BusTalk

[Q65A]

In NYC, the era of the square-back RTS officially began on August 5, 1981. On that date, NYCT began operating GMC RTS-04’s on the B17, assigned at that time to Brooklyn’s Flatbush Depot. Although no one knew it at the time, during the next 18 years the square-back RTS fleet in NYC would grow to over 5,500 units built by 3 different manufacturers. NYCT/MaBSTOA was the first NYC transit operator to take delivery of the RTS-04, and they also would become the owner of the largest fleet of that model. The TA/OA placed orders with GM every year from 1981-1985, and they ultimately they would own 2,278 RTS-04’s. The TA/OA fleet consisted of 2 models: the T8W-204 (40’ length, 102” width, with a Detroit Diesel 6V-71N engine; 1,119 units) and the T8J-204 (identical dimensions, with a Detroit Diesel 6V-92 engine; 1,159 units). The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) helped the MTA to finance the purchase of many of the RTS-04’s; 1,038 units purchased in such a manner carried fleet numbers preceded by the letters “PA”. TA/OA units wore a livery that was mostly white, with a medium blue belt stripe, circular “M” logos and depot logos, a color scheme that still is in use today with some modification. The T8W-204 fleet was purchased initially. These units were assigned both to TA and OA depots citywide. Some units were equipped with 2x2 forward facing “express seating”. TA buses delivered in 1981 had fleet numbers in the number series 1201 and higher, while 1981 OA buses had fleet numbers starting at 2201. In 1983, the numbering system was revised so that the first digit in the fleet number would represent the year of delivery; thus 1983 TA and OA RTS-04’s both used fleet numbers starting with 3001. This was the first time that TA and OA buses shared a common numbering series. T8W-204’s were delivered as follows:
1201-1287; PA1318-PA1633; PA1649-PA1658 (NYCT, 1981)
2201-2300; PA2301-PA2380; PA2418-PA2579 (MaBSTOA, 1981)
3001-3090; PA3091-PA3325 (NYCT, 1983)
The larger (by 40 units) T8J-204 fleet also was assigned both to TA and OA depots citywide, and was the only RTS-04 model bought by the MTA after 1983. Some units were equipped with 2x2 forward facing “express seating”. The concept of fleet numbers beginning with the last digit of the bus model year did not last very long: T8J-204’s built in 1984 and 1985 still used fleet numbers beginning with “3”. They were delivered as follows:
PA1634-PA1648 (NYCT, 1981)
PA1659-PA1858 (NYCT, 1982)
PA2580-PA2704 (MaBSTOA, 1982)
3400-3799 (NYCT, 1984)
3800-4218 (NYCT, 1985)
The new RTS-04’s were equipped with push-type exit doors, rear wheelchair lifts, front kneeling suspensions, 2-way radio equipment, "hoodlum lights" and electronic “flip dot” front and side destination signs; electronic rear route signs were specified on later orders. The RTS quickly became the mainstay of the TA/OA fleet, eventually replacing the ill-fated Grumman Flxible Model 870’s by 1984 as well as all GM and Flxible New Looks by 1995. They helped make the NYCT bus fleet accessible and ADA compliant. In 1996, 110 T8W-204’s built in 1981 were remanufactured either in-house at the 207th Street CMF or by outside contractor Mid West Bus Rebuilders, and were renumbered in the 7000 series: NYCT 7000-7049 were CMF “re-mans” while NYCT 7500-7559 were products of Mid West. The TA/OA RTS-04’s lasted until the early years of the New Millennium, and were scrapped from 2000-2005. The very first NYCT RTS-04, NYCT 1201 (1981 T8W-204) is preserved as part of the DOB’s Vintage Bus Fleet, and is stored at Jackie Gleason Depot when not on display at special events.
Some of the NYC PBL's already had owned slope-back RTS-03's when the TA/OA starting acquiring their huge RTS fleet, and they did not immediately move to buy the RTS-04 when it first debuted. In a few short years, all the PBL's would begin buying square-back RTS's, as will be seen in the next installment of this article.

[Mr. Linsky]

Presented herewith is MTA New York City Bus RTS-04 rebuild # 7021 (ex MABSTOA 2622).

Notice the side window over the engine compartment that still echos the angle of the original slope design.

Photo from BusTalk Gallery and taken by Michael Pompili.

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, NY

[DHF60]

The Midwest remanufactured RTS's were some of the worst buses I ever drove. They were loud with noisy brakes, non-existent suspensions and very loose steering. The entire order should have been rebuilt in house by the TA since those buses were much better than the Midwest buses.