Plans for buses on train tracks in Staten Island in 1954?

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jeffmorris

Active member

• Feb 11, 2018

• #1

I found out from Staten Island Advance's reprint of a page from 1954 that New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) made plans to replace trains with buses that can run on streets and tracks. The buses would pick up passengers along streets and then go on tracks, lower rail wheels, and take passengers to the ferry terminal. I wish that they didn't cancel the plans. Do any other cities do this?

 

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Vern

Trainz Maverick

• Feb 11, 2018

• #2

http://www.warwickshirerailways.com/lms/lms_ro-railer.htm

 

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rjhowie

Active member

• Feb 12, 2018

• #3

Something rings a bell with me that many moons ago such a situation existed across the Irish Sea as well but on a rural route.

However on more main used lines I don't really see that as a great step forward to be honest!

 

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JCitron

Trainzing since 12-2003

• Feb 12, 2018

• #4

What became SEPTA the Red Arrow Lines in the greater Philadelphia area, looked into a similar setup.

https://thetrolleydodger.com/2016/09/13/red-arrow-in-west-chester/​

https://thetrolleydodger.files.wordpress.com/2016/12/dave495.jpg


This was in the late 1960s. There's a video about this on YT which I remember seeing a few months ago.

https://youtu.be/0oR_A6kCN7s (Found it!)

The MBTA in Boston looked into a similar thing as well, but that never took off either.

 

Last edited: Feb 12, 2018

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Vern

Trainz Maverick

• Feb 14, 2018

• #5

In the case of the SMJ (a route I should really look at doing sometime in Trainz), appears the kit wasn't that reliable. The general principle is also pretty much limited to single vehicle operation so not much good where there are large passenger flows.

Generally better off keeping trains on the track and buses on the road with a well designed interchange between the two.

 

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jeffmorris

Active member

• Feb 14, 2018

• #6

I watched the videos and looked at pictures. The LMS Ro-Railer bus looked like it's too much trouble converting the bus from road to track and back. Some cities have buses that run on roads that are not shared by other vehicles.

 

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whitburncolliery

New member

• Feb 14, 2018

• #7

You are more likely to find guided busways today where the bus retains its normal wheels but over a section of their route are guided.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guided_bus

 

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JCitron

Trainzing since 12-2003

• Feb 14, 2018

• #8

jeffmorris said:

I watched the videos and looked at pictures. The LMS Ro-Railer bus looked like it's too much trouble converting the bus from road to track and back. Some cities have buses that run on roads that are not shared by other vehicles.

Click to expand...

Yup that was the same conclusion SEPTA and others came to as well. When I saw these operate on the videos, my first thought was that's a lot of work and a lot of extra time spent switching between the road and the rails.