000 issue of At Your Service the T.A. Employee newsletter which featured an article on the bus. Apparently it is still in use out at Port Newark. The article stated that the bus was a 1966 G.M.C. and had been retired from service in the mid 1980's. Is anyone familiar with
the operating history of this bus.?
If anyone has the opportunity to check out the bus it's worth the effort. The food was'nt bad either.
I
it is indeed a 1966 gmc which originally came with wings and i believe spent most of its career at 126st but may have been retired from flatbush depot. perhaps someone has directions how to get to port newark to visit this rare site.
The bus definitely was retired from a Brooklyn division depot since I remember it having a Brooklyn destination sign. I don't remember exactly where it is located in Port Newark but I'll search the web and see if Port Newark has a website that would give driving directions. I don't believe it is accessible by public transport but I could be wrong.
The number of that bus is actually 8199 not 8137. The TA photographer did not see the bus number correctly.
While driving along the LIE this afternoon around the Huntington area, I noticed on the service road what appeared to be a former Westchester Co. Bee Line RTS (converted slopeback). Any ideas?
I believe it's 146. It's owned by some driving school on Wellwood Ave near the Southern State Pkwy. I think they have another RTS also.
Are there any slopeback pics online?
Recently Trevor Logan E-mailed three to pass along to a woodworker who is making a wooden RTS Slope back for me. Both he and I are in no rush so its taking a long time... He is a perfectionist who is trying to decide how to hinge the doors. I will E-amil the three pictures that Trevor sent me... The orange bus I now use as the background on my desktop.
The driving school referred to by the previous poster about the bus is Commercial Driver Training Institute at the corner of Wellwood and Edson Ave, West Babylon. They had/have an old NY Bus Service New Look (Suburban, I think) in the red white and blue livery.
Some of the Westchester RTS's even showed up way out here in southern California, at a used bus dealer, about a year ago.
I wouldn't be surprised to see them working the streets of Tijuana, Mexico before long, if they aren't already there.
as per tranitalk website nyct ordered 170 2001 mci buses for si express routes. the first 100 will arrive in fall 2000 with the remaining 70 the second quarter of 2001. hopefully governor will sign a bill now on his desk which wii force mta to create 4 new south shore express routes by 9/30/2000.
Are they all slated for Staten Island or will some be replacing the old 1700s & 1800 RTS Express Busses in Queens and Brooklyn?
>> as per tranitalk website nyct ordered 170 2001 mci buses for si express routes. the first 100 will arrive in fall 2000 with the remaining 70 the second quarter of 2001. hopefully governor will sign a bill now on his desk which wii force mta to create 4 new south shore express routes by 9/30/2000. <<
orion express coaches will be sent to the other boroughs to replace 1982 rts buses. there are currently 76 orion express coaches on staten island which will not be needed.
I didn't think that the Jamaica Depot can handle Orions. That was why they never appeared in Jamaica. I believe Flushing can handle them since I see a lot of Q44's using them. Not sure about Queens Village.
Frank D
Actually, the reason Jamaica does not run Orion's is because they can not fit through the bus wash. They did try one day but it didn't work. However, we have Orions in all the time from Flushing that break down near Jamaica that we bring in and service. BIG AL
As far as I know, Ulmer Park cannot fit Orions through the bus wash or on the lifts that the mechanics use to repair the busses. I heard this from someone there a few years ago when the Orions were just put into service.
Regarding having MCI's in UP, I would love to see some there, however, I don't think a 45 ft. bus would be able to navigate the small depot. As it is, 40 ft. busses are a tight squeese through the garage.
Wonder if the TA would ever order 40 ft. MCI's?
as mentioned previously nyct plans by 2003-2004 to equip all express routes with mci coaches. problems with bus washes etc. will be ironed out by then.
Well, SI has Orions, RTS, and MCI. All fit the wash, although there are 2, so both MUST take Orion and MCI, given their numbers, and one may be modified for RTS. BUT, you figure since the Orion is a 'square' design, and the RTS is a more round design, if it fits the Orion, it'll fit the RTS.
As for the lifts, I really doubt that the Orios can use them. I mean, if you're trying to make inroads bringing a bus into service in NYC, which was until recently ALL RTS (4000 or so) would you require serious equipment modifications, or even replaceing some equipment, to fit your non-standard (for the locale) bus? You sure as hell won't sell many of them.
The MCIs generally wind up with broken right-side mirrors in the wash. I've been told that they're working on modifying them so they can be removed and replaced with less than 5 minutes work.
-Hank
As per the 2000-2004 Capital Budget, the MTA is seeking 356 new MCI D Series Cruiser Coaches for all express routes (Queens, Brooklyn, and SI). These 170 New MCI 102-DL3SS Cruisers are the first of this slated order. MTA is looking at the possibility of taking in some MCI 102-D3SS Cruisers (40 Footers) for Ulmer Park and Jamaica based upon the existing room alotted for the buses. Jamaica depot is up for a rebuild, so who knows what will happen with the MCIs slated for Jamaica.
If you do the math, this leaves approximately 186 buses left to order with probably a option order somewhere in the ranks. Personally, I feel if the TA goes through with the plan for the 40 foot cruisers, they'll probably take the greater and do the last 100 as D3SS's and the last 86 as DL3SS's.
Regards,
Trevor Logan
www.nyctransitfamily.net
THe Jamaica Depot was supposed to get a overhaul or a new Depot since I first moved to Laurelton. If memory serves me correct there is a lot adjacent to the Depot. I believe it was rumored that the depot was to be rebuilt on that lot two level and adequate space for additional buses. Here I am now 25 and still no Depot.... I guess we will see what will come out of the Capital Budget.
Frank D
As I mentioned in earlier posts, a new Jamaica depot is going to be built in JFK Airport on N. Boundary road. When it will begin is still the question. BIG AL
What are the "SS"'s for in the D3SS and DL3SS?
Stainless Steel. This is the option that operators specify when ordering the MCI 102D series. So the 40 footers are 102D3-SS or like NJT theirs are 102D3 CNG's. The 45 footers are 102DL3-SS.
Peace & Blessings
DaShawn Pretlow
There's controversy on SI, with the alleged new depot coming, the talking heads are demanding all CNG.
-Hank
A friend of mine who is a driver asigned to Ulmer Park Depot confirmed that they will be receiving MCI express coaches sometime in 2001. Recently bus #1951 was brought to Ulmer Park and driven through the depot to see if it could be maneuvered safely. My friend assumes that with the arrival of the MCI's the 3000 series express buses will finally be retired. It is unclear what will happen to the 1996 9000 series express coaches. Could they possibly be converted to hard seat local buses?
I tell you what, if they don't fix Merrick Blvd, the X63 (MCI or Orions) won't be running for long before they break down.
Frank D
I heard from a friend that a GBL RTS went on fire along 153 Ave yesterday. It started in the rear and was an RTS but couldn't get a #. Did anybody hear about this or get the number of the bus?
Q60#603Gary (hope it wasn't 603!)
lookout for the rocker---coming to a town near you!!!!!!!!
How are the 1982 RTS buses in New York?
Are all B20 weekend trips now heading to Ridgewood instead of every other bus going there?????
B20#5075Mike
Today around 3:30, I saw an Old Look Lakeland Bus going into the Lincoln Tunnel. I am not an expert on those buses, so I don't know if it was a GMC or Mack, or what, but it caught my eye and was interesting to see. After coming out of the tunnel, it went into the Port Authority. I think there were people in it also. Any information on this?
The bus is a GM 4515 model, privately owned, I believe. It was on a small fan trip following some of Lakeland's routes. Lakeland is rumored to be shutting down.
Joe C.
Thanks. Too bad I missed it. That would have been nice to ride on that type of bus.
I doubt that Lakeland will shut down, since they are the only service in many areas of Morris and Sussex County, although there are only a few trips each day from Sparta and Newton, there is [still] regular service from Dover.
However, their service on the Route 24-78 corridor has been just about killed by the Midtown Direct trains, so they have cut service on those routes to a few peak-direction trips on weekdays. They just eliminated weekend service a couple weeks ago. This is down from a full schedule of buses in both directions all day long every day, before Midtown Direct started.
Sparta will be killed once NJT's service starts from there.
I didn't see it, but evidently one of the NJ newspapers had an article a week or two back about NJ Transit taking over the rights to the Lakeland routes within the next year.
Is Lakeland going to continue operating as a charter company ?
I really don't know the details to the NJ Transit - Lakeland deal, but my understanding is that, because NJ Transit is getting the operating rights to the routes, Lakeland may very well remain in business as a charter company. Again, I don't have the details, but I believe the "deal" is a result of the lawsuit Lakeland brought against NJ Transit for the loss of business as a result of the Midtown Direct train service on the Morris & Essex branch.
I just heard from another source today that Lakeland is trying to sell their charter business along with 27 coaches. I do not know the asking price but I heard that DeCamp was one of the interested parties. Whoever does buy it is going to have to figure out a way to get rid of the union if they have any hopes of operating at a profit. You can afford a union if you are running subsidized line service, but not if you are running a totally unsubsidized charter operation.
In areas where buses cross RR tracks (such as at NHP Road N25)what is the procedure if a bus gets stuck on the tracks?
I would assume an immediate evacuation of the bus would be ordered.
under federal law the bus can not enter a RR crossing until it can safely clear the opposite side without stopping.
Nothing can legally enter an RR crossing without enough clearance on the other side. That doesn't stop anyone.
But, there is a procedure:
Bend down
Put head between legs
Kiss your ass goodbye
What I meant was if a bus stalled (broke down) on a RR crossing. Everytime I take the bus over an RR crossing, I worry given the high breakdown rate with LI Bus lately.
That's a lot of bull. Do you worry it will stall in the intersection, or even in the middle of a block? So why do you think it will choose that one place to stall?
How many busses do you ride in a year? How many of them stall?
You may think LIB has a high breakdown rate, but not all breakdowns are due to stalling, and even so, it's only a small portion of the bus fleet.
Sounds like a phobia to me. 99% of accidents occur because people drive around the lowered gates. These gates go down well in advance before the train approaches. The drivers who get hit are the one's who go around gates that have been down for a while. So, if in the extremely slightest chance you are on a bus that is stuck on the tracks and the gates start coming down, you and everybody else on the bus should have plenty of time to evacuate in an orderly fashion and not have to worry about pulling emergency handles. BIG AL
We can thank endless chase movies where a vehicle manages to stall just as it crosses railroad tracks, or a major intersection just as a large truck is bearing down. It's highly unlikely to happen in real life, but makes for good dramatics.
It's just like when a movie car (usually the villian's) drives off a cliff and spontaneously bursts into flames in mid-air.
And another thing. Except in crossings marked EXEMPT (in which case, they rarely see service), busses stop. If there's any time a vehicle will stall, it's when it's stopping. Not while it's moving when it can be coasted to safety anyway. Not to mentioned that railroad lines tend to be on higher ground than their surroundings, although in a developed area that no longer applies.
If my memory is correct, your mention of the N25 is to the point. A few years ago, a southbound motorist on NHP Road entered the crossing when she had room to continue south. However, a northbound trailer-truck driver made an illegal left turn into the side street (on the south side of the tracks), stopped, blocking the motorist on the tracks. The gates came down, and she was killed. I think a southbound N25 could get caught the same way.
That is exactly why these dangerous crossings need to be eliminated.
It amazes me how NIMBY's put their selfish attitude ahead of people's lives. Something is wrong with this world if a few NIMBY's get in the way of safety.
When I'm on the N25 I always sit near the rear door and keep my eye on the emergency level to open the back door, if we get stuck on the tracks we'll have to think fast! There are also emergency exits on the bus as well. I've seen trucks that jump out and make turns by the RR crossing. Also people coming off the train have a bad habit of crossing even when the gates are down.
I just hate RR crossings. They belong in rural areas, not in busy urban ones.
You are obviously a paranoid safety freak.
Do you think every intersection should be a cloverleaf? So why should train intersections be eliminated.
I've heard the expression before, but don't really know what it means. What's a NIMBY?
Not
In
My
Back
Yard
Ah thanks.
A person with common sense (and a driver who obeys the law) won't enter an intersection unless his vehicle can safely EXIT the intersection. NYS VTL says '...no driver shall enter an intersection...[without] sufficient room for his vehicle on the other side...' If I were in NY, and no GA, i'd quote it exactly and scite the section. The term for this is 'Spillback' and the result of it is gridlock.
-Hank
>>> A person with common sense (and a driver who obeys the law) won't enter an intersection unless his vehicle can safely EXIT the intersection <<<
That's nice in theory, Hank, but to know with 100% certainty that your vehicle can safely exit the intersection, would require that you maintain a following distance of at least the width of the intersection plus the stopping distance (reaction time and braking) in case the vehicle in front of you made an emergency stop before clearing the intersection. In practice, city traffic does not allow the luxury of that much space, and if the vehicle in front of you makes an emergency stop, you have done a good job if you can stop safely without hitting it.
If you were second in line at a red traffic signal at a wide avenue, when the light turned green would you dare wait before entering the intersection until the vehicle in front of you cleared the far side of the intersection? That would make the newspapers in New York (Headline: Obstructing Motorist Killed By Frustrated Drivers).
Tom
Even I can answer this.
On city streets, you cross an intersection when by the formula of traffic speed and distance (and if the light's green) you see if you can go across. If you can go, go. And if the car in front of you braked suddenly, if you're a safe driver, you'd be following far enough behind that you could break or swerve around the car.
And if you don't think you can get across in time (or at all), YOU DON'T GO. Ever seen those "don't block the box" signs? And those apply to EVERY intersection, not just where they have the signs and the intersection is painted with stripes. People just don't get that.
Perhaps cars should stop before grade crossings just like buses do?
If you're second in line at the light, and your vision is good enough to qualify you for an unrestricted license, you shouldn't have a problem adequately judging if your vehicle can safely clear an intersection. If you've had to wait 2 or 3 cycles of a light to go through an intersection, it's because people are doing exactly what you say they are. Driving like idiots. My x-bus trip back when his honor was blitzing intersections took 30 minutes less then it usually took, simply because the cross-traffic was clear of the intersection when the signal changed. 'Don't block the box' doesn't apply ONLY to those marked intersections, it applies to ALL intersections in the entire STATE.
-Hank
>>> If you're second in line at the light, and your vision is good enough to qualify you for an unrestricted license, you shouldn't have a problem adequately judging if your vehicle can safely clear an intersection <<<
Hank;
You seem to be coming around to my view of the law when you use the word "judging". It is legal to enter an intersection if you reasonably believe you will be able to clear the intersection. You do not have to have 100% certainty that you will be able to clear the intersection taking into account all possibilities no matter how rare. These laws were passed to avoid blocking intersections in bumper to bumper heavy traffic conditions causing gridlock. They were not intended to slow down the general circulation of traffic and give a reason to ticket any driver who was not able to clear an intersection before a light changed. In fact most jurisdictions give right of way to cars in an intersection to clear the intersection before vehicles (and pedestrians) with a green light can go.
For instance if you entered the intersection with what appeared to be a clear path and suddenly pedestrians on the other side of the street started illegally J-walking in front of you (anticipating a changing signal) so you could not clear the intersection you would not be ticketed.
In every jurisdiction that I am aware of you are allowed to enter an intersection to make a left turn even though you have to wait in the intersection while opposing traffic is moving through the intersection. If the opposing traffic ends up backing up through the intersection preventing the left turner from turning, (although the opposing drivers may be breaking the law) the person waiting to turn who is trapped in the intersection is not breaking the law. If a left turning car could not enter the intersection, it would take a much wider gap in oncoming traffic to make a left turn, and on a busy road, the left turner might have to wait through many cycles of the traffic light to make a turn, since by the time the opposing traffic cleared the intersection, the light would be already turning red..
Tom
About a month ago I was driving south on Columbus/9th Avenue, preparing to turn left onto 58th Street. There was a cab in front of me, also turning left. Just as he made his turn and I began mine, a construction worker held up his hand to stop the cab so a construction vehicle could back out. Little did we know this would take five minutes. The whole time I was stuck in the intersection, although not blocking it and (as you point out) not illegally. The moment the light changed, though, traffic coming east on 58th promptly flooded across and blocked Columbus for the full five minutes.
As for your last paragraph, it is technically not legal in Illinois to enter the intersection in preparation for a left turn. Most drivers (thankfully) ignore this law or, more likely, never knew about it in the first place, but a few blissfully sit behind the line as the light cycles back and forth. (This isn't as big a problem as it sounds; most major intersections here have protected left turn phases.) And there's the truly odd belief among many that the first n cars waiting to turn left may turn after the light turns red. (I have heard varying values of n, but it's typically between 1 and 3.) I prefer the New York approach: it is legal to enter an intersection in preparation for a left turn, and traffic waiting to enter an intersection must yield the right-of-way to any vehicles that legally entered the intersection before them. Thus, however many vehicles fit into the intersection, waiting to turn, while the light is still green may legally complete their turn once it turns red, while any vehicles still outside the intersection when the light turns red must remain outside the intersection. Even in Illinois, I pull as far forward as I can (to make space for as many vehicles as can fit behind me), but this is a lost cause on most drivers.
Exactly how do you use available Buffalo transit services to
the Dick Road and downtown Amtrak stations from
Capen Blvd/Princeton or Capen Blvd/Kenmore Ave ?...
Please send a copy of your reply cc:
dsaklad@gnu.org
or reply to me directly.
Cheers!
oo__ DWs
Take the 6 Sycamore to Downtown. Then transfer to the Light Rail at Main Place Mall to South Campus Station (last Stop). Then pick up the 30 Kenmore to Capen Blvd and Kenmore.
At 6:10 a.m. today, NF Artic 5401 glided gracefully to a stop at the Grand Concourse and Risse street. It was on the BX2, southbound. Their coming!
Joe C.
There will be a chat at the #metrocard chatroom at 8:45 tonight, 6/26/00. You must use the irc.cjb.net server, channel #metrocard by IRC client, or the web address http://chat.cjb.net/metrocard through the web.
Remember, chat is in 10 minutes.
Refer to the message linked above for connection information.
Check out my post on SubTalk!
Could we have a link to it?
You have a link to SubTalk and you can do a search for it. I may provide it before I head to camp today if I have time.
Just saw an arial shot of an accident involving 6051 and a small black car that rear-ended it at 116st and 7th Ave.
While there was a crowd at the scene, there was only one ambulance, and the announcer said he believed the bus was empty.
-Hank
Do you work for Royal Coach Lines?
Regards,
Trevor Logan
www.transitalk.com / www.transitinfo.cjb.net/ www.nyctransitfamily.net
AOL Screen Name: Metro D 3770
Yes Trevor, but the company is called Royal Lines not Royal Coach Lines. I am the charter sales manager for them.
Cool, just wanted to let you know that you have the hottest Setra Coaches!
Trevor
Not to mention they actually seem clean from the outside! The white paint is actually WHITE!
Have anything else besides Setras? That's all I've seen of Royal.
Does this company offer services to it's homonymous island?
Possibly. I saw 3 buses at WTC last week, could've been commuter routes.
Royal Lines does not do any commuter runs. The 3 buses that you saw at the World Trade Center were on a NYC sightseeing charter for one of our Japanese clients.
We actually have 18 Setras in the Royal Lines fleet. 12 of them are 45 footers that seat 59 passengers; and 6 are the 40 footers that seat 49 passengers. We also just recently purchased 4 new MCI Renaissance 45 footers. 2 of those seat 58 passengers. The other 2 are wheelchair accessible. They seat 56 without the wheelchairs or 46 when 2 wheelchairs are accommodated. We also just recently purchased Rurak Ocean Tours and as a result we inherited 8 MCI coaches;2 of these are DL3 45 footers with a seating capacity of 59. 5 of these are 40 foot 102C3s (49 Pax) and the last one is an MC9 with a stick shift (49 Pax). That gives us a total of 30 large coaches. In addition we have 4 mini-coaches, 2 Van Hools and 2 Neoplans with 28 & 30 passenger seating capacities.
Nice fleet ya got there. How old are the setras ya got there?
Last week I think I saw one of the newer and a couple older setras.
The 45 foot Setras are 1999 (5 buses), 1998 (6 buses) and 1997 (2 buses). The 40 foot Setras are 1994 (3 buses) and l992 (3 buses). All were purchased new except the 3 1994s which were acquired when we bought out LTL Lucero in early 1999.
Ah.
Thanks Trevor. I have a great idea. How about expanding the web site where the TA & DOT buses are cataloged & photographed to include a section on the strictly charter operators in the Metro area ? I am sure that Royal Lines would happy to have you come in and do this. My boss would sure love the extra publicity.
I do have a charter section. It's pretty decent size. TransiTALK Miscellaneous Transportation Companies Page.
I would love to come out to Royal and do some photography. E-mail me at transitalk@nyctransitfamily.net, a we'll set something up!
I would love to get at your MCI EL3 Renaissance Coaches!
Regards,
Trevor Logan
www.transitalk.com / www.transitinfo.cjb.net / www.nyctransitfamily.net
AOL Screen Name: Metro D 3700
Is this the same Royal Lines depot on Green St. in Greenpoint Bkln. Is this the only depot, or there are more in the city?
Yes, this is the one and only depot for Royal Lines.
Today I saw A MCI in Ulmer Park being tested for cleance. I heard that they might be coming to Ulmer Park. This might explane why they might have put in new left that are ajable. If any one know if this is ture let me know.
Several months back there were some articles in the paper and posts here on BusTalk that, eventually, all NYCTA express routes in all boroughs would be operated with express equipment like the current MCI's. I don't know whether that is still the plan, but if it is, Ulmer Park surely will see MCI's.
When Jamaica depot get's MCI's, I'll jump over the moon---twice. BIG AL
Some operators utilize the first two digits of their fleet numbers to indicate the year the bus was purchased. Connecticut Transit, Miami-Dade, Palm Tran and Suffolk Transit quickly come to mind. (Because each got new buses last year, some of their buses begin with "99".) Is anyone aware of any such operator who received new buses this year and, if so, are they using "00" as the first two digits in the fleet numbers? (I know MBTA has about 100 buses beginning with "00," but those don't count, as they are not based on the year received!) Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.
Omnitrans, the public transit agency in San Bernardino, California, got some New Flyer C40LF's recently numbered 0001 up.
Long Beach Transit (also in California) did too.
Balitmore MTA's next batch of buses (coming this year) will be begin with "00".
Trevor Logan
Everything we've heard is that the buses to arrive this year will be numbered in the 2000 series, since that's vacant. Our computer tracking system will not accept leading zeroes, or 5 digit numbers.
Where did your info come from?
My info came from a Balitmore bus operator out of the Bush Depot who gets new procurement info!
Trevor Logan
Flxible Metro B #3511
I imagine whatever Ride-On next orders will be 00XXXX.
I was thinking about Ride-On's numbers too. On Monday I rode (99)5725, but I'd think these Orions are '00 models as I started seeing them early this year. Maybe they're late '99 models.
Wayne
Perhaps they number them for year or financial year aquired, NOT the model year of the bus.
-Hank
Sometimes operators have to improvise a little. Connecticut Transit received 132 1990 Classics. It numbered those that went to Hartford 9001-9088 and those to New Haven 9101-9144. The next order of Classics was in 1992. The Hartford buses were numbered in the 9200 series, while the 44 that went to New Haven were numbered 9145-9188. Bus fans today think New Haven has 88 1991 model Classics, but in reality none of the 88 buses in the 9100 series are 1991 models. I recollect that OC Transpo in Ottawa, Canada, received more than 100 fishbowls in 1975. After numbering 100 in the 7500 series, the remainder were numbered in the 5700 series.
When the MTA in Baltimore got 115 Flxible Metros in both 40 and 25 foot models in 1987, the fleet numbers were 8701-60 and 7001-7055
Since we use the first two numbers "XX" as the year of order, the 70 series has to be used for last 55 buses to avoid 5 digit numbers.
That's way I questioned the "00" post that started this thread.
The system cannot accept a leading zero, and no greater than 4 digits
00 is out as far as Baltimore is concerned.
There are 3 digit numbers in use, for non-rail work equipment and the subway cars. The LRV's use 5001 up.
Using the 2000 series for transit bus numbers will force a renumbering of about 15 Mobility buses which carry the 2000 series now. They possibly may be renumbered in the 3000 series as their service life is less than a transit bus.
I would be sightly leery of quoting operators for fleet numbers not yet issued, they seem to be last to know, but first to speculate.
Is Coach USA like the Microsoft of the bus industry? Seems like they own almost every bus company in the tri-state area.
The specific companies that they own in this area are Community Coach,
Leisure Line, Red & Tan, Suburban Transit, Olympia Trails, Short Line (including Gray Line) & Van Nortwick. They look specificly for profitable line run operations which is their primary purpose. Charters are only secondary.
They also own One Bus (Orange Newark Elizabeth).
Many of the Coach USA buses in the area now have new digits in front of the former fleet numbers. For example, Short Line is "70"; Rockland Coach is "2"; One Bus and Suburban are "3". Has anyone figured out the new Coach USA fleet numbering system?
Yesterday, I was on a northbound 36. I got on at Tenlytown and was going to alight at Friendship Heights. At Jenifer Street (2 stops before Friendship Heights), we sat for about 5 minutes because the next driver wasn't there to take the bus. One bus even passed us while we were sitting there! The reason they switch over at Jenifer is because the depot is just a block away from that stop. The only problem with that is that most of the passengers on board the bus want to go to Friendship Heights. This means that I often have to get off at Western and make a run for the T2, 23, 27, or 42.
They also do this on the M79 in New York at Broadway which isn't as big an inconvinence, but when I had to go to Riverside Drive, it was not that great.
Are the employees so important that they can't change over at the end of the line but they have to do it so they are closer to the depot or to a food place?
It keeps costs down when a routes relief point is close to the garage. A operator is paid travel time to get from depot to relief point. Thats why many routes are generally close to the depot they orginate from.
Concerning the M79, transit originally wanted the reliefs to take place going Eastbound! Thanks to the union however, reliefs are made westbound so that less folks are inconvienced.
On the M14, the change @ 15th and 10th, most of the time an empty area, but when we had to go to 18th, had to wait 10 mins for the next driver.
I was on 8355 on Q46 today and I noticed that the driver was wearing shorts. Is this new for the bus drivers in NYCT? Will this happen on DOT Lines in the future?
Q46#4926Gary
Yes, operators can now wear shorts for the summer, provided they where the MTA issued socks with logo also. This is brand new and just went into effect with the new contract. I just received my shorts last week via UPS and will start wearing them next week when I go back to work. Can't wait.(Too wear the shorts that is.) BIG AL
I wore my shorts for the first time yesterday and my bus #9225 promptly broke down. I guess it could'nt bear the sight of my hairy legs! Seriously though, we make look like idiots but the shorts are comfortable and cool. Have any of you that are bus drivers gotten your MTA socks yet?
Issue polo shirts with the shorts like they do at Greyhound
I just received my new shoes today and was told the socks would not be delivered for at least six more weeks. It seems they will not be available till near the end of the summer.The person who gave me the shoes told me that the operators have been wearing the shorts anyway without the MTA socks. It seems Transit is letting the shorts/socks rule go for now until the socks become available to everyone. BIG AL
well at yukon just about everything goes anyhow. ive seen several b/o wearing sneakers. im still waiting for my first pair of shoes. mta logo socks are ridiculous and another waste of money. someones brother in law probably at knapp shoes.
Don't you guys have to purchase your uniforms?
-Hank
New uniforms are issued free of charge. We receive new uniforms every three years. This year we received two pairs of shoes and six pairs of MTA logo socks free of charge.
check that as per gale sobel their uniform is supposed to last 5 years. now we are wearing gray pants or blue shorts.
I gotta double-check, by as I understand it, NYPD and FDNY have to purchase their own uniforms, however, they recieve additional compensation for it.
-Hank
Saw an RTS Wednsday afternoon broke down westbound on the Q46 on Union Turnpike in Glen Oaks with a tow truck there, but didn't get the number.
Also on Wednsday I got to the bus stop @ Northern Blvd and Francis Lewis Blvd to wait for a southbound Q76 that was to arrive at 9:20am at 9:16am, there was already people waiting and the bus didn't come until 9:40am. And it was packed. There must've been a breakdown there was well.
I always thought NYCT operators could wear shorts in summer. Perhaps the rules are different there but I've seen LI Bus drivers wearing shorts in summer for quite some time.
Can subway T/O and C/R wear them as well or is this just available to bus operators?
I am leaving for camp soon so I will have extremely limited access to the message board. I will check on how things are on the board upon my return, July 23.
Have a great summer!
Hope you won't be totally isolated from the transit scene at camp.
I can't figure this 1 out: I was on Archer and Sutphin today and I saw 2 buses: 8907 and 8116. 8907 had steel wheels and 8116 had aluminum wheels. Also on 8116, the rear lights are very strange. They looked like ex-fishbowl lights but were going horizontally. What's up with that bus?
Q24#8675Gary
I don't know about the wheels, but the MTA is changing it's rear light on all it's buses to LED, to match the new incoming buses.
8116 was the first pilot bus to test L.E.D. lighting for the rear. It uses round L.E.D. lights and now the standard lights are rectangular. I have an article on 8116 in an old issue of Mass Transit magazine and these lights proved very reliable then when the technology was considered "New". Command also has one of their older RTS's in the 3xx series with similar lights that are round. Hope that helps.
Peace & Blessings
DaShawn Pretlow/Flxible MetroD #1975
Where did you hear about the MTA changing the rear lights on all the buses to L.E.D.? It seems very costly and I can't believe they would do any of the pre-8000 RTS's. All those buses will be gone in a few more years, and I did not hear anything about retrofitting all the rear lights. BIG AL
Just as a side note "The Blue Light Special" has hit the rear destination signs of QV and JAM RTS's. Also, JAM is about halfway through the replacement of their aluminum rims on the 1996 and 1998 Novas. I'm not sure if QV started their replacement.
Some of our RTS's have had the blue rear dest. sign lights now for almost a year. I think 9251 was one of the first buses to get it. BIG AL
I can remember 4349 as one of the first to have the blue rear sign
QV hasn't started the replacement from aluminum to steel as of yet but will soon. :(
Q46#7001Gary
Yesterday, I saw Triboro #3051 running on the QM24 route pass by my house on its way to the Long Island Expressway. The rear sign has those blue lights.
It now seems that all of NYCB's buses that have a reat sign have this cool-looking feature (except #522 and those buses that have the LEDs in the flipdots).
The #522 signs is that new Balios "Orange-Type" LED Sign. Command Orion #4691 and Green Lines Orion #5503 utlize this sign also (images of both below)
The TA also tested out the same type of sign in Hudson Pier's TMC RTS-06 #8490 then it was placed into Orion V #522. This is to see if this sign is more fiesable then the Luminator Flip Dot LED Signs.
Regards,
Someone better look at MTA 522 carefully cause that sign was placed into that bus crooked.
R36Gary
Actually, the sign in 8490 was a mini version of the same sign and would not fit correctly into #522. The mini version was pretty nice also and was short lived on 8490. I hope they purchase more new buses with these great signs.
Peace!
DaShawn Pretlow
www.transitworld.org
I agree D! All of the 5500s at GBL Should get them cause most of their signs are broken.
Q60#5527Gary
When I stated "then it was placed into Orion...." I was saying as a destination sign not the exact model from the TMC RTS.
I'm not that damn slow!
Trevor
Command Orion #4950 now has the blue light special too!
Peace,
Kevin
transitworld.org
Are the LEDs going to be continued to be used? Or are the blue lights going to be placed into more buses?
The blue light is really a standard blacklite. They are using them on frontlit flipdot signs, to try to make them more visible like the LED-flipdot or LED signs. Since these are definitely more visible, there's no reason to replace them with the older techology. They are just trying to upgrade the older types that remain.
The blue lights on the bus signs are actually a strip of LEDs, not blacklite.
-Hank
Yeah, I just found this out last night, and have been trying to get on to post about it. 9171 was parked on Palmetto St., and I decided to get a good look for sure. As I got closer, I could see that the source light was blue, not purple like blacklite, and it appeared to be concentrated in points of light. So I was able to step up on the foot of an el column and look down into it, and sure enough, it was a row of LED's-- the first known use by the TA of the new technology. This would explain why it is not as visible as a bliacklite should be.
It would look better, as well as being cheaper, if they just replaced the white flourescent bulbs with blacklite bulbs, in the same fixture, since the blacklite reflects less visible light off of the black background and the dirty glass, and more visible light from the bright yellow-green dots (same type of "flourescent" coloring used for blacklight displays, than does the visible blue, which creates that dim glare that obscures the sign, but does not reflect alot of light off of the green dots. They should still try this out, perhaps on the front and side signs, and on the R-32/38 front sign.
If blue LED's are cheap enough now for this use, then I still wish they would be used along with the red and green for the front and side sign, so route colors could be displayed for the first time, and on trains, especially the R-143 next year.
in LA a few busses have the "Blacklights"
Flxible 2761 and Neoplan 6581
Blue
Actually, we've known for awhile on bustalk that they are L.E.D.'s. I've even counted them. When I shift buses, we have the buses very close to each other lined up, so I look out the top of the inside R/S windshield and can see them clearly. If I remember correctly, I believe there are 16 and already I've seen a few buses where 1 or 2 of the L.E.D.'s are out.
BIG AL
"If blue LED's are cheap enough now for this use, then I still wish they would be used along with the red and green for the front and side sign, so route colors could be displayed for the first time, and on trains, especially the R-143 next year."
Hey, they can do that already with the R-142's, just by messing with the polarity, but they're just STUPID!
It costs them only what it costs to change the lights for maintainence. The real savings, however, come from the lights not needing to be replaced for 2-3 YEARS, as opposed to 4-6 months they last now. LEDs also light quicker, and are brighter through the lenses than filament bulbs.
-Hank
I saw this bus yesterday deadheading along Fulton St to Downtown Bklyn. I saw it again today on the B15 at New Lots Avenue. Those lights kinda look funny on the back.
B46M Limited
8405 from Flatbush has aluminum wheels.
Bus 8116 along with 1985 RTS 4007 were retrofitted with LED tail lamps some years back. Bus 4006 had it also, but that bus is now scrapped. Buses 4006 and 4007 had the exact design as the 1999 Novas (4900-5249) except for the amber directional signal. Bus 8116 had round cut-outs installed for possible use on future orders. Obviously, they went with the design on the two 4000's.
ENY has a couple other odd 1990 TMC's that tested aluminum rims: 8102 and 8127. Yukon's 3802 and Hudson's 8258 also had the aluminum rims for a while also.
Now I remember the bus you guys are talking about, but I don't think the lights are round. I think they are the shape of a stop sign. Pentagon, or octagon or whatever. More like a diamond shape I think. BIG AL,
I've been noticing on the Q104 signs going towards Astoria that there's an error. Here's the error:
Q104 11 Av and 34 Av
Astoria
The Q104 is going to 11 St and 34 Ave. On the 1985-1986 RTS that are now retired from revenue service, the destination signs used to say 34 Ave and 10 Street. This error is on both the TMC and Orions. Speaking of Orions, I've been noticing that more mini wraps are on the 500 Express Orions and none have been on the 400 series. I've seen 501 541 545 570 576 577 and 579 with the wraps. And the TMC'S are getting full wraps such as 306 321 and 340. I wonder why that is?
Q104#396Gary
Will we ever see a mini wrap on a RTS Bus? We've already seen it on the Orion and MCI Classic. It'd be interesting to see.
QM1#396Gary
Back in April in a shoot-out in the Bronx, the shooter attempted to hijack Bus 4383. The driver fought him off and jumped off the bus. So did the hijacker when he couldn't get the bus to move and was eventually captured on the MN tracks.
Two days ago while being brought by the Dept of Corrections to Lincoln hospital, he told the CO's that he had to use the men's room. The guards took off the cuff and shackles. He bolted out of the hospital.
According to a report on yesterday's news, the perp evidently went back to his drug habit and was located dead, on a park bench.
At least my taxes won't be feeding, clothing and housing this bum for the next 25 years.
I had no clue that low life was the same person who hijacked the bus, leading to that famous comment one bus talker posted,"THANK GOD IT WASN'T AN ARTIC." BIG AL
I just happened to be watching the "correct" newscast that evening. I think it was Channel 11.
Just read that disney will get rid of the buses and extend the monorail and add some type of light rail in place of the buses.Work has started on this already from what i have read. Will check this out in Aug. when there for my neices birthday. And will post what i find out.
Finally! Last time I was there me and my family were the only ones on the bus. Barely anyone rides the bus. The buses were super old RTS buses built by GMC. The seats were orange. Blah!!
When were you there last?
When we went back in April, just about every bus we rode was packed!
The buses appear to be mid-aged and not that old, although I did see one or two 35' RTS that was an early 80's model, it had no exterior window frames and white interior window frames.
There appeared to be many buses that were rebuilt, because we rode on a few that had charcoal-gray bulkheads, which come only on the newest RTS's, but the engines were older and they had that small triangle window in the back.
If you think the orange seats were bad, some buses we rode on had purple seats, purple floors and aqua-green wall panels (Barney?!)
Last time I was there was 1998. Everyone decided to get on the monorail which ran between the 4 parks. The names of them escape me but there were 4.
No, there may be four parks, but only two: EPCOT (1981) and the Magic Kingdom (1973) are serviced by the monorail. The other two, MGM (1988) and Animal Kingdom (1998).
There are six monorail stops on a total of 3 lines. The EPCOT line runs from the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) to EPCOT (vehicles travel on the left, and run through EPCOT before stopping outside), nonstop. The MK express runs around the Seven Seas Lagoon between the TTC and MK nonstop counter-clockwise. The hotel line runs parallel, on the inside of the express in a clockwise direction. On the way to the Magic Kingdom, it stops at the Polynesian Resort, followed by the Grand Floridian. On the way back, it stops at the Contemporary Resort.
Except for Fort Wilderness and the EPCOT Center Resorts, everything else is served by busses (the above two also have boats). Every other park has a bus from TTC that also runs to Contemporary. In addition to a ferry from TTC to MK, there is a ferry from MK to Discovery Island and River Country, the prior is accessible only by boat because it's inside Bay Lake.
When we stayed at the Dolphin in 1996, the busses were fairly full.
Why bother taking the car out of the free lot at the hotel and pay for parking at the park when you can take the free bus which is direct and just as fast.
I was talking about the buses that ran between the parks. Not to/from hotel.
Well, in the case of MGM and Animal Kingdom, you might as well just park there because you'll probably spend the whole day there anyway.
And in MK, there are no parking lots, you have to use the Monorail or Ferry. In EPCOT you can use the monorail, but you can also park there (and still use the monorail).
Walt Disney World Transportation System has MANY vintages of RTS's.
Their first ones were 1981 units, 7 40-footers, 5 35-footers, plus another 1981 order of 5 40-footers. In 1982 they got 2 more 40-footers and 3 more 35-footers.
Next bunch delivered (and all subsequent orders) were 40-footers; 1983 they got 12 units. In 1986 they got five additional units.
Their TMC's started coming in 1989 -- 23 units in 2/89, 5 more in 5/89, 22 more in 3/90, 8 more in 9/91. In 1992 they got yet another 16 buses, and in 10/94 they took delivery of 9 more.
All buses newer than the 1994 RTS's from TMC are MCI 102D3's, though there have been only a small handful of them (five that we know of); plus they took delivery of some of the "Superbus" tractor-trailer units (quantity I'veheard ranges from 8 to 28...go figure!). I have NO idea where those are used -- have heard employee shuttles, parking shutles, etc. Anyone got any specifics?
They are rebuilding RTS buses on a regular basis and I have heard they have some NOVA low floors on the way.
I don't know about that. Last year our family stayed at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. Are you saying that there will be monorail service to/from all Disney properties to the resort? And within the resort itself? And to/from all other Disney properties & resorts? I think it will be cost prohibitive. They have something 200 RTS buses.
Hmm... they did have a monorail service between the parks. I'm not sure about resorts.
I was there in March & buses were full, also I dought that they are going to replace them with rail due to cost & scope of job.
Mr t__:^)
Good Evening
I am requesting your help in obtaining the bus route changes for the Independants operating within the HBLR Area
Central Av
Bergen Av
West Side
L and Greenville
Coach USA
Academy Bus
I know many routes might have been rerouted to the Park and Rides,your assistance is needed
Thank you
Steve
FDNY
As far as I know, there have been no changes in the various Hudson County bus routes or schedules as a result of the start of Hudson-Bergen Light Rail service, with the following exception: Initiation of NJ Transit shuttle service in the weekday rush hours along the southern portion of the #81 route (below 34th Street) to the 34th Street station. Other than for monthly pass buyers, there are no transfer privileges between HBLR and local buses. I suspect that is one reason ridership, especially non-peak, on HBLR has been far below projections.
Last night I noticed bus #4903 (Queens Vllage) operating on the Q74 (Casey Stengel).
In such a case, which depot supplies the driver?
The operator would have been from C.S. A Q.V. operator can not do a line from another depot without line training first. Even if he or she has been with transit for 20 years. Also, you must be an operator from that depot to work that same line. The only exceptions is during an emergency, like a severe snow storm. Than you may be able to report to the closest depot to your house in order to work, provided you know the line. What you saw was a C.S. operator in a Q.V. bus because the Orion broke down and they did a swap with Q.V. so as few trips as possible would be lost. BIG AL
Thanks for the information! I have always wondered what the exact protocol was for those situations when you see a bus from another depot operating on a route from a depot that you know is the defalt or standard depot.
Peace & Blessings
DaShawn Pretlow/Flxible MetroD #1975
What about when all of manhattan helped the M14 a few weeks ago?
This is primarily MABSTOA and I don't know what their procedures are. Also, I don't know what the situation was. If anybody from MABSTOA knows what happened, please answer that question. I would like to know also. BIG AL
That was different circumstances. A subway general order. Special reimbursable budget.
But how would the drivers learn the route?
Maybe some drivers have general knowledge of the routes evenif it is not in their home depot.
R36Gary
True.
True, but what about the ones that don't? Do they just not to the run?
At the depot supplying the buses it is posted. The route from the pullout depot to the beginning of the route is posted; the bus route itself is posted (especially needed on bus for subway substitutions); and finally the route of the end of the line back to the respective depot.
In Queens, you still have to officially ride on the route first before you can operate in passenger service on it. Transit has to be 100% sure you know it before you can start. They can not just take your word. They have to know that you know where all the stops are located. For instance, if a stop is flagged and someone complains, you can just turn around and say you did not see the stop and did not know one was there since you were never trained on that line before. But that can not happen with their policy. All operators ride the lines, get paid for them first and have the operator of the runs who rode them sign a sheet with their name and pass number. In Jamica the shop steward rides the new operators around all the lines at the same time. This way, if there is a screw up, you can not say you DID NOT know the line. I work in Jamica but used to work in Q.V. a few years ago. I can go drive a Q.V. route in passenger service tomorrow since I drove those lines in the past. I can not drive a C.S. line without training first since I never worked in Stengel depot, despite the fact I know some of their entire lines also. BIG AL
It was the regular operator for run 7 on the 74. He had an orion the first half, probably became defective, QV proabably has a spare at kew gardens, he used that for a couple round trips, saw him later on about 9 pm with another orion.
First of all I am very disappointed that the former New York City Transit Authority now Vintage 1963 General Motors TDH-5303 New Look bus #3758 could not make it to the 2000 NYC Transit Bus Roadeo due to mechanical and electrical defects. Also, down at the Bus Roadeo at South Beach I went to the Transit Museum Booth to ask if they would happen to have any pictures of a 1963 TDH-5303 bus. However, the only photos they had were that of the 1961-62 GMC TDH-5301 New Look bus #2151 and a 1960-61 GM bus # 1059. Therefore I would really appreciate it if someone can please help me locate a color photo of a 1963 GMC TDH-5303 Fishbowl bus in the 3301- 3950 fleet series featuring the script New York City Transit Authority logo on top.
Also, would anyone know if the 1963 GM Museum bus #3758 will be staying at the Jackie Gleason Bus Depot?
The chat will be held tomorrow at 8, NOT SATURDAY. You can come on Saturday and chat, although it won't be officiated by me (unless one of the other ops make one).
Next week, the chat will be at Saturday at 8 as normal.