Page 5B - Transfers & Tickets; Surface: Bus Routes: Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, Express

The Catalog of Transit Fiscal Ephemera & Exonumia from the City of the New York
(pre-MetroCard)
featuring the collections of George S. Cuhaj & Philip M. Goldstein

Page 5B:


Independent Private Operators & Private Bus Line Issues		Municipal Issues
Bronx	Surface Transportation Surface Transit	Bronx	MaBSTOA Interdivisional Bx-55 Bus to Rapid NYCTA

Manhattan	Avenue B & East Broadway Comprehensive Omnibus East Side Omnibus Eighth Avenue Coach Fifth Avenue Bus Madison Avenue Coach New York City Omnibus Surface Transportation Corp Surface Transit Triangle Bus Corp	Manhattan	MaBSTOA NYCTA - Manhattan Bus Division NYCTA MTA-NYCT

Queens	Affiliated Bus Transit Green Bus Lines Jamaica Buses North Shore Bus Queens-Nassau Bus Queens Surface Corp Queens Transit Steinway Omnibus Steinway Transit Triboro Coach	Queens	Board of Transportation - Queens NYCTA Interdivisional Q49 Bus to Rapid MTA-NYCT NYC Department of Transportation

Staten Island	Isle Transportation Staten Island Coach Tompkins	Staten Island	NYCTA MTA-NYCT

		Statue of Liberty Commemorative July 4, 5, 6, 1986	NYCTA

		Express Buses	NYCTA MTA-NYCT

Independent & Private Surface Transit Operators - Private Bus Lines

Continuing from Page 5A - Surface Transfers; Bus Routes, Brooklyn, this page contains transfers from all other boroughs.

Carrying over from those early days of horsedrawn stages and trolley lines; the private companies that survived through the decades would adapt to the changing world and convert their routes to internal combustion powered buses.

There were many private bus operators throughout Manhattan, several in the Bronx of which all came to fall under Surface Transportation Corp; and Queens which had many "Private Bus Lines" or "PBL's" (private operators as opposed to municipal) as well.

There were but three operators on Staten Island, being PBL's as well; until they were absorbed by the New York City Transit Authority.

Surface Transportation Corp.
& Surface Transit Corp.

Surface Transportation Corporation of New York was a bus operator in the boroughs of Manhattan and The Bronx in New York City.

Originally, this company was a subsidiary of the Union Railway Company of New York City, which was in turn owned by Third Avenue Railway System (TARS) and was the actual operator of TARS' Bronx routes.

It became a subsidiary of the Third Avenue Railway System (TARS) in 1924; and it now operated feeder bus routes to its electric streetcar lines. But, as the existing electric streetcar lines were converted to internal combustion bus operation, those franchises would be re-assigned to Surface Transportation Corp. It would be the largest of the private bus operators in the City of New York.

In 1942, TARS changed its name to "Third Avenue Transit Corporation" and took over control of Surface Transportation Corp. directly.

On August 21, 1948, all electric streetcar lines in the Bronx and Manhattan had been converted to internal combustion powered buses. And within a year, Surface Transportation was in a dire financial situation. Shutdown was imminent, when the Public Service Commission approved the Third Avenue Transit to assist financially.

But, by 1949; Third Avenue Transit itself was on the verge of shutdown for lack of funds. It filed for bankruptcy, and Lester Doyle was appointed receiver.

In 1956, the New York City Omnibus Corporation (NYCO) purchased Third Avenue Transit / and with it, Surface Transportation's franchises. It then dissolved Surface Transportation as a corporation, and created a new subsidiary; Surface Transit Incorporated, to operate the existing routes. NYCO also purchased the bankrupt Fifth Avenue Coach Co. this year as well, reorganized that company as Fifth Avenue Coach Lines and made Surface Transit a subsidiary thereof.

In 1962 all of the routes of Fifth Avenue Coach Lines, Inc. and Surface Transit, Inc. were taken over by the Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority after a strike which left the company's patrons without service.

Bruckner Boulevard Line

North - PM (pink) hourly punch, detachable PM coupon Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee) (Smith Patent copy)	South - PM (blue) hourly punch, detachable PM coupon Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee) (Smith Patent copy)

.
.

.

City Island - West Farms

West - PM (buff)
Surface Transportation Corp.
hourly punch PM
(no patent)
note on back: bus

. .

.

Concourse - Hub Line
intentionally left blank
	South - PM (buff) hourly punch, PM Surface Transportation Corp S. W. Huff, president
.

North - PM (green) hourly punch, detachable PM coupon Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee) (Smith Patent copy)	South - PM (pink) hourly punch, detachable PM coupon Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee) (Smith Patent copy)

..

.

Concourse - 138th Street Line

North - PM (green) hourly punch, detachable PM coupon Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee) (Smith Patent copy)	South - PM (pink) hourly punch, detachable PM coupon Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee) (Smith Patent copy)

..

.

Eastchester Road Line

South - PM (salmon)
hourly punch, detachable PM coupon
Surface Transportation Corp
(Smith Patent copy)

.

.

Jerome - Bainbridge Avenue Line

South - PM (buff)
hourly punch, PM
Surface Transportation Corp
(no patent)

.

.

Prospect Avenue Line

North (green) hourly punch, detachable PM coupon Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee) (Smith Patent copy)	South (pink) hourly punch, detachable PM coupon Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee) (Smith Patent copy)

.

.

Riverdale Avenue Line
South (brown) hourly punch, AM / PM Surface Transportation Corp S. W. Huff, president (no patent)
.

North (green) hourly punch, detachable PM coupon Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee) (Smith Patent copy)	South (pink) hourly punch, detachable PM coupon Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee) (Smith Patent copy)

..

.

Southern Boulevard

North (green) hourly punch, detachable PM coupon Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee) (Smith Patent copy)	South (pink) hourly punch, detachable PM coupon Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee) (Smith Patent copy)

.

.

St. Ann's Avenue

South (pink)
hourly punch, detachable PM coupon
Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee)
(Smith Patent copy)

.

.

Throggs Neck Line

(direction not specified) (green)
hourly punch, detachable PM coupon
Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee)
(Smith Patent copy)

.

.

Third & Amsterdam

South (pink)
hourly punch, detachable PM coupon
Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee)
(Smith Patent copy)

.

.

Tremont Avenue

East (orange) hourly punch, detachable PM coupon Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee) (Smith Patent copy)	West (green) hourly punch, detachable PM coupon Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee) (Smith Patent copy)

.

.

Westchester Avenue

North (green)
hourly punch, detachable PM coupon
Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee)
(Smith Patent copy)

.

.

Williamsbridge

North (orange)
hourly punch, detachable PM coupon
Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee)
(Smith Patent copy)

.

.

Willis Avenue

South (pink) hourly punch, detachable PM coupon Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee) (Smith Patent copy)	North (green) hourly punch, detachable PM couponn Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee) (Smith Patent copy)

.

.

138th Street Crosstown

(direction not specified) (buff)
hourly punch, detachable PM coupon
Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee)
(Smith Patent copy)

.

.

149th Street Crosstown

(direction not specified) (buff)
hourly punch, detachable PM coupon
Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee)
(Smith Patent copy)

.

.

163rd Street Crosstown

(direction not specified) (buff) hourly punch, detachable PM coupon Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee) (Smith Patent copy)	(direction not specified) (buff) - different transfer points in center section hourly punch, detachable PM coupon Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee) (Smith Patent copy)

.

.

167th Street Crosstown

East (buff) hourly punch, detachable PM coupon Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee) (Smith Patent copy)	West (blue) hourly punch, detachable PM coupon Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee) (Smith Patent copy)

.

.

170th Street Crosstown

(orange)
hourly punch, AM
Surface Transportation Corp of NY
S. W. Huff, president
(Smith Patent copy)

.

.

180th Street Crosstown

East (orange) hourly punch, detachable PM coupon Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee) (Smith Patent copy)	West (blue) hourly punch, detachable PM coupon Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee) (Smith Patent copy)

.

.

170th Street Crosstown Line

East (orange)
hourly punch, detachable PM coupon
Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee)
(Smith Patent copy)

Surface Transit

BX 1
Concourse - 138th Street - North

BX 1
Concourse - 138th Street - South

BX 3
Prospect Avenue

BX 11
170th Street Crosstown

BX 12
City Island - Fordham Road - West

BX 13
Castle Hill Avenue

BX 14
Edenwald Avenue

BX 15
Gun Hill Road - Gunther Avenue

BX 19
207th Street Crosstown

BX 20
Bronx & Van Cortlandt Parks - North

BX 23
Crosby - Layton Avenues

BX 26
Boston Road - South

BX 28
Williamsbridge - South

BX 29
125th Street - Willis Avenue - North

BX 31
Southern Boulevard - North

BX 34
163rd Street Crosstown

BX 35
167th Street Crosstown

BX 36
180th Street Crosstown - West

BX 37
Ogden Avenue

BX 38
University Avenue - South

BX 40
Tremont Avenue - East

BX 42
Westchester Avenue

Operators Identification Check, August 8, 1941
between Pelham Bay and Eastchester Road
or eastbound between between White Plains Road & Eastchester Road
S. W. Huff, president

It is believed that this ticket was for the Williamsbridge Road route where it intersects the Pelham Parkway route, as at this point the Pelham Parkway route was split into omni directional running along Pelham Parkway North (westbound) and Pelham Parkway South (eastbound) between White Plains Road and Eastchester Road. This would have prevented a passenger from getting a free round trip.

Operators Identification Check, April 23, 1944
betweenTremont Avenue and Fordham Road
S. W. Huff, president

There were only four bus routes in operation in 1944, with a route that had these points as listed along their route:

1) Concourse - 138th St
2) Concourse - Hub
3) Prospect Avenue
29) Willis Avenue

Avenue B & East Broadway Transit Co.

Grand Street Crosstown - February 13, 1935 (buff)
AM/PM hourly punch
(no patent)

Avenue B Line - South - December 31, 1938 (salmon)
AM/PM hourly punch
(no patent)

ca. March 1964 (light blue)
date code - D-Q
AM/PM hourly punch
Globe Ticket

..

.


Avenue B Line - south or north (pink) date code: 22 AM/PM tab Globe Ticket Co.	Grand Street Crosstown Line (yellow) date code: 9 AM/PM tab Globe Ticket Co.

Comprehensive Omnibus

49th & 50th Street Crosstown

(direction not specified) 2 Cent Transfer - December 20, 1935 (buff)
detachable PM coupon
E. J. Fennelly, treasurer
PM tab
(no patent)
(note on back: obsolete form new type now in use)

49th Street & 50th Street Crosstown (direction not specified) 2 Cent Transfer - September 3, 1945 (salmon)
detachable PM coupon
E. J. Fennelly, treasurer
PM tab
(no patent)
(note on back: obsolete form new type now in use)

65th Street Crosstown (direction not specified) 2 Cent Transfer - January 31, 1947 (green)
detachable PM coupon
E. J. Fennelly, treasurer
PM tab
(no patent)
(note on back: obsolete form new type now in use)

Madison & Chambers Street (direction not specified) 2 Cent Transfer - July 1, 1948 (buff)
detachable PM coupon
E. J. Fennelly, treasurer
PM tab
(no patent)

East Side Omnibus Corporation

East Side Omnibus was organized in 1932 to operate former streetcar routes previously operated by the Second Avenue Railroad.

In 1933, the same investors created the Comprehensive Omnibus Corporation. Comprehensive and East Side Omnibus were coordinated in their transfer policy, along with the New York City Omnibus Co., as all three companies maintained reciprocal transfer acceptance between their routes, even though Comprehensive and East Side were entirely independent in ownership from New York City Omnibus.

The following routes were operated by the East Side Omnibus Company:

old route number	current number	route name	previous streetcar operator
M11	M31	York Avenue	Second Avenue
M12	(discontinued)	86th Street - York Avenue	Second Avenue
M13	M15	First Avenue	(never a streetcar)
M14	(discontinued)	First-Second Avenues	Second Avenue
M15	M15	Second Avenue	Second Avenue

Note that the current M15 bus route is the successor to and combined from M13 and M15 routes when First and Second Avenues were converted to one-way traffic.

Both Comprehensive and East Side went bankrupt in 1948, and their routes were taken over by New York City Board of Transportation.

.First Avenue Line North M-13 - Free Transfer - December 7, 1948
detachable PM coupon

First Avenue Line North M-13 - Free Transfer - September 24, 1948
detachable PM coupon
Journal Bus overstamp

First Avenue Line - Two Cent Transfer - December 7, 1948
detachable PM coupon
2 cent transfer to Comprehesive Omnibus, to New York City Omnibus
E. J. Fennelly, treasurer

.1st Ave - South Ferry - South
hour punch, detachable PM coupon
pat Feb 18, 1919

Second Avenue Line South - Free Transfer - July 14, 1945 (buff)
hour punch, detachable PM coupon

Second Avenue Line North M15 - Free Transfer - August 6 (1949) (green)
hour punch, detachable PM coupon

York Avenue / 57th Street Line - August 6, 1938
detachable PM coupon
2 cent transfer to New York City Omnibus
E. J. Fennelly, treasurer

York Avenue / 57th Street Line M-11 - ca. 1939
intersection punch box: at 57th Street & Second Avenue
Pat February 18, 1919

York Avenue / 57th Street Line South M-11 - Free - March 8, 1944
hour punch, detachable PM coupon

New York City Omnibus Corporation

The New York City Omnibus Corporation was formed in 1926 (not to be confused with the The Omnibus Corp). New York City Omnibus Corp. introduced new bus lines to replace those streetcar lines being withdrawn by the New York Railways Corp beginning 1935, and of which NYCO Corp also owned.

In 1954, New York City Omnibus Corp. purchased the Fifth Avenue Coach Company, from The Omnibus Corp. and renamed it as Fifth Avenue Coach Lines on May 14, 1956. Also acquired was Surface Transportation Corp (owned by Third Avenue Railway) on December 17, 1956; and created an operating subsidiary "Surface Transit Inc".

New York City Omnibus went bankrupt in 1962, and bus services were taken over by the Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority "MaBSTOA".

Of particular note is the use of the word "Line" in the context of a bus Route.


Broadway & Columbus Avenue Line North - AM/PM (green) - March 24, 1936 H. J. Sheeran, president AM/PM punch (no patent) Globe Ticket (note on back: new bus replaced streetcar)	Lexington & Lenox Avenues Line South - AM/PM (salmon) - Monday, March 20, 1939 AM/PM punch no signature (no patent) Globe Ticket
.

6th Avenue Line - North - AM/PM (green) - September 9, 1957 detachable PM coupon	6th Avenue Line - South - AM/PM (salmon) - November 12, 1958 detachable PM coupon
.

Seventh Avenue Line - (buff) - February 20, from Sub-Route to Through Route H. J. Sheeran, president month, day, AM/PM, direction punch (no patent) Globe Ticket (note on back: bus)	Seventh Avenue Line - (buff) - unused from Sub-Route to Through Route month, day, AM/PM, directionpunch (no patent) Globe Ticket 4-38
.
.	intentionally left blank
7th Avenue Line - South - AM/PM (buff) - Saturday, March 7, 1936 H. J. Sheeran, president AM/PM punch (no patent) Globe Ticket

	intentionally left blank
Eighth Avenue and Central Park West Line - North - (green) - May 1, 1959
.

Ninth Avenue and Amsterdam Avenue Line North - AM/PM (green) - July, 9, 1958 detachable PM coupon	Ninth Avenue and Amsterdam Avenue Line South - AM/PM (pink) - June 22, 1954 detachable PM coupon
.
	intentionally left blank
Spring & Delancey Streets Line (direction not specified) - buff - AM/PM - December 2, 1958 detachable PM coupon
.

8th Street Line - buff - AM/PM - Monday, July 10, 1950 AM/PM punch	8th Street Line - buff - AM/PM only - December 26, 1957 detachable PM coupon
.

14th Street Line (direction not specified) - AM/PM (buff) - February 4, 1957 detachable PM coupon	23rd Street Line (direction not specified) - AM/PM (pink) - ca. March 1936 AM/PM punch Globe Ticket Co. (no patent)
.

86th Street Line (direction not specified) - AM/PM (buff) - Saturday, February 4, 1957 New York City Omnibus Corp AM/PM punch Globe Ticket Co. (no patent)	116th Street Line (direction not specified) - AM/PM (buff) - Saturday, May 2, 1936 New York City Omnibus Corp AM/PM punch Globe Ticket Co. (no patent)

Eighth Avenue Coach

In 1935, the Eighth and Ninth Avenue Railway trolley lines were replaced by Eighth Avenue Coach Corporation buses, (which along with Madison Avenue Coach Company, Inc.) were owned by Fifth Avenue Coach.

The Fourth and Madison Avenues; and 86th Street Crosstown Lines was not replaced with buses.

In November 1951; both Eighth Avenue Coach (and Madison Avenue Coach) were folded into New York City Omnibus.


8th Ave and Central Park West Line June - 11 pm AM/PM hourly, month/day / direction punch H. J. Sheeran, president Globe Ticket Co.
.

9th Ave and Amsterdam Avenue Line AM/PM hourly, month/day / direction punch H. J. Sheeran, president Globe Ticket Co.

Fifth Avenue Coach

Fifth Avenue Coach was originally founded in 1896 when it succeeded the bankrupt Fifth Avenue Transportation Company; and operated the existing horse-and-omnibuses along Fifth Avenue, with the route running from Bleecker Street to 89th Street.

Ironically, Fifth Avenue would be the only north-south thoroughfare in Manhattan never to have seen streetcar service. This was due to the vociferous opposition of residents along the route, who opposed the installation of railway track in the street. In response, the company introduced battery powered electric buses two years later, and then was acquired by the newly formed New York Transportation Company in 1899.

In 1907, Fifth Avenue Coach introduced a fleet of fifteen internal combustion powered motor-buses that would operate along Fifth Avenue, as well as on some crosstown routes. In 1912, the company became independent of the New York Transportation Company.

In 1925, Fifth Avenue Coach came under control of The Omnibus Corporation, and the company purchased a majority share in the New York Railways Corporation.

In 1935 and 1936, New York Railways Corporation began converting streetcar lines to buses, and the new replacement bus services would be operated by the New York City Omnibus Corporation, which had been formed in 1926 and had shared management with The Omnibus Corporation. New York Railways Corporation was formally dissolved in 1936.

The New York and Harlem Railroad trolleys were replaced by Madison Avenue Coach Company, Inc. buses, and the Eighth and Ninth Avenue Railway trolleys by Eighth Avenue Coach Corporation buses, both companies owned by Fifth Avenue Coach. (Fourth and Madison Avenues; 86th Street Crosstown was not replaced with buses). Madison Avenue Coach and Eighth Avenue Coach were to be absorbed into New York City Omnibus in November 1951.

In 1954, The Omnibus Corporation sold the Fifth Avenue Coach Company to the New York City Omnibus Corporation; and in 1956, changed its name to Fifth Avenue Coach Lines. The same year, they also acquired the Surface Transportation Corporation, and allowed it to operate under a new name as a subsidiary of Fifth Avenue.

After a strike in 1962, and a fight for control with financier Harry Weinberg, Fifth Avenue bus operations were taken over by the City of New York.

Throughout its history; the Fifth Avenue Coach often charged more for its base fare than other transportation companies and their routes, due to the increased wealth of the residents and businesses along Fifth Avenue. It also frequently chose not to issue transfers to other lines, unless forced by the Public Service Commission to do so in consideration of an approval for a raise in fare. That being the case; Fifth Avenue Coach transfers are not as commonly encountered as those from other corporations operating bus lines.

route #	southern terminal	northern terminal	route of travel
1	Washington Square Park	Harlem Fifth Avenue & 138th Street	Fifth Avenue
2	Madison Square	Washington Heights Broadway and 167th Street	Fifth Avenue, Seventh Avenue, Edgecombe Avenue
3	Washington Square Park	Washington Heights St. Nicholas Avenue and 193rd Street	Fifth Avenue, St. Nicholas or Convent Avenues
4	Pennsylvania Station	The Cloisters	Fifth Avenue, Central Park North / Cathedral Parkway, Riverside Drive, Broadway & Fort Washington Avenue
5 / 19	Washington Square Park	Washington Heights Broadway and 167th Street	Fifth Avenue, West 57th Street, Broadway, Riverside Drive, Broadway: Route 5 through Hamilton Heights or Riverside Drive: Route 19 through Hamilton Heights
6	Upper West Side West 72nd Street & Central Park West	Yorkville East 72nd Street and York Avenue	Broadway, West 57th Street, Fifth Avenue, East 72nd street
9	Washington Square Park	Upper West Side West 72nd Street & Central Park West	Fifth Avenue, West 57th Street, Broadway
15	Madison Square	Jackson Heights - Queens Northern Boulevard	Fifth Avenue, Queensboro Bridge, Queens Boulevard, Roosevelt Avenue
15	Madison Square	Corona - Queens Flushing Meadows - Corona Park	Fifth Avenue, Queensboro Bridge, Queens Boulevard, Roosevelt Avenue
16	Jackson Heights Northern Boulevard and 81st Street	Elmhurst - Queens Broadway and Queens Boulevard	81st / 82nd Streets, Baxter Avenue, Broadway
20	Hell's Kitchen 12th Avenue & West 55th Street	Sutton Place Sutton Place & East 59th Street	57th Street Crosstown


Fifth Avenue, Seventh Avenue, St. Nicholas, Cathedral Parkway, Convent & Fort Washington Avenue Lines Sunday, February 2 (1936) AM/PM punch (coupon-transfer-coupon) Globe Ticket Co. (2-33)
.

Fifth Avenue, Seventh Avenue, St. Nicholas, Cathedral Parkway, Convent & Fort Washington Avenue Lines Sunday, May 9, (1937) AM/PM punch (transfer-coupon-coupon) Globe Ticket Co. (2-33)
.

14th Street Line - June 18, 1959
.

72nd Street Line - Saturday, September 6 (ca.1930's-40's) AM/PM punch Globe Ticket Co.
.

72nd Street Crosstown Line No. 6 - East - April 30, 1959 detachable PM coupon
.

Routes 5, 8 & 19 - Riverside Drive Northbound - June 29, 1927 PM tab
..

Riverside Drive Lines - South - AM/PM (pink) - July 4, 1936 AM/PM punch Globe Ticket Co. Riverside Drive Lines - North - AM/PM (green) - Saturday August 26, Fifth Avenue Coach co. (no patent) AM/PM punch Globe Ticket Co.
.

Routes 5 & 19 - Riverside Drive South - March 8, 1960
.

Broadway & Columbus Avenue Line - Sub-Route to Through Route
.

Elmhurst Crosstown Line October 13, 1942

Madison Avenue Coach Co. - Manhattan
(March 1936 - 1951)

In March 1936, the streetcar system of the Fourth and Madison Avenue Line (and operating entity of the New York & Harlem RR) was converted to internal combustion powered omnibuses, and the company reorganized as the Madison Avenue Coach Company.

In 1951, the New York City Omnibus Corporation absorbed these operations and subsequently changed its name to Fifth Avenue Coach Lines in 1956. When the bus that replaced the Lexington and Lenox Avenues Line was terminated, the Madison Avenue bus was extended west on 139th Street and north on Lenox Avenue to 147th Street. When Madison Avenue became one-way northbound, southbound traffic was moved to Fifth Avenue, replacing the original route of the Fifth Avenue Coach Company.

The Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority (MaBSTOA) took over operations in 1962.

North - AM/PM (buff)
Madison Avenue Coach
H. J. Sheeran, president
(no patent) Globe Ticket

South - AM/PM (pink)
Madison Avenue Coach (above date)
(no patent) Globe Ticket
H. J. Sheeran, president
(note on back: bus line replaced streetcar)

South - AM/PM (pink)
Madison Avenue Coach (below date)
(no patent)
Globe Ticket

Surface Transportation Corp. - Manhattan

Broadway

South - PM (pink) - 1949-1956
detachable PM coupon
Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee)
(Smith Patent copy)

10th Avenue

(direction not specified) - PM (green) - 1949-1956
detachable PM coupon
Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee)
(Smith Patent copy)

42nd Street Crosstown

(direction not specified) - PM (buff) - 1949-1956
detachable PM coupon
Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee)
(Smith Patent copy)

Surface Transit Inc. - Manhattan

In 1956, the New York City Omnibus Corporation (NYCO) purchased Third Avenue Transit / and with it, Surface Transportation Corp.'s (above chapter) franchises. It then dissolved Surface Transportation as a corporation, and created a new subsidiary; Surface Transit Incorporated, to operate the existing routes.

NYCO also purchased the bankrupt Fifth Avenue Coach Co. this year as well, reorganized that company as Fifth Avenue Coach Lines and made Surface Transit a subsidiary thereof.

125th Street Crosstown Line

(direction not specified) - PM (buff) - 1949-1956
detachable PM coupon
Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee)
(Smith Patent copy)

.

.

Third - Lexington - Amsterdam Avenues - South

M101
Third - Lexington - Amsterdam Avenues - South

.

.

Generic Month / Day / Hour / AM / PM tab
From A Sub-route Bus to A Through Bus

Triangle Bus Corp

The Triangle Bus Company was a short lived bus operator in the borough of Manhattan. It began by taking over the route(s?) of the Hamilton Bus Company, beginning in 1935. This was the Houston Street (pronounced HOW-sten) - Avenue C route. It also came to operate the Gouverneur & South Street Line.

In 1940, Triangle Bus was taken over by the New York City Omnibus Corp. (NYCO)

The Houston Street - Avenue C bus route, became the M21 Route, and was then incorpoated into the Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority (MaBSTOA).

Gouverneur & South Street Line

intersection of Avenue C & East Houston Street North or West
- Thursday, May 14, 1936
AM/PM hourly with quarter hour punch

.

.

Avenue C & East Houston Street Crosstown

intersection of Avenue C & East Houston Street to points South or East
Saturday, May 16, 1936
AM/PM hourly with quarter hour punch

	Affiliated Bus Transit	Green Bus Lines	Jamaica Buses	North Shore Bus
.
Queens Nassau Bus / Queens Transit	Queens Transit	Queens Surface Corp	Steinway Transit	Triboro Coach

Affiliated Bus Transit Corp

Affiliated Bus Transit Corp was a bus operator in Queens, and operated the Q38 route before it was taken over by the Triboro Coach Corp.


Q-38 - Middle Village, Corona Crosstown good on Forest Hills Bus at 108th Street & 62nd Drive	Q-38 - Middle Village, Corona Crosstown various points - unpunched
.

	Q-38 - Middle Village, Corona Crosstown - September 23 various points - punched for 54th Avenue & 111th Street back of transfer states "copy", also this printed on a blue laid (ribbed) paper. Very unusual.

Green Bus Lines

On April 3, 1925, Green Bus Lines was incorporated by William Cooper and Martin Klein to provide local bus service in several boroughs. Cooper originally began operating a single bus line in 1922, a portion of which is today's Q8 101-Jerome Avenue route. This company consolidated several independently-operated bus lines, whose owners operated the buses, and now would become stockholders and employees in Green Lines.

In 1933, the company acquired several Manhattan routes (including the current M22, M50, M79, M86, and M96 routes), but these routes were transferred to the Comprehensive Omnibus Corporation in 1935 and New York City Omnibus Corporation in 1936.

Also taking place in 1936, Green Lines took over the operations of Liberty Bus, and the borough's bus system was divided into four lettered "zones", with each zone being served exclusively by one bus company. As such, Green Lines was awarded the rights to all of "Zone C" in southern Queens, which included the neighborhoods of Woodhaven, Richmond Hill, Ozone Park, Howard Beach, and the Rockaways.

With this assignment of Zone C, Green Lines assumed the operations of seven other companies in that zone.

In 1943, Green also acquired the Manhattan and Queens Bus Corporation, which had operated the ex-Manhattan and Queens Traction Company Queens Boulevard Line into Manhattan (the Q60) since 1937.

Green Bus Lines acquired two other transit companies that continued to operate independently: Triboro Coach Corporation in October 1947, and Jamaica Buses in April 1949. Jointly these three companies formed Command Bus Company in 1979 to take over the routes that had been previously operated by Pioneer Bus Corporation, which went out of the transit bus business following a strike earlier in 1979.

The QM23 was started in the 1950s to replace Long Island Rail Road service to the Brooklyn Manor station on the Rockaway Beach Branch. It was discontinued in 2010. Four more express routes began operation in the 1970s.

In 2008; the formation of MTA Bus was effected to consolidate all bus operations in New York City under the operation of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), to include Command Bus Co., Green Bus Lines, Jamaica Buses, Liberty Lines Express, New York Bus Service, Queens Surface and Triboro Coach.

With many thanks to Mr. Michael Hennesy (a retired maintainer for Green Bus Lines); he was able to provide details on the letter codes seen on the transfers. They were intended so a passenger could not use a transfer that had been issued on one day, on another day. (Other companies used this method as well.) However he relates that this method did not always work as intended, as some passengers actually held on to the transfers long enough to incur the same letter on its next use day. Furthermore, the letters were randomly assigned and not issued in alphabetical order (making for random order). Thanks Mr. Hennesy!

	intentionally left blank
(red on buff paper) Q-6 Sutphin Blvd. - north to Jamaica day code: A hourly tear w/ detachable PM stub Kaymil Ticket
.

(red on buff paper) Q-6 Sutphin Blvd. - north to Jamaica day code: K hourly tear w/ detachable PM stub Marmer Ticket	(green on buff paper) Q-6 Sutphin Blvd. - south to Lombard St. day code: G hourly tear w/ detachable PM stub Marmer Ticket
.
intentionally left blank
	(green on green paper) Q-7 - Rockaway Blvd - westbound to Euclid Ave. day code: A hourly tear w/ detachable PM stub Marmer Ticket
.
(red on buff paper) Q-8 Jerome (101st Ave) - east to Jamaica day code: G hourly tear w/ detachable PM stub Marmer Printing	(green on green paper) Q-8 Jerome (101st Ave) - west to Grant Avenue day code: X hourly tear w/ detachable PM stub Marmer Printing
.

Q-9 Lincoln Street - from subway Tuesday AM / PM hourly punch unknown printer - back marked "NY City 1935 obsolete"
.
(red on buff paper) Q-9 Lincoln Street - north to Jamaica day code: E hourly tear w/ detachable PM stub Marmer Printing	(green on buff paper) Q-9 Lincoln Street - south to Rockaway Blvd day code: M hourly tear w/ detachable PM stub Marmer Printing
.
(red on buff paper) Q-10 Lefferts Blvd. - north to Kew Gardens day code: V hourly tear w/ detachable PM stub Kaymil Ticket	(red on buff paper) Q-10 Lefferts Blvd. - north to Kew Gardens day code: G hourly tear - no PM stub Kaymil Ticket
.
(blue on buff paper) Q-10 Lefferts Boulevard - Hamilton Beach day code: B hourly tear w/ detachable PM stub Marmer Printing	(blue on pink paper) Q-10 Lefferts Boulevard - Hamilton Beach day code: B hourly tear w/ detachable PM stub Marmer Printing
.
	intentionally left blank
(red on pink paper) Q-10 Hamilton - Lefferts Boulevard day code: X hourly tear Elliott Printing
.

(red on white paper) Q22 - Rockaway Penisula day code: 2 hourly punch AM / PM Elliott Ticket	(red on green paper) Q22A Bayswater - Ostend Beach day code: 9 hourly punch AM / PM Elliott Ticket
.

(red on buff paper) Q-37 111th Street Line - north to Kew Gardens day code: A hourly tear Marmer Printing	(black and red on green paper) Q-37 111th Street Crosstown - southbound day code: 20 hourly punch AM / PM Elliott Ticket
.
(red on buff paper) Q-41 Archer Ave - east to Jamaica day code: V hourly tear w/ detachable PM stub Marmer Printing	intentionally left blank


(green on thin white semi-gloss paper) Q-41 Jamaica - Lindenwood, west to 157th Street and Cross Bay Boulevard day code: K hourly tear w/ detachable PM stub Marmer Printing

Zone Checks

In the checks shown below, 23, 51 and 85 might pertain the route number or the driver operators identification number. Confirmation is needed to answer this bit of information.


	New Lots - Far Rockaway 1 3/4" x 2"	Zone 2 2 1/2" x 1 1/4"	Zone 3 2" x 2"

Jamaica Buses

In 1926, the Long Island Electric Railway filed for bankruptcy, and the lines of this company were parted out to various companies. The lines in Queens however were reorganized as the Jamaica Central Railways. This company would continue to operate the Queens lines for six years.

The City of New York granted the company a bus franchise in 1930; Jamaica Buses; which would operate as a subsidiary of Jamaica Central Rwy. Internal combustion powered buses would begin to replace all electric trolleys lines November 12, 1933 and the subsequent removal of trolley tracks on those routes; as well as coincided with the widening of Jamaica Avenue.

Jamaica Buses entered financial problems, and would come to be acquired for $200,000 by Green Bus Lines in April 13, 1949, however, it would continue to operate independently and retain its name until 2008.

Around 1990, (date uncertain) several of the private bus operators in Queens and the Bronx were reorganized under the the New York City Department of Transportation. NYC DOT is also the operating entity for the Staten Island Ferry, as well as provides oversight and regulation of the private jitney vans (a/k/a "dollar vans"). NYC DOT is the agency responisble for maintenance for the "free" bridges (those untolled bridges not under the auspices of the Triborough Bridge & Tunnel Authority) and streets and highways; street signage, traffic light maintenance, and many other aspects of the City of New York transportation infrastructure. NYC DOT bus operating authority expired in 2003.

In 2008; the formation of MTA Bus was effected to consolidate all bus operations in New York City under the operation of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), to include Command Bus Co., Green Bus Lines, Jamaica Buses, Liberty Lines Express, New York Bus Service, Queens Surface and Triboro Coach.


Route C detachable PM coupon with tear off at hour Jamaica Avenue & 160th Street day code: W Moran Patent October 28, '24
.
Route Q-111 detachable PM coupon Jamaica Avenue & 160th Street day code: B Marmer Printing 7" x 2"


Route Q-111 (off white paper) detachable PM coupon Jamaica Avenue & 160th Street day code: X (marked on back in pencil Kaymil Printing) 7" x 2"

.

.

Jamaica Buses,
operating under
New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT)


Q110 - Q112 East - ca. May 1990 Globe Ticket 9 1/4" x 2"	Q110 - Q112 West - ca. May 1990 Globe Ticket 9 1/8" x 2"	Q111 - Q113 North - ca. May 1990 Globe Ticket 9 1/4" x 2"

Zone Checks

In the checks shown below, the use of the letter X in unknown. Confirmation is needed to answer this bit of information.

Jamaica Buses - Q113 Jamaica - Far Rockaway - Third Zone Check
Marmer Printing
3 1/3" x 2"

Municipal Motorbus

Municipal Motorbus Company was a bus operator located in the borough of Queens organized in January 1933. It operated the Q33 bus route for a short period of time, at which time (date?) the company was then absorbed by Triboro Coach Corporation.

On the ticket shown below, the back is marked by handwriting: "same as Kings Coach 1938 NYC"

ca. 1938
Elliott Ticket
2 1/8" x 3 7/8" (partial)

North Shore Bus

Like with most bus operators, the history of the North Shore Bus began with trolley lines. The lineage of North Shore Bus could be traced back to 1902, Mineola, Roslyn and Port Washington Traction Company. While these towns are located in Nassau County, the company slowly expanded it's line west to the Borough of Queens. It had a line operating from Roslyn to Flushing known as the "North Shore Line" as ell as from Flushing to the Whitestone - 14th Station of the LIRR "Whitestone Line".

As the company expanded, it was renamed New York & North Short Traction Co in 1907. By the 1910's, when other traction companies were failing or consolidating with other companies, NY&NST began replacing their electric trolleys with the first internal combustion powered omnibuses.

Following the Great Depression of 1929, NY&NST began to sell off its routes to other companies, particularly to Triboro Coach Corp. Afterwards this, it managed to replaced some of their shrinkage by purchasing routes form the Nassau County "Bee Line". It acquired the Flushing Heights Bus Corp. on September 22, 1935 and that company kept its own identity and operated as a subsidiary. On June 25, 1939, North Shore acquired the remaining Bee Line Routes as well as Bee Line 165th Street Bus Terminal in Jamaica in their acquisition of Zone D operations (Jamaica & Southeast Queens).

By 1940; North Shore operated almost all bus routes in Zone B (Flushing & Northern Queens) and Zone D. On March 30, 1947, North Shore filed for bankruptcy after its labor force went on strike. Operations were taken over by the New York City Board of Transportation.

Route List:
Route designation	Terminals	via route	notes
Q1	Jamaica - Hillside		former Bee Line
Q2	Jamaica - Hollis Avenue	Hempstead Avenue to Belmont Park	former Bee Line
Q3	Jamaica - Hollis	JFK Airport via Farmers Blvd	former Bee Line
Q3A	Jamaica (Parsons Blvd. & Hillside Av.) St. Albans - Cambria Heights	Murdock & 113 Av.	former Bee Line; renumbered 1988 to Q83 by NYCTA
Q4	Jamaica - Cambria Heights	Merrick & Linden Boulevards	former Bee Line
Q4A	Jamaica - Laurelton	Merrick Boulevard & 120 Avenue	former Bee Line; renumbered 1988 to Q84 by NYCTA
Q5	Jamaica - Rosedale & Green Acres Shopping Mall	Merrick Boulevard	former Bee Line
Q5A	Jamaica - Rosedale	Rochdale Village and Bedell Street	former Schenck Transportation; renumbered 1988 to Q85 by NYCTA
Q5AB	Jamaica - Locust Manor LIRR Station	Springfield Gardens	former Schenck Transportation; combined with Q5A into Q85 in 1988 by NYCTA
Q5AS	Laurelton - Rosedale Shuttle		former Bee Line; renumbered 1988 to Q86 by NYCTA; then eliminated in 1995, low ridership,
Q12	Flushing - Little Neck	Sanford Avenue. & Northern Boulevard
Q12A	Little Neck LIRR Station - Floral Park	Little Neck Parkway	1933; renumbered to Q79 by NYCTA, then eliminated low ridership; reinstated via compromise as part of the extended Q36 in 2013
Q13	Flushing - Bayside - Fort Totten	Northern & Bell Boulevards	1933
Q14	Flushing - Whitestone		1933; eliminated 2010, budget cuts; subsequently replaced with the Q15A route
Q15	Flushing - Whitestone - Beechhurst		1933
Q16	Flushing - Clearview - Fort Totten	Bayside Avenue, Francis Lewis & Willets Point Boulevards or Utopia Parkway	1933
Q17	Flushing - 188 Street & Jamaica
Q17A	Jamaica - Little Neck	Utopia Parkway & Horace Harding Boulevard	renumbered 1988 to Q30 by NYCTA
Q17-20	combination of Q17 and Q20 routes which operated in the 1940s and 1950s
Q20	Flushing - College Point Shuttle		renumbered to Q44FS, Re# Q20 1990; then to Q20A & Q20B 1999 by NYCTA extended to Jamaica
Q23	108th Street, Corona-Ditmars Avenue (pre 1933)		originally North Shore, transferred first to Kings Coach Company (1931??), then to Triboro Coach Corporation in 1936?, then to MTA Bus Company in 2005
Q26	Flushing - Auburndale	Hollis Court Boulevard
Q27	Flushing - Rosewood – Queens Village & Cambria Heights	Springfield Boulevard
Q28	Flushing - Bayside West		before 1933
Q31	Jamaica - Bayside West
Q35	Flushing - College Point – Whitestone		substitute for LIRR Whitestone Branch; replaced by Q20 in 1937
Q32	Queens Village LIRR - Creedmoor shuttle
Q36	Jamaica - Floral Park	Hillside & Jamaica Avenues
Q42	Jamaica - Addisleigh Park	Sayres Avenue
Q43	Jamaica LIRR Station – Hillside Av. to City Line.
Q44	Jamaica - Flushing – Bronx.
Q44A	Union Turnpike - Kew Gardens – Lake Success & Glen Oaks		renumbered 1990 to Q46 by NYCTA
Q44B	Malba Shuttle		eliminated 1990, low ridership
Q44VP	Union Turnpike - Kew Gardens & Vleigh Place Shuttle		renumbered 1990 to Q74 by NYCTA, eliminated 2010, budget cuts
Q48	Flushing - LaGuardia Airport		began operating April 5, 1940

unknown date
day code: BW
Q-3A Jamaica - 114th Avenue - Outbound from Jamaica

ca. November 1942
day code: ZX
Q-5 Merrick Boulevard - Inbound to Jamaica

ca. November 1942
day code: PK
Q-43 Hillside Avenue - Inbound to Jamaica

Queens-Nassau Transit Lines
1926 - 1957

Queens Nassau Transit Lines can be traced back to the New York and Queens County Railway, the largest operating trolley line in Queens by 1896. NY&QC Railway became an affiliate of the Interborough Rapid Transit Company.

On February 19, 1926, the NY&QC Railway created a bus division: "Queens-Nassau Transit Lines".

This bus division replaced all electrically operated trolleys by October 30, 1937. In 1957, Queens Nassau was renamed Queens Transit. (see next chapter)


1926-1957 detachable PM coupon Q-25-34 Parsons Bld. / Jamaica / College Point - Northbound day code: HJ good only at Northern Boulevard & Main Street Flushing to Q-66 Westbound Northern Boulevard to Q-65 Northbound College Point via 122nd Street Globe Ticket	1926-1957 detachable PM coupon Q-65 Jamaica / 164th Street / College Point - Northbound day code: UD good only at Northern Boulevard & Main Street Flushing to Q-66 Westbound Northern Boulevard to Q-34 Northbound College Point via Airport Globe Ticket

Queens Transit Corp
1957-1986

The history of Queens Transit Corp. can be traced back to the New York and Queens County Railway, the largest operating trolley line in Queens by 1896. NY&QC became an affiliate of the Interborough Rapid Transit Company.The Queens Surface Corp is the direct successor to Queens-Nassau Transit Corp. (see chapter above)

On February 19, 1926, the NY&QC created a bus division named Queens-Nassau Transit Lines. This division replaced all electrically operated trolleys by October 30, 1937.

In 1957, Queens-Nassau was renamed Queens Transit. In 1986, Queens Transit merged with Steinway transit to become Queens/Steinway Transit Corp which was owned by the Salzberg family.

In 1988, the Linden Bus Company acquired the company from the Salzbergs, and upon this changed their name to Queens Surface Corporation.

On May 27, 2005, the company was taken over by MTA Bus Operations. The formation of MTA Bus was effected to consolidate all bus operations in New York City under the operation of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), to include Command Bus Co., Green Bus Lines, Jamaica Buses, Liberty Lines Express, New York Bus Service, Queens Surface and Triboro Coach.


Q-25-34 Southbound detachable PM coupon day code: VY	Q-25-34 Southbound day code: LG
.
Q-65 Southbound detachable PM coupon day code: OE College Point - 164th St Jamaica at Northern Boulevard and Main Street or Rossevelt Ave. and Main Street	Q-65 Northbound day code: QF Main Street and Roosevelt Ave. or Main Street and Northern Boulevard at Jewel Avenue and 161st St.
.
Q-65A day code: GR at Main Street and Roosevelt Avenue or Main Street and Northern Blvd.	Q-65A detachable PM coupon day code: KR at Main Street and Roosevelt Avenue or Main Street and Northern Blvd.
.
Q-66 - Eastbound to Q-65A day code: KR Westbound at Jewel Avenue and 164th St. East or Westbound at Kissena Blvd & Jewel Avenue
.
Q-66 - Eastbound day code: QF Westbound at Jewel Avenue and 164th St. East or Westbound at Kissena Blvd & Jewel Avenue	Q-66 - Eastbound day code: QF Westbound at Jewel Avenue and 164th St. East or Westbound at Kissena Blvd & Jewel Avenue.

Queens Surface Corporation
1988 - 2005

The history of Queens Surface Corp. can be traced back to the New York and Queens County Railway, the largest operating trolley line in Queens by 1896. NY&QC became an affiliate of the Interborough Rapid Transit Company.The Queens Surface Corp is the direct successor to Queens-Nassau Transit Corp. (see chapter above)

On February 19, 1926, the NY&QC created a bus division named Queens-Nassau Transit Lines. This division replaced all electrically operated trolleys by October 30, 1937. In 1957, Queens-Nassau was renamed Queens Transit. In 1986, Queens Transit merged with Steinway transit to become Queens/Steinway Transit Corp which was owned by the Salzberg family.

In 1988, the Linden Bus Company acquired the company from the Salzbergs, and upon this changed their name to Queens Surface Corporation.

On May 27, 2005, the company was taken over by MTA Bus Operations. The formation of MTA Bus was effected to consolidate all bus operations in New York City under the operation of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), to include Command Bus Co., Green Bus Lines, Jamaica Buses, Liberty Lines Express, New York Bus Service, Queens Surface and Triboro Coach.

Generic for: Q65A / Q66 / Q101 / Q102 / Q104 / Wall Street - Eastbound
Globe Ticket

Steinway Omnibus
1938 - 1959

Steinway Omnibus roots beigin with Steinway Railway, which began operations in 1892. This would be merged with the New York and Queens County Railway before becoming a separate entity again in 1932, but remained under the control of the New York & Queens County Railways successor; New York & Queens Transit Corp.

In 1938, Steinway was purchased by the Queensboro Bridge Railway, and set up as a subsidiary: "Steinway Omnibus", and embarked on converting its electric trolley lines to internal combustion powered buses. In the Autumn of 1938, the Steinway Railway was purchased by the Queensboro Railway Co. and renamed Steinway Omnibus. On September 29, 1939, internal combustion powered buses replaced all electric trolleys. Both Steinway Omnibus and Queens Nassau Transit Lines were operated by the same company.

In 1959, Steinway Omnibus was renamed Steinway Transit.


Steinway St Line (Q101) Inbound - May 29, 1950 detachable PM coupon	31st Street Line (Q102) Outbound - May 2, 1957 detachable PM coupon
.

Broadway Line (Q104) Inbound - January 10, 1958v	Vernon Boulevard (Q103) Inbound - May 29, 1950 detachable PM coupon

Q101 - Steinway Street Outbound day code: DV	intentionlly left blank

Steinway Transit
1959 - 1986

Queens-Nassau was renamed Queens Transit Corporation in 1957, and Steinway Omnibus became Steinway Transit in 1959. In 1986, Queens Transit Corp (the successor corporation to New York & Queens Transit) merged once again with Steinway, and the company renamed Queens / Steinway Transit Corp, which was owned by the Salzberg family.

This joint company was owned by the H. E. Salzberg Co. of whom were invested in scrap metal and short-haul railways) with father Harold Salzberg, son Murray M. Salzberg and grandson Harry Salzberg. The Salzbergs ripped up the rails of the former trolley lines, and operated these two companies until 1988, at such time the Linden Bus Company acquired the routes from the aging grandson Harry Salzberg.

Route List:
Route designation	Terminals	via route	notes
Q101	59th St. & 2nd Ave. Manhattan - North Beach	Jackson Avenue, Northern Boulevard, Steinway Street, and 19th Avenue	formerly Steinway Street Line, abandoned 1939 now the bus
Q102	Long Island City - Astoria Ferry	Jackson Avenue, 31st Street, Newtown Avenue, and Astoria Boulevard	31st Street Line, abandoned 1939 now the bus
Q103	Hunters Point - Astoria Ferry	Vernon Boulevard	Vernon Boulevard Line, abandoned 1939 now the bus
Q104	Astoria Ferry - Woodside	Broadway	Broadway Line, abandoned 1939 now the bus
Q100	Hunters Point - Woodside	Jackson Avenue, Northern Blvd	Jackson Avenue Line, now abandoned
Triboro Coach Q19	Astoria Ferry - Bowery Bay	Astoria Boulevard	Flushing Avenue Line, abandoned 1935 - route later taken over by Triboro Coach Q19, Astoria-Corona

	intentionally left blank
Q-101 Steinway Street - Inbound datecode: BA
.
	intentionally left blank
Q-101 Steinway Street - Inbound date code: FR
.
Q-102 31st Street - Inbound date code: TM	Q-102 31st Street - Outbound date code: ZW
.
	intentionally left blank
Q-102 31st Street - Inbound date code: NO
.
Q-104 Broadway - Inbound date code: JC	Q-104 Broadway - Outbound date code: YU
.

Q-104 Broadway - Inbound date code: BA	Q-104 Broadway - Outbound date code: GS
.

ca. 1970's Wall Street Express transfers to Fresh Meadows, Glen Oaks, North Shore Towers, Union Turnpike to eastbound at Cheve Chast Street and Union Turnpike no date code: JD (plate code 5 87) Globe Ticket Co.	May 1987 from Glen Oaks, Fresh Meadow, North Shore Towers Union Turnpike transfers to Wall Street Express - westbound at 188th Street Union Turnpike date code: JD (plate code 5 87) Globe Ticket Co.

Triboro Coach
1931 - 2006

In April 1919, Salvatore Fornatora created the Woodside - Astoria Transportation Company in Queens, NY.

The first route (which is comprised of the eastern portion of the modern Q19) connecting the 103rd Street - Corona Plaza Station with Flushing. In 1928, the Corona Terminal was relocated to Astoria - 21st Street, completing the original route formation of the Q19 - Astoria Boulevard bus route. It added several other routes in the Astoria - Woodside - Maspeth neighborhoods by 1930.

On April 10, 1931; the company was re-incorporated as the Triboro Coach Corp. and began operation of the Q18 and Q24 lines. It acquired a City of New York franchise for nine routes in northwestern Queens ("Long Island City Zone") on September 24, 1936. From here, Triboro acquired the Q23 from North Shore Bus, the Q29 from Kings Coach, the Q33 from Municipal Motor Bus, the Q38 from Affiliated Bus Transit, and the Q39 from National City Lines.

Following World War II, Triboro Coach encountered financial difficulties and was purchased by Green Bus Lines; however continued to operate independantly.

In 1956, it added an Express Bus route between Woodside and Rockaway Park (now the Q53) and replacing the Long Island Rail roads Rockaway Beach Branch; out of service since 1950.

In 1961, it acquired the B72 route from the New York City Transit Authority, and was re-designated the Q72. Beginning in the 1970's, throughout the next two decades, five express routes were created: QM10 (1970) QM12 (1971), QM22, QM24, QM 24W (1988).

On February 2, 2006, Triboro Coach was taken over by MTA Bus, the formation of was intended to consolidate all remaining subsidized but subsidized lines operating in the New York City area, to include Command Bus Co., Green Bus Lines, Jamaica Buses, Liberty Lines Express, New York Bus Service, and Queens Surface.

Route List:
Route designation	Terminals	via route	notes
Q18	Astoria - Maspeth	30th Avenue, 58th Street, Woodside Avenue, 65th Place, 69th Street	Formerly Steinway Transit Corporation Flushing Line; Q18 Astoria-Woodside and Q24 Woodside-Maspeth; combined into Q18
Q19	Astoria - Flushing	Astoria Boulevard	Salvatore Fornatora's original bus route from Corona into Flushing formed during April 1919
Q19A	Long Island City - Jackson Heights	21st Street, Ditmars Boulevard	Originally ran from Queens Plaza to the Astoria–Ditmars Boulevard El station Renumbered to Q69 in 2008
Q19B	Jackson Heights - East Elmhurst	35th Avenue, 35th Avenue, 89th/90th Streets, Astoria Boulevard	Renumbered to Q49 in 2008
Q23	East Elmhurst - Forest Hills	108th Street	Acquired in 1936 from North Shore Bus Company.
Q29	Jackson Heights - Glendale	80th Street	Acquired in 1936 from Kings Coach Company
Q33	Jackson Heights - LaGuardia Airport Central Terminal	82nd/83rd Streets, 23rd Avenue, 94th Street	Acquired in 1936 from Municipal Motorbus Company via 82nd / 83rd Streets Since shortened due to new Q70 bus to LaGuardia airport
Q38	Middle Village - Rego Park - or - Corona	Eliot and Penelope Avenues	Acquired in 1936 from Affiliated Bus Transit Corporation
Q39	Long Island City - Ridgewood	Forest Avenue	Acquired in 1936 from National City Bus Lines
Q45	Jackson Heights - Middle Village / Juniper Valley Park	69th Street	Merged into an extended Q47 in 2011
Q45X	Rego Park - or - Corona - Middle Village / 69th Street	Eliot Avenue	Rego Park: Woodhaven & Queens Boulevards / Rego Center Corona: 98th Street and 60th Avenue Established in 1943 Q45X short for "Q45 Extension". This later became the first version of Q50; now part of Q38.
Q47	Jackson Heights - LaGuardia Airport Marine Air Terminal	69th Street and 80th Street	Now including former Q45
Q53	Woodside / LaGuardia Airport - Rockaway Park	Woodhaven Boulevard, Cross Bay Boulevard, Rockaway Beach Boulevard	Created as replacement for the partially abandoned Long Island Rail Road Rockaway Beach Branch in 1950. Was named the "Rockaway Park Express," despite the fact that technically, it was never a true express bus.
Q72	Rego Park - LaGuardia Airport	Junction Boulevard	Originally the North Beach and Junction Boulevard trolley lines in 1894 Acquired in 1961 from New York City Transit Authority

Queens-Manhattan Express Routes
QM10	Midtown Manhattan - Lefrak City	Manhattan: 3rd Ave branch: 34th St, 3rd Ave, 57th St 6th Ave branch: 34th St, 6th Ave, 57th St Queens: Queens Blvd, Linden Blvd, 63rd Road, 57th Ave	LeFrak City Express Former 3rd Avenue service relabeled QM40 in early September 2016
QM11	Financial District / Wall Street - Lefrak City	Manhattan: Water St, Church St via 3rd Ave or 6th Ave Queens: Queens Blvd, 63rd Rd, 57th Ave	Former downtown branch of the QM10
QM12	Midtown Manhattan - Forest Hills	Manhattan: 3rd Ave, 34th St, 6th Ave, 57th St Queens: Queens Blvd, Yellowstone Blvd	Forest Hills Express Stops east of 71 Avenue in Forest Hills discontinued in January 2011 Third Avenue service was split off into QM42 in September 2016.
QM22	Midtown Manhattan - Jackson Heights	Manhattan: 3rd Ave branch: 3rd Ave, 59th Stt 6th Ave branch: 34th St, 6th Ave, 57th St Queens: 21st St, 21st Ave, Ditmars Blvd	Jackson Heights Express Discontinued in June 2010, due to budget crisis
QM24	Midtown Manhattan - Glendale	Manhattan: 8th Ave or 3rd Ave Queens: Queens Blvd	Glendale Express
QM24W	Financial District / Wall St - Glendale (Myrtle Ave and 73rd St)	Manhattan: 23rd St, Madison Ave, 57th St Queens: Queens Blvd	Glendale - Wall Street Express Renumbered as QM25 in June 2010
Q57	Queensbridge at 21st Street and 41st Avenue to LaGuardia Airport		a/k/a "QT" for Quick Trip LaGuardia Express. 1990 to May 1991. Discontinued due to lower than expected ridership. The fare was $5, in addition to the $1.15 subway fare. The buses had luggage racks, air conditioning and padded seats.[20]

Q-18 - no date detachable PM coupon day code: A American Printing Specialty
.
Q-18 - October 3, 1961 detachable PM coupon day code: B American Printing Specialty
.
Q-18 - October 10, 1961 detachable PM coupon day code: E American Printing Specialty
.
Q-19A - no date detachable PM coupon day code: A American Printing Specialty
.

Q-19B - no date detachable PM coupon day code: K Globe Ticket
.
Q-23 - no date detachable PM coupon day code: K American Printing Specialty
.
Q-33 - no date detachable PM coupon day code: G American Printing Specialty
.
Q-33 - no date detachable PM coupon day code: G American Printing Specialty
.
Q-72 detachable PM coupon day code: E Globe Ticket

Most independent surface transportation operators transfer issues are not quite as prolific as those issues from the New York City Transit Authority.

Transfer issues from the independent bus operators and not as common as with NYCTA issues
$2.50 to $4.00 each with selvage.

Complete books are not widely seen for older pre-1980 issues, $20.00 per book
Complete books for newer issues widely seen; and prolific for 1980-2000 issues. No more than $7.50 to $10.00 per book.

All of Staten Island was served by private bus operators until February 23, 1947; at which time all routes were taken over by the Board of Transportation - City of New York.

Tompkins Bus Corp.

The Tompkins Bus Corporation was organized in 1925 to operate gasoline powered buses on Staten Island (the borough of Richmond in New York City).

Tompkins Bus Corp began by replacing streetcar and trolleybus routes which had been run by the New York City Department of Plant and Structures, under the "Emergency Bus System"; and new bus routes were created to serve previously under-served areas.

In 1937, Tompkins Bus Corp. was taken over by Staten Island Coach (see above chapter)


Midland Beach 7 - March 17, year? Elliott Ticket Co. 6" x 2" w/o selvage
.

Forest Avenue - Route 4 - , year? Elliott Ticket Co. 6" x 2" w/o selvage

Staten Island Coach

The Staten Island Coach Company was formed in 1925 as a subsidiary of Richmond Light & Railroad Co. to operate buses which were replacing streetcars operated by the parent company in Staten Island (the borough of Richmond in New York City).

However, it was only in 1933 that the authority to operate motor buses was actually granted by the City of New York; and by which time the Richmond Light & Railroad Co. had been reorganized, with its streetcar operations now renamed Richmond Railways. Throughout 1933 and 1934, Staten Island Coach Co. bus routes gradually began to replace the streetcars of Richmond Railways.

At this point, two separate bus systems now operated in Staten Island, the other being Tompkins Bus Co.

In 1937, the Staten Island Coach Co. took over the Tompkins Bus Co. routes and the former Tompkins Bus Co. routes were given new route numbers and being numbered in the hundreds; i.e.: R101, R102, etc

In 1946, the Staten Island Coach Co. went bankrupt, and the Isle Transportation Co., began operating the buses on Staten Island. This company was organized by a group of former Staten Island Coach Co. employees. Isle Transportation Co. itself did not last long, going bankrupt the next year in 1947,

Upon this, the City of New York took over the buses on February 23 of that year. This was the first city-operated bus service (other than the Williamsburg Bridge line, which retained city operation under the Board of Transportation) after the end of the Department of Plant and Structures.

.

.

5 cent fare ticket
Samuel H. Serena, president
1½" x 2"

Ticket, Good For One Ride (unknown purpose)
Samuel H. Serena, president
unknown printer
2" x 1"

No. 1 - Elizabeth Ferry - ca. 1937
detachable PM coupon
day code: NL
Free
Samuel H. Serena, president
Globe Ticket Co.
6¼" x 2" w/o selvage

No. 6 - Victory Boulevard - ca. 1943
detachable PM coupon
day code: KR
Free
Samuel H. Serena, president
Globe Ticket Co.
6¼" x 2" w/o selvage

R103 - Tottenville - Northbound (IN) - ca. 1938
detachable PM coupon
day code: AO
Globe Ticket Co.
9¼" x 2" w/o selvage

R103 - Tottenville - Southbound (Out) - ca. 1938
detachable PM coupon
day code: PH
Globe Ticket Co.

R104 - South Beach - Tompkins Avenue - Northbound (IN) - ca. 1938
detachable PM coupon
day code: AO
(transfer points continued on back)
Globe Ticket Co.
9¼" x 2" w/o selvage

R109 - Midland Beach - Northbound (IN) - unknown date
(PM coupon detatched)
day code: ES
Continuing Trip Transfer - 5 cents
Globe Ticket Co.
3½" x 2 1/16" w/o selvage

Emergency Transfer - 1937
detachable PM coupon
Globe Ticket Co.
4 5/16" x 2" w/o selvage

Ticket, Good For One Ride (unknown purpose) - unknown date (pre-1946 bankruptcy)
unknown printer
2" x 1"

Isle Transportation

No. 6 - Victory Boulevard - post 1946
day code: JC
Free
redacted: ~~Staten Island Coach Company, Inc~~
~~Samuel H. Serena, president~~
4 7/16" x 2" w/o selvage

Tottenville R103 - post 1946
day code: JC
Free
redacted: ~~Staten Island Coach Company, Inc~~
~~Samuel H. Serena, president~~
4 7/16" x 2" w/o selvage

Municipal Operations

With the financial struggling of many of the private companies operating buses throughout New York City; the City of New York slowly acquired the struggling or bankrupt companies and organized them under municipal operation. Meaning, it was no longer a private company operation paying dividends to shareholders; but funding would come from city and / or state budgets via nominal fare charges. It was no longer necessary for a particular line or even company to turn a profit per se; but any losses incurred would be shared by the entire system. Not that this was a great solution either; because when the dire fiscal problems of the late 1960's-1970s arrived; nowthe entire transit system under municipal operation was found suffering.

Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority "MaBSTOA"

Formed in 1962, as a subsidiary of the New York City Transit Authority, the Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority was created to take over bus operations in the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx of the bankrupt Fifth Avenue Coach Company, and Surface Transit Corp.

Its creation as a subsidiary, allowed tenured employees to avoid being subject to civil service employment rules; however, some crafts of employees were afforded civil service protection; as well as a separate pension plan.

Bronx Issues: Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority

BX 1, BX 2, BX3

North & South (red) - 1963-
From Sub-route Bus to Through Bus
Globe Ticket

BX 4, BX 10, BX18

North & South (buff) - 1963-
From Sub-route Bus to Through Bus
Globe Ticket

BX 6-6A-6B, BX 12, BX15

East & West (buff) - 1963-
From Sub-route Bus to Through Bus
Globe Ticket

BX 11, BX 20, BX 34, BX 35

East & West (buff) - 1963-
From Sub-route Bus to Through Bus
Globe Ticket

BX 29, BX 31

North & South (buff) - 1963-
From Sub-route Bus to Through Bus
Globe Ticket

MaBSTOA Interdivisional Continuation Ticket - "Continued Ride"

BX-55 Third Avenue Elevated Route "bustitution"
to
NYCTA Subway: IRT Jerome Avenue Line and White Plains Road Line and IND Concourse Line

This Bx55X service allowed free transfers to intersecting subway lines and bus lines, thereby effectually making this issue a large format combination ticket.

It was issued following the cessation of service on the Bronx portion of the Third Avenue elevated

on April 29, 1973, the NYCTA / MaBSTOA introduced the Bx55X bus route. This route could be considered permanent "bustitution" (bus service replacing train service on either a temporary or permanent basis). This Bronx portion of the Third Avenue Elevated was the last remaining operating segment of that elevated line.

It is understood that the following issues were issued to bus passengers riding the BX55 bus which the former Third Avenue El service and were alighting at either:

the Third Avenue / 149th Street Station of the IRT White Plains Road Elevated Line ,
the Gun Hill Road / White Plains Road Station of the IRT White Plains Road Elevated Line ,
the 161st Street / River Avenue / Yankee Stadium Station of the IRT Jerome Avenue Subway ,
the 161st Street / River Avenue / Yankee Stadium Station of the IND Concourse Line (former and , and present day , )

The Bx55X stopped only at the former stations of the Third Avenue Elevated, those being:

149th Street, 156th Street, 161th Street, 166th Street, 169th Street, Claremont Parkway, 174th Street, Tremont Avenue / 177th Street, 180th Street, 183rd Street, Fordham Road / 190th Street, Bronx Park Terminal, 200th Street, 204th Street, 210th Street / Williamsbridge and Gun Hill Road.

As this bus route only stopped at limited locations and not every street corner as would a local bus, it constituted an express service and therefore carried the X suffix.

This Bx55X service was one of the few routes in the city to allow free transfers to the subway prior to the introduction of the MetroCard in 1993, and one of the first routes to use the MetroCard (another being the B35 / Ninth Avenue Station in brooklyn).

At some point in its operating history, the X suffix was dropped from the route number, becoming simply the Bx55.

Southbound buses originally traveled via Washington Avenue and service between East 161st Street and 149th Street ran at Melrose Avenue in both directions until February 1984, when all service was shifted over to Third Avenue.

Bx55 service was slowly reduced after the MetroCard's introduction with free transfers to other buses and the subway. All late night buses terminated at Fordham Plaza on September 10, 1995. Late night service (between 1 a.m. and 4:30 a.m.) was eliminated on September 8, 1996, and was merged with Bx15 service. Supplemental Bx15 service was provided between Fordham Road and 149th Street to maintain the Bx55's frequency. To maintain the transfer to the subway, bus-subway transfers were accepted on the Bx15 overnight. The change was made to eliminate duplicative service, which was lightly patronized.

Select weekday and all weekend trips terminated at Fordham Plaza in February 2004, and all weekend and evening services were eliminated on June 27, 2010.

All Bx55 service was discontinued on June 28, 2013.

The rapid transit counterpart to these issues would be the IRT Third Avenue Elevated Bx55X continuation tickets on Page 3 of this website.



3-73 Northbound: Valid for a Continuing Ride on Rapid Transit Lines at Gun Hill Rd. and White Plains Rd. (former northern terminus of Third Avenue El)	May 7, 1978 Southbound: Valid for a Continuing Ride on Rapid Transit Lines at 149 St, and Third Ave. (former southern terminus of Third Avenue El) or 161 St. and River Ave. (Yankee Stadium)

..Special Transfers for continued trip from bus routes to rapid transit stations are much less common than that of the general issues for bus routes transfers in the previous chapter.
As such, these tickets can be priced at $3.00 - $4.00 each, with selvage.

Bronx - New York City Transit Authority


COL22-0 (orange) Bx22	COL22-B (blue) Bx22

Manhattan Issues: Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority


M1, M2A, M7, M10 (January 1972) Valid from Sub-Route to Through Bus 5 9/16" x 2"	North / East, South / West (December 1983) Valid from Sub-Route to Through Bus 5 1/2" x 2 1/16"

M101 & M104

North & South (buff) - 1963-
From Sub-route Bus to Through Bus
Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee)
Globe Ticket

M103 & M106

East & West (buff) - 1963-
From Sub-route Bus to Through Bus
Surface Transportation Corp of NY (receivership, Lester T. Doyle trustee)
Globe Ticket

Manhattan: NYCTA Manhattan Bus Division

M-3 (buff) Nov 12, 1961
M-3 49th - 50th Sts. Route
(to routes of New York City Omnibus Corp listed)

NYCTA Manhattan Bus Division set (believed to be incomplete)

M-1 (buff) M-1 Madison - Chambers Route NYCTA	M-3 (buff) M-3 49th - 50th Sts. Route NYCTA	M-7 (buff) M-7 65th Street Crosstown Route BOT-NYCTS	M-7 (buff) M-7 65th Street Route NYCTA	M-11-S (buff) M-11 York Avenue Route NYCTA	M-11-N (orange) M-11 York Avenue Route NYCTA
.
	intentionally left blank		intentionally left blank
M-13-N (green) M-13 First Ave. Route BOT-NYCTS		M-13-X (buff) M-13-15 Journal Bus Route NYCTA		M-15-S (buff) M-15 First-Second Aves. Route NYCTA	M-13-N (green) M-15 First-Second Aves. Route NYCTA

Transfers of this style for the routes in Manhattan are not as common as Brooklyn. This may be due in part to the control of most northern routes by MaBSTOA. $2.00.50 to $2.50 with selvage.
Again, complete books known and not worth the sum of 25 transfers. $15.00 - $17.50 per book is fair for issues date 1950-1970; and $8.0 to $10.00 per book for dates 1970-1982.

Manhattan: New York City Transit Authority


(blue) Oct 11, 1983 M4	(blue) Oct 30, 1983 M6	May 12, 1988 M42

Manhattan: MTA New York City Transit

M96 / M106

All boroughs extremely common in unbroken books. No more than $10.00 - $15.00 PER complete book. Individual transfers of this type no more than $1.00 each with selvage;
However a substantial premium should be considered for the last day of issue of paper transfers for that route.

City of New York - Board of Transportation - Queens Bus Division
1940-1953

	intentionally left blank
Routes 1-43 - Outbound		Routes 12-44 - Outbound	Routes 12-44 - Inbound

Queens: New York City Transit Authority - Queens Bus Division Note the placement of the word "Route" in the description. All other borough issues have the word Route at the end, i.e.: B-68 - Coney Island Avenue Route. With these Queens issues however, the word Route precedes the description: Route Q-1 - Hillside Avenue. The reason for this is unknown.
		.....			.....
J-1 (buff) Route Q-1 Hillside Avenue	J-2 (green) Route Q-1 Hillside Avenue		J-3 (buff) Route Q-2 Hillside Avenue - Hollis	J-4 (green) Route Q-2 Hillside Avenue - Hollis		J-5 (buff) Route Q-3 Jamaica - Hollis	J-6 (green) Route Q-3 Jamaica - Hollis
.
							intentionally left blank
J-7 (buff) Route Q-3A Jamaica - 114th Avenue	J-8 (green) Route Q-3A Jamaica - 114th Avenue		J-9 (buff) Route Q-4 Jamaica - Cambria Heights	J-10 (green) Route Q-4 Jamaica - Cambria Heights	J-11 (buff) Route Q-4A Merrick Blvd. - 120th. Ave.
.

J-12 (buff) Route Q-5 Merrick Blvd.	J-13 (green) Route Q-5 Merrick Blvd.		J-14 (buff) Route Q-5A Merrick Blvd.	J-15 (green) Route Q-5A Merrick Blvd.		F-1 (buff) Route Q-12 Flushing - Little Neck	F-2 (green) Route Q-12 Flushing - Little Neck
.
							intentionally left blank
F-28 (buff) Route Q-12A Little Neck Parkway	F-29 (green) Route Q-12A Little Neck Parkway		F-3 (buff) Route Q-13 Flushing - Bayside	F-4 (green) Route Q-13 Flushing - Bayside		F-5 (buff) Route Q-14 Flushing - Whitestone
.

F-6 (buff) Route Q-15 Flushing - Beechhurst	F-7 (green) Route Q-15 Flushing - Beechhurst		F-8 (buff) Route Q-16 Flushing - Clearview - Fort Totten	F-9 (green) Route Q-16 Flushing - Clearview - Fort Totten		J-30 (buff) Route Q-17 Flushing - 188th St - Jamaica	J-31 (green) Route Q-17 Flushing - 188th St - Jamaica
.

F-26 (buff) Q-27 Flushing - Rosewood	F-27 (green) Q-27 Flushing - Rosewood		F-15 (buff) Q-28 Flushing - Bayside West	F-16 (green) Q-28 Flushing - Bayside West		F-17 (buff) Q-31 Bayside - West Jamaica Connection	F-18 (green) Q-31 Bayside - West Jamaica Connection
.
				intentionally left blank
J-18 (buff) Q-36 Hillside - Jamaica Aves.	J-19 (green) Q-36 Hillside - Jamaica Avenue		J-20 (buff) Q-42 177th Street			J-21 (buff) Q-43 Hillside - City Line	J-22 (green) Q-43 Hillside - City Line
.

F-22 (buff) Route Q-44 Bronx - Jamaica	F-23 (green) Route Q-44 Bronx - Jamaica		F-31 (buff) Route Q-44 Flushing Shuttle	F-32 (green) Route Q-44 Flushing Shuttle		F-19 (buff) Route Q-44A Union Turnpike	F-20 (green) Route Q-44A Union Turnpike


F-30 (buff) Route Q-44B Malba Shuttle			57 Route Q/44 - Bronx - Jamaica
.

F-21 (green) Route Q-44 VP Vleigh Place	J-28 (green) Route Q-75 73rd Avenue		J-29 (buff) Route Q-75 73rd Avenue	J-27 (buff) Rosedale Shuttle		J-24 (buff) Laurelton Shuttle	J-25 (green) Laurelton Shuttle

.$1.25 to $1.50 with selvage. Again, complete books are plentiful; and not worth the sum of 25 transfers. $12.00 - $15.00 per book is fair for issues date 1950-1970; and $7.50 to $10.00 per book for dates 1970-1982.
Identification Checks are more uncommon, $2.50-$4.00 with selvage.

Queens: New York City Transit Authority - Queens Bus Division

(blue stripe) Nov 21, 1976
Route Q-17
Flushing-188th St. - Jamaica

Queens: MTA - New York City Transit Authority

Q44
extra long form: 9 1/8" x 2"

Queens: Interdivisional Continuation Ticket - "Continued Ride"

Q49 (bus)
to
BMT Jamaica Line - Queens Boulevard Station

In September 1977, the three stations: Sutphin Boulevard, 160th Street and 168th Street, which were east of the Queens Boulevard station on the BMT Jamaica Line Jsubway line, were closed.

The Q49 bus route was created as a bustitution shuttle to provide service along the now closed portion of the route.

On April 15, 1985, the Queens Boulevard station along with the Metropolitan Avenue station were closed as well, when the line was further cut back to 121st Street; and the Q49 bus route was extended to this new terminal.

The Q49 bus itself was discontinued when the rest of the Jamaica Line was connected to the Archer Avenue Subway Extension in 1988.

Q49 continuation ticket to Queens Boulevard Station - 1977 - 1985
Globe Ticket
5 9/16" x 2 1/8" w/ 1/2" selvage

uncommon; $5.00 - $7.50 without selvage / 7.50 - $10.00 with selvage.

Queens: New York City Department of Transportation - Green Bus Lines

unknown printer (black on orange paper)
transfer connections now reciprocal with NYCTA routes
Q35 - Green Bus Lines

The Board of Transportation - City of New York took over the bus operations in the borough of Richmond known colloqiually as "Staten Island" on February 23, 1947.

These would be the first city-operated bus service (other than the Williamsburg Bridge line, which retained city operation under the Board of Transportation) after the end of the Department of Plant and Structures.

These routes in turn would be taken over in the formation of the New York City Transit Authority in June 1953.

Staten Island: New York City Transit Authority - Staten Island Bus Division Note, that the earlier era of transfers used an R prefix to denote Richmond (the borough) This was later (unknown date) changed to S, as no self respecting New Yorker referred to it as anything other than Staten Island!
					.....	intentionally left blank	intentionally left blank
SI-1 (buff) R-1 Richmond Terrace Route NYCTA	SI-2 (green) R-1 Richmond Terrace Route NYCTA	SI-3 (green) R-1 Richmond Terrace Route NYCTA		SI-64 (buff) R-1 Richmond Terrace Route NYCTA
.
						intentionally left blank	intentionally left blank
SI-4 (green) R-2 Bay Street Route NYCTA	SI-5 (green) R-2 Bay Street Route NYCTA	SI-65 (buff) R-2 Bay Street Route NYCTA		SI-66 (green) R-2 Bay Street Route NYCTA
.

SI-6 (buff) R-3 Castleton Avenue Route NYCTA	SI-7 (buff) R-3 Castleton Avenue Route NYCTA		SI-8 (green) R-3 Castleton Avenue Route NYCTA	SI-9 (green) R-3 Castleton Avenue Route NYCTA		SI-10 (green) R-4 Richmond Avenue Route NYCTA	SI-11 (buff) R-4 Richmond Avenue Route NYCTA
.
			intentionally left blank	intentionally left blank		intentionally left blank
SI-12 (buff) R-5 Jersey Street Route NYCTA	SI-13 (green) R-5 Jersey Street Route NYCTA						Dec 23, 1955 R-6 Victory Blvd. Route NYCTA
.

SI-14 (buff) R-6 Victory Blvd. - Jewett Avenue Route NYCTA	SI-15 (buff) R-6 Victory Blvd. - Jewett Avenue Route NYCTA	SI-16 (green) R-6 Victory Blvd. - Jewett Avenue Route NYCTA		SI-17 (green) R-6 Victory Blvd. - Jewett Avenue Route NYCTA		SI-61 (buff) R-6 Victory Blvd. Grymes Hill Shuttle Route NYCTA	SI-63 (buff) R-6 Victory Blvd. - Jewett Avenue Route NYCTA
.
				intentionally left blank
SI-68 (buff) R-7 Verrazano - Narrows Bridge Route NYCTA	SI-69 (buff) R-7 Verrazano - Narrows Bridge Route NYCTA	SI-70 (green) R-7 Verrazano - Narrows Bridge Route NYCTA				SI-18 (buff) Brighton Ave. Route NYCTA	SI-19 (green) R-101 Brighton Ave. Route NYCTA
.
						intentionally left blank	intentionally left blank
SI-20 (buff) R-102 Henderson Ave. Route NYCTA	SI-21 (buff) R-102 Henderson Ave. Route NYCTA		S1-22 (green) R-102 Henderson Ave. Route NYCTA	SI-23 (green) R-102 Henderson Ave. Route NYCTA
.

SI-24 (buff) R-103 Hylan Boulevard Route NYCTA	SI-25 (buff) R-103 Hylan Boulevard Route NYCTA		SI-26 (green) R-103 Hylan Boulevard Route NYCTA	SI-27 (green) R-103 Hylan Boulevard Route NYCTA		SI-28 (buff) R-103 Tompkins Ave. Route NYCTA	SI-29 (green) R-104 Tompkins Ave. Route NYCTA
.

SI-32 (buff) R-106 Watchogue Road Route NYCTA	SI-33 (buff) R-106 Watchogue Road Route NYCTA		SI-34 (green) R-106 Watchogue Road Route NYCTA	SI-35 (green) R-106 Watchogue Road Route NYCTA		intentionally left blank	intentionally left blank
.
		.....	SI-38 / R-107 ticket missing from set			intentionally left blank	intentionally left blank
SI-36 (buff) R-107 Forest Ave. Route NYCTA	SI-37 (buff) R-107 Forest Ave. Route NYCTA			SI-39 (green) R-107 Forest Ave. Route NYCTA
.
						intentionally left blank	intentionally left blank
SI-40 (buff) R-108-113 Richmond - Arthur Kill Roads Route NYCTA	SI-41 (green) R-108-113 Richmond - Arthur Kill Roads Route NYCTA		SI-42 (green) R-108-113 Richmond - Arthur Kill Roads Route NYCTA	SI-43 (green) R-108-113 Richmond - Arthur Kill Roads Route NYCTA
.
						intentionally left blank	intentionally left blank
SI-44 (buff) R-109 Midland Beach Route NYCTA	SI-45 (buff) R-109 Midland Beach Route NYCTA		SI-46 (green) R-109 Midland Beach Route NYCTA	SI-47 (green) R-109 Midland Beach Route NYCTA
.
	intentionally left blank
SI-48 (buff) R-110 Manor Road Route NYCTA			SI-50 (buff) R-111 Bradley Avenue Route NYCTA	SI-51 (green) R-111 Bradley Avenue Route NYCTA		SI-53 (buff) R-112 Victory Blvd. - Travis Route NYCTA	SI-54 (green) R-112 Victory Blvd. - Travis Route NYCTA
.
			intentionally left blank	intentionally left blank		intentionally left blank	intentionally left blank
SI-55 (buff) R-117 New Dorp Lane Route NYCTA	SI-56 (green) R-117 New Dorp Lane Route NYCTA

1950's - 1970's transfer issues from the Borough of Richmond "Staten Island" are not as widely known as Brooklyn or Queens; or perhaps even less than Manhattan.
$2.00 to $3.00 each with selvage. Complete books are not widely seen for older issues, and those books are worth equal to or slightly less than the sum of all transfers. ($2.00 x 25 = $60)

Staten Island: New York City Transit Authority - Staten Island Bus Division

SI-4 (blue stripe) 10-65
R-2 Bay Street Route

Staten Island: MTA New York City Transit


CAS 7-B S53

New York City Transit Authority - Statue of Liberty 100th Anniversary

On July 4, 1986; in commemoration of and in accordance to the nationwide celebration of the 100^th Anniversary of the Statue of Liberty; the New York City Transit Authority issued a three day special citywide transfer issue. Specific routes were not listed as on regular issues of surface transfers, and the M insignia of the Metropolitan Transit Authority (the parent agent to the New York City Transit Authority) was replaced with the single color (red) artwork of the Statue of Liberty. Backs were unprinted.

They are seen in four colors: pink, white, yellow and blue, and are also seen dated for July 5th and 6th.



7½" length (7" long ticket and ½" selvage) by 2" width pulp paper, dyed orange or blue; printed front only. Individual transfers regularly seen and complete books for sale. Theoretically, these should be even more prolific as all the bus routes in New York City were issued these books for July 4 holiday as opposed those specifically marked for individual routes. No more than $12.50 - $15.00 PER complete book. Individual transfers of this type no more than $1.00 each with selvage.

The NYCTA operates Express Bus routes throughout the five boroughs with most termini being in Manhattan in the morning and outer boroughs in the evening. The original incarnation of this express service is reported to have began in 1968 with a Queens to Manhattan express service and these routes were originally suffixed with the letter letter "X", i.e.: Q20X

In 1976, the NYCTA began adapting their bus nomenclature so the X would be a prefix letter: X20.

This express service proved to be popular, and was slowly expanded throughout the years and boroughs, as demand increased in several neighborhoods. This provided a bus service with limited stops (instead of stopping as flagged at practically every or every other street corner as with regular surface routes) and in neighborhoods that may not have had a rapid transit system nearby.

Most often, the passenger would plan their schedule to arrive at the express bus stop the same time every day, and be greeted by the same bus operator.

These Express Bus Routes proved very popular with executives as well as middle management, and whose salaries could afford this premium service. It also offered a respite for those who took their own automobile to work; as by the time you calculated the cost of gas, tolls and wear and tear on your vehicle; the cost of Express Bus was on par. And, someone else was doing the driving!

Furthermore, with the adaptation of bus only lanes at select river crossings; trip time on the Express Bus was usually less than if one drove their own vehicle. The Express Bus fleet is appointed with more spacious and cushioned seating in comparison to the regular fleet of buses. They were also easier to maintain to a higher degree of cleanliness on the interior as opposed to the regular fleet as well; primarily due to the higher standards of the passengers using them. Business types were nowhere near as slovenly or inconsiderate as slobs, school kids, and riff raff!

As of August 19, 2018; Express Bus routes from Staten Island / Manhattan have ceased using the X prefix, and now carry the borough letters of the service: SIM - Staten Island to Manhattan. This new nomenclature is slowly being adopted for the other express bus routes as well: BM - Brooklyn / Manhattan; QM - Queens / Manhattan and BxM - Bronx / Manhattan.

Sidetrack down memory lane:

My mother, when offered the position of executive secretary, getting promoted from staff secretary; calculated the annual cost of this premium service, and included it in her requested salary.

I distinctly recall on one really miserable winter day in 1984, I had been waiting for over 40 minutes for the regular northbound B68 Coney Island Avenue bus to go to school. My mother, who arrived at the bus stop after I, to find me waiting; caught her regular express bus, the X29. After a quick mother/son kiss, she got on board and I watched her say something to the operator, who then looked down at me and said, "hop on!"

To a regular bus passenger used to the "normal" hard plastic mass transit seats, a perpetual funky humid / body odor / vinyl flooring smell, and the regular group of rowdy school kids in the back, graffiti, scratched windows and light rubbish on the floor; I was in awe. Wide cushioned seats, pleasant smell, clean and everyone in casual or business attire and properly behaved! It was like being transported into another dimension.

Not 10 minutes later, I got off at my stop at Avenue M, and that was that. Back to the rat race and common folk! PMG

NYCTA Express Bus Fares Note: some early express buses routes, particularly those from Great Kills, Staten Island to Brooklyn or destinations in Manhattan varied Wall St or Midtown.
fare	from	notes
$1.00	April 12, 1971	first route from 91st St / York Ave to Wall St
$1.00	August 1, 1971	Queens to Midtown, Manhattan Express bus service began
50¢ 85¢ $1.00	January 4, 1972	R8/X bus route (Staten Island-Brooklyn Express) R9/X bus route (Staten Island-Brooklyn-Wall St. Manhattan Express) R9/X bus route (Staten Island-Brooklyn-Midtown Manhattan Express)
$1.50	September 1, 1975
$2.00	June 28, 1980
$2.50	September 1981
$3.00	January 2, 1984
$3.50	January 1, 1986	Only the Manhattan East Side Express Bus went to $4.00. All others stayed at $3.00
$4.00	January 1, 1990
$3.00	March 1, 1998
$4.00	May 4, 2003
$5.00	February 27, 2005
$5.50	December 30, 2010
$6.00	March 3, 2013
$6.50	March 22, 2015
$6.75	April 21, 2019	present (MetroCard or OMNY only, coin payment discontinued)
$7.00	August 20, 2023

Express: New York City Transit Authority

		.....
YUK-X-1-Y (yellow) 3-83P X17 - X19			YUK-X-1-V (pink) 3-83P X17 - X19

Express Bus transfers are seldom encountered. $3.00 - $4.00 each with selvage. Unbroken books not encountered frequently and should command at least sum of individual transfers.

Express: MTA - New York City Transit


X8		X27 UP 12-Y		X28

Understanding the value of surface transfers

They are prodigious:

Obviously, each bus route was issued several books of transfers, daily. Depending on the established traffic for that particular route, it could be as little as two books for a 12 hour shift) for a shuttle line, or several books for heavily traveled through routes. Most transfer ticket books were printed with 50 tickets in a book; however 25 ticket books are seen and depending on the route.

These books of transfers were issued each day of the calender year: that is 365 days if you do not know how many days are in a year. Multiply this number, by the usual standard of two colors of issue: one color for each direction for a single route. You are now talking a minimum of 730 tickets of each date PER route PER year.

Now, multiply that number by the total number of routes in the Five Boroughs. About an average of 75 to 80 routes per borough would be a fair estimate. That comes to 58,400 transfers.

Factor in additional special transfers in multiple colors, and the total number of possible transfer grows exponentially.

Some routes did not exist at certain periods - so a particular route may not be available in one year, but was a few years later, while another was abolished.

An attempt to make a "set" from issued tickets, is statistically (and financially) a very difficult thing to accomplish, unless you are fortunate enough to locate a control set. A control set was used by depots and by accounting department to check the validity of a questionable transfer. Believe me, while not common, attempts at counterfeiting transfers were not unheard of.

These control sets were usually issued on the first of the year. A control set would have an example from all five boroughs from the same day.. This is something even the most earnest collectors could not achieve as it would require visiting every single depot within the five boroughs in a very small specific time frame to acquire a complete range of routes for that single day.

But except for a control set, it also explains why there are so many whole books available for sale. After their printed issue date, they were no longer good, and so were discarded, even if unused. If 100 books were printed for a particular route for a particular day, at 25 transfers per book = 2500 transfers total. But if only 500 transfers were issued in one direction for the entire day, then there would be 80 books to dispose of. That leaves 2000 unused transfers, still in books, unused. And usually, they went into a paper recycling dumpster behind the bus depot.

Which is why surface transfers are plentiful and available in so many varieties and issue dates. And which is why they should be extremely cheap.

So; how much should you pay?

Some collectors and / or dealers acquired vast quantities of transfer books in the manner of dumpster diving; while others that were employed by the NYCTA and now retired; saved and accumulated them before they hit the dumpster. Totes and milk crate-fuls of transfer books. Of which, these thousands and thousands of books are still being sold and dispersed 30 years later.

When I first started collecting surface transfers around 2000, I was able to purchase individual transfers for around 25 to 40 cents a piece, and 2 to 3 dollars for a complete book. Every day of the week and twice on Sunday. As part of my OCD, I recorded the price and serial number of every transfer acquired, whether individually or in a group.

Now, within the last few years there has been a dramatic rise in pricing on eBay in regards to these transfers. Sellers are asking $3.99, $5.99, even $9.99 each, and even higher! For 1990's bus transfers! Books? $25 and higher. This pricing greatly exceeds the rate of inflation. And there is no shortage of them, so it's not about supply and demand. A transfer that I would have purchased in 2000 for 40 cents, would now sell at 63 cents, adjusted for the rate of inflation. A $1.00 transfer? would be $1.56. So why are sellers asking the prices they are? Are they worth this?

Absolutely NOT. Do not be fooled into even thinking this for a single moment!

If one merely takes the time, look through the amount of auctions relating to NYCTA bus transfers (they only list the previous 90 days), and you will see the same thing I do. There are hundreds if not thousands of them out there, so they are obviously not rare. And frankly, there is not much demand, as it is a very specialized area. So why the jump in prices?

In one and a legitimate aspect, eBay fees. EBay has made it unprofitable and inconvenient to sell nickel and dime stuff cheaply. What used to be an online marketplace / garage sale / flea market, is now a boutique shop with antique store prices. In another, shipping. eBay has made it difficult to negotiate on shipping. They suggest a particular service and offer it to the seller as part of the sales package. Most of the time it is a standard flat rate first class mail with tracking number.

A first class stamp costs 55 cents at the time of this writing. Now it's 66 cents. Do I really need tracking on a $1.00 item? Not it my opinion. If it isn't rare and easily replaceable, I can buy another. But a lot of eBay sellers are afraid of the their shipments getting lost and then having to refund the money. So eBay packages the shipping label program with the sellers account and charges for it. And a seller is not overly enthusiastic to opt out of the all-in-one sales format and go the extra mile to just jam a transfer in a plain white envelope with a 66 cent stamp. They want to click, print and ship. While this works for normal sales, it does not apply or work for cheap under $2 - 3 dollar items. And do not let an seller try to shuck and jive you into an excuse of "there is my cost in gas, and time of having to go to the post office, printer ink, stationery, yada yada yada.). Postal carriers pick up these pre-paid pre-labeled ready to go envelopes and packages.

I have found the some sellers are willing to take the time upon an email, to adjust shipping accordingly. Believe it or not, newer sellers are more sympathetic to this than older established sellers. They cannot be bothered.

I also have caught several sellers charging $3.99 shipping with tracking, and when the package comes in, the transfer (or other cheap item) is a plain white envelope wrapped in plain white piece of 8 1/2 x 11" paper that doubles as a receipt, with a 55 cent stamp. On yes they did. Not once, but twice - the same seller. Usually this is easily rectified with a quick message stating this. One seller first would not respond to my messages. An eBay claim resulted in a very fast refund. Honestly, who pays attention when the package arrives? Most of the time we are so eager to open it and revel in our new acquisition. I'm no different, so pay attention to your postage label!

Unfortunately, and in most cases, this outlandish pricing falls in the more prosaic category; plain and simple GREED. Some sellers in an attempt to cash in quick, and out-priced the objects; because selling one transfer at one time for $10 beats trying to selling 25 transfers at 40 cents each over tens of months, or years.

And since most collectors only need one example for their "set", and do not need duplicates; so the remainder of the transfers, and there is quite a lot; sit on eBay unsold.

Sellers need to understand this. Some think they are being low-balled, but thats not the case. These transfers are cheap and plentiful. They need to be sold as such. As a seller, if you don't have time or wherewithal to market accordingly sell them at a reasonable price to someone who will. Buyers, should not fall into their trap and think otherwise.

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