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W.B.'s Bus Almanac for Month of July

Posted by W.B. on Wed Jul 1 11:09:17 2026


This is for instances in New York City bus history where there is no known exact date.

1959: What would be the last-ever GM "Old Look" buses of model TDH-5106 ever produced for the city (or anywhere, for that matter), enter service for Fifth Avenue Coach Lines (2645-2694) and Surface Transit (3020-3059); the FACL set had the distinction of being the last ever built. As with a prior FACL order, 2605-2644 from the prior year, the fronts have a protruding box inside which are the front roll signs designating what route the bus is assigned to. The FACL lot is divided among depots of both FACO and NYCO Divisions; several of the ST allocation are stored in Central Bronx depot (later the Transit Authority's Manhattan Division depot) where among the routes this bus traveled on was the M-101 Third and Amsterdam Avenues line which, starting in 1960, would also go down Lexington Avenue. In April 1963, 3020-3059 would be renumbered 3221-3259 and 3291 as part of a major renumbering of old FACCo, NYCO and Surface bus fleets in preparation for the first TDH-5303's entering service for MaBSTOA. As late as 1970, several of this model ply key Fifth Avenue routes, with more assigned to the Bronx; but retirements begin that year, with a few relegated to occasional service on TA routes in Brooklyn as late as 1972. None of these distinctive buses were ever preserved.


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(351027)

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Re: W.B.'s Bus Almanac for Month of July

Posted by Catfish 44 on Fri Jul 3 10:45:58 2026, in response to W.B.'s Bus Almanac for Month of July, posted by W.B. on Wed Jul 1 11:09:17 2026.

These 1959s for Fifth Ave wound up on TA routes in Brooklyn until 1972? Wow

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(351028)

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Re: W.B.'s Bus Almanac for Month of July

Posted by Q4 on Fri Jul 3 11:06:02 2026, in response to W.B.'s Bus Almanac for Month of July, posted by W.B. on Wed Jul 1 11:09:17 2026.

A shame none were preserved.

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(351029)

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Re: W.B.'s Bus Almanac for Month of July

Posted by Snilcher on Fri Jul 3 11:08:27 2026, in response to Re: W.B.'s Bus Almanac for Month of July, posted by Catfish 44 on Fri Jul 3 10:45:58 2026.

Old Look buses were running on all the Green Line routes in Rockaway and all the TA routes in Staten Island as late as 1970.

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(351036)

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Re: W.B.'s Bus Almanac for Month of July

Posted by Catfish 44 on Fri Jul 3 21:12:01 2026, in response to Re: W.B.'s Bus Almanac for Month of July, posted by Snilcher on Fri Jul 3 11:08:27 2026.

I’m sure GBL had them on the road until around 1980

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(351038)

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Re: W.B.'s Bus Almanac for Month of July

Posted by gbs on Sat Jul 4 23:35:55 2026, in response to Re: W.B.'s Bus Almanac for Month of July, posted by Catfish 44 on Fri Jul 3 21:12:01 2026.


This is the color scheme I remember on the Q60 along Queens Blvd when I went to Russell Sage JHS in Forest Hills.




It was from a 3rd floor window of the school, facing Austin St, that I first glimpsed a Flxible bus, which, compared to the GM new look buses, reminded me of a bizarro bus, with its faceted front windshield instead of curves.



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(351041)

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Re: W.B.'s Bus Almanac for Month of July

Posted by Avid reader on Sun Jul 5 09:21:22 2026, in response to Re: W.B.'s Bus Almanac for Month of July, posted by Catfish 44 on Fri Jul 3 21:12:01 2026.

The Q-7 on Rockaway Blvd. was also used as school buses for it and other routes for John Adams High School.



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(351042)

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Re: W.B.'s Bus Almanac for Month of July

Posted by B53RICH on Sun Jul 5 11:12:25 2026, in response to Re: W.B.'s Bus Almanac for Month of July, posted by Catfish 44 on Fri Jul 3 21:12:01 2026.

Yes, 1980 or close to that. I saw an old look on the Q10 in the 900 series, a Jamaica Bus hand-me-down in the same bus stop with an RTS at Metropolitan Ave.
The last TA old looks lasted until 1973.

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