MBTA
RTS Buses: 1985-2004
GMC/TMC/NovaBus RTS buses can be identified by the following codes:
T
Transit Coach
7 35ft RTS (7 five-foot
panels)
8 40ft RTS (8 five-foot
panels)
W 6V71T Engine
H 8V71 Engine (not used on
MBTA vehicles, but used on BAT buses)
J 6V92TA I Engine
O 6V92TA II Engine
6 96' width
2 102' width
04 RTS 04 (aka RTS II, the narrow width RTS)
06 RTS 06 (aka RTS, the wide width RTS)
Click the following link for the all-time roster list
for the 1984-1990 RTS buses (in MS Excel - right click and go to Save
Target as to save the spreadsheet):
All Time RTS Garage Roster
TMC RTS
The time for the Flxibles and Metropolitans delivered in the 1970s to be retired had come. The MBTA wanted to replace any and all equipment that did not meet ADA standards.
Between 1984 and 1989, the MBTA received 570 RTS buses. The RTS were (for that time) technologically advanced, with electronic destination signs in front and back and wheelchair lifts.
But the biggest benefit of the RTS was the maintenance. Instead of a one-shell vehicle that was continuously welded throughout, the RTS was built in modules; the bus would require only a damaged module to be replaced or repaired without having to scrap an entire bus.
In the 1990s, the RTS buses were rebuilt either by the Everett Maintenance facility or contracted to bus rehabilitation companies. The 8400s and 8500s were rebuilt between 1992 and 1994; the 8600s and 8700s were rebuilt between 1995 and 1997, and the various bus companies rebuilt the 8000s, 8800s and 8900s.
In 2004, all buses in the 8000, 8400-8900
series have been scrapped. Replacing them are The TMC/NovaBus RTS "0
series" buses from Cabot and the former Bartlett "city" garages and Neoplan AN440LF
buses, which have been arriving since late 2004 (another order of 85 will arrive
later in 2005).
| Fleet |
Model |
Year |
| 8400-8499 |
T80-606 |
1985 |
| 8500-8599 |
T80-606 |
1985 |
| 8600-8689 |
T80-606 |
1987 |
| 8700-8789 |
T80-606 |
1987 |
| 8800-8899 |
T80-206 |
1989 |
| 8900-8969 |
T80-206 |
1989 |
| 8000-8029 |
T70-206 |
1989 |
TMC/NovaBus RTS
| Fleet |
Model |
Year |
| 0001-0138 |
T80-206 | 1994 |
| 0139-0400 | T80-206 | 1995 |
TMC RTS (later NovaBus, who acquired TMC and its subsidiaries in 1994) was essentially identical to the previous series of RTS, except for a single sheet of metal in the rear, larger destination signs, and the DDEC Series 50 engine famous for its noise and its efficiency. 0001-0138 were built by TMC Bus Industries before Nova Bus of Canada acquired TMC in 1994; the subsequent series of buses were built by Nova Bus.
In 2004, these "0" series buses will be delivered to Charlestown, Albany, Quincy, and Lynn, to replace the 8400-8700 series buses. This is due to the delivery of the 2000 series buses from NABI. Some Albany buses will have suburban seats added from the older 8900 RTS buses from the former Bartlett garage, which closed on December 27, 2003 and operations shifted to Arborway garage. All of these buses from both Bartlett and Cabot have been shifted to the "suburban" garages (Lynn, Fellsway and Quincy) to replace the 8000s/8400s-8900s. 250 of these buses have been or will be overhauled for mid-life repairs, and receive the same colors (white/sky blue/yellow) as their NABI, Neoplan and New Flyer fleet.
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Sources:
Rollsign, Boston
Street Railway Association,
various issues
Scott Moore, New England Transit
