December 2010 Observations

[WES]

That's a little early to rehab the Orion VIIs, they are only 4 years old.  The Neoplans should be the ones getting rehabbed right now.  Even if it was a test paint that they were doing, that should have been done after the Neos were rehabbed.

[aznboy4305]

Exclusive.

Bus#         Route#           Block#        Destination
2553          23C                FT06           Ballston Station.   
(new paint Scheme LOCAL)   

Rehabbed bus# 1438.

Exclusive to what...?

[Scrabbleship]

That's a little early to rehab the Orion VIIs, they are only 4 years old.  The Neoplans should be the ones getting rehabbed right now.  Even if it was a test paint that they were doing, that should have been done after the Neos were rehabbed.

Might Metro have thrown in a towel on the Neoplans, decided it wasn't worth it, and might retire them at 12 years when they can buy a large artic order to replace them and much of the Orion V's?

[rideonrulez]

That's a little early to rehab the Orion VIIs, they are only 4 years old.  The Neoplans should be the ones getting rehabbed right now.  Even if it was a test paint that they were doing, that should have been done after the Neos were rehabbed.

Might Metro have thrown in a towel on the Neoplans, decided it wasn't worth it, and might retire them at 12 years when they can buy a large artic order to replace them and much of the Orion V's?

5301 is in rehab now

[orionvii2680]

Bus#         Route#           Block#        Destination
2553          23C                FT06           Ballston Station.   
(new paint Scheme LOCAL)   

Rehabbed bus# 1438.
[/quote]

Exclusive to what...?
[/quote]

Its the first Orion Vii in the local paint scheme.

[Tritransit Area]

Something that wouldn't have been mentioned years ago because it was so common is now a surprise to see.  Yesterday spotted THE BUS 63195 with a non working sign, but the front only.  Years ago, it would have been a surprised to say a sign was working.  Now all THE BUS has to do is get the funds to start up weekend and late night service.  By the way it was working the 23.

Heh, wow!  Do they still have plenty of those P/R messages like "Good Morning" with the rising sun?  I did see an HDX with the side sign stating "Watch Your Step".  Is that supposed to be a feature when the doors open?

[Tritransit Area]

That's a little early to rehab the Orion VIIs, they are only 4 years old.  The Neoplans should be the ones getting rehabbed right now.  Even if it was a test paint that they were doing, that should have been done after the Neos were rehabbed.

Might Metro have thrown in a towel on the Neoplans, decided it wasn't worth it, and might retire them at 12 years when they can buy a large artic order to replace them and much of the Orion V's?

Why would the Neoplans not be worth it?  I thought they were running very well nowadays.

[C40LF_2464]

That's a little early to rehab the Orion VIIs, they are only 4 years old.  The Neoplans should be the ones getting rehabbed right now.  Even if it was a test paint that they were doing, that should have been done after the Neos were rehabbed.

Might Metro have thrown in a towel on the Neoplans, decided it wasn't worth it, and might retire them at 12 years when they can buy a large artic order to replace them and much of the Orion V's?

5301 is in rehab now

5309 Is Getting Rehabbed to. Spitted it at bladensburg on Wednesday.

[RideOn5905]

I saw 5580 on Montgomery Village Avenue this morning, it was deadheaded and had a piece of paper on the windshield; I don't remember what was written on it.

Later on, I had my first taste of Ride-On's ElDorados: 5127 on the 8. This bus was rattling really hard down Forest Glen Road, I kept thinking the windows were gonna fall off.

When I got to Wheaton, I caught 5925 on the 48; this bus was doing that whole "high idle, then die down" thing whenever we stopped.

[79MetroExtraMD]

That's a little early to rehab the Orion VIIs, they are only 4 years old.  The Neoplans should be the ones getting rehabbed right now.  Even if it was a test paint that they were doing, that should have been done after the Neos were rehabbed.

Might Metro have thrown in a towel on the Neoplans, decided it wasn't worth it, and might retire them at 12 years when they can buy a large artic order to replace them and much of the Orion V's?

Why would the Neoplans not be worth it?  I thought they were running very well nowadays.

I wouldnt doubt them for not really caring about the Neoplans. Parts are probably hard to find and they're basically being run down everyday on the 70/71. MTA is getting rid of all but 12 of their Neoplans (repowering the 12 to Cummins ISL).

[orionvii2680]

Possably 2 local scheme Orion Vii's.... I was at the pentagon upper lever and noticed a local scheme bus on the 29H and didn't bother to look at the number... but as i looked i noticed there was a ad on the left side of the bus that i didn't see this morning...

[WayneNYC]

That's a little early to rehab the Orion VIIs, they are only 4 years old.  The Neoplans should be the ones getting rehabbed right now.  Even if it was a test paint that they were doing, that should have been done after the Neos were rehabbed.

Might Metro have thrown in a towel on the Neoplans, decided it wasn't worth it, and might retire them at 12 years when they can buy a large artic order to replace them and much of the Orion V's?

Why would the Neoplans not be worth it?  I thought they were running very well nowadays.

I wouldnt doubt them for not really caring about the Neoplans. Parts are probably hard to find and they're basically being run down everyday on the 70/71. MTA is getting rid of all but 12 of their Neoplans (repowering the 12 to Cummins ISL).

I don't think the Neos are any different from buses that spend a long time at Northern.  Does anyone remember the shape Northern's original 21/2200s were in when they sent them to Western?  The good part is that those buses were rehabbed shortly after leaving Northern.  Now that WMATA is finishing the C40LF, the Neoplans should be next for rehab.  I don't know what WMATA Neos have been like in terms of MDBF, but they seem to have done well holding down those tough Northern routes for the last 7 years.  I'm thinking that they'll be fine once they get their rehab TLC.

[NewFlyer9736BCT]

I saw 5580 on Montgomery Village Avenue this morning, it was deadheaded and had a piece of paper on the windshield; I don't remember what was written on it.

Later on, I had my first taste of Ride-On's ElDorados: 5127 on the 8. This bus was rattling really hard down Forest Glen Road, I kept thinking the windows were gonna fall off.

When I got to Wheaton, I caught 5925 on the 48; this bus was doing that whole "high idle, then die down" thing whenever we stopped.

man I forgot to mention last month, I saw 5580 on Shady Grove Road, signs weren't working at all. I was following it until I kept straight on Darnestown Rd when it turned into Great Seneca Hwy. That said, it's probably a training bus going to the training lot.

and yeah, isn't it too early for an Orion VII to be rehabbed? you sure you saw that rehab number on that bus?

[Annex4421]

That's a little early to rehab the Orion VIIs, they are only 4 years old.  The Neoplans should be the ones getting rehabbed right now.  Even if it was a test paint that they were doing, that should have been done after the Neos were rehabbed.

Might Metro have thrown in a towel on the Neoplans, decided it wasn't worth it, and might retire them at 12 years when they can buy a large artic order to replace them and much of the Orion V's?

Why would the Neoplans not be worth it?  I thought they were running very well nowadays.

I wouldnt doubt them for not really caring about the Neoplans. Parts are probably hard to find and they're basically being run down everyday on the 70/71. MTA is getting rid of all but 12 of their Neoplans (repowering the 12 to Cummins ISL).

Actually it 30 Neo-Plans that are getting done over.

[Tristan]

2553 also has a red stripe across the front between the windshield and the bike rack.  I always said the NFs look "blank" in the front.

EDIT: I meant 2553, not 2558.