Finding TMCs on weekends

[TMC-RTS-08]

I've been lurking on here for sometime, and I've been following this forum on the 4400 and 5300 series retirements. I am not from Chicago, but I come up every month to visit friends and relatives. I just had to sign up and post because I am a bus fan and a fan of RTS series buses. I look all over State and Michigan Ave. on weekends, but all I see are the NABI 60ft, Nova LFS, and New Flyer D40LFs. I remember RTSes all over town and when I lived in Lincoln Park many years ago I would take the 22 Clark or 151 Sheridan on these, now those routes are New Flyers.

I wonder if these RTS only run on weekdays, their frequencies are rare these days. I'll be coming back up the weekend of June 28th and hopefully I find an RTS. I still want to ride one, take new pictures, and hear that sweet 6V92TA engine sound. Which routes will see them most on weekends?

I am just saddened that these buses are being phased out and scrapped. :(

[jajuan]

I've been lurking on here for sometime, and I've been following this forum on the 4400 and 5300 series retirements. I am not from Chicago, but I come up every month to visit friends and relatives. I just had to sign up and post because I am a bus fan and a fan of RTS series buses. I look all over State and Michigan Ave. on weekends, but all I see are the NABI 60ft, Nova LFS, and New Flyer D40LFs. I remember RTSes all over town and when I lived in Lincoln Park many years ago I would take the 22 Clark or 151 Sheridan on these, now those routes are New Flyers.

I wonder if these RTS only run on weekdays, their frequencies are rare these days. I'll be coming back up the weekend of June 28th and hopefully I find an RTS. I still want to ride one, take new pictures, and hear that sweet 6V92TA engine sound. Which routes will see them most on weekends?

I am just saddened that these buses are being phased out and scrapped.

Finding an RTS (TMC) in Chicago on the weekend these days is like finding a needle in a haystack. The four bus garages that still have them have few of this model compared to the other models assigned to those same garages. One of the garages may have up to 50 of them at most. The one that has the least, only has them numbering in the teens at this point, and they may be gone from this garage by the end of this week at the earliest. Your best chance of spotting one when you visit Chicago is on a weekday as that's when their most on the road now. So your best bet would be to try to plan your visits to start on a Friday if possible so that you can see them. Make the most of it because the head of the CTA wants them gone by the end of this year, actually Thanksgiving from his own statements.

[Busjack]

Also, your odds are probably better outside downtown (probably the only routes there would be 22 and 36, and those would be scattered and very unlikely on a weekend). See FWIW, this post regarding the approximate distribution. 103rd has the largest collection, which would mean mostly the far south side, concentrated at the 95/Ryan L station. I was going to say the far north side too, but that list indicates that they have only 1/4 what they once had. No chance at all in the mid-south side or far northwest side.

[BusHunter]

If you check the #29 state on saturdays, you still might have a chance of spotting a TMC. I've seen a few TMC's on saturdays along with a few #5300's, but the #5300 sightings are harder yet. Your best bet like Jajuan says, is to try a friday afternoon if possible. You will definitely see TMC's then if you hang out in the loop.

[TMC-RTS-08]

Also, your odds are probably better outside downtown (probably the only routes there would be 22 and 36, and those would be scattered and very unlikely on a weekend). See FWIW, this post regarding the approximate distribution. 103rd has the largest collection, which would mean mostly the far south side, concentrated at the 95/Ryan L station. I was going to say the far north side too, but that list indicates that they have only 1/4 what they once had. No chance at all in the mid-south side or far northwest side.

I may just go down to the end of the line at 95/Ryan redline to hang around that L station hoping to see an RTS. If they have the largest collection then that means they should have some used on the weekends. I sure hope so. I rode route 12 Roosevelt and 18 16th St. two weeks ago hoping to see an RTS, but both of those were NFs. I saw ONE RTS on the 146 route, but I was unable to catch it.:(

[wordguy]

I may just go down to the end of the line at 95/Ryan redline to hang around that L station hoping to see an RTS. If they have the largest collection then that means they should have some used on the weekends. I sure hope so. I rode route 12 Roosevelt and 18 16th St. two weeks ago hoping to see an RTS, but both of those were NFs. I saw ONE RTS on the 146 route, but I was unable to catch it.

===Despite the shrinkage of the North Park TMC roster, there's one route that still has some midday runs during the week scheduled with TMCs: the 151 Sheridan between Clark/Devon and the Loop (not the short-turn 151 to Belmont).

[jajuan]

I may just go down to the end of the line at 95/Ryan redline to hang around that L station hoping to see an RTS. If they have the largest collection then that means they should have some used on the weekends. I sure hope so. I rode route 12 Roosevelt and 18 16th St. two weeks ago hoping to see an RTS, but both of those were NFs. I saw ONE RTS on the 146 route, but I was unable to catch it.

The 12 Roosevelt and the 18 16th/18th are both assigned to Kedzie Garage on the city's West Side, the garage that I mentioned had the least number of TMCs (RTSs) at this point. They may number as low as the teens there by now. This garage has been in a continual process of transferring or retiring its RTS fleet for the past two months as more of a second set of NFs have been getting delivered there. Its TMCs will probably be gone by the end of this week at the earliest from all indications. The 146 route is assigned to North Park garage on the city's North Side. This garage also has a small number of TMC RTS buses now. It only has about 40 or so. Your best chances are with routes assigned to the 103rd St Garage on the far South Side. That garage has the highest concentration of TMCs at about 70 buses or so.

[BUSANGEL#1]

The 12 Roosevelt and the 18 16th/18th are both assigned to Kedzie Garage on the city's West Side, the garage that I mentioned had the least number of TMCs (RTSs) at this point. They may number as low as the teens there by now. This garage has been in a continual process of transferring or retiring its RTS fleet for the past two months as more of a second set of NFs have been getting delivered there. Its TMCs will probably be gone by the end of this week at the earliest from all indications. The 146 route is assigned to North Park garage on the city's North Side. This garage also has a small number of TMC RTS buses now. It only has about 40 or so. Your best chances are with routes assigned to the 103rd St Garage on the far South Side. That garage has the highest concentration of TMCs at about 70 buses or so.

You forgot about 77th having a high concentration of TMC's.

[jajuan]

You forgot about 77th having a high concentration of TMC's.

No not really. I was actually referring to 103rd now having the highest concentration of TMCs by the latest counts. That's why I was saying his best chances would be with 103rd assigned routes, which actually is true. He would be more likely to spot 103rd TMCs than 77th TMCs especially if he uses downtown as one of his observation points. With 77th routes, he's more likely to spot Novas and NFs. 77th tends to use those two more on its downtown routes along with what's left of its NABIs than it does its TMCs even though it got a few more TMCs from Kedzie and 103rd according to Bushunter's observations of TMC transfers recently.

[qwantae]

It is a very shocking for me to barely see an TMC on weekends, but mostly routes you could find an TMC is the ones from 77th Garage such as #3/#4 for Downtown, rest of south side (77th) routes, that garage has most of them than other garages so far. Couple of times in last 2 months on Sat/Sun, I've rode TMC #4553 on Route 3 in Downtown to Water Tower, hopelly it will still be a bit longer for 77th(maybe the last garage) to receive more New Flyers. So there's a tip from me for finding TMCs on weekends. 103rd can be an 2nd option, you can check #29 State for Downtown, because 2 weeks ago on Saturday after midnight, I did see an TMC passing my home on Stony Island working Route 15 Jeffery Local.

And today I did ride an 5800 on Rt 22 all the way from Devon to Lake, never saw an TMC. But I've seen many of TMCs on Foster leaving NP garage for PM rush hour routes.

I guess after when TMCs are complete retired. Then I'll have to travel to Gary to ride their Late 90 model Nova RTS (GPTC) on Tri-City Route. They'll be around for maybe few more years. They also still have their 1991 TMC like #9105.

But I am ready for the New Flyer Hybrids.

[qwantae]

I've been lurking on here for sometime, and I've been following this forum on the 4400 and 5300 series retirements. I am not from Chicago, but I come up every month to visit friends and relatives. I just had to sign up and post because I am a bus fan and a fan of RTS series buses. I look all over State and Michigan Ave. on weekends, but all I see are the NABI 60ft, Nova LFS, and New Flyer D40LFs. I remember RTSes all over town and when I lived in Lincoln Park many years ago I would take the 22 Clark or 151 Sheridan on these, now those routes are New Flyers.

I wonder if these RTS only run on weekdays, their frequencies are rare these days. I'll be coming back up the weekend of June 28th and hopefully I find an RTS. I still want to ride one, take new pictures, and hear that sweet 6V92TA engine sound. Which routes will see them most on weekends?

I am just saddened that these buses are being phased out and scrapped.

It is shocking because I see that Los Angeles LACMTA still have some of their 1981-82 model GMC RTS with new Orange paint logo "Rapid Local". New York City MTA Bus still have some of their 1988-90 TMC RTSes too.

[TMC-RTS-08]

It is shocking because I see that Los Angeles LACMTA still have some of their 1981-82 model GMC RTS with new Orange paint logo "Rapid Local". New York City MTA Bus still have some of their 1988-90 TMC RTSes too.

Springfield and Decatur still have RTS-06s in their fleets. Springfield's SMTD's RTS-06s are 1989s with the 6V92TA DD's. SMTD's RTS' are in very good condition, some of them almost look like new! Decatur's are 1994 or 95 Novabus RTS' with Cummins Diesels, both SMTD and DPTS have 35 footers. Peoria's Citylink I heard has some RTS, but then there are those Gillig Phantoms that are slowly replacing them....

I just hope next weekend I can find some CTA RTS' at the 95/Dan Ryan Red Line stop. I just want to ride them again before their gone. I am thinking about making a tribute vid for these CTA RTS-08s.

[Guest]

I've been lurking on here for sometime, and I've been following this forum on the 4400 and 5300 series retirements. I am not from Chicago, but I come up every month to visit friends and relatives. I just had to sign up and post because I am a bus fan and a fan of RTS series buses. I look all over State and Michigan Ave. on weekends, but all I see are the NABI 60ft, Nova LFS, and New Flyer D40LFs. I remember RTSes all over town and when I lived in Lincoln Park many years ago I would take the 22 Clark or 151 Sheridan on these, now those routes are New Flyers.

I wonder if these RTS only run on weekdays, their frequencies are rare these days. I'll be coming back up the weekend of June 28th and hopefully I find an RTS. I still want to ride one, take new pictures, and hear that sweet 6V92TA engine sound. Which routes will see them most on weekends?

I am just saddened that these buses are being phased out and scrapped.

Then you wont want to see the pics I shot a few weeks ago at a junkyard on the far south side of Chicago. If you do want to take a look, the pics are posted in the "Whats left of the 4400 TMC" thread.

Next week I have some time available, Im planning to do some filming downtown, if any other fans want to join me let me know we'll try to get some RTSs. I now drive 35 foot NABIs, they dont measure up by any means to an RTS bus. The RTS is in a class by itself, a true urban transit bus, theyre up there with the GMC Old Looks and Fishbowls, a true classic!

[qwantae]

The RTS is in a class by itself, a true urban transit bus, theyre up there with the GMC Old Looks and Fishbowls, a true classic!

Don't forget GM-MCI-Nova Classics along with them too!!!!

[TMC-RTS-08]

Don't forget GM-MCI-Nova Classics along with them too!!!!

I forgot Pace still ran the Nova Classics. Do they still have the Orions too? In the west burbs of Aurora and Batavia I see Pace buses, but there those NABIs or those Eldorado EZ Rider IIs.

The Classics would be another bus I'd like to ride and check out. TTC (Toronto) just retired their Classics within the past year.

CTA5750, I can meet up with you for some RTS hunting and filming on Saturday (June 28th). I just hope that Saturday I can at least see one RTS and I'll be really happy!:)

[Guest]

Don't forget GM-MCI-Nova Classics along with them too!!!!

Oh yes, how true!! Anyway if we didnt have the Fishbowl we wouldnt have the Classic!

[Guest]

I forgot Pace still ran the Nova Classics. Do they still have the Orions too? In the west burbs of Aurora and Batavia I see Pace buses, but there those NABIs or those Eldorado EZ Rider IIs.

The Classics would be another bus I'd like to ride and check out. TTC (Toronto) just retired their Classics within the past year.

CTA5750, I can meet up with you for some RTS hunting and filming on Saturday (June 28th). I just hope that Saturday I can at least see one RTS and I'll be really happy!

Unfortunately that saturday I wont be available, my best chance will be wed. June 25th or the following friday. I planned for a weekday where I know the chances of seeing an RTS are better. Let me know if those days work ok.

[cta_44499_FG]

It is a very shocking for me to barely see an TMC on weekends, but mostly routes you could find an TMC is the ones from 77th Garage such as #3/#4 for Downtown, rest of south side (77th) routes, that garage has most of them than other garages so far. Couple of times in last 2 months on Sat/Sun, I've rode TMC #4553 on Route 3 in Downtown to Water Tower, hopelly it will still be a bit longer for 77th(maybe the last garage) to receive more New Flyers. So there's a tip from me for finding TMCs on weekends. 103rd can be an 2nd option, you can check #29 State for Downtown, because 2 weeks ago on Saturday after midnight, I did see an TMC passing my home on Stony Island working Route 15 Jeffery Local.

And today I did ride an 5800 on Rt 22 all the way from Devon to Lake, never saw an TMC. But I've seen many of TMCs on Foster leaving NP garage for PM rush hour routes.

I guess after when TMCs are complete retired. Then I'll have to travel to Gary to ride their Late 90 model Nova RTS (GPTC) on Tri-City Route. They'll be around for maybe few more years. They also still have their 1991 TMC like #9105.

But I am ready for the New Flyer Hybrids.

I had the fortunate experience to be borrowed to North Park Garage to help out in the earlier months of the year, and what a true return back home it was. I worked the first day car run P401 on the 151 Sheridan, bus #4459. That was one of my favorite RTSs, always rode good! Like I said...a true return back home...too bad by the time I transition to full time status they may be gone...I was thinking of going back to North Park to drive some for the last time. Sadly, my second half was a #146 Inner Dr/ Mich Exp and I was stuck with a NABI. Even on my last day before going to FG, I had that same bus on the #93 California/Dodge, a good way to leave out! I truely enjoyed getting on on the #201 nite owls, and roaming Evanston at 2 in the morning, bet I kept those people awake!

CTA really did a number on the RTSs over the years.

[Guest]

I had the fortunate experience to be borrowed to North Park Garage to help out in the earlier months of the year, and what a true return back home it was. I worked the first day car run P401 on the 151 Sheridan, bus #4459. That was one of my favorite RTSs, always rode good! Like I said...a true return back home...too bad by the time I transition to full time status they may be gone...I was thinking of going back to North Park to drive some for the last time. Sadly, my second half was a #146 Inner Dr/ Mich Exp and I was stuck with a NABI. Even on my last day before going to FG, I had that same bus on the #93 California/Dodge, a good way to leave out! I truely enjoyed getting on on the #201 nite owls, and roaming Evanston at 2 in the morning, bet I kept those people awake!

CTA really did a number on the RTSs over the years.

When I was at North Park I loved getting back at some of those snobs. Especially the idiot Evanston cop who would come out in his bathrobe and harrassed bus operators at Central/Crawford with his notepad. I once told him where he could shove that notepad...... ;)

[artthouwill]

I have been a big fan of the RTS and the Flxible buses, but detested the CTa versions, in other words I hate the 4400s and the 5300s. The 6000 series Flxs are better.

The first RTS I ever rode was in 1983 in Memphis. Those were cool buses, as were the RTSs in New York, NIU's Huskie Line (for the few years they had them), Hammond Transit in the late 80s and early to mid '90s as well as the GPTC buses that were purchased back in 2007 with the yellow paint scheme. But the CTAs buses, I just never liked them.

The first Flxible similar to CTAs that I rode are the 8200s the RTA and Pace had. Those were beautiful buses, albeit they had cracked frames. Though the basic design has not changed, I don't like the windows, engine, seating arrangement (5300s), etc.

I believe the reason I detest these models is that I actually love highway buses, like MCI, Prevost, Eagle. Along with the GMC Fishbowls of the 70s, the 8200 RTA Flxs and the above mentioned RTS most resemble motorcoaches, even though they are transit buses. So I say a sad farewell to those type of buses, but good riddance to the crap that is in the CTA fleet.

[qwantae]

I had the fortunate experience to be borrowed to North Park Garage to help out in the earlier months of the year, and what a true return back home it was. I worked the first day car run P401 on the 151 Sheridan, bus #4459. That was one of my favorite RTSs, always rode good! Like I said...a true return back home...too bad by the time I transition to full time status they may be gone...I was thinking of going back to North Park to drive some for the last time. Sadly, my second half was a #146 Inner Dr/ Mich Exp and I was stuck with a NABI. Even on my last day before going to FG, I had that same bus on the #93 California/Dodge, a good way to leave out! I truely enjoyed getting on on the #201 nite owls, and roaming Evanston at 2 in the morning, bet I kept those people awake!

CTA really did a number on the RTSs over the years.

Have you seen #4444 or 4485? They were my favorite North Park buses.

[Guest]

I have been a big fan of the RTS and the Flxible buses, but detested the CTa versions, in other words I hate the 4400s and the 5300s. The 6000 series Flxs are better.

The first RTS I ever rode was in 1983 in Memphis. Those were cool buses, as were the RTSs in New York, NIU's Huskie Line (for the few years they had them), Hammond Transit in the late 80s and early to mid '90s as well as the GPTC buses that were purchased back in 2007 with the yellow paint scheme. But the CTAs buses, I just never liked them.

The first Flxible similar to CTAs that I rode are the 8200s the RTA and Pace had. Those were beautiful buses, albeit they had cracked frames. Though the basic design has not changed, I don't like the windows, engine, seating arrangement (5300s), etc.

I believe the reason I detest these models is that I actually love highway buses, like MCI, Prevost, Eagle. Along with the GMC Fishbowls of the 70s, the 8200 RTA Flxs and the above mentioned RTS most resemble motorcoaches, even though they are transit buses. So I say a sad farewell to those type of buses, but good riddance to the crap that is in the CTA fleet.

I stated before I didnt like the CTA RTS buses at first when they were delivered. I was hoping for the more familiar models, they eventually grew on me. My first experience riding the RTS were the Los Angeles RTD 8200-9139 series. I rode their 2000s and the their recent 1300-1400 series. I lived in San Diego CA from 1989 to 1993 so I spent lots of time riding San Diego Transit and when I had the chance Los Angeles RTD. San Diego at the time had A/C Flxible New Looks, GMC Fishbowls, MAN Artics, Ikarus 416s and Gillig Phantoms. Other bus companies operated alongside SDT such as Chula Vista Transit, (NCTD) North County Transit District which were all Flx Metros at the time, National City Transit, (CTS) County Transit and MTS. MTS had RTSs but they were few and far between so I didnt spend much time looking for those. I enjoyed more going to L.A. and experiencing RTD buses. Living in San Diego I also had the opportunity riding the San Diego Trolley system, that was a lot of fun. While i lived in SD I got to witness new equipment arrivals, new Gillig Phantoms #300s # 1200s, New Flyer Artics, 1100s replacing the MAN artics. The 300 and 1200 series Gilligs replaced the Flx New Looks and part of the fishbowl fleet. SDT still had the Canadian GM New Looks, MTSs RTS buses I never found out what happened to them, they quietly dissappeared.

[busfan4022]

There's always TMCs on the 15. It's usually just TMCs and NFs on the weekends.

[jajuan]

Have you seen #4444 or 4485? They were my favorite North Park buses.

4444 was reported as waiting to be scrapped as of April 11th in the 'What's left for 4400s' thread. 4485 was one of the former NP buses transferred to Kedzie on March 23rd. Bushunter reported it as still being there as late as June 12th, but of course with NFs quickly rolling in and replacing what's left of Kedzie's TMCs that could have changed fast. It may be either transferred out or on the scrap heap now. No one has given any info of which is the case.

[jajuan]

Just saw the updates on the site's central homepage and the garages page had been updated to reflect that TMCs are no longer at Kedzie garage. That means that TMCs will no longer be spotted on the West Side of Chicago and those TMCs I saw parked outside the garage in the lot near the shops this morning were waiting to be sent either to the scrap yard or whichever garages they may have been reassigned to. Now that I think about I didn't spot one TMC in service on a Kedzie route today, not even the rare weekday stragglers on the 12, 38 and 52. The number of TMCs sitting outside actually numbered close to what should have been left there at last count before today. It didn't dawn on me that meant there were none on the street for Kedzie if any at all. RTS-08, you'll now have to rely on making your TMC sightings on the North and South Sides now since they're now restricted to North Park on the North side and 77th and 103rd garages on the South side.