BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

(see earlier postings) Should be still with us-and on exhibit today---------SURFACE TDH-5106/SURFACE C-45 "Patton"/FACL "Jetson" Fishbowl/ORIGINAL "Jackie Gleason" bus #2629/FACCo 1930 YELLOW ("open topper")-----------"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

An idea--------IF the "Tee-Yay" wants to continue to run "Holiday trains" (and scale back present operations)-just run a short "Arnine" shuttle between Court Street and Hoyt-which would also be a historic echo of the 1936-1946 "HH" Court Street shuttle (perhaps this could flush out a good percentage of "hooligans"-with a short consist only running between two stations)-------"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

I just read that there are still a few old BSS/Bridge Line (aka "Rocketeer") cars in SEPTA's Fern Rock yard (BSS)-that are in quite a shabby state indeed; sure hope that these rare relics of another age in rapid transit are not destined for the scrap heap-at a future date; Your's Truly has seen sobering photos of cars that were "rescued" (I use this word quite loosely) by different electric rail groups-only to allow these cars to sit exposed to the weather for decades------what we lose-we cannot bring back------- "NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Regarding "Holiday trains" and regular fan trips---------a factor to also consider here is the installation of CBTC signalling replacing traditional block signals; AFAIK the historic rolling stock cannot operate on lines that are CBTC-signalled-----I know a lot of CBTC work has been going on with the "Eye-En-Dee's" Queens trunk line (AFAIK the Flushing line is now all CBTC); I cannot see the "Powers That Be" spending BIG $$$$$ to re-equip the historic trains to be able to allow these consists to operate on lines that no longer use traditional block signals----------"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

If a "Holiday Nostalgia Train" shuttle were indeed to operate between Hoyt and Court Street-these trains could only run in and out of the Court Street station by using Track #A1; #A2 (approaching Court Street) is OOS and the third rail has been partially taken up; the display cars stored on #"A1" could be relocated during this period of special operation to free up #"A1" for holiday nostalgia shuttles-----just this fellow's 2 1/2 cents worth

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

just read that-this past Saurday-the last two "Holiday Nostalgia" train runs of the day were suspended due to "hooligan-ish acts"------------friggin' sad (I would not be at all surprised if these specials do not run next year)-----------

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

WB: Things always "go sour" during these "holiday runs"-be it issues with the trains-or-the stupidity of asinine jerks on board As I had said earlier-if these runs are "scrapped" for the 2024 holiday season-Your's Truly would not be the least bit surprised As I had said earlier-these punks (who certainly need help) pocess no restraint when they trash a current train-they certainly are NOT going to show respect (or restraint) for a historic train; the glory days of safe and sane ERA and NRHS fan trips are-sadly-now long long gone------ "NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

I cannot help but shudder when I think of how the wooden "Q" El cars would fare (if a operational set of these iconic cars were still around) with wide-spread "hooligan hijinks" now sadly "status quo" during these holiday nostalgia trips; good thing that the "Standards" or the "D's" are not being subjected to this abuse (ditto the historic buses)-as are the historic "Arnines"---------- "NYO" (BTW:"Santa Con" is back in town on Saturday the 9th; just hope a bunch of "Stewed Santas" don't decide to "take a "Holly Jolly hop" on the Arnines-thinking the last stop on the train is the North Pole)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

One cannot help but wonder if extra security will be hired to guard the historic rolling stock on display at Court Street; with the city now in a tailspin ("da Bronx" is in the news just about each day now) you cannot help but think of how easily low-life cretins could trash the historic cars on display (a "repeat offender" would probably only get the usual "slap on the wrist' anyway) -----------Back in the heyday of the ERA-not only was there a greater selection of historic trains to ride-but also-lines that no longer exist; none of the original "Els" exist today----------the Bowling Green shuttle is also long defunct-as is the "rinky-dink" shuttle out of 9th (Brooklyn) until 1975-------through the 60's-fan trips aboard sets of "Q's" were frequent and well-patronized (with no "Q" set in existence today-such excursions are no longer possible)------------only one R-11 exists; solid trains of R-12/14/15's-likewise-are also no longer possible; only one of the 1938 "WF" cars is still with us today (there were still plenty of these cars in work trains through the 1970's)------------the "juice fans" who rode on those long-ago ERA and NRHS trips so long ago-are now either up there in age-or-sadly-long since passed on to that big carbarn in the sky ----------with the city now so rife with such serious (and often deadly) incidents on both the streets and on the subways nowadays-------one cannot help but wonder if it is prudent to do away with nostalgia runs altogether; sadly the law-abiding enthusiasts (and the general public) get the shaft as usual----------but--------I certainly do not see things getting any better-in fact------I can only see the situation getting far worse than it is now-----a plethora of non law-abiding factors are now in play----------- "NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

If the "Tee-Yay" decides to run any sort of "nostalgia" trains in 2024-I would not be at all surprised if the fares charged were quite pricey (think of the insurances rates for these historic trains); also-liability in case of "free-wheeling" (and possibly "high") thrill-seekers sustain injuries while aboard; if an NYPD officer was assigned to each car-again-think of the $$$$$-------------if it were decided to "retire the prewar trains and only run the historic postwar cars-----I would not be surprised at all-----sadly-using these cars would still not banish the "hooligans" and their unpredictable hell-bent actions which ruin the fun for all "NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Your's Truly has been reading the opinions of other law-abiding transit enthusiasts elsewhere-all are in accord that the "hooligan" situation aboard the Holiday Nostalgia Trains is light-years beyond hopeless; before these beautiful and historic trains are trashed by ignorant %$#@!&$! I'd rather see the "Tee-Yay" just stop running the (Personally-I think this is one of the reasons that the historic "Holiday Buses" were sidelined years ago; and "Santacon" is also in town today as well----God help us-----------

[W.B. Fishbowl]

Yeah, I am reminded of a routine on one of the late "Brother" Dave Gardner's "ablums," in which he said:

"They say, 'Let's do that again.' Now how you gonna do that? Again?! You can't do anything again, brother! Once it's done, it's gone, man! You can do somethin' similar . . . "

And that seems to spring to my mind when I hear about this deteriorating situation. An ever-loving shame, really.

Oh, and the car I was on, on the SB trip from 145th to 2nd last week was 381.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

WB: I rode the "Nostalgia Specials" back in the early 80's---I rode both the "Standards"and the "D"-types; the last I rode the old "Arnines" was when they were still running on the rush-hour "CC"-back in 1975 and early 1976 (I greatly prefer the happy recollections I'll always treasure-to riding on a "special" today alongside today's boisterous cut-up "characters")----------"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

On SubChat I was greatly pleased (and surprised!) to see a photo of one of the hulking BSS "Rocketeer" cars posted along with a poster thinking of one of these Art-Deco beasts running beneath CPW (the "Rocketeers" were TOUGH characters-for sure); think of a train of these beefy beasts rocketing along (pun intended!!) on the "Eye-En-Dee" on an express dash along CPW------WHAT A SHOW!! "NYO"