Unitrans RT742
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Unitrans RT742 is an ex-London Transport double decker bus operated in regular service by Unitrans in Davis, California. RT742 has been restored to its original appearance and is the only double decker bus in the Unitrans fleet to retain its original roofbox (the route number indicator located above the front upper-deck windows). It was also the second to last double decker bus in the Unitrans fleet to retain its original "pre-select" manual transmission (the other being RTL1014), however it is scheduled to receive a new compressed natural gas (CNG) engine and automatic transmission in 2008. It has recently undergone a complete body re-build, including new sliding windows, replacing broken crank-style windows in the passenger compartment.
[edit] Technical specifications
Manufacturer (chassis): Associated Equipment Company (AEC)
Manufacturer (coachwork): Saunders-Roe Ltd
Model (chassis): AEC Regent III RT
Model (coachwork): Saunders roofbox 3RT3/3 (originally fitted with a Park Royal roofbox 3RT3 body until refurbishment in 1965)
Date built: July, 1948
Engine: AEC 11.3-liter diesel (originally equipped with an AEC 9.6-liter diesel) with air operated Wilson preselector gearbox (these are to be replaced in 2008).
Length: 27 feet, 6 inches
Width: 7 feet, 6 inches
Seating capacity: 56 (26 downstairs, 30 upstairs)
Original operator: London Transport
Original fleet number: RT742
Original license plate number: JXC 105
Date acquired by Unitrans: 1972
Current status: Unitrans Fleet - Temporarily removed from service to intall a new engine and transmission
[edit] References
- Unitrans Homepage, unitrans.com, Retrieved on 2006-12-17
- UC Davis Transportation and Parking Services (2001-10-15). TAPS 2001 Fleet Inventory, Davis, CA: University of California, Davis
- Ian's bus stop: RT, countrybus.org.uk, Retrieved on 2006-12-17
- AEC Regent III, overground.org, Retrieved on 2006-12-17
- Spotter's Jotter: London Buses in California, self-preservation-society.co.uk, Retrieved on 2006-12-17
- Unitrans Buses, daviswiki.org, Retrieved on 2006-12-17
- The Unitrans Pool, flickr.com, Retrieved on 2006-12-17
- Mark's Unitrans Photo Gallery, loft22.com, Retrieved on 2006-12-17
- Yahoo Groups: British Buses Abroad in North America, yahoo.com. Retrieved on 2006-12-21
- McCormack, Kevin (1998). Glory Days: RT - The History of a Classic London Bus, Shepperton, Surrey, UK: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0-7110-2581-9
- Stello, Sharon. "Air rules may force a double-decker bus into retirement", The Davis Enterprise, 2007-12-13. Retrieved on 2007-12-16.
