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Now it's time to say good-bye...to the faithful RTS.....
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22282
Location: NEW JOISEY

PostPosted: Wed May 29, 2019 9:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Also of interest (from the aforementioned book):

"........NYCTA ordered five 40-foot RTS's, similar to the majority of their fleet, but chose to have these buses equipped with Lockheed Martin's HybriDrive propulsion system. Lockheed's system used an AC induction motor, coupled with a Series 50, to create a series-hybrid system not unlike the DUETS and Allison demonstrators......"

"........battery packs were, interestingly enough, mounted on the roof, as opposed to the underfloor locations on previous buses....."

".........at this time, New York already had four hybrid ORION VI buses in service, with another six on the way. It was hoped that the five from NOVA would bring the total to 15, but, only two were built, #6360 and #6361. The former was the only one delivered; #6361 remained at Roswell......."

".........the timing of this project was unfortunate, as Lockheed Martin's sale of its hybrid systems coincided with NOVA's withdrawl from the American transit market, leaving these buses unloved and unwanted. Bus #6360 remained parked at a New York depot, where it was set to be scrapped....."

"NYO"
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
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PostPosted: Thu May 30, 2019 3:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Also:

".........private operators In New York City, most notably GREEN BUS LINES, had been using small numbers of the Series 03, bus, but the heyday of the RTS in New York really began with the Series 04, albeit accidentally........"

"........the NYCTA had tested a Series 03 in 1979, but instead awarded a contract for 837 40' 870A's at Flxible, then owned by Northrop-Grumman. These buses buses began arriving in New York in early 1980, but they didn't last long. What was to happen with the 870's was nothing short of a soap opera......"

"........after an insane amount of litigation and bickering within the courtrooms, Grumman finally agreed not only to buy back the defective buses, , but also terminate the MTA contract. At this point, the NYCTA virtually ran to GM, placing an order for 839 T80-204's, both with 6V-71 and 6V-92TA motors........."

"NYO"

(courtesy; "RAPID TRANSIT SERIES BUSES", Evan T. McCausland)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22282
Location: NEW JOISEY

PostPosted: Fri May 31, 2019 1:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Further New York info from the McCausland book:

"........in 1979, a strange-looking bus infiltrated the streets of New York City. Wearing an unusual factory paint scheme, a sleek, white TH-8203 made its way to the NYCTA as a demo coach......."

"........the 40' bus used a Detroit Diesel 6V-71, smaller than what typically was installed in the city's GM and Flxible New Looks. The NYCTA did not pursue the RTS design just then, and went forward and and began ordering 870's from GRUMMAN. The bus in question, #200, was eventually sold to Spokane, where it was renumbered to #149 in their fleet.....

"NYO"
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Q65A



Age: 66
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 1764
Location: Central NJ

PostPosted: Sat Jun 01, 2019 1:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Living in Queens in the '80's, you would see the occasional slope back RTS working for GBL (I would see them from time to time on the Q60 at Queens Blvd. and Continental Ave.) My beloved QTC had a couple and, believe me, when you rode one, it felt as if you were boarding a space ship.
I loved the Old Looks and Fishbowls, but honestly I prefer the lines of the RTS-04 and RTS-06; for some reason I never liked the sloped rear end of the RTS-03 (I think in my mind it was almost an imitation of the gently sloped rear end of Fishbowls but more severe.)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22282
Location: NEW JOISEY

PostPosted: Sat Jun 01, 2019 2:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Q65A:

As I worked in lower Manhattan from 1979 through 2003, I indeed did see countless RTS coaches over the years; they always seemed so "exotic" and "futuristic" to me, especially since, at that time, I only saw them in New York; NJT did not roster any until the late 1990's (the first RTS buses in New Jersey I ever rode were those operated by ACADEMY; I liked them right from the get-go, and also commuted on them for several years)

I have to admit I always like the "slope backs"; actually, they reminded me a bit of "updated" Flxible CLIPPERS and VISICOACHES (I have two Hot Wheels slope-backs in my collection, that were issued many years ago; one is a school bus, the other a "generic" transit bus)

The only RTS's I did NOT like all that much were the handful of second-hand buses operated by ACADEMY, which were ex-DART coaches; I suspect that DART really ran them into the ground and ACADEMY really did not do much to make them more reliable.

They were forever breaking down, and their a/c's were virtually useless.

As I had mentioned earlier here, I DID get to ride on ex-MTA RTS's on ACADEMY's "#22 HILLSIDE", many years back......this was a true bonus for me! Very Happy

IMHO, I think that now, with the RTS history, there are many (including some bus enthusiasts, I would not doubt) that are finally realizing just what a great bus the RTS was.

It's been too many years since the RTS was seen in my area, and, believe me, I still miss them today.....

"NYO"


Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Sat Jun 01, 2019 5:03 pm; edited 1 time in total
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 01, 2019 2:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

QUEENS TRANSIT nostalgia, 1979-1981; especially note the sharp contrast between the slope-back RTS and the Fishbowls.

Never thought that I could ever get nostalgic for 1981......... Rolling Eyes

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?750

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

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

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org0
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 01, 2019 3:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Kew Gardens Blvd & 81st Avenue, 1979.

This interesting "study in contrasts" photo clearly shows the evolution of transit bus design, over the course of two decades.

Hard to believe that this scene now dates back 40 years.......

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

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)
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Q65A



Age: 66
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 1764
Location: Central NJ

PostPosted: Sat Jun 01, 2019 4:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 wrote:
QUEENS TRANSIT nostalgia, 1979-1981; especially note the sharp contrast between the slope-back RTS and the Fishbowls.

Never thought that I could ever get nostalgic for 1981......... Rolling Eyes

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?750

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

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

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org0
Thanks for those QTC pix! I often wondered how QTC/QSC RTS's would have looked if they had a light cream background instead of a white background. JBL's RTSs had that light tan body with red stripes, and I thought it looked good.
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Q65A



Age: 66
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 1764
Location: Central NJ

PostPosted: Sat Jun 01, 2019 4:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 wrote:
Q65A:

NJT did not roster any until the late 1990's (the first RTS buses in New Jersey I ever rode were those operated by ACADEMY; I liked them right from the get-go, and also commuted on them for several years)

The only RTS's I did NOT like all that much were the handful of buses operated by ACADEMY, which several were ex-DART coaches; I suspect that DART really ran them into the ground and ACADEMY really did not do much to make them more reliable.

They were forever breaking down, and their a/c's were virtually useless.

As I had mentioned earlier here, I DID get to ride on ex-MTA RTS's on ACADEMY's "#22 HILLSIDE", many years back......this was a true bonus for me! Very Happy
"NYO"
I have seen an interesting transition of NJT buses here in Middlesex County: first Flx 870's and Metros, then RTS-06's and now NABI 416's. I suppose we have to look at NJT NABI's as "fallen flags" in that when New Flyer bought NABI they did not continue manufacturing the 416's(Westchester Bee Line NABI's also would be in this category).
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 01, 2019 5:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Q65A:

Glad you liked the photos! Wink

Funny you mentioned the NJT NABI's; I was never that fond of them.

Compared to the METRO "B's" they replaced, their interiors were cramped and claustrophobic, and their ride (at least to me) were rougher than what you would have experienced on METRO "B".

Over the years, I grew to really like the 870's and "B's" and still miss them today.

I rode the NABI's on and off years ago when they were still fairly new, and last rode one (on the #751) three years ago, after visiting my late mother who was then in a rehab center; I have not been on an NJT bus (or any bus, for that matter) since then.

The RTS's, on the other hand, I always liked; I cannot recall a time when I didn't like them.

It is hard to believe that the basic RTS design now dates back over 40 years; and yet, to, me, the RTS STILL has a "contemporary" look that still looks current today.

The in-depth, information-packed, Evan T. McCausland book I have quoted here, "RAPID TRANSIT SERIES BUSES" is a MUST have even the most "casual" RTS enthusiast; to be perfectly honest, 90% of what I have since learned from this outstanding, exhaustive work I had no inkling of prior to purchasing my copy.

What I also like about this book is that there is much here of interesting to New York-area enthusiasts....the "RTS SAGA" is indeed a FASCINATING and COMPLEX one, to say the least...... Very Happy

"NYO"


Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Sat Jun 01, 2019 5:31 pm; edited 1 time in total
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 01, 2019 5:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Recalling the early RTS era on GREEN BUS*........

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?426

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

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?443

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)

*LOVE those traditional roller curtains!!!!! Very Happy Very Happy
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee



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Posts: 22282
Location: NEW JOISEY

PostPosted: Sat Jun 01, 2019 5:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

When this photo was taken 25 years ago, I'm sure even the photographer would not have been thinking that, one day, such commonplace scenes would one day recalled with nostalgia......

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?2961

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 01, 2019 8:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Q65A:

Hope you'll enjoy these NJT photos, starting with their vintage "heritage" New Looks (both GM and Flex), and then moving on to METRO's, RTS's, and, and, finally, NABI's.......... Wink

"NYO"

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?3585

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1488

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?3584

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?4343

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?4346

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 02, 2019 12:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Further contrasts between New Look (GM and Flex)/RTS styling, as represented by the MTA and JAMAICA BUS.......

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?670

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

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

(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22282
Location: NEW JOISEY

PostPosted: Sun Jun 02, 2019 1:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

TRIBORO memories.......

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

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1393

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1395

http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1396

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)
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