RUN#19 OCTOBER 1983OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE OMNIBUS SOCIETY OF AMERICA, INC.

··.OCTOBER MEETING •••Our first meeting of the Fall Seasonwill be held on Friday, October 7,1983. in Parlor E of the BismarckHotel, at 7:JOPMo As is our customthis meeting will have as its program-YOU t t t Yes t you the members areencouraged to bring slides of urbanand intercity bus transit (as well asmaybe a streetcar or two) that youmay have taken during this summer'svacation months. You need not feelobligated to bring tons of material,but if you do, we won't complain.Or if you have only a slide or two,bring it along for all of us to enjoy.

•··NOVEMBER ~NG···OUr November meeting will NOT beheld at the Bismarck. Due to aconflict with another conventiongroup, we will be unable to meetthere. We are attempting to locatesuitable meeting space elsewhere andwill keep you posted via this news-letter of the alternate location.All subsequent meetings through Juneof 1984 will be at the Bismarck.

···PROGRAMS WANTED···John LeBeau, our Program. Director,is looking for individuals topresent slide or movie programs forthe comming months. If you wouldlike to present a program, pleasecontact John at (J12) 849-5393. Youdo not need a thousand slides to givea program. Talk to John and he canadvise you as to the possibility ofgiving one. Slides of your vacation(transit related) or views from manyyears ago, they are all welcome.

···FAN TRIPS.··Bill Nedden will be sponsoring an ins-pection trip on the Racine. Wisconsincity system. The trip is Sunday, Oct.2nd from 1 to 3PM using bus #033 whichis their newest RTS-04. Meet the busat thei~ garage which is located on thewest side of Racine, 2 blocks west ofLathrop and just south of the MilwaukeeRoad tracks. The system is known as BUS(which stands for the Belle Urban System).The ()nnibus Society· will be holding a tripon the lines of the Municipal TransitAuthority, located in Clinton, Iowa onSaturday, October 22, 1983. The tripwill start at the MTA garage, 19)61. 2ndStreet and will last from Noon to 4PM •The fare is $10.00. Clinton is locatedalmost directly west of Chicago on theMississippi River. If you need a ride,you can call Mel Bernero (our Trip Direct-or) at 342-7945, Fridays only. or BruceMoffat at 763-0728. These two personswill only take reservations for theirown vehicles and cannot guarantee spacein other vehicles.

···NEWS···On Sunday, September 25th, the SouthShore Line operated the old Orange earsfor the last time between Chicago anaSouth Bend. A six car train made tworound trips between South Bend andChicago and carried near-capacity loads.Beginning October 1st, the RTA will beginhonoring commuter rail monthly passes onall lines regardless of who was the issueingcarrier, for trips between the same zones.For example, a Burlinton monthly betweenzones A and F would also be accepted onthe Rock Island between ZDnes A and F.

In this issue. we have enclosed the iTAbrochure explaining this new monthlypass policy. In a related development.Monthly and Weekly N&W and bus route 8)5passes will now be accepted by bothlines.Flyer Industries was the low bidder onthe latest eTA proposal for )80 buses.Unlike the 200 Flyers presently beingdelivered. these will have final assemblyhandled in the United states at a siteyet to be determined. It remains to beseen how this will affect General Motorsplan to reswme production of New Looktransits (OM had bid on the Chcago order).Flyer buses are presently baing operatedout of Beverly Garage with plans to addadditional buses at North Avenue andForest Glen Garages as well.

Diesel Engine Buses

Baltimore Coach Co.

Birmingham Electric Co.

Boston Elevated Railway

Charleston Transit Co.

The Cleveland Railway Co.The Connecticut. Co.Connecticut Railway

Lighting Co.Dall es Railway & Ter.DeCamp Bus Lint.

Co. 8{~Eastern Massachusetts Street,{ 1&: Railway Co. 5

Enstern 1!ichigan Motorbuses { ~~

Eighth Avenue Coach Co. 10Fifth Avenue Coach Co. 25

{~Gloucester Auto Bus Co.

Grand Rapids ~ltr. Coach Co.{ ~

r 61l 69l139

{248466

Greyhound LinE'S

Pacific Greyhound Corp.

No ••BusesOwned Bus Model

Twin-40 RCDETwin-40RDETwin-58 RDEGMT-740GMT-TD-40Twin-35RDEMack-CTTwi~37 RDETwin-40 RDEMack-CTMack-CTGMT-i36GMT-740GMT-740GMT-731GMT-TD-IO

Mack-O!G~lT-;40GMT-TD-45Twin-37RDEG1!T-740GMT-PD-29G11T-TD-27m.lT-740GMT-740Twin-35 RDETwin-35GDEmIT-TD-27Gi\1T-TD-32GMT-H3G~IT -FDG-37oxrr -PDG-41GMT-740G~!T-TD-45GMT-740G1.!T-TD-32

Pennsylvania GreyhoundHannony Short Line MotorTransportation Co.

Hudson Transit Lines 3 G:\IT -PD-37L03 Angeles Motor Coach Co. 92 Gl,IT-TD-4SMadison Avenue Coach Co. 10 GMT-740G\lT-Genernl Motors Truek Co.G\rD-Gen.",1 Motor. Diesel.·Engine replacement only.

Engine UsedBercul...-4 cycle 6 cyl. Elee.Berculcs-4 cycle 6 cyl. •Bercul...-4 cycle 6 cyl,GMD-2 cycle 4 eyl. H~d.GMD-2 cycle 6 cyl.Hercules-d cycle 6 cyl. Elec.Mack-Lanova-d cycle 6 cyl. u

Herculee-e cycle 6 cyl. Elec.Hercule:t-4 cycle 6 cy\. •Mack-Lanova-s cycle 6 cyl, •Hercules-a cycle 6 cyl, uG\ID-2 cycle 6 cyJ. •G~ID-2 cycle 4 cyl,GMD-2 cycle 6 cy\.Hercule:t-4 cycle 6 cyl.GMD-2 cycle 6 cy\.

Hyd.Elec.Byd.

Hyd.Hyd.Hyd.

Mack-Lanova-d cycle 6cyl. Elec. 40GMD-2 cycle 6 cyl, Mech. 40GMD-2 cycle 6 c)'\. u 45Bercules-4 cycle 6 cyl. Elec. 37GMD-2 cycle 6 eyl, Hyd. 35G?-!D-2 cycle 4 cyl, Mech. 29GMD-2 cycle 3 cy\. • 27G\!D-2 cycle 6 cy\. Hyd. 40GMD-2 cycle 6 cyl, Byd. 40Hcrualee-s cycle 6 cy\. E~c.Hercules-4 cycle 6 cyl.G~1D-2 cycle 3 cy\.GMD-2 cycle 4 cyl,G~ID-2 cycle 6 cyl,CMD-2 cycle 6 cyl.G:\1D-2 cycle 6 cy\.G\fD-2 cycle 6 cyl.G:'1D-2 cycle 6 ey\.GMD-2 cycle 6 cyl,GMD-2 cycle 4 eyl.

3535

Mech. 27Byd. 32l\!~ch. ~~

40Hyd. 40.Mech. 45Hyd. 40Byd. 32

G~!D-2 cycle 6 cyl.G:\ID-2 cycle 6 cy!.GMD-2 cycle 6 cy\.

M.ch. 37Byd. 45Byd. 40

***ROSTER***ZenQn Hansen reached into his clippingfile and came up with the followinggell. In 1940. World War II was justgetting underway and so was the useof diesel engines to power the nation'stransit fleet. MOst transit vehicleswere either gasoline or electricpowered. now over 40 years later.the roles have been reversed. withdiesel clearly the major fuel.Chicago Motor Coach reported 94buses. while the mighty ChicagoSurface Lines had zero. CSL didhave a rather large gasoline poweredfleet however.

in Service Nov. I, 1940•••!'.;1~d41415840403535374135353838403740

No.BusesOwned BUB Model Engine Used

11 GMT-TD-3601 GM0-2 cycle 6 eyl,1 Twin-35-RDE Hercules-4 cycle 6 cy\.

Name of Company

. Market Street Railway Co.New Orleans Pu bllc ServiceInc.

New York City OmnibusCorp.

Norfolk Southern Bus Corp.

30 GMT-UO

(Converted)

GMD-2 cycle 6 cy\.

:?~Hyd.Elec.

}!~".

ul1Jt.>

3635

~Hyd.

Cummins-White 4 cycle Mech. 2S'6 cyl.

GMD-2 cycle 4 cyl. Hyd. 36G:>1D-2 cycle 4 cyl, Ryd.Meck-Lenova-I ~ycle 6 cyl. Elec.Hercules-a cycle 6 cyl, •Hercules 4.cycle 6 cyl, II

GlIlD-2 cycle Gcyl, Hyd.G~m 2 cycle 4 cyl. Elec,G~fD-2 cycle 6 cyl. •Mercedes Beas 4 cycle '4 eyl.

Hercules-4 cycle 6 cyl.

3235403540313629

36

363725

Mech. 30• 29

2526272524

E\;c.

Hercules-4 cycle 6 cyl. Elec. 35Mack- Lanova-d cycle 6 cyl. II 35G~1D-2 cycle 6 cyl. Hyd. 3.Cumrnins-d cycle 6 cyl, Mech. 32G~1D-2 cycle 6 cyl. Mcch.G~!D-2 cycle 3 cyl, Mech.m!D-2 cycle 6 cyl. HKd.G~lD-2 cycle 5 cyl.G~1D-2 cycle 6 cy\.G~!D-2 cycle 6 cyl, •••G.IID-2 cycle 6 cyl.G~1D-2 cycle 6 cyl.

372T4040

Hyd. 40

ll~ .. :~Mech., 37

E\:,c:: :t404040354040

40Hyu. 40Mech, 37

Mech. 36u 32

Mecb. 25Byd. 32

Northern Indiana Transit, Inc. GMT -TD-36Ohio Valley Bus Co. 2 G~lT-TD-32

{

l. Mack-CTPhiladelphia Transportation 1 Twin-40 RDECo. 10 Twin-35 RLDE

4 mlT-740100' GMT ZAAAP30 GMT-TDE-401 GMT-Z~40

GMT-Z 240 (.11serv.)

27 G~lT-73630 GMT-73G95 GMT-12036 GMT

27 G~lT-TD 3225 GMT-TDE-2579 GMT-TDE-2515 G~IT-TD-2.553 mIT-TD-2413 GMT-TD-241 Twin-35-GDE2 J\!ack-CT5 GMT-TD-361 GMT-728

Boston, Worcester <I: NewYork St. l!y. Co.

Bur!ingtonTran.portationCo.{ 2:15

3GMT-H3D GMD-2 cycle 6 cy\. Mecb, 28G~lT -PD-37 GMD-2 cycle 6 cy\. • 33

Carolina Coach Co. 1 White(converted)HB-Cummins-4cycle6cyl. Mech. 33

{ 187 GMT-740 GMD-2 cycle 6 cy\. Ryd. 40GMT-TD-32 GHD-2 cycle 4 cyl. • 32

{50 GMT -740 GMD-2 cycle 6 cvl, By.d. 41

Chicago Motor Coach Co. 44 GMT-740 GMD-2 cycle 6 eyl. 45

The City Transit Company { 11 GMT -728 GMD-2 cycle 4 cyl, Mech. 30GMT-TD-36 GM0-2 cycle 6 cyl. Hyd. 36

10 GMT-740 G.\!D-2 cycle 6 cyl.2 GMT-740 GMD-2 cycle 6 cyt.

end 13 GMT-TD-40 GMD-2 cycle 6 cyl.

Public Service CoordinatedTransport

40

Reading Street Railway Co.

Rollo Transit Co, 6S,few.y Motor Coach Co. . 2

San Diego Electric Ry. Co. { !Seattle Transit System 25South Suburban Safe

Lines. Inc.Tennessee Coach Co.

GMT-743mIT-TD-27G'\IT-740G~IT-TD-40GMT-740GMT-740GMT-TD-40m!T-PD-37

Way { !6

Hercules-I cycle 6 cy\.m!D-2 cycle 6 eyl,G~!D-2 cycle 4 cyl.GMD-2 cycle 4 cyl.GMD-~ cycle 4 cyl,G~lD-2 cycle 4 cyl.G~ID-2 cycle 4 cyl,G~ID-2 cycle 4 cyl.G\1D-2 cycle 2 cyl,GMD-2 cycle 2 cyl,

Third Avenue Railway Co.and Subsidiaries

10 Twin-44-.LDE Hercules-a cycle 6 cyl,1 Twill-41'RllE Hercules-a cycle 6 cyl.

21 'Twin-at RDE Hercules-a cvcle 6 C) I.20 Twin-41-RCDE Hercules-d "}'cle 6 cyl.65 Twin-d l RLDE Hercules-a cycle 6 cyl.1 G~IT-731 Hercules-a cycle 6 eyl.

10 G~'IT-746 G~ID-2 cycle 4 cyl.26 11ack-CM Mcck-Lencvc-d cycle

6 cyl, '.Herculee-d cycle 6 cyl.G \1D-2 cycle 6 cyl.mlD-2 eyrie 6 cyl,

White1 mIT-TD-4014 G~lT -PD-37

Trenton Transit Co.Tri-State Transit Co. of La.,Inc.

Virden Transportation Co.

Westchester Conch Co.• Inc.White 1I0rs. Pike Bu. Co.

mlT-TD-36mlT-728

1 11ack-CW5 GMT-TD-32

G \1D-2 cycle 4 cvl.G~!D-2 cycle 6 cyl.Cummins-I cycle 6 cy\.G~!D-2 cycle 4 cyl,

RTA.Monthly Regional

Rail TicketProgram J

It is with great pleasure that I announce implementation of the MonthlyRegional Rail Ticket (MRRT) Program on October 1. The MRRT program, forthe first time in the railroad industry's long history, gives commuters inthe RTA six-county region the flexibility and convenience of using theirmonthly tickets on the following railroads:

Burl ington Northern, Chicago and North Western, III inoisCentral Gulf, No~folk and Western, and the Northeast111 inois Railroad Corporation's Hi lwaukee and Rock Islanddistricts. (The South Shore is not participating in thisprogram because of the railroad's different fare structure.)

Commuters can travel on any of the six participating rai I Iines as faras the zone shown on their monthly tickets without paying an additionalfare. In the event the interchange trip extends beyond the listed zone,an incremental fare wi I I be charged.

All of the railroads participating in the HRRT program, except the leGelectric 1 ine, have similar fare collection systems. The leG has anautomated system whereby commuters insert their tickets in a turnstylebefore boarding the train and after disembarking. The fol lowing procedurehas been establ ished to aid monthly commuters from other rai lroads who wantto ride the ICG .

Commuters boarding at any of the downtown terminals (Randolph St. andVan Buren St.), at 53th St. (Hyde Park/Museum of Science & Industry), orat 115th St. (Kensington), wh icn have ticket agents on duty, should showtheir monthly ticket to the agent and a specially marked ICG ticket wil Ibe issued. This ticket enables the commuter to enter and exit the systemthrough the turnstyles.

Passengers boarding at a station where there is no agent on duty shouldpick up the orange Passenger Assistance Link (PAL) telephone located nearthe turnstyles, to call the PAL center and gain entrance to the system. Ifdisembarking at a station that does not have a ticket agent, the commutershould again pick up the PAL telephone in order to receive clearance toexit through the turnstyles. Those commuters disembarking at a station wherea ticket agent is on duty, should show their ticket to the gate person andthey wi 11· be permi tted to exi t.

Conductors will check tickets on the train and collect any additionalfare that may be required.

The HRRT is yet another incentive for Northeast Illinois residents touse the regional commuter rail system and to purchase the discounted monthlyticket.

Lewis W. Hil I, Chairman

Regional Transportation Authoritylewis W.Hill-Chairman

Board ofDirectorsEdward F.Brabec. Jerry D. Boose, Sidney DonoH, David L DeMotte,John 1 Geary, William Griffin, James Kemp, Gene leonard,Patrick L O'Malley, Kathleen L Parker, Philip Raffe, William D. Walsh

Lake

----TK:: ..--IiiI

o..-. I;

'.-~'."""Rl~!\l1~Pa,.~.•-.-~4;.'rl.~foitisrSodh' t::

iIIII

LEGEND Letters "1\' through "M" on the map designate RTl\s rail fare zone areas.