Tucson Rapid Transit #50
TRT Driver C.S. “Tiny” Noel with #50 in its yellow and red paint scheme at Swan and Pima, 1950
Background
With America’s entry into World War II, almost every city experienced a sudden and major shift from private to public transportation due to nationwide fuel and tire rationing. Personal auto usage dropped dramatically, and bus ridership surged correspondingly. Most transit agencies were completely unprepared.
In Tucson’s case, this demand was compounded by new wartime industrial needs. Davis-Monthan Army Air Force Base became a training hub for new airmen, while Consolidated Vultee established a plant for building and modifying aircraft south of city limits. Tucson Rapid Transit Company, which only had around ten buses in service in 1941, was in desperate need of transit buses.
The Office of Defense Transportation authorized production of Ford Transit buses for the transportation of defense workers to their jobs. 47 of them eventually made their way to TRT and Occidental Bus Lines in Tucson by 1945, a 400% increase in rolling stock. Likewise, ridership numbers increased from 1.7 million annual riders in 1941 to 7 million in 1945. Even after the end of the war, ridership continued to grow for years afterward.
TRT #44 painted in a “War Bond Special” during World War II
Service History
TRT’s last order of Fords (#50-55) was delivered in January 1947. These were unique in that they had blue glass in the top row of windows, destination signs on the side, and a new red and white paint scheme symbolic of a change in ownership which occurred in October 1946. For much of its life, #50 was assigned to driver C. S. “Tiny” Noel on the Speedway-Pima route.
By 1954 all the Ford Transit buses except #50-55 had been retired in favor of larger and more powerful GM coaches. #50 was relegated to Sunday and holiday service until was retired in 1955.
Post-Service History
#50 was sold to the Southern Arizona School for Boys who used it until late 1967 to transport their students.
Southern Arizona School for Boys logo on the side of #50 about 1960
Miller’s Saddle Shop mobile repair shop
This bus is currently undergoing restoration by OPT Bus Division volunteers and is hoped to be completed by 2026, 80 years since it was built.
During the next decade, #50 became a fixture at rodeos around the state as Miller’s Saddle Shop, a mobile saddle repair shop. The bus was sold to Herman Doty in March 1978, and he used it to carry items from his Old West Trading Post to a swap meet in Nogales. After the engine blew on his third trip he gave the title to his business partners, Ken and Lillian Burrows. Together they used it for storage until the business closed in 1987. It then fell into the hands of Les Webb who sold it to Old Pueblo Trolley in March 1988.
#50 in our collection today
Restoration Status
#50 is about 95% completely restored but requires additional funding and volunteer work.
Remaining tasks:
Engine and transmission are operational, but need further tuning to address throttle and chronic overheating issues
Reinstall interior heating elements (cosmetic only)
Install and reupholster seats and remaining interior trim
Install blue glass windows (pending)
Ownership Snapshot
Original Owner: Tucson Rapid Transit #50
Acquired From: Les Webb in 1988
Current Livery: Tucson Rapid Transit #50
Technical Specs
Year Built: 1946
Manufacturer: Ford
Model: 69B
Serial: 1306420
Powertrain: Ford 239 cu in (3,920 cc) "flathead" V-8 with a 3-speed manual transmission
Body: Aluminum body on chassis
Length: 25 ft 9 in
Width: 96 in
Seating: 27 passengers, transit seating