http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=4641 (http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=4641)
There was an Orion VI in flames on 495 near Springfield this morning with one of West Ox's Orion VI's. As a result, the 2000's get a temporary break with no real effect on operations.
You're kidding me. They had another incident a couple years back where something with the brakes caused one to catch fire. It's not looking too good for the Orion 6 but with more LFAs coming in, I doubt the impact of the sidelining will be that severe.
Reserve buses? I wonder if they mean the Flxibles.
That may explain why they put 9359 back into service. Saw it deadheading to Addison Road Station yesterday with an L block.
Quote from: OrionFlyer on September 09, 2010, 10:18:36 PM
Reserve buses? I wonder if they mean the Flxibles.
Bingo. That and possibly pressing some just-arrived LFA's into service a few days sooner than anticipated. All of the 99 remaining Orion VI's are having their hydraulic pumps checked, I say they're back in service by next week.
Didn't the last incident lead to the pre-rehab relocation of the tailpipe?
Orion VI best designed low floor buses EVER!
Quote from: Antozilla on September 10, 2010, 09:55:58 AM
Orion VI best designed low floor buses EVER!
You never took a rode on the earliest ones made, the ones with the bonded roofs and the back door at the rear. Nothing more fun than a 40' bus with only 32 seats and 1/3 of those seats get zonked out when it rains because the roof's a sieve. Those would change anyone's opinion.
For the record, WMATA's 2000's are not that bad. Far better than CDTA's 2000's (first US built Orion VI's, second overall) which I described above. Were Ride On's 2 ex-TTC demo Orion VI's that bad?
Actually some of WMATA's Orion 6s do that also. One I rode on a few yearss ago looked like Niagara Falls water was pouring down so bad. One I was on a few weeks ago, was leaking a lot.
Yeah I also noticed that with the Orion VIs. I usually sit on the side-facing seat in the back, and a lot of times I feel water dripping down from the ceiling.
And I do remember the last time they pulled all the Orion VIs out of service, I believe that was when 2044 caught on fire, and that was around the time they were going through rehab and orange crushing. I remember when 2044 returned to service, it was very nicely painted but with the original green signs.
Minus the leaking problem. Sure it looks like a shoe box but you still can't deny best designed LF bus. No hump over the rear wheels. Sure beats the Orion VII which is the WORST bus.
Has anyone seen the number of the bus that burned? Want to see if I have a photo of it...
WMATA has posted a press release on its website saying the Orion VIs will be back in service tomorrow (Monday, September 13), but the wheelchair ramps will have to be deployed manually as a result of the temporary fix installed on the buses. The Orion VIs will be assigned to routes that have low numbers of wheelchair passengers to minimize delays.
Lets hope they get back to FMR
Quote from: Antozilla on September 12, 2010, 08:03:50 PM
Lets hope they get back to FMR
That won't happen trust me.
Quote from: NewFlyer9736BCT on September 12, 2010, 08:38:24 PM
Quote from: 79MetroExtraMD on September 12, 2010, 08:21:53 PM
Quote from: Antozilla on September 12, 2010, 08:03:50 PM
Lets hope they get back to FMR
That won't happen trust me.
Bladensburg has some non-CNGs, why can't FMR?
Because Bladensburg is larger and can accommodate them. As for FMR, it's smaller has the bulk of the Orion 7s. Just because they are coming back to service doesn't necessarily mean they'll be spread around. That takes alot of time to do (plus pay for the operators who have to move them).
Quote from: NewFlyer9736BCT on September 12, 2010, 08:38:24 PM
Quote from: 79MetroExtraMD on September 12, 2010, 08:21:53 PM
Quote from: Antozilla on September 12, 2010, 08:03:50 PM
Lets hope they get back to FMR
That won't happen trust me.
Bladensburg has some non-CNGs, why can't FMR?
Not that FMR can't have diesels, but Bladensburg continues to have diesels because WMATA has yet to have enough CNG buses for both divisions to have 100% CNG fleets.
Are the TAGS buses still housed at FMR?
Quote from: WMATAGMOAGH on September 12, 2010, 06:56:25 PM
WMATA has posted a press release on its website saying the Orion VIs will be back in service tomorrow (Monday, September 13), but the wheelchair ramps will have to be deployed manually as a result of the temporary fix installed on the buses. The Orion VIs will be assigned to routes that have low numbers of wheelchair passengers to minimize delays.
Hmm that's...interesting... I wonder what the problem is and if it infact affected all of the buses (I mean, it's been 10 years since they were built...what could have happened since then?). It shouldn't be too much of a problem, though, because the ramps were designed to be deployed manually. Are they still under warranty?