Cape Ann Transportation Authority 7804

In the 1970s, General Motors developed a new design for its transit bus to replace the “New Look” buses which GMC had been producing in large numbers since 1958. GM designated its new design the “RTS” model (for Rapid Transit Series). The RTS model featured a slant back and a stainless steel frame with fiberglass side panels, instead of the aluminum body on “New Look” buses. The side panels were considered “snap on” for easy maintenance. Later RTS models lost the slant back design due to a relocation of the air conditioner. RTS buses were the last bus design mass-produced by General Motors. In 1987, General Motors sold the RTS design, and a series of other manufacturers continued producing RTS buses into the 2000s. The first RTS production was an order of 400 buses by a consortium of six cities: Long Beach, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Oakland and Brockton. The first RTS buses went to Long Beach in 1977; Brockton’s arrived in 1978 and 1979. Brockton Nos. 7701-7715 came in 1978 and Nos. 7801-7834 came in 1979. Nos. 7801-7834 were GMC’s RTS model T7W-603 and had minor styling differences from the 7700s. The Brockton Area Transit Authority had been formed in 1973 to take over bus service in Brockton, MA from the Union Street Railway that was based in New Bedford, MA. In the 1990s, Cape Ann Transportation Authority (CATA) acquired Nos. 7804, 7806, 7810, 7817 and 7833 from Brocton. At CATA, the buses retained their fleet numbers from Brockton. CATA had begun operation in 1974, replacing a series of private operators providing local bus service in Gloucester, MA and nearby towns. CATA retired its RTS buses in 2000. CATA donated Nos. 7804, 7806, 7810 and 7833 to Seashore in 2001. Seashore accessioned No. 7804. Seashore planned to use the others for parts or to sell to raise funds for preserved the remaining CATA buses. Seashore subsequently disposed of Nos. 7806 and 7833.