NJT-Owned MCI D4500CT Ride on the SIM23, Prevost X3-45s on the S55, XDE40 on the M66 + More

[BM5 via Woodhaven]

This week was the last week of Academy Bus Line operation of the SIM23 & SIM24 routes, with December 30th (Thursday) being the last day of service. The MTA will now operate service, starting on Monday (January 3rd), with some adjustments.  The SIM24 will operate down Huguenot Avenue to Luten Avenue instead of the SIM23, essentially reverting to the original SIM24 route in the SI Express Bus redesign final route plan (it will no longer serve Outerbridge Park & Ride). The SIM23 will terminate at Pollion Avenue, the stop before Luten Avenue.

On the last day of service, I was lucky to get an NJT-owned MCI on the SIM23 route, 2017 MCI D4500CT 17163. I was attempting to do a full ride, but the amount of reduced subway service screwed me over (the ran like a joke, and so did the with the  suspended, so it was the  to 5th Avenue for me). This bus didn't have updated destination readings, so it used the old X23 code instead. The best part was that it didn't have a farebox, so the ride was free! Here's a video onboard that bus Staten Island: 

I was out on the South Shore of Staten Island a few days this recent week to get some Academy Bus footage too. On one of those days though, I was in the right place at the right time, because there were two Prevost X3-45s operating on the S55 Local route. 

 

2015 Prevost X3-45 Commuter Coach 2592 on the S55 at Eltingville Transit Center by BM5 Photos 2019-2021, on Flickr

Here's some more SIM23 and SIM24 bus content:

 

 

2013 Van Hool C2045 6639 on the SIM24 (Academy Bus) at 5th Avenue & West 53rd Street by BM5 Photos 2019-2021, on Flickr

2013 Van Hool C2045 6646 on the SIM23 (Academy Bus) at 5th Avenue & West 58th Street by BM5 Photos 2019-2021, on Flickr

2013 Van Hool C2045 6643 on the SIM24 (Academy Bus) at Huguenot Avenue & Drumgoole Road West by BM5 Photos 2019-2021, on Flickr

2013 Van Hool C2045 6643 on the SIM24 (Academy Bus) at West 59th Street & 5th Avenue by BM5 Photos 2019-2021, on Flickr

2020 MCI D4500CT 20144 on the SIM23 (Academy Bus) at 5th Avenue & West 58th Street by BM5 Photos 2019-2021, on Flickr

Now for some more miscellaneous stuff:

2021 New Flyer "Xcelsior" XDE40 9617 on the M66 at East 68th Street & York Avenue by BM5 Photos 2019-2021, on Flickr

2021 New Flyer "Xcelsior" XD40 7851 on the B13 at Gates Avenue & Wyckoff Avenue by BM5 Photos 2019-2021, on Flickr

2016 Nova Bus LFS 8317 on the M8 at East 8th Street & Lafayette Street by BM5 Photos 2019-2021, on Flickr

2016 Nova Bus LFS 8313 on the M20 at 7th Avenue & West 42nd Street by BM5 Photos 2019-2021, on Flickr

2019 New Flyer "Xcelsior" XD60 6192 on the M14D at Columbia Street & East Houston Street by BM5 Photos 2019-2021, on Flickr

2009 Orion VII NG Hybrid 4350 on the M116 at East 86th Street & Park Avenue by BM5 Photos 2019-2021, on Flickr

2009 Orion VII NG Hybrid 3803 on the M50 at East 42nd Street & 3rd Avenue by BM5 Photos 2019-2021, on Flickr

2016 Nova Bus LFS 8313 on the M42 at East 42nd Street & 3rd Avenue by BM5 Photos 2019-2021, on Flickr

2019 New Flyer "Xcelsior" XD40 7579 on the M42 at West 42nd Street & 11th Avenue by BM5 Photos 2019-2021, on Flickr

2016 New Flyer "Xcelsior" XD60 on the Q64 at Queens Boulevard & 70th Road by BM5 Photos 2019-2021, on Flickr

Thanks for viewing!

 

 

[Lawrence St]

I wonder how many times Academy has used a bus with no farebox on these routes.

[Future ENY OP]

Excellent pictures @BM5 via Woodhaven.

s55 has got to be an interesting route to have prevosts. Nice capture.

[danielhg121]

I love it when bus ops pop the doors open before the bus comes to a full stop lol. Especially when they zip around a corner and then pop the doors open like a bat out of hell. Reminds me of the PBL in some cases. I remember the CP routes specifically with the Orion V CNG's pop them open before the bus even stopped.