TransitStop Posted February 5, 2011 Share #1 Posted February 5, 2011 General Motors' Rapid Transit EXperimental - Design started in '64-65; built between '68 & '69 - First implementation of modular body concept - Low floor, 40', three-axle design with Firestone LXX tires - Co-operation between GM Truck & Coach, GM Research Labs - Powered by GM GT-309 gas turbine coupled through toric-type (CVT) transmission (same powertrain as TurboCruiser III) - First display of kneeling suspension on GM coach (?) - Interior was designed as suburban-style; used mostly high-back bucket seating - Design directly influenced GM's Transbus entry in '73 - Presumably scrapped by GM in late '70s (bus was shown at Transpo '72), was NOT rebuilt into any of the three Transbus prototypes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traildriver Posted February 5, 2011 Share #2 Posted February 5, 2011 Thanks so much for posting that! Back in 1968 or 1969, I arranged to take on my vacation, a tour of the Flxible plant in Loudonville, Ohio, and the GMC Truck and Coach plant in Pontiac, Michigan. The tour of the GM Coach plant was very nice, and was conducted by an official of the plant. After a good couple of hours of studying and photographing various transit, suburban, and intercity GM models, and the assembly lines in action, I was thanking my host, so generous to take time from his work day. just as I was about to depart, he said wait a minute. He then made a phone call and came back to me. He said that he would need to hold my camera for a few minutes and I was to follow him into an inner room into the plant. We went inside the dimly lit room, and then he closed the door and hit a switch. Suddenly lit by a series of floodlights stood the experimental RTX!! It made every other bus I had ever seen look obsolete. He allowed me to take a long look, but no photograph. Needless to say, it was the highlight of my vacation, and seeing that photo brought it all back to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TransitStop Posted February 5, 2011 Author Share #3 Posted February 5, 2011 also to expand heres a little more Video: http://history.gmheritagecenter.com/wiki/index.php/1968_Rapid_Transit_Experimental_-_Revolutionizing_Transit_Bus_Design Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
engineerboy6561 Posted February 17, 2011 Share #4 Posted February 17, 2011 That bus looks really cool on the inside. Also, I love the two-part door with the folding steps; it reminds me of the Amfleet traps for some reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
East New York Posted February 17, 2011 Share #5 Posted February 17, 2011 Thanks for the post!:tup: That bad boy made a trip to East New York back in the day! I wonder what that was like!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nova RTS 9147 Posted February 17, 2011 Share #6 Posted February 17, 2011 Now thats pretty! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R22 Shoal Point Posted February 18, 2011 Share #7 Posted February 18, 2011 Way to rip off someone else's work without giving them credit... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IRT Bronx Express Posted February 18, 2011 Share #8 Posted February 18, 2011 Plagiarism much? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
East New York Posted February 18, 2011 Share #9 Posted February 18, 2011 Say it ain't so!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TransitStop Posted February 20, 2011 Author Share #10 Posted February 20, 2011 o no no guys i didnt mean it as plagarism i was just posting it for you guys :S also i got it from a RTS forum sorry guys i will try and find the original link where i got the info from Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
East New York Posted February 20, 2011 Share #11 Posted February 20, 2011 o no no guys i didnt mean it as plagarism i was just posting it for you guys :S also i got it from a RTS forum sorry guys i will try and find the original link where i got the info from Next time make sure you cite a source if you are quoting information from another site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TransitStop Posted February 20, 2011 Author Share #12 Posted February 20, 2011 Next time make sure you cite a source if you are quoting information from another site. alright will do, my apologies guys http://www.rts-bus.com/forum/ not sure exactly where it is. but its in here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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