Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority 8400

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. After several years of RTS production and operation, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), after avoiding the line in 1980 and 1982, ordered 200 of these buses in 1984. These buses were straight-back models with V-6 engines and no air-conditioning. Buses 8400 to 8499 were equipped with wheelchair lifts, while the remaining 100, Nos. 8500 to 8599 were not equipped for handicapped access. Although No. 8400 holds the lowest number in the order, the 8500s were actually delivered first, since they were quicker to build. The MBTA ordered additional buses in 1986 and 1987, 90 8600s with the lifts and 90 8700s without them. The MBTA continued to purchase more RTS buses from Transit Manufacturing Corporation and Nova Bus after GMC sold the design to other builders. The GMC RTS buses developed a reputation for being sluggish. Because of their lack of power, these buses were never retrofitted with air-conditioning. The MBTA painted No. 8400 in the standard 1980s color scheme of yellow and white with a black stripe. No. 8400 received a major overhaul in 1993. It was repainted in a mostly white paint scheme with a yellow stripe. The RTS buses remained in service until 2005, when some were 21 years old and when these buses could not meet newer environmental standards. In 2005, the MBTA placed No. 8400 in storage at the Fellsway Garage. No. 8400 became the last G.M.C. RTS bus at the MBTA. The MBTA planned to restore No. 8400 and preserve it as part of a historic fleet. In 2006, the MBTA decided against restoring No. 8400 and, instead, offered it to Seashore. It came to Kennebunkport in 2007. At the same time, Seashore also acquired another MBTA RTS bus – No. 8903. No. 8903 was built later by Transit Manufacturing Corporation and had air conditioning and is configured for suburban service.