Brooklyn Trackless Trolleys (AKA Trolley Bus)

By David Pirmann

Additional Comments by David Paul Gerber

Trolley Coach Roster

Operations

Prepared by the Public Information and Community Relations Department, New York City Transit Authority, May 1965

• July 23, 1930: Avenue C trolley service replaced by combined trackless trolley and gas bus operation on an experimental basis. The route ran along Cortelyou Road between Flatbush and Coney Island Avenues. It was decided to continue trackless trolley service and six additional coaches were purchased in 1931.
• May 27, 1932: 16th Avenue trolley service operating along Church, Gravesend, and 16th Avenues to 62nd Street was terminated at 16th and Gravesend Avenue and the line was renamed Gravesend-Church. Cortelyou Road trackless trolley service was extended from Coney Island Avenue through Cortelyou Road to Dahill Road and along 16th Avenue and 62nd Street to New Utrecht Avenue.
• October 31, 1956: Trolley coaches replaced with gas buses.

Route 45 - St. John's Place

• August 24, 1947: Buses replace trolley cars.
• September 14, 1948: Trolley coaches replace buses between Borough Hall and Pennsylvania Avenue.
• May 1, 1954: Trolley coach service discontinued between Pennsylvania Avenue and Ralph Avenue.

• March 25, 1959: Trolley coaches replaced with gas buses.

Route 47 - Tompkins Avenue

• August 24, 1947: Buses replace trolley cars.
• November 19, 1948: Trolley coaches replace buses.
• July 27, 1960: Trolley coaches replaced with gas buses.

Route 48 - Lorimer Street

• December 14, 1947: Buses replace trolley cars.
• March 23, 1949: Trolley coaches replace buses.
• July 27, 1960: Trolley coaches replaced with gas buses.

Route 57 - Flushing Avenue

• November 21, 1949: Buses replace trolley cars.
• November 14, 1949: Trolley coaches replace buses.
• September 1, 1954: Terminus changed from Browne Place & Grand Avenue, Maspeth, to Flushing Avenue and 61st Street.
• September 21, 1955: Western terminus changed from Pearl and High Streets to Kent and Flushing Avenues.
• February 13, 1957: Western terminus changed from Kent and Flushing Avenues to Flushing Avenue and Navy Street.
• January 27, 1960: Western terminus changed from Flushing Avenue and Navy Street back to Pearl and High Streets.
• July 27, 1960: Trolley coaches replaced with gas buses.

Route 62 - Graham Avenue

• December 21, 1948: Buses replace trolley cars.
• December 11, 1949: Trolley coaches replace buses.
• September 22, 1954: Section between Box Street and Long Island City discontinued.
• September 21, 1955: Western terminus changed to Kent and Flushing Avenues.
• February 13, 1957: Western terminus changed to Flushing Avenue and Navy Street.
• January 27, 1960: Western terminus changed to Pearl and High Streets.
• July 27, 1960: Trolley coaches replaced with gas buses.

Route 65 - Bergen Street

• July 20, 1947: Buses replace trolley cars.
• October 17, 1948: Trolley coaches replace buses.
• July 27, 1960: Trolley coaches replaced with gas buses.

Comments from David Paul Gerber

With the exception of the B47 bus route (not the modern day and current Ralph Ave route in Brooklyn) and the B62 route, all the other bus route numbers and routes have essentially been unchanged with a minor modification here and there.  In 1990, the B47 and B62 routes were combined into the present day B43 bus route from Flatbush Ave/Empire Blvd to Box St/Manhattan Ave in Greenpoint.  The B23 has a minor route modification (along 60th st instead of 62nd st) while the B65 route's western terminal was Van Brunt St before it was rerouted to Jay St in Downtown Brooklyn.  The B57 also recently was extended from Sands/Jay Streets to Livingston St in Downtown Brooklyn.  Only the B45 bus route remains exactly the way is was when it operated as a trackless trolley from Livingston/Court Streets to Ralph Ave/St. Johns Place