Rochester Transit Corporation was formed in 1938 to assume operation of the bankrupt New York State Railways Rochester City
Lines operation, which was well on its way to becoming an all bus operation. Routes in operation at that time were as follows:
1-Lake/Park 16-Emerson
2Thurston/Parsells 17-East Avenue
3-Lyell/Bay 19-S.Plymouth/Clifford
4-Genesee/University 23-Titus
5-St.Paul/South 25-Subway
6-Jefferson/Webster
7-Monroe/N. Clinton
8-E.Main/Chili
9-Hudson/Mt. Read
10-Dewey/Portland
11-Joseph/S.Clinton
12-Goodman/West
13-Culver
14-Ridge
15-Norton/Britton
A few of these routes were still operated with streetcars,but forward looking RTC was committed to an all bus operation
as soon as possible. Complete conversion to all bus operation came in 1941 and RTC's 1372 East Main Street car barn was modified
to accommodate the bus fleet's needs. By the mid 1940s, Rochester Transit Corporation was operating its first GM diesel buses.
The following table shows the fleet make up for 1940-44.
Twin 27G 1940 27 seats 200-249 50 buses
Twin 27GS 1942 27 seats 250-379 130 buses
GMC TG4006 1944 40 seats 750-764 15 buses
Mack RC3G 1942 ? 860-879 20 buses
Yellow TG3906 1942 39 seats 1000-1039 40 buses
Total 255 buses
This was the fleet as of the end of 1944. A 1946 order for 100 Twin Coach 38S/211 Nos. 1200-1299, replaced the bulk
of the 27 seaters of 1940-42 as larger buses meant operating efficiencies and unit reduction. Twin 38S's 1300-1349 were
the last Twin Coaches RTC would ever buy.
These finished off the remaining 27 seaters. The next several tables will illustrate RTC's fleet evolution over the years:
Table 2. Mid 1950s Bus Fleet
Mack C45GT 1950 45 seats 501-525 25 buses
Mack C45GT 1952 45 seats 540-562 23 buses
GMC TDH3612 1951 36 seats 601-625 25 buses
GMC TDH5106 1954 51 seats 701-715 15 buses
GMC TDH4512 1955 45 seats 801-810 10 buses
GMC TDH4512 1956 45 seats 901-912 12 buses
GMC TDH5106 1958 51 seats 101-120 20 buses
GMC TDH4509 1949 45 seats 40`-425 25 buses
total 155 buses.
Table 3. 1968 Bus Fleet
GMC TDH5106 1958 51 seats 101-120 20 buses
GMC T6H5305A 1968 53 seats 151-177 27 buses
GMC TDH5302 1960 53 seats 201-225 25 buses
GMC TDH5304 1963 53 seats 226-235 10 buses
GMC TDH5304 1964 53 seats 301-320 20 buses
GMC TDH5304 1964 53 seats 1001-1020 20 buses
GMC TDH4519 1966 45 seats 1201-1240 40 buses
Total fleet: 182 buses
Note: Buses 151-177 were ordered by RTC and delivered to
the City of Rochester after takeover of the company.
Table 4. 1971-72 Bus Fleet
GMC SDM4501 1960 45 Seats 90-92 3 buses
GMC SDM4502 1966 45 seats 93-94 2 buses
GMC TDH5106 1958 51 seats 101-120 20 buses
GMC T6H5305A 1968 53 seats 151-177 27 buses
GMC TDH5302 1960 53 seats 201-225 25 buses
GMC TDH5304 1963 53 seats 226-235 10 buses
GMC TDH5304 1964 53 seats 301-320 20 buses
Flxible 111cdd515 1970 53 seats 501-576 76 buses
GMC TDH5304 1964 53 seats 1001-1020 20 buses
GMC TDH4519 1966 45 seats 1201-1240 40 buses
Total 1971-72 fleet 243 buses
During the 1970s, the company,by then known as Regional Transit Service,Inc., its present name, restructured its streetcar
based route system in a badly needed restructuring that eliminated the following routes from the timetables: 12-West, 13-Culver,17-Struckmar,
and 23-Titus.
1976 saw the company received the last GMC new look buses they would ever operate. These were among the last of their
kind to be built in the US with production continuing in Canada for several more years. Table 5 shows the 1976 Fleet Roster:
GMC S6H4504A 1973 45 seats 95-96 2 buses
GMC TDH5106 1958 51 seats 101-120 20 buses
GMC T6H5305A 1968 53 seats 151-177 27 buses
Flx 111cdd515 1970 53 seats 501-576 76 buses
GMC S8H5304A 1976 49 seats 401-437 37 buses
GMC T6H5308A 1976 53 seats 601-619 19 buses
GMC TDH4519 1966 45 seats 1201-1240 40 buses
Total fleet: 222 buses
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