1930s Trolley Images from Bergen County NJ

[Erie Lackawanna]

For those who are interested in OLD, OLD Bergen County, here are two shots of the Public Service Coordinated Transit from the late 1930s.

 

First image is of a NRHS fantrip at the Coytsville Wye in June 1937, almost four years after service had been abandoned on the line. This is the north part of Fort Lee today. Photographer unknown.

 

http://knox.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2017052

 

Second is a shot I'm guessing is Hackensack or Paterson (but could be Palisades Park I guess too). It's one of the Hudson River Line cars very near the end of service. Photographer unknown.

 

http://knox.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2017055

 

Thanks for looking, and any additional information would be great.

 

Charles Freericks

[BNSFwatcher]

Sorry I can't help you.  I was born in Plainfield (please don't tell anyone) in 1938.  We lived in Plainfield, East Orange, Metuchen, and Seaside, but escaped when I was 3 y.o.a..  Later we visited aunts, uncles, and cousins in Boonton, Florham Park, and Madison from the "right side" of the Hudson.  Gas, in Jersey, was 19 cents, 2-cents cheaper than NY.  I only took the DL&W when I went solo.  My only trip on a PSCT trolley was to an amusement park (not Pallisades, but it was a great place!) in the Oranges, perhaps.  Cool, but the "Civil Defense" logo on the car scared me a bit.  This, of course, was just after WW II.  ***!  The PSCT trolleys were ubiquitous.  Did they have a monopoly in the state?  At least our metro-NY trolleys ran under different names, no matter who owned them.  Thanks for the memories!  I look forward to more info.

Hays 

[MJChittick]

BNSFwatcher

Cool, but the "Civil Defense" logo on the car scared me a bit.  This, of course, was just after WW II.  ***! 

According to the data on the link, the photo was taken on June 6, 1937.  I'd guess that logo on the side of the car is something other than "Civil Defense"; maybe the transit company???

[henry6]

Yes.  All the cars have the Public Coordinated Transport logo.

[BNSFwatcher]

Yar!  That's the Public Service logo.  My mother was an Air Raid Warden in Eastchester, NY during WW II.  She had a white helmet, armband, and a wooden clacker, all with the Civil Defense logo on them.  I don't know where she looked for incoming enemy planes.  Our roof was slate, without a "widow's walk".  She, certainly, didn't go up on the roof of our Garrison Colonial!  Anyhoo, she never spotted a Hinkel, Messerschmidt, or Mitsubushi!  Maybe they just went to someones basement and had a few tods.  That's plausable.  More productive, too.

I still don't know if the PSCT had a monopoly in New Jersey.  I never saw any trolleys without the scary logo, out in "Mosquito Land".

Hays

[Modelcar]

Very interesting photos.....and very clear for being of such age.

Wonder why the 2nd rail {left side}, on curve of first photo.....?

[Modelcar]

BNSFwatcher

Cool, but the "Civil Defense" logo on the car scared me a bit.  This, of course, was just after WW II.

 

....Am I reading this wrong...."after WWII"....in 1937.....?

[Erie Lackawanna]

Modelcar

Very interesting photos.....and very clear for being of such age.

Wonder why the 2nd rail {left side}, on curve of first photo.....?

 

Complete and total guess - but with the curve being so tight, I wonder if it's designed to held the flanges on the track (sort of a guard rail)?

[Modelcar]

BNSFwatcher

She had a white helmet, armband, and a wooden clacker, all with the Civil Defense logo on them.  I don't know where she looked for incoming enemy planes. 

 

Many towns {big and small}, built towers or installed outposts on top of buildings to "spot" enemy aircraft.  Cardboard silhouettes were avail. of outlines of such planes to help to ID such.  This during WWII period.

[Erie Lackawanna]

Modelcar

BNSFwatcher

Cool, but the "Civil Defense" logo on the car scared me a bit.  This, of course, was just after WW II.

 

....Am I reading this wrong...."after WWII"....in 1937.....?

 

It looks to me like they are similar but completely unrelated logos.

The are both a triangle inside a circle, but the CD symbol is clearly different.

The Public Service symbol appears in image as early as 1932. It had to come into existance sometime between 1924 and 1932.

 Civil Defence - http://www.dakotacollectibles.com/aoc/TreasureChest/dccat_stock_detail.asp?stockcode=EQ0070

 Public Service - http://www.flickr.com/photos/23021987@N06/3237098873/

 

 

[Modelcar]

Erie Lackawanna

Complete and total guess - but with the curve being so tight, I wonder if it's designed to held the flanges on the track (sort of a guard rail)?

I agree.....That's a good possibility.  I wondered that too.

[henry6]

Yes, guardrails...you can see such anyplace there are trolley tracks and thier traditional tight, tight curves...light rail the same...ride NJT's HBLRT out of Hoboken and you'll see how the art is practiced.

Yes, again, Public Service Coordinated Transport logos all!  Lasted on the buses and Newark City Subway right up to NJT takeover!  Still can catch one on a NCS station platform if you look close!  White circle, blue triangle with gold or black lettering in the blue line.  A blue or black circle around the white.  Different times, different variations....