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| Rts Ii-03 Vs. Rts -04 | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jan 11 2006, 07:45 PM (898 Views) | |
| Mark | Jan 11 2006, 07:45 PM Post #1 |
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Advanced Transit Fan
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Did SEPTA get the last of the RTS II-03's [slopebacks]? I'm asking this because later that year[1980], the much better-looking RTS-04[squarebacks] appeared in NYC and Miami. I always hated the slopeback RTS's [they were FUGLY :angry: ]. I preferred the squarebacks, I was disappointed when SEPTA didn't retrofit the AC package with the squared designs, instead , or putting the AC's on the roof like the Neoplans. |
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| SEPTALRV9072 | Jan 12 2006, 01:11 PM Post #2 |
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Advanced Transit Fan
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They did put the AC on the roof. |
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| MichaelB | Jan 15 2006, 09:27 PM Post #3 |
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Transit Fan
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According to the GM Coach production lists maintained by the Ohio Museum of Transportation, SEPTA did indeed get the last order of RTS II 03 slopebacks: Ohio Museum of Transportation GMC RTS II 03 Production List Miami was indeed one of the first customers for the RTS II 04 squareback design, later in 1980, but New York's first RTS order was not received until 1981. (At that tiem, NYCTA was in the middle of their ill-fated order of Grumman Flxible 870s) As delivered, the A/C units on the SEPTA & other RTS slopebacks were in the rear of the bus. SEPTA relocated the A/C to the roof during the 1986-87 GOH program. Incidentally, York Area Transit Authority (now Rabbit Transit) was the first RTS operator in Pennsyvania, receiving two orders of 35-footers in 1978 & 1979. Pittsburgh's PAT, Lancaster's RRTA, Wilkes-Barre's LCTA, Harrisburg's CAT, Johnstown's CCTA (now CamTran), & Erie's EMTA all also were early RTS operators in Pennsylvania. (I believe that a couple of CAT's 800-series RTSes from their first 1979 order are still in reserve at CAT.) Michael B. |
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| newflyer_8008 | Feb 6 2006, 08:22 AM Post #4 |
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A person with a transit intrest
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DIDNT THE SLOPE BACK RTS make the buses go faster. i would perfer the slopebacks on the 35 foot(4262) instead on the the 40foot (8001) rts, and how did they have the airconditioning in the back? |
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| MichaelB | Feb 11 2006, 12:36 AM Post #5 |
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Transit Fan
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The slope back RTS design was the original type by GM, which was used on ALL early RTSes, SEPTA's included. (01 & 03 series, there were no 02 series). The A/C unit was originally mounted in the sloped area, above the engine & directly behind the rear seats. Since of course the engine area became extremely hot,& the sloped area had poor ventilation, the A/C units as installed were notoriously unreliable. This was one reason why the later RTSes (04 & higher series) had a redesigned rear area, which eliminated the slope. (The A/C units, although still in the rear, were much better ventilated & thus more trouble-free.) Many properties later converted their RTS 01 & 03 series' A/C units to that used in the later models. However, SEPTA opted as part of the GOH process in 1986-87 to relocate their RTS A/C units to the roof. (Also at the same time, the original roll destination signs were replaced with electronic signs.) In this way, it was not necessary to remove the sloped back body panels. Michael B. |
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| Transit_Advocate929 | Feb 14 2006, 07:19 PM Post #6 |
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Transit Advocate
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Yeah, I was a avid fan of the slope back design. It made it look more aerodynamic as it was intended to be. I don't see how anyone could like the bus being sloped in the front but flat in the back. It just didn't seem right to me and I for one was glad SEPTA didn't change the design. However, I didn't entirely like the particular AC unit that SEPTA used on the roof (Su-Trak). I wished that the Thermo-King could have been available back then. It's a lot smaller and wouldn't have been so noticeable on them. Something like the ElDos have on the roof. I'll say it now and until the die I die: "RTS: Slope Backs Rule, Flat Backs Drool...!!" |
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