BusTalk

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2020 5:48 pm Post subject:

Joe:

Thanks for providing the photo link; now THAT'S a BUS!! Wink

PSNJ, RED & TAN, and ORANGE & BLACK also rostered similar a/c Old Looks (suburbans); these were the TDH-5106/5108 models.

I also recall seeing photos awhile back somewhere online, showing a SEPTA PCC car being fitted with an experimental a/c unit.

This was way, way back in the 70's, or early 80's, I believe......

"NYO"

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2020 11:09 pm Post subject:

Here's another quick question for the experts here...... Wink

Which "fleet" was the first to boast all a/c-equipped buses?

Was this NYCTA/MTA or MaBSTOA?

Also, when were the last non a/c buses retired?

Thanks in advance for any information......

"NYO"

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2020 11:36 am Post subject:

Installing a/c in transit buses is, perhaps surprisingly, not a "recent" idea at all......

In 1945, the GEORGIA POWER COMPANY had the distinction of being the only city in the world to operate an air-conditioned trolley bus.

This unique coach was #1234, a P-S unit delivered late that year.

The 100 Pullmans that were ordered that year were, originally, all to have had a/c installed (this would have been a godsend to transit riders, during the long, hot Atlanta summers)

This innovative experiment was not successful, and it would be many years before any Atlanta buses arrived with a/c........

"NYO"

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2020 5:10 pm Post subject:

Speaking of older (non-Old Look) buses with a/c, quite awhile back, in another topic here, there was a photo (photos?) of Dallas buses (Whites?) with a/c units on the roof.

I know I've seen one older a/c-equipped bus (again, not GM) in Dallas, passing by JFK's limousine, in November, 1963.

These were the a/c units that featured the bulky duct that ran along the roof.........

"NYO"

MaBSTOA 15 · Age: 71 Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 1156

The Dallas bus with a/c is not a White but a Southern Coach with a retrofit a/c unit. Also, it was the largest Souther Coach built, it was a S-50 model. Dallas was the only one to have them.

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2020 10:11 pm Post subject:

MaBSTOA 15 · Age: 71 Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 1156

In regards to the above comment about the Dallas bus with a/c...

This is the photo you referenced and it is a Southern Coach built model 50S, their largest built bus with aftermarket a/c roof unit.

MaBSTOA 15 · Age: 71 Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 1156

You also mentioned a "possible" White with a/c and here it is... Also in Dallas. It is a White Motors model 1150.

In the first two pictures note the rear end of a Southern Coach's a/c condenser.

MaBSTOA 15 · Age: 71 Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 1156

And if you think the Southern and Whites were strange, get a good look at these two trolleybuses, an ACF and a Marmon!

(Also from Dallas)

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2020 9:41 pm Post subject:

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Shocked

OUTSTANDING photos......THANK YOU for sharing here!!!!! Wink

The one rear view photo (fourth photo from top) is EXACTLY the one I recall seeing many years ago, in a book dealing with the JFK assassination.

In my area, when I was growing up in the 60's, in the diverse NHBL fleet, I recall two WHITE models; the older 798 and the newer 1150; of course, these were not a/c equipped buses.

The boxy a/c units on the roof I do clearly recall on some of the ORANGE & BLACK Old Looks.

Back then, none of the transit buses in my area (either Old Look or New Look) had a/c; the only buses I recall then having a/c were the suburban models.

Again, THANK YOU for taking the time, and posting these AWESOME old photos!!! Wink

"NYO"

MaBSTOA 15 · Age: 71 Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 1156

More aftermarket a/c equipped buses.

a) Mack model C-45 of Citizens Transit

b) GM model TDH-5105 of St. Louis Public Service

c) GM model TDH-4512 of Mechanicsville Bus Lines

MaBSTOA 15 · Age: 71 Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 1156

And a Phoenix TDH-4512. NOte the "bald look" - no ThermoMatic grill above the destination sign.

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 2:09 pm Post subject:

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Shocked

I REPEAT:

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Shocked

"NYO"

MaBSTOA 15 · Age: 71 Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 1156

New York Omnibus 2629... you asked who had an all a/c fleet, MaBSTOA or NYCTA and when was the last non-a/c bus retired.

I have compiled a list of a/c buses bought and operated in New York City prior to 1968 (at that point all new and future buses would be purchased with a/c equipment)

1958

Fifth Avenue Coach... TDH-5106... total 1

January 1960

Fifth Avenue Coach... TDH-5301... total 10

June 1966

Jamaica Buses... TDH-5303... total 10

June/July 1966

Green Bus Lines... TDH-5303... total 10

December 1966

Avenue B and East Broadway... TDH-4519... total 5

January/February 1967

MaBSTOA... TDH-5303... Total 480

NYCTA... TDH-5303... total 201

February 1967

Green Bus Lines... TDH-5303... total 25

February/March 1967

Jamaica Buses... TDH-5303... total 10

September 1967

Triboro Coach... TDH-5303... total 15

December 1967

Steinway Transit... TDH-5304... total 15

Sometime in 1966 Triboro Coach acquired 16 ex Greyhound World's Fair TDH-5303 with a/c and Steinway Transit acquired 2 ex Greyhound World's Fair TDH-5303 with a/c.

As to an all a/c fleet, I guess the Greyhound fleet at the 1964-1965 NY World's Fair would fit the bill. They had a 100 bus fleet with...

December 1963 - March 1964

TDH-5303... total 60

February/March 1964

SDH-5302... total 40

[/u]

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 3:07 pm Post subject:

THANK YOU for taking the time to compile this list; I had no idea that ANY of the "AVE. B" fleet had a/c.....you DO learn something new every day!

I also see that MaBSTOA had more a/c-equipped buses than the "Tee-Yay" did (as of early 1967)

Again, I do thank you for posting this interesting info.....MUCH appreciated! Wink

"NYO"