BusTalk

frankie

Here we see Green Bus Lines model T8J-204 #10001 cruising down Archer Ave heading towards Jamaica Terminal. What is significant about this bus is that it's the 10001st RTS bus built by General Motors and delivered in June 1985 - serial number FV823077. This bus was mentioned many times in the past on the forum, but have never seen a photo of it.

What would have been numbered 221 upon delivery, GBL chose instead to renumber it as 10001. Perhaps Mr. L can correct me on this.

Ironically, the 10000th RTS was a model T8J-604 delivered to Long Beach, Calif. at the same time, who was also the recipient of the very first RTS back in Sept. 1977.

Mr L: Could you elaborate on this bus regarding it's renumbering history and what the status of the bus is today?

Frankie

Photo courtesy of the Rapid Transit Series Buses book for educational purposes only.

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2011 3:11 pm Post subject:

Frankie,

I think you've summed it up pretty well on your own!

Green Bus Lines (NY) # 221, a 1985 GM Model T8J-204, was the ten thousand and first RTS to be manufactured and was renumbered 10,001 to commemorate that fact by the company.

However, for all official purposes including Public Service Commission records it remained as # 221.

As can be seen below, the bus is now part of New York's Museum Fleet but is still owned by the principals of the company and is leased to the MTA for $1.00 per year (there are legal reasons for that agreement).

Interesting that Long Beach (Ca.) should have received the 10,000th. RTS because they had the honor of receiving the first 15 ever for public sale which were TH-8201's in 1977.

Here's a little known fact about GM's RTS's; because they were modular in construction they could be built and off the assembly line three time faster then the New Looks that preceded them!

Photo courtesy of BusTalk Gallery.

Regards,

Mr. 'L'

Q65A · Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2011 6:58 pm Post subject:

I had the privilege of sitting behind the wheel of 10001 at the 2006 and 2007 MTAB Bus Roadeos. It is very nicely restored.

Hart Bus · Age: 75 Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 1150

I believe that I read somewhere that GBL was to received # 10,000 but since Long Beach had an RTS that was destroyed GM pushed the order for the replacement ahead of GBL's so that LB could have # 1 and #10,000

PS - To quote Flip Wilson "the devil made me do this post". Check the number and you'll see what I mean Very Happy

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 3:22 pm Post subject:

Apropos to the discussion in this thread, member Hart Bus was kind enough to submit the attached very hansom photo of himself taken last year at the Museum of Bus Transportation (MOBT) in Hershey, Pennsylvania

Oh, by the way, the bus that just happens to be hogging the frame is fleet number 4701 and one of fifteen (4701 to 4715) of the very first RTS's (a Model T8J-204) to be sold anywhere and went specifically to the Long Beach Public Transportation Authority of Long Beach, California.

I'd put GM's RTS up against anything they're making today with no doubt that it would come up the winner hands down!

Thanks to Hart Bus for his contribution.

Regards,

Mr. 'L'

JUSXTREME96 · Joined: 20 Jun 2011 Posts: 37

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 11:47 pm Post subject:

JUSXTREME96,

I can only say that there is some chance that my picture below was taken about the same time and by the same photographer in Jamaica who took your picture above.

The date was May 5th. 2005 - the place was Jamaica - and the photographer's name was Joe Caronetti.

The only problem might be the route designation but you'll note that both pictures show no ad sign on the passenger side frame.

If they weren't taken on the same day, they were certainly taken well within a close time period.

Photo courtesy of BusTalk Gallery.

Regards,

Mr. 'L'