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50 Years Ago

Posted by andy on Fri Mar 2 20:44:00 2012

March 1, 1962: Fifth Avenue Coach and Surface Transit were shut soqn after the Transport Workers Union walked off the job. That day, the new FACO-STS management dismissed 29 long time workers who were on light duty jobs (doormen, watchmen, street fare collectors) due to injuries or age that prevented them from driving buses (their original jobs). The dismissals were not allowed under the TWU contract but the new management did it anyway. March 1 proved to be the last day that any buses operated in Manhattan and The Bronx under the monikers of FACO or STS. NYC seized the buses and garages on March 22 and the next day began operating the routes under a new NYCTA subsidiary - MABSTOA.

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Re: 50 Years Ago

Posted by The I MAN on Sat Mar 3 13:59:39 2012, in response to 50 Years Ago, posted by andy on Fri Mar 2 20:44:00 2012.

An issue of Motor Coach Age printed in the early 70's covers MABSTOA's first ten years. From having to borrow worn out buses from Brooklyn, the TA infused huge amounts of cash to purchase new 5303's and newer fishbowls, so that by 1972 they were actually storing some new looks, probably the first transit agency to do so.

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Re: 50 Years Ago

Posted by andy on Sat Mar 3 16:43:44 2012, in response to Re: 50 Years Ago, posted by The I MAN on Sat Mar 3 13:59:39 2012.

Yes, I was there to see it all. MABSTOA took over a fleet that ranged from fair (Fifth Ave. Coach) to terrible (Surface Transit Bronx garages). By 1967 it was one of the most modern bus fleets anywhere in the U.S. The new looks in storage were some high-mileage 5301s that were originally FACO buses when new. After 1964 most of that fleet ended up in The Bronx working routes out of Kingsbrige Depot.

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Re: 50 Years Ago

Posted by Manwithaplan on Sat Mar 3 21:14:04 2012, in response to Re: 50 Years Ago, posted by andy on Sat Mar 3 16:43:44 2012.

The air conditioned 5301's #3211-3220 were at 132nd Street Depot
for a while, and then were sent to Amsterdam Depot, and were
assigned to the M104. The entire lot of 5301's #3101-3210 were
assigned to Kingsbridge Depot. In 1970, 36 of those buses were placed out of service, and by 1972, the entire group was gone from passenger service. I can remember riding those buses on the BX3-Prospect Avenue, the BX37-Ogden Avenue, and the BX38-University Avenue lines in my younger days. That was the glory days of buses for me.

MWAP

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(256704)

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Re: 50 Years Ago

Posted by William A. Padron on Sun Mar 4 13:19:17 2012, in response to Re: 50 Years Ago, posted by Manwithaplan on Sat Mar 3 21:14:04 2012.

However, here is one of those A/C TDH-5301 series #3211-3220's operating on a NYCTA route in Queens back during the summer of 1971...

MABSTOA #3215, 165th Street Terminal [NYCTA route #Q2], 8/9/1971.

-William A. Padron
["Happy 50th, MABSTOA!"]

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Re: 50 Years Ago

Posted by Manwithaplan on Sun Mar 4 15:09:48 2012, in response to Re: 50 Years Ago, posted by William A. Padron on Sun Mar 4 13:19:17 2012.

Yes, I remember that. The TA had a bus shortage in late 1970, and
had MaBSTOA send over some 5301's and some TDH-5106's to operate in
Brooklyn. Thanks for posting 3215!

MWAP

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Re: 50 Years Ago

Posted by Larry,RedbirdR33 on Sun Mar 4 15:36:22 2012, in response to Re: 50 Years Ago, posted by William A. Padron on Sun Mar 4 13:19:17 2012.

William: Its interesting to see a MaBSTOA bus operating on a TA route in 1971. At that time there were only three MaBTOA routes serving Queens, the #15 Fifth Av-Jackson Heights (later M-32). The TB(later Bx21) Triboro Bridge Route and there was something called the Elmhurst Crosstown (Q-16?) which was the only MaBTOA route that ran entirely in Queens.

Larry, RedbirdR33

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Re: 50 Years Ago

Posted by B53RICH on Sun Mar 4 16:09:03 2012, in response to Re: 50 Years Ago, posted by Larry,RedbirdR33 on Sun Mar 4 15:36:22 2012.

The Elmhurst Crosstown, Fifth Ave./ MaBSTOA route #16, later changed to the Q89 was discontinued during the 80's. It ran from 82 St. Jackson Heights to Broadway and Queens Blvd. via Baxter Ave. It was probably interlined with the M(Q)32. I saw this bus only once, RTS 2222 was used in service during that day.

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Re: 50 Years Ago

Posted by andy on Sun Mar 4 19:31:01 2012, in response to Re: 50 Years Ago, posted by William A. Padron on Sun Mar 4 13:19:17 2012.

Thanks for posting the picture. Some interesting side details about it:

(1)Even though it is an August day, the AC is not working because all windows are wide open.
(2) Two piece FACO route sign curtain was replaced with a one piece NYCTA curtain.
(3) Across the street is the main branch of the Queens Public Library - still there.
(4) down Merrick Blvd. in the distance is a sign atop the building for Delehanty High School, a long time private school in that area that was also well know for preparing generations of NYC men to take the NYPD entrance exam. Delehanty had ads in the Daily News all the time.

Memories!

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Re: 50 Years Ago

Posted by William A. Padron on Mon Mar 5 15:36:48 2012, in response to Re: 50 Years Ago, posted by Manwithaplan on Sun Mar 4 15:09:48 2012.

You're welcomed. Oh, about those TDH 5106's in Brooklyn, here is one of them there...

MABSTOA #2635, East 16th Street/Avenue U [Route #B31], 10/3/1970.

-William A. Padron
["Fifth Avenue Coach Lines"]

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Re: 50 Years Ago

Posted by Manwithaplan on Mon Mar 5 20:41:19 2012, in response to Re: 50 Years Ago, posted by William A. Padron on Mon Mar 5 15:36:48 2012.

VERY NICE!!!!

MWAP

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Re: 50 Years Ago

Posted by Westcode44 on Tue Mar 6 01:07:52 2012, in response to Re: 50 Years Ago, posted by William A. Padron on Mon Mar 5 15:36:48 2012.

Oh wow yeah I remember Fifth Avenue getting a few,,(MABSTOA 5106s) one of em had a moveable rear door handle that buzzed the driver when you put pressure on the door when it was closed and locked. These buses also shifted (transmission) similar to the new looks. Leave it to Fifth Avenue Coach compnay for always being one step ahead of the Transit Authority.

WE-44

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