BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

All:

First off, I must admit, I've never been that much of a fan of the RTS; they're OK, but, simply do not "do it" for me, as do the vintage Old Looks, Fishbowls, New Looks, Whites, Macks, and Brills.

But, I will admit that I am a bit curious about those that operated (or still operate) for the MTA.

A few questions:

When did the MTA begin operating the RTS?

When were the last of the original order retired?

How were/are they for handling grades and inclement weather?

Likewise, when were the coaches retired that had originally run for STIENWAY, JAMACIA, etc.?

When does the MTA plan on retiring the last RTS?

As I stated before, while I've never been a big fan of the RTS, I will admit that I like them far better than many of the new buses, which more resemble giant muated insects!

Thanks in advance.....

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

A few images.......

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?3462

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?3463

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1373

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?2589

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?3082

(Courtesy of bus.nycsubway.org)

[JimmiB]

There is a pretty good timeline on the RTS production on Wikipedia. While nothing specific on NYC, there is mention that sometime during 1968-1970 New York Transportation Authority received 2 RTS-03's which they sold one each to Green Line and Steinway for test purposes. The information gathered from these was used to design the RTS-04.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapid_Transit_Series

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

JimmiB:

Thanks for the link; I filed it so I can take my time to go through it later!

The first time I was on an RTS was during a 1997 visit to Boston; I often commuted on the second-hand (some from DART) coaches used by ACADEMY out of Hoboken Terminal (I also recall an ex-MTA coach on ACADEMY's #22, back around 2000)

IMHO, the most distinctive of the RTS line were the early models, with the slope backs (I never personally encountered one of these).......

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

See also.......

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?422

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?402

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1400

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?2253

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?744

(courtesy of bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"Generation Gap".........

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?2799

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?672

(courtesy bus.nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

History......

http://www.rtsbusworld.com/history.html

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Looking towards tomorrow (1981)........

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?2427

(courtesy nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Kings Plaza, 1997..........

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?3460

(courtesy of bus.nycsubway.org)

[frankie]

NYO: I can't answer all your questions, however first of all, I would suggest purchasing Evan T. McCausland's "Rapid Transit Series Buses" - an excellent pictorial/text reference on the subject at hand that also includes a complete production and delivery listing from the very first to the last "Millennium" model. Amazon would be your best bet, and well worth the money spent!

It is from this book that I'm supplying the following answer:

The first RTS delivered to NYC (excluding demos) was T8J-204 bus number PA1634 delivered in October 1981 - the first of 25 in this batch.

The last RTS was Nova model T80-206 number 5249 delivered in March 1999 - the last of 88 in this batch.

It would be too time consuming to list every delivery batch in between the first and last. Many Nova buses are still running today with no set date for retirement. As for the other questions, perhaps someone else may have some answers.

Frankie

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

frankie:

Appreciate the "heads up" on that book.......sounds like it's more than worth the price!

For so long now, I've thought of the RTS as a "new" bus, and, therefore, until fairly recently, never really thought of them as "classics" or coaches that were now "long in the tooth".

It wasn't until the later 90's that I started to become familar with the RTS; that was when NJT started taking delivery of the type, and ACADEMY began using them in my area, in particular on the #22 HILLSIDE (this route no longer serves my town, having been cut back several years ago)

Too, I recall commuting on the ex-DART coaches which ACADEMY used for a time on the rush-hour only BOULEVARD EAST route, to and from the Hoboken PATH terminal.

I worked in lower Manhattan for nearly 25 years, and, for the most part, never gave them too much notice.

Perhaps I was too busy mourning the passing of the Fishbowls.......

"NYO"

[frankie]

NYO: I remember back when Fishbowls were everywhere and took them for granted for buses that in no way would become classical with time. Boy, was I wrong. It's too bad I didn't take photos back then just to have them as a pictorial trip down memory lane.

Not so much with the RTS's that were everywhere except here in St. Louis, one of the very few large cities that never had an RTS on it's roster. The closest ones were in Kansas City on the other side of the state. The last GM products here were Canadian Fishbowls. Then we became all Flxible. Now it's all Gilligs.

Even today I wonder if I should photograph the Gilligs, but my mindset still tells me that these will never become classics - until it's too late.

Frankie

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

frankie:

I was of the same "school of thought" when it came to the GRUMMANS and the METROS; when they were the "new kids on the block", I HATED them, especially when they replaced the last Old Looks and oldest Fishbowls in my area.......I was NOT a happy camper at all!

It wasn't until many years later, riding what was obviously an ex-MTA clunker (then being operated by a NJ "indy"), that I slowly began to warm to them.

During the last months and weeks that NJT operated them in my area (replaced by 5200-series NABI coaches), I often took quick "hops" on the old METROs, just for the heck of it.

I knew they were living on borrowed time, and that I wouldn't be able to ride them too much longer.

Suddenly, they were all gone.

Now, several years later, even the once-commonplace RTS is no longer sighted up here in my neck of the woods; it's all NABI's and NEOPLAN artics now.

I do remember second-hand DART coaches used by ACADEMY; they seemed to be quite sluggish (especially on grades), and thier a/c units left much to be desired.

Of course, I'm now wishing I took at least a few photos.......life goes by much too fast for my taste these days........

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

'NEW KID ON THE BLOCK" 1981

(Hard to belive this photo was taken over 30 years ago!)........

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?743

(courtesy bus.nycsubway.org)

[Mr. Linsky]

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629,

And, don't forget the one GMC RTS with a special claim to fame in New York!

Pictured leaving Jamaica for its next trip on the Q-41 line to the Lindenwood section of Howard Beach is fleet # 10001 - a 46 passenger 1985 Model T8J-204 and one of 79 likenesses delivered to Green Bus Lines by the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) in that year.

Officially registered with the State of New York Public Service Commission as fleet # 221, # 10001 carries its nom de plume in commemoration of the fact that it was the 10,001st. RTS built by GM.

# 10001 is now part of the MTA Museum fleet.

Photo borrowed for educational purposes only.

Regards,

Mr. 'L'