BUS - Random Thoughts Thread

[Via Garibaldi 8]

4 minutes ago, Lawrence St said:

Also, why are the fareboxes on the SIM23/24 in the first seat instead of next to the driver?

Because they are operated (currently) by Academy and that's how their buses are laid out.  At this point it's irrelevant. When the  takes over the lines on January 3, 2022, the express buses will all be the same like the current express buses. I don't know why so many people are freaking out over this. Academy will handle the service as they have until the takeover in January and then after that, everything will be just like the other  lines. No more cash on those lines. Metrocard or OMNY only, etc.

Edited November 16, 2021 by Via Garibaldi 8

[Future ENY OP]

55 minutes ago, Via Garibaldi 8 said:

Because they are operated (currently) by Academy and that's how their buses are laid out.  At this point it's irrelevant. When the  takes over the lines on January 3, 2022, the express buses will all be the same like the current express buses. I don't know why so many people are freaking out over this. Academy will handle the service as they have until the takeover in January and then after that, everything will be just like the other  lines. No more cash on those lines. Metrocard or OMNY only, etc.

Thank goodness that the  is taking over the 23/24. Should of been done a long time ago. To have a third party provider who don’t really care for their buses to operate on MTA lines. Hopefully the schedules improve for the 2 lines 

[Via Garibaldi 8]

22 minutes ago, Future ENY OP said:

Thank goodness that the  is taking over the 23/24. Should of been done a long time ago. To have a third party provider who don’t really care for their buses to operate on MTA lines. Hopefully the schedules improve for the 2 lines 

Quite frankly, this was a must, as both lines have poor, infrequent, unreliable service and people haven't been using them as much as a result. A number of riders were very concerned in my group, but it seems most people are happy with this takeover, as it should mean more frequent service (eventually).

[Bx41 boi]

what bus is this

Edited November 17, 2021 by Bx41 boi

[Bx41 boi]

Just now, Bx41 boi said:

what bus is this

photo hates me

[Bx41 boi]

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/531213718531816996/ what bus is this?

[Bx41 boi]

Just now, Bx41 boi said:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/531213718531816996/ what bus is this?

I only found 1 photo and no video

[Kingsbridgeviewer382]

7 minutes ago, Bx41 boi said:

I only found 1 photo and no video

A Gillig Phantom Hybrid the MTA tested in 2005.

[Bx41 boi]

3 minutes ago, Kingsbridgeviewer382 said:

A Gillig Phantom Hybrid the MTA tested in 2005.

what was the test for? to test the new LED? or did the OGS already have it?

[EastFlatbushLarry]

15 hours ago, NewFlyer 230 said:

I thought the old 126th depot was going to be demolished sometime after it closed down. If I remember correctly wasn’t the reason that the depot was closed is because it was on top of an old burial ground? 
Seeing it being used to store buses all these years later makes me question whether or not that depot needed to be closed in the first place because I can’t help but think politics were involved. 

they absolutely closed two-six because of politics. they didn't want TA Brooklyn having 7 depots. the justification being that Grand Avenue in effect replaced 126. the unions' VALID argument was that Grand Avenue's opening should have no bearing on TA employees (mechanics, cleaners & B/O's) being staffed at 126, seeing as another brooklyn yard has been needed going back to the closing of Crosstown. THAT should've been the replacement: Grand Avenue for Crosstown. btw, the ultimate reason why this was/is a big deal is because TA/OA B/O's can work in any TA/OA yard. mechanics & cleaners cannot. so they lost significant work because of two-six being closed. management used the burial ground excuse to weasel their way out of doing right by TA employees... not saying that the burial grounds shouldn't be preserved or acknowledged. it's just the way they went about things and the timing... like majority of things they do when it comes to the workforce. even though 126 was a TA yard, it's closure has been disastrous for OA. the m60 running out of quill (and all the pullout & pullin payouts from that f***ry) the Bx15 split between WF & KB, eventually all being housed at KB, the Bx39 can't find a friggin' home to save it's life, the Bx19/33 being at God forsaken WF, KB losing the Bx41, the 5 runs (iinm) on the m35 being "split" between Hale & 100 street... among other issues in OA, always leads to the question of "how much easier would life be if two-six was available?" i mean, they could've built a depot across the street on 126 between 2nd & 3rd, you know... the plot of land they own(ed) that D60HF artics were stored in? I'm not saying that's the best idea, but God forbid anyone questions the authority's problem solving skills.

Edited November 17, 2021 by EastFlatbushLarry

[SoSpectacular]

18 minutes ago, EastFlatbushLarry said:

they absolutely closed two-six because of politics. they didn't want TA Brooklyn having 7 depots. the justification being that Grand Avenue in effect replaced 126. the unions' VALID argument was that Grand Avenue's opening should have no bearing on TA employees (mechanics, cleaners & B/O's) being staffed at 126, seeing as another brooklyn yard has been needed going back to the closing of Crosstown. THAT should've been the replacement: Grand Avenue for Crosstown. btw, the ultimate reason why this was/is a big deal is because TA/OA B/O's can work in any TA/OA yard. mechanics & cleaners cannot. so they lost significant work because of two-six being closed. management used the burial ground excuse to weasel their way out of doing right by TA employees... not saying that the burial grounds shouldn't be preserved or acknowledged. it's just the way they went about things and the timing... like majority of things they do when it comes to the workforce. even though 126 was a TA yard, it's closure has been disastrous for OA. the m60 running out of quill (and all the pullout & pullin payouts from that f***ry) the Bx15 split between WF & KB, eventually all being housed at KB, the Bx39 can't find a friggin' home to save it's life, the Bx19/33 being at God forsaken WF, KB losing the Bx41, the 5 runs (iinm) on the m35 being "split" between Hale & 100 street... among other issues in OA, always leads to the question of "how much easier would life be if two-six was available?" i mean, they could've built a depot across the street on 126 between 2nd & 3rd, you know... the plot of land they own(ed) that D60HF artics were stored in? I'm not saying that's the best idea, but God forbid anyone questions the authority's problem solving skills.

Wow, didn't know there was a whole other story behind that, but I was looking at the M60 paddles a few weeks back and noticed the lengthy deadheads it had to make to and from the depot- it just seemed silly to me. Thing is, wasn't Grand opened in 2008 and 126 closed in 2015? That wouldn't make much sense if at all. It's f--ked either way if you ask me.

[Future ENY OP]

34 minutes ago, EastFlatbushLarry said:

they absolutely closed two-six because of politics. they didn't want TA Brooklyn having 7 depots. the justification being that Grand Avenue in effect replaced 126. the unions' VALID argument was that Grand Avenue's opening should have no bearing on TA employees (mechanics, cleaners & B/O's) being staffed at 126, seeing as another brooklyn yard has been needed going back to the closing of Crosstown. THAT should've been the replacement: Grand Avenue for Crosstown. btw, the ultimate reason why this was/is a big deal is because TA/OA B/O's can work in any TA/OA yard. mechanics & cleaners cannot. so they lost significant work because of two-six being closed. management used the burial ground excuse to weasel their way out of doing right by TA employees... not saying that the burial grounds shouldn't be preserved or acknowledged. it's just the way they went about things and the timing... like majority of things they do when it comes to the workforce. even though 126 was a TA yard, it's closure has been disastrous for OA. the m60 running out of quill (and all the pullout & pullin payouts from that f***ry) the Bx15 split between WF & KB, eventually all being housed at KB, the Bx39 can't find a friggin' home to save it's life, the Bx19/33 being at God forsaken WF, KB losing the Bx41, the 5 runs (iinm) on the m35 being "split" between Hale & 100 street... among other issues in OA, always leads to the question of "how much easier would life be if two-six was available?" i mean, they could've built a depot across the street on 126 between 2nd & 3rd, you know... the plot of land they own(ed) that D60HF artics were stored in? I'm not saying that's the best idea, but God forbid anyone questions the authority's problem solving skills.

The amount of issues that could of been solved if 126 didn't close 7 years ago. Seriously, if 26 re-opened. The upper Manhattan Division problems are essentially settled.

Same goes for Amsterdam/129th.

The Bx39 fiasco is truly amazing if you ask me.. I wonder what additional issues The Bronx Division will have when the re-design plan is released and implemented in July 2022.

[EastFlatbushLarry]

12 minutes ago, SoSpectacular said:

Wow, didn't know there was a whole other story behind that, but I was looking at the M60 paddles a few weeks back and noticed the lengthy deadheads it had to make to and from the depot- it just seemed silly to me. Thing is, wasn't Grand opened in 2008 and 126 closed in 2015? That wouldn't make much sense if at all. It's f--ked either way if you ask me.

yes, but over those years they repeatedly hinted at closure and gave that half assed reasoning. it was well-known that the depot was built on an African cemetery and to the unions credit (for what it's worth these days) they vigorously opposed. they gradually took away sat/sun rdo's and robust run pay out of 126 (on the 66/72) which sent alot of people running to (or back to) Brooklyn to tie up big money in Grand Avenue, Flatbush (B2/31/49) or ENY (B12/25 Q24/56) or they took the hit by working in OA

by the time they were done making two six unappealing, they had a skeleton crew up there. btw, guess where everyone who had S/S rdo's or a money run on the 15 went? right to 100 street to work a pm or late run or Hale. i was somewhat surprised to find quite a few hale ppl went back (even though they lost the 2, the 19 and the 33)

[SoSpectacular]

25 minutes ago, EastFlatbushLarry said:

yes, but over those years they repeatedly hinted at closure and gave that half assed reasoning. it was well-known that the depot was built on an African cemetery and to the unions credit (for what it's worth these days) they vigorously opposed. they gradually took away sat/sun rdo's and robust run pay out of 126 (on the 66/72) which sent alot of people running to (or back to) Brooklyn to tie up big money in Grand Avenue, Flatbush (B2/31/49) or ENY (B12/25 Q24/56) or they took the hit by working in OA

by the time they were done making two six unappealing, they had a skeleton crew up there. btw, guess where everyone who had S/S rdo's or a money run on the 15 went? right to 100 street to work a pm or late run or Hale. i was somewhat surprised to find quite a few hale ppl went back (even though they lost the 2, the 19 and the 33)

Damn, that's cold

[EastFlatbushLarry]

1 hour ago, Future ENY OP said:

The amount of issues that could of been solved if 126 didn't close 7 years ago. Seriously, if 26 re-opened. The upper Manhattan Division problems are essentially settled.

Same goes for Amsterdam/129th.

The Bx39 fiasco is truly amazing if you ask me.. I wonder what additional issues The Bronx Division will have when the re-design plan is released and implemented in July 2022.

Here's the thing with me: the asthma/community concerns are valid. HOWEVER, they keep 100 street open, push more runs than necessary out of Manhattanville (especially considering how "concerned" they are for the community) close two-six & AMS (which historically, Amsterdam has always been necessary for Uptown... the 60, bx15, m104, bx6 among other lines have run out of there.. it's far from being the red headed stepchild on the west side) and force the Bronx take on work it can barely manage (borderline Staten Island syndrome)

all the juggling of lines/runs, all the depots that are consistently short on buses (looking at you 100 street & Hale, with MV having to make up the difference)... it's not a mystery as to why MaBSTOA services are terrible. I'm not saying that AMS or two-six should reopen immediately, but the way they do shit is moronic. have comprable replacements in place, which they never do. you can't rely on Quill, WF, MV & GH to do ALL the heavy lifting... it's NOT working. on a good day, if OH, OF & WF are short, it's a slight catastrophe, because during the shoulder am rush, MAYBE MV & GH can loan out buses. on a bad day, good luck. 

Edited November 17, 2021 by EastFlatbushLarry

[EastFlatbushLarry]

35 minutes ago, Future ENY OP said:

The Bx39 fiasco is truly amazing if you ask me.. I wonder what additional issues The Bronx Division will have when the re-design plan is released and implemented in July 2022

iinm, originally the 39 was GH work, which is kinda hard to say, because through my research, OA yards have historically split lines/runs and swapped lines incessantly, significantly more that TA. for example, between Hale, Amsterdam & MV (even the prior rendition of that yard as 132nd Street Depot) all split (at various times) the M1/2/3/4 and so on.

whatever's gonna happen going forward (as far as the redesign) will be a zoo.

i will say this: I've often thought that if Eastchester was to be absorbed into the Bronx Division as a OA yard, even that wouldn't help things. all that'll do is provoke the closure of Yonkers and they'll absolutely try to "College Point" the f**k outta EC. but that'll be a headache for years down the road 

[Cait Sith]

1 hour ago, EastFlatbushLarry said:

yes, but over those years they repeatedly hinted at closure and gave that half assed reasoning. it was well-known that the depot was built on an African cemetery and to the unions credit (for what it's worth these days) they vigorously opposed. they gradually took away sat/sun rdo's and robust run pay out of 126 (on the 66/72) which sent alot of people running to (or back to) Brooklyn to tie up big money in Grand Avenue, Flatbush (B2/31/49) or ENY (B12/25 Q24/56) or they took the hit by working in OA

by the time they were done making two six unappealing, they had a skeleton crew up there. btw, guess where everyone who had S/S rdo's or a money run on the 15 went? right to 100 street to work a pm or late run or Hale. i was somewhat surprised to find quite a few hale ppl went back (even though they lost the 2, the 19 and the 33)

When I used to live in the Lower East Side and the M15 was solely out of 126, I befriended a few operators that would see me take photos of the 1000s every few days(luckily for me, they were cool with me taking photos/videos), and a few of them would tell me these exact same things you were saying. I've been hearing about the potential closure of 126 since well before SBS debuted in Manhattan for various reasons. A few of the ops said it was over the land being an african burial ground(that was gaining traction in 2009/2010) with others saying that the community board members were working with the mayor to get it closed.

I remember when the system pick started in 2011 and the M66/M72 went to Quill, those 126 ops were p i s s e d. And when the M60 went there with those 3800s that were assigned solely for the M60, that peeved off even more operators because operators at first didn't want to drive the hybrids. During that time in 2010/2011, Quill got some nice work out of the deal, M96/M106, M104 with some runs interlined as M20s, the M98 and the M66/M72. Manhattanville got the M1 and M7, and 126 was left with...the M15/15SBS, M31(which eventually went to Quill), M35 and M60 last I remember. Once all of that came to fruition(I know some of the routes were swapped between MQ and MV around those picks but I forgot for what and when), I knew it was the beginning of the end for 126.

[EastFlatbushLarry]

2 hours ago, Cait Sith said:

When I used to live in the Lower East Side and the M15 was solely out of 126, I befriended a few operators that would see me take photos of the 1000s every few days(luckily for me, they were cool with me taking photos/videos), and a few of them would tell me these exact same things you were saying. I've been hearing about the potential closure of 126 since well before SBS debuted in Manhattan for various reasons. A few of the ops said it was over the land being an african burial ground(that was gaining traction in 2009/2010) with others saying that the community board members were working with the mayor to get it closed.

I remember when the system pick started in 2011 and the M66/M72 went to Quill, those 126 ops were p i s s e d. And when the M60 went there with those 3800s that were assigned solely for the M60, that peeved off even more operators because operators at first didn't want to drive the hybrids. During that time in 2010/2011, Quill got some nice work out of the deal, M96/M106, M104 with some runs interlined as M20s, the M98 and the M66/M72. Manhattanville got the M1 and M7, and 126 was left with...the M15/15SBS, M31(which eventually went to Quill), M35 and M60 last I remember. Once all of that came to fruition(I know some of the routes were swapped between MQ and MV around those picks but I forgot for what and when), I knew it was the beginning of the end for 126.

being at ENY in 09, myself and other classmates were concerned about being bumped out during the upcoming school/fall pick (and for the system pick), because of the way 126 and brooklyn was set up. if you were in a brooklyn yard, depending on your seniority, you were allowed to pick 2-6 for the summer, then go back to your original depot in September. my girlfriend at the time (now ex wife) was one of several b/o's who verified those rumors outta two-six (most of the people who picked the 66/72 for the summer told us about the burial ground shit)

in regards to 2010, I'll keep it a hunnit, i do NOT miss that period of my life, from a personal standpoint being laid off, and from a landscape point of view. i ended up in KB when we were recalled, and that system pick going into 2011? as you accurately described it, Quill had work, you just needed time on the books. forget just 126 b/o's, ask any OA (or TA for that matter... excluding Quill, of course) employee how they felt about Quill back then... pissed isn't even the word. it was beyond aggravating. people were saying "yo, i gotta go to a division yard like QUILL to TRY for a decent run or stay (insert depot name here) and try to get the leftovers?", because former Amsterdam/Hale people were gobbling up everything uptown (meaning OF/MV/KB) and brooklyn specifically became "bump city" once seniors caught on to low seniority b/o's getting paid (and good rdo's) at Grand Avenue... plus the rumor vulture circling overhead about 126 made everybody uneasy. my ex wife and i "miraculously" ended up at 100 street because of the brooklyn zoo and the quill shit.

 

2 hours ago, Cait Sith said:

126 was left with...the M15/15SBS, M31(which eventually went to Quill), M35 and M60 last I remember.

i just remembered that 2-6 found a way to hold onto the 116 as well, before that suspect split with MV occured (with 2-6 getting Saturday/Sunday rdo's out of the deal, hence why 126 only had it Mon-Fri) 

[Cait Sith]

22 minutes ago, EastFlatbushLarry said:

being at ENY in 09, myself and other classmates were concerned about being bumped out during the upcoming school/fall pick (and for the system pick), because of the way 126 and brooklyn was set up. if you were in a brooklyn yard, depending on your seniority, you were allowed to pick 2-6 for the summer, then go back to your original depot in September. my girlfriend at the time (now ex wife) was one of several b/o's who verified those rumors outta two-six (most of the people who picked the 66/72 for the summer told us about the burial ground shit)

in regards to 2010, I'll keep it a hunnit, i do NOT miss that period of my life, from a personal standpoint being laid off, and from a landscape point of view. i ended up in KB when we were recalled, and that system pick going into 2011? as you accurately described it, Quill had work, you just needed time on the books. forget just 126 b/o's, ask any OA (or TA for that matter... excluding Quill, of course) employee how they felt about Quill back then... pissed isn't even the word. it was beyond aggravating. people were saying "yo, i gotta go to a division yard like QUILL to TRY for a decent run or stay (insert depot name here) and try to get the leftovers?", because former Amsterdam/Hale people were gobbling up everything uptown (meaning OF/MV/KB) and brooklyn specifically became "bump city" once seniors caught on to low seniority b/o's getting paid (and good rdo's) at Grand Avenue... plus the rumor vulture circling overhead about 126 made everybody uneasy. my ex wife and i "miraculously" ended up at 100 street because of the brooklyn zoo and the quill shit.

 

i just remembered that 2-6 found a way to hold onto the 116 as well, before that suspect split with MV occured (with 2-6 getting Saturday/Sunday rdo's out of the deal, hence why 126 only had it Mon-Fri) 

Wow. I completely forgot about the M116.....I don't know how that route slipped my mind, yet I've spent some days and nights catching RTSs and Artics on the line🤣.

Yeah, I definitely felt that type of tension in 2010/2011 between 126 and Quill ops.....especially when they both(and MV) had to work the D shuttle(Grand Street to West 4th). Some of the antics at the layover on Grand was well...expected to an extent. You can tell there was some animosity.

100th Street in 2010....I remember those days lol. New 1200s were arriving to GH and 100th Street gets dumped with, and I quote from a 100th Street op I heard this from "roach coach artics", because some of those 5400s from The Bronx had roaches at the rear of the bus. Brooklyn(Grand Mostly) was in shambles at the time and I very much remember that.

My uncle(a supervisor) was one of the few that was at the soft opening and the official opening of Grand Avenue, and was at Grand for a few years until going over to ENY. The soft opening IIRC consisted of only 19-20 buses, with more coming in around January of 2008. The B15 at Grand was an absolute disaster at Grand Avenue. Both ops and management were complaining about the line. Thank god it's back at ENY.

[Future ENY OP]

7 hours ago, EastFlatbushLarry said:

Here's the thing with me: the asthma/community concerns are valid. HOWEVER, they keep 100 street open, push more runs than necessary out of Manhattanville (especially considering how "concerned" they are for the community) close two-six & AMS (which historically, Amsterdam has always been necessary for Uptown... the 60, bx15, m104, bx6 among other lines have run out of there.. it's far from being the red headed stepchild on the west side) and force the Bronx take on work it can barely manage (borderline Staten Island syndrome)

all the juggling of lines/runs, all the depots that are consistently short on buses (looking at you 100 street & Hale, with MV having to make up the difference)... it's not a mystery as to why MaBSTOA services are terrible. I'm not saying that AMS or two-six should reopen immediately, but the way they do shit is moronic. have comprable replacements in place, which they never do. you can't rely on Quill, WF, MV & GH to do ALL the heavy lifting... it's NOT working. on a good day, if OH, OF & WF are short, it's a slight catastrophe, because during the shoulder am rush, MAYBE MV & GH can loan out buses. on a bad day, good luck. 

I get the whole East Harlem/West Bronx/South Bronx health concerns also. However, with all of the advancements that the MTA are doing right now there needs to be a re-evaluation on possibly reopening 26. With all the clean air hybrid buses coming to all the OA garages and all this state/fed money coming in improvements can be done (if the TA gets its priorities straight). Because if Jamaica can get re-constructed same could apply with 26 and both are built in residential areas. 
 

Speaking about the whole MaBSTOA fiasco GH had to do coverage trip on Bx33 the other day for WF. But if this was covered by MCH OR 26 there wouldn’t be an issue. The current WF route set up is atrocious at best especially the NE/Central Bronx routes. Bx8, Bx27, Bx31, Bx32, Bx33, Bx39. WF has no business with the these routes. (Re-alignments for another day) 

[Future ENY OP]

7 hours ago, EastFlatbushLarry said:

iinm, originally the 39 was GH work, which is kinda hard to say, because through my research, OA yards have historically split lines/runs and swapped lines incessantly, significantly more that TA. for example, between Hale, Amsterdam & MV (even the prior rendition of that yard as 132nd Street Depot) all split (at various times) the M1/2/3/4 and so on.

whatever's gonna happen going forward (as far as the redesign) will be a zoo.

i will say this: I've often thought that if Eastchester was to be absorbed into the Bronx Division as a OA yard, even that wouldn't help things. all that'll do is provoke the closure of Yonkers and they'll absolutely try to "College Point" the f**k outta EC. but that'll be a headache for years down the road 

I’ve always liked the 39 being at Gun Hill for a few factors. The various interlining can be done on WPR & E.Gun Hill plus a easy deadhead from Bartow to Wakefield. However, the problem is that the starting points for some of these routes like the 39 may start in Gun Hill territory and end in West Farms territory making the work a bit difficult when it comes to the deadhead from garage to first stop. 
 

Eastchester to OA Division:  Lets leave that alone. Yonkers gotta get this work too. No need for that at all.  

[Via Garibaldi 8]

8 hours ago, EastFlatbushLarry said:

they absolutely closed two-six because of politics. 

I was wondering about that site because I was on the express bus yesterday morning going to my office for a bit and saw all of these buses over there. I thought to myself, didn't they close that depot years ago? So why do they still have so many buses laying over there then if it is supposed to be closed? Over the years of course I have seen buses there from whatever lines terminate there, but it seemed like yesterday they just had buses laid up over there in general, more than I can recall seeing over the last several years.

[EastFlatbushLarry]

5 hours ago, Cait Sith said:

New 1200s were arriving to GH and 100th Street gets dumped with, and I quote from a 100th Street op I heard this from "roach coach artics", because some of those 5400s from The Bronx had roaches at the rear of the bus.

2 hours ago, Future ENY OP said:

some of these routes like the 39 may start in Gun Hill territory and end in West Farms territory making the work a bit difficult when it comes to the deadhead from garage to first stop. 

 

@Cait Sith wow, talk about bad memories 🤦🏾‍♂️🤣😂 i remember when the 54xx's and the Gun Hill 10xx's were sent down to 100 street. yes, they were notorious for roach infestation. i remember hanging out with my ex, and she didn't give a f**k... she for sure didn't turn those artics off, especially at Fort George (layovers were always longer up there)

when i finally did start at 100, the roaches slipped my mind, and i had a 5420-something (5423 iinm) and i laid over. i walked around to stretch my legs and hit up a corner store. when i came back, and hit the lights (i didn't even turn the bus fully on) i easily saw over 10 roaches scurrying around the back. my skin was crawling all the way down to the village. I really thought about reporting a dirty bus, but I wanted to get that run over with tbh. 

to @Future ENY OP this is why i brought up history beforehand, because of the point you made. OA did split lines for that exact reason. and to that end, even before KB had (and subsequently lost) the 39, i honestly thought WF & KB/GH could/should/would split the 39 (also considered the 36 doing a KB/WF split.. but I digress)

btw... am i tripping or not: didn't the Bx8 and 31 run out of Gun Hill once upon a time? 

also, i brought up EC only because it doesn't seem (at least from my point of view) that Yonkers will be in the long-term plans going forward with whatever will become of Bus Company, any so-called merger, absorption or dissolution. 

to @Via Garibaldi 8 i remember hearing (and eventually seeing) that Yonkers depot used the 2-6 satellite yard on 128th for midday layovers as opposed to making the trip back to YO, just to come back downtown... made sense when i heard it. i could be wrong, but i believe some Queens Bus Company yards used the lot as well. as far as I know (from what I heard some time ago) operators & SLD's from Hale & OH still utilize the restrooms in 2-6 depot. they used to assign a caretaker fron Hale to maintain the restrooms, but i heard (specifically from OH female b/o's) that the bathrooms weren't being maintained at all, which is a damn shame imo... it really is atrocious to have to head back downtown with a full bladder, male or female.. Unless you take a personal and head to Lexington with your bus, which is asking alot. 

[Via Garibaldi 8]

19 minutes ago, EastFlatbushLarry said:

also, i brought up EC only because it doesn't seem (at least from my point of view) that Yonkers will be in the long-term plans going forward with whatever will become of Bus Company, any so-called merger, absorption or dissolution. 

to @Via Garibaldi 8 i remember hearing (and eventually seeing) that Yonkers depot used the 2-6 satellite yard on 128th for midday layovers as opposed to making the trip back to YO, just to come back downtown... made sense when i heard it. i could be wrong, but i believe some Queens Bus Company yards used the lot as well. as far as I know (from what I heard some time ago) operators & SLD's from Hale & OH still utilize the restrooms in 2-6 depot. they used to assign a caretaker fron Hale to maintain the restrooms, but i heard (specifically from OH female b/o's) that the bathrooms weren't being maintained at all, which is a damn shame imo... it really is atrocious to have to head back downtown with a full bladder, male or female.. Unless you take a personal and head to Lexington with your bus, which is asking alot. 

It's funny. I talk to Yonkers B/Os regularly on the side, as there are a number of them in my group, including one of the union heads. None of them seem to be that concerned about it. As you may know, NYC owns that depot and leases it to the  . The  is fine moving, but they want Yonkers to build another depot and the asking price is apparently too rich for the City of Yonkers. As it stands right now, I am sure my Assemblyman would get involved if express bus service were to be impacted by such a move. All of the express buses out of Yonkers Depot run in his district, from the BxM1, BxM2, BxM3, BxM18 to the BxM4 and the BxM11, so he knows he would get an earful from constituents (we have met in person before at his office about my group).

That's also interesting about Yonkers laying over there; I haven't seen any of them there, but it wouldn't shock me. I've seen only local buses over there, almost all of them artics. I'm guessing a chunk of them deadhead there for the M15 or whatever. Years ago when my uncle drove out of 100th St, I would go with him here and there on weekends and yes, finding a bathroom was a challenge. I recall using a place by Astor Place and once we used the Mother Clara Hale Depot as well, but that was when that depot was quite run down. The bathrooms were disgusting just because everything was so old.

[Calvin]

6700 Orion VII has that old Hudson Pier depot logo. In entrance to the bus.