|
|
| Re: Does Anyone Remember Walters Transit? (307764) | |||
 |
|||
| Home > BusChat | |||
|
[ Read Responses | Post a New Response | Return to the Index ] |
|
||
|
Re: Does Anyone Remember Walters Transit? |
|
|
Posted by Dave Wallace on Fri Oct 16 09:50:59 2015, in response to Does Anyone Remember Walters Transit?, posted by Larry,RedbirdR33 on Sat Oct 10 11:17:55 2015. Walters Transit became a vital link for commuters and weekend visitors to the areas once covered by the Putnam division of the New York Central when the New York Central succeeded in ending passenger service on the Put in 1958.Walters agreement to step up and provide bus service between New York, Brewster, Carmel, Mahopac, Yorktown, Elmsford and intermediate points gave the New York Central an out. They had wanted to end service on the money losing Put for a while. At the outset, service was provided by about 6 runs in each direction. But over time, the number of runs varied and hit as many as 14 in the late 60's. Demand for service was not always there and when Walters ended service, they were back down to 6 runs each way. Equipment ranged from at the outset - old looks, PD4104s and gradually went to PD4106s, New Looks, Buffalos, MC7s, 8s and at the end - MC9s. Additional service was provided seasonally between Fire Island and various points in Manhattan and Queens. And as noted previously, service was also offered to Canaan and Wassaic. The areas that Walters served for commuter services have grown steadily. So the demand for their services should have increased over time. And it did for a while. The problem was that vehicular traffic grew with the population boom that the Hudson Valley has been experiencing since the 60's. Over time, it became increasingly difficult to maintain the schedules. And in fact, the schedules began to allow for even more time to destinations. In short -- the bus became slower. At the same time, rail service on the Harlem line was sped up. And many Walters commuters lived close enough to the Harlem to use it. The line was electrified between North White Plains and Brewster North around 1984 and something like 25 minutes was shaved off on commutes between Brewster and Grand Central. Walter's knew they were in a losing battle and walked away. But the story doesn't quite end there because Mt Kisco Bus service took over Walter's routes the day after Walters shut down. Their service was provided by a hodge podge of coaches dominated by New Looks and Buffalos. Unfortunately, they also began to fail. So a year later, Hudson Valley bus lines replaced them and hung in there for a while. Eventually, the schedule went down to two runs each way per day and at some point - ended. |
|
|
|