BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Just thought I'd post these two photos of Baltimore's RTS buses.

To this day, they are still regarded as the biggest flops in Baltimore's transit history.

Unlike New York, the RTS in Baltimore were greatly disliked by both passengers and drivers; the buses had (as delivered) no opening windows, and had narrow aisles that were not at all conducive to heavy rush-hour crowding.

Some passengers would even go so far as to letting an RTS pass them by at their stops, and wait for an older bus to come along!

Needless to say, they did not run long in the Monumental City, and certainly were not missed when they were retired.........

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?3805

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?3804

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Back in "Noo Yawk", we have another interesting "generation gap" photo; this one was was taken at Parsons Boulevard & 88 Avenue, 1981.......

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?669

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Baltimore MTA's RTS-II fleet were not long to serve the city; the first batch (#'s 3301-3360) entered service in 1979, while the second batch (#'s 3361-3401) entered service the following year.

All were retired by 1990; this, of course, was a very short life-span for a transit bus.

As I had noted earlier, one of the main drawbacks to the MTA RTS fleet was the lack of sufficient a/c; that, coupled with non-opening (as delivered) windows, made for stifling rides during the hot, humid Baltimore summers......

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

A lot of water has gone under the bridge since this photo of GREEN BUS RTS #1013 was snapped at JFK*, back in early 1980..........

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?438

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)

*Right and left, there is much that dates this photo in the background as well, both bus and airline-wise, especially the New Look and signage for TWA.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Another shot at JFK in early 1980, this one showing GREEN BUS #1015............

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?441

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Date this one to 1981; while the iconic GIMBELS (remember those creaky, clunking old wooden escalators?) is now but a memory, while the once-commonplace RTS has now all but vanished from the streets.......

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?3276

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Park Row & City Hall, 1987 (note the dapper fellows sporting SUITS in this photo; that further dates this scene, as does the "KISS 98.7" placard on the front of the faithful RTS)......

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?3311

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org0

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

If you can locate it, there is a "wayback" page on the 'net from a defunct Baltimore Transit site, that fully details the RTS's buses in Baltimore with many stats and photos (many other Baltimore buses and (streetcars) were also featured on their own pages)

That the buses were narrower than those in New York makes it clear as to why the interiors were so claustrophobic, and the aisles so narrow.

Hope you can find this "wayback" site; I had it filed, but have no idea where to find it.

Hopefully, this little bit of info will help; as far as I know, you should be able to find the Baltimore vehicle pages.......

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

For comparison (head-end views from Baltimore and New York).......

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?3802

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?673

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's a really cool page (with some great photos and information) detailing the RTS buses of Detroit*............

http://www.detroittransithistory.info/PhotoGalley/Photos1970sC.html

(courtesy: Detroit Transit History)

*BE SURE to check out the still from a 1968 GMC film, showing the "bucket seat lounge" of an RTX; man, what a HOOT!!!!!!!!

Could you IMAGINE something like this in ACTUAL service??

And I think it is also safe to say that we'll never see bus passengers that well-dressed again......and READING NEWSPAPERS......NO cellphones, Smartphones, iPads...........ZOUNDS(!!!!)

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Another great page for the RTS enthusiast (interesting history, trivia, and photos)..........

http://www.curbsideclassic.com/bus-stop-classic/bus-stop-classics-general-motors-rapid-transit-series-rts-ii-coach-a-sure-bet/

(courtesy: curbsideclassics.com)

[John Roth]

Gonna be in Manhattan all day tomorrow. One of my goals is to find an RTS for one last ride. MTA Maryland removed them years ago.

John