Well nothing to post today...
I hope to get the photo gallery cleaned up and launched today so this won't continue to be the sole place to post photos.
Quote from: Tristan on November 03, 2008, 11:15:39 AM
I hope to get the photo gallery cleaned up and launched today so this won't continue to be the sole place to post photos.
I'm only going ot post unusual observation photos here. Maybe one or two a week?
I'm not really worried about how many photos there are, especially when they are of "exceptional" stuff, more than I'm concerned about finding those photos later on. If you see 500 buses that look like they've been through Iraq and back, and take 500 pictures of them, 500 pictures posted here is a great thing because we can all see what's going down. I think the distinction we should make is the same as the title suggests - Observations, in terms of exceptional occurrences, as opposed to daily issue, unremarkable (good as they might be) photos of buses doing their daily business (which would be for the photo gallery).
I'll probably post some sort of guidelines once the gallery is up. For now, back to work!
True. Good point.
Today's snaps.
I was really impressed at how these came out.
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o111/bigken7005/Transit/DCATZ/102B6900.jpg)
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o111/bigken7005/Transit/DCATZ/102B7000.jpg)
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o111/bigken7005/Transit/DCATZ/102B7161.jpg)
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o111/bigken7005/Transit/DCATZ/102B7300.jpg)
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o111/bigken7005/Transit/DCATZ/102B7540.jpg)
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o111/bigken7005/Transit/DCATZ/102B7550.jpg)
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o111/bigken7005/Transit/DCATZ/102B7551.jpg)
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o111/bigken7005/Transit/DCATZ/102B7580.jpg)
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o111/bigken7005/Transit/DCATZ/102B7541.jpg)
And the newest rail station in the Metrorail system:
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o111/bigken7005/Transit/DCATZ/102B7240.jpg)
Oh wow, the Silady Grove Station is already opened? Wow, I gotta get some shots from there soon...
Anyways, awesome pics Ken, I finally found my camera so hopefully I will get some shots this week
Quote from: George on November 10, 2008, 02:04:46 PM
Oh wow, the Silady Grove Station is already opened? Wow, I gotta get some shots from there soon...
Anyways, awesome pics Ken, I finally found my camera so hopefully I will get some shots this week
Quote from: George on November 10, 2008, 02:04:46 PM
Oh wow, the Silady Grove Station is already opened? Wow, I gotta get some shots from there soon...
Anyways, awesome pics Ken, I finally found my camera so hopefully I will get some shots this week
HAHA Silady Grove Station. Well hopefully, I can get some pics today. If not, definitly tommorrow. I shall get some pics from Union Station tommorrow. Hopefully, I can get some OmniLink/Ride, DASH, The Bus, and Ride On pics this week. Can't wait.
Silady grove station. Proof that whoever is responsible for putting the route/destinations in the signs is too lazy to make sure it says what its supposed to say. Seriously, how do you get an I and L in Shady making it Silady? When they program the signs they see what they're typing on the computer.
Quote from: NGOrion on November 10, 2008, 02:23:15 PM
Silady grove station. Proof that whoever is responsible for putting the destinations in the signs is too lazy to make sure it says what its supposed to say.
I think the sign has a defective panel that didn't change when the sign was set to Shady Grove Station. I've seen that happen alot of times (even on Ride On buses).
Here are my photos from today. These pictures did not come out the way I wanted them to due to the fact that is was freezing outside and my camera was not co-oping with me. Well here they are.
I didn't get this.
(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd19/bjb91/050.jpg)
(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd19/bjb91/051-2.jpg)
(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd19/bjb91/052.jpg)
(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd19/bjb91/055-1.jpg)
Here's my shots from today (11/11/08). I can't believe I was actually able to spot 9489! And I caught a DASH bus for the first time. ;D DASH is awesome!! Well here are my pics for today. There are more photos at my Photobucket: bjb91
(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd19/bjb91/003-1.jpg)
(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd19/bjb91/001-3.jpg)
(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd19/bjb91/014-2.jpg)
(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd19/bjb91/013-2.jpg)
(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd19/bjb91/006.jpg)
(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd19/bjb91/008-2.jpg)
(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd19/bjb91/016-1.jpg)
Here's a few pics from Saturday (11/8/08) at the CET facility in Landover.
Well, I guess I went with the crowd and decided to do some fanning today. No MARC service wasn't going to stop me from heading out today. I decided to do the U8 to get my rides on the 60BRTs. For those of you lucky to get them fresh, I envy yall. I rode 5406 from Minnesota Avenue to Capitol Heights and its already broken in. Graffiti, trash, weed and tobacco smells. Also, there was this weird clicking noise whenever the bus was idling or braking and sounded like it came from the tanks. Anyway, I took 5405 on the other leg thru Benning Heights (not really a shabby area). I have a bunch of pics that might take a couple of threads to put down but once I upload them, I'll show them to yall.
Photos at the Pentagon? Naughty, naughty...
Also, is it just me, or is the way the word local was slapped onto the new paint scheme really taking away from it? I think I would approve of the scheme more if they got rid of that word (this isn't LA) and put in more blues, I'm not a huge fan of the red/silver combo.
Quote from: 79MetroExtraMD on November 11, 2008, 05:05:23 PM
Well, I guess I went with the crowd and decided to do some fanning today. No MARC service wasn't going to stop me from heading out today. I decided to do the U8 to get my rides on the 60BRTs. For those of you lucky to get them fresh, I envy yall. I rode 5406 from Minnesota Avenue to Capitol Heights and its already broken in. Graffiti, trash, weed and tobacco smells. Also, there was this weird clicking noise whenever the bus was idling or braking and sounded like it came from the tanks. Anyway, I took 5405 on the other leg thru Benning Heights (not really a shabby area). I have a bunch of pics that might take a couple of threads to put down but once I upload them, I'll show them to yall.
Damn Ken, it must've sucked being on a nice bus in that condition. I can't stand the smell of weed. But to smell it on a brand spankin' new bus? Wow, just wow.
Quote from: WMATAGMOAGH on November 11, 2008, 05:11:01 PM
Photos at the Pentagon? Naughty, naughty...
Also, is it just me, or is the way the word local was slapped onto the new paint scheme really taking away from it? I think I would approve of the scheme more if they got rid of that word (this isn't LA) and put in more blues, I'm not a huge fan of the red/silver combo.
I think that's orange not red.
Here's the first set of pics from my outing.
Set 2.
Thanks for posting as thumbnails - really makes the page a lot easier to work with!
Quote from: Tristan on November 11, 2008, 05:32:49 PM
Thanks for posting as thumbnails - really makes the page a lot easier to work with!
I couldn't find the option until I realized there was an additional options link. :P
Quote from: Tristan on November 11, 2008, 05:32:49 PM
Thanks for posting as thumbnails - really makes the page a lot easier to work with!
Maybe I should start posting as thumbnails. :D
Set 3.
Does anyone know the type of sign 2163 has? It doesn't look Luminator to me.
Quote from: 79MetroExtraMD on November 11, 2008, 05:46:42 PM
Set 3.
Does anyone know the type of sign 2163 has? It doesn't look Luminator to me.
I've seen that bus. I'm not sure what type of sign it is though.
Quote from: landoverdivision on November 11, 2008, 05:50:37 PM
Quote from: 79MetroExtraMD on November 11, 2008, 05:46:42 PM
Set 3.
Does anyone know the type of sign 2163 has? It doesn't look Luminator to me.
I've seen that bus. I'm not sure what type of sign it is though.
AESYS.
Last set. I'm posting 5 because it keeps timing out.
Quote from: 79MetroExtraMD on November 11, 2008, 06:12:12 PM
Last set. I'm posting 5 because it keeps timing out.
LMAO 89M Dunn Loring Station.
It times out because this server is set to let a PHP script run only for 30 seconds - once it goes past that, the server assumes that it's frozen or something and kills the task.
The thumbnails option only works if you're uploading photos to the site; if you're linking photos from Photobucket or any other source, the board software won't generate thumbnails.
Hey Tristan, what do you think of my DASH photos? I wanted an opinion from someone who works for DASH.
Thumbnails are easier to work with. But you all may want to consider shrinking the photos so they can actually be seen without scrolling left to right, which can be difficult if the bar is at the bottom of your post. Easy Thumbnails is freeware that does this easily, and I use it to make the file sizes for both photos I post to boards and to my website easier to manage for those wishing to view them.
Quote from: WMATAGMOAGH on November 11, 2008, 06:22:55 PM
Thumbnails are easier to work with. But you all may want to consider shrinking the photos so they can actually be seen without scrolling left to right, which can be difficult if the bar is at the bottom of your post. Easy Thumbnails is freeware that does this easily, and I use it to make the file sizes for both photos I post to boards and to my website easier to manage for those wishing to view them.
That's the same thing I was thinking about. I hate to have to do that myself. I know just how to shrink them.
Quote from: landoverdivision on November 11, 2008, 06:15:01 PM
Quote from: 79MetroExtraMD on November 11, 2008, 06:12:12 PM
Last set. I'm posting 5 because it keeps timing out.
LMAO 89M Dunn Loring Station.
And the ironic part. I didn't notice I took that until I got home and looked thru my snaps. I guess it was a spur of the moment type of things.
Well here are some of my photos
(http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u341/LIL_J_558/jk.jpg)
(http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u341/LIL_J_558/uilp.jpg)
and this pic of the C40LFR was at PG when i was hanging out with Brandon (Landover division)
(http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u341/LIL_J_558/jh.jpg)
(http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u341/LIL_J_558/jkk.jpg)
(http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u341/LIL_J_558/bvj.jpg)
(http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u341/LIL_J_558/mnjhh.jpg)
When did Bladensburg have the Orion VI's?
Quote from: NGOrion on November 11, 2008, 08:04:50 PM
When did Bladensburg have the Orion VI's?
Back in 2000-2001 when WMATA first got them. I remember riding them on the 90/92, B2. I saw them on the 80 and the G8 also.
How did
Quote from: NGOrion on November 11, 2008, 08:04:50 PM
When did Bladensburg have the Orion VI's?
Where did that come from?
Brandon: Well, they look like DASH buses to me :-)
Quote from: Tristan on November 11, 2008, 08:46:41 PM
How did Quote from: NGOrion on November 11, 2008, 08:04:50 PM
When did Bladensburg have the Orion VI's?
Where did that come from?
Brandon: Well, they look like DASH buses to me :-)
Ok smart one. I was asking what did you think of the pictures? Are they photo gallery worth?
Actually I guess the lighting was on your side for the two DASH shots, so yea...wouldn't hurt to add them.
Quote from: landoverdivision on November 11, 2008, 06:15:01 PM
Quote from: 79MetroExtraMD on November 11, 2008, 06:12:12 PM
Last set. I'm posting 5 because it keeps timing out.
LMAO 89M Dunn Loring Station.
Quote from: landoverdivision on November 11, 2008, 06:15:01 PM
Quote from: 79MetroExtraMD on November 11, 2008, 06:12:12 PM
Last set. I'm posting 5 because it keeps timing out.
LMAO 89M Dunn Loring Station.
Well, it is ripping off the Virginia system of route numbering...;)
I know Montgomery is one to sometimes have buses on deadhead/layover display weird destinations that don't match to the route, Northern sometimes too (on the last day of the old bus setup at Silver Spring, the "92" made a cameo there) but Landover? Good for them though!
Just minor driver errors, that is all. I've seen these over the years, among others:
T3 ROCKVILLE STA instead of T2 ROCKVILLE STA
J7 FEDERAL TRIANGLE instead of N7 FEDERAL TRIANGLE
Quote from: WMATAGMOAGH on November 11, 2008, 11:59:39 PM
Just minor driver errors, that is all. I've seen these over the years, among others:
T3 ROCKVILLE STA instead of T2 ROCKVILLE STA
J7 FEDERAL TRIANGLE instead of N7 FEDERAL TRIANGLE
Yeah that's true. It's not new for me t see it. I've seen thise happen plenty of times with Landover buses. Sometimes, the drivers are trying to switch it, but it says other things. For instance, on the F8, it said F80 CHEVERLY STATION, or the two buses that says 3839 instead of the route number. Another example: when the F1 said something something High School. It happens a lot but it's nothing really. Just a couple of errors with the sign is all.
Can somebody explain to me how exactly the operator can make those errors when putting the code in for the destination when using the actual sign panel?
Like "T2 Jermantown" with a J instead of a G. But wait, the T2 does go all the way up to Germantown ???
And also since when is Q2 Q<>2? Saw that on a few buses a couple of days ago. Excuse what time does the Q less than greater than 2 comes? LOL
Quote from: WMATAGMOAGH on November 11, 2008, 11:59:39 PM
Just minor driver errors, that is all. I've seen these over the years, among others:
T3 ROCKVILLE STA instead of T2 ROCKVILLE STA
J7 FEDERAL TRIANGLE instead of N7 FEDERAL TRIANGLE
How does WMATA number its destination sign codes for the lettered routes? Using this example, it's possible that the codes for T2 and T3 are very similar and the driver entered the wrong code on the keypad.
Quote from: NGOrion on November 12, 2008, 08:35:14 AM
Can somebody explain to me how exactly the operator can make those errors when putting the code in for the destination when using the actual sign panel?
Like "T2 Jermantown" with a J instead of a G. But wait, the T2 does go all the way up to Germantown ???
And also since when is Q2 Q<>2? Saw that on a few buses a couple of days ago. Excuse what time does the Q less than greater than 2 comes? LOL
Those would be errors in the sign programming.
Quote from: NGOrion on November 12, 2008, 08:35:14 AM
Can somebody explain to me how exactly the operator can make those errors when putting the code in for the destination when using the actual sign panel?
Like "T2 Jermantown" with a J instead of a G. But wait, the T2 does go all the way up to Germantown ???
And also since when is Q2 Q<>2? Saw that on a few buses a couple of days ago. Excuse what time does the Q less than greater than 2 comes? LOL
"Jermantown" is an actual destination for the 2B. Short trippers use to terminate on "Jermantown Rd" over by Fairfax City.
The reason why you find route numbers such as "Q<>2" and other such things is because the operators turn off the clever devices by doing that.
Quote from: rideonrulez on November 12, 2008, 09:13:46 AM
Quote from: NGOrion on November 12, 2008, 08:35:14 AM
Can somebody explain to me how exactly the operator can make those errors when putting the code in for the destination when using the actual sign panel?
Like "T2 Jermantown" with a J instead of a G. But wait, the T2 does go all the way up to Germantown ???
And also since when is Q2 Q<>2? Saw that on a few buses a couple of days ago. Excuse what time does the Q less than greater than 2 comes? LOL
"Jermantown" is an actual destination for the 2B. Short trippers use to terminate on "Jermantown Rd" over by Fairfax City.
The reason why you find route numbers such as "Q<>2" and other such things is because the operators turn off the clever devices by doing that.
Yeah but how did the driver but T2 Jermantown? This is from a picture btw.
At WMATA, the route number and the destination are two separate codes, and on at least CD buses if not all others as well, the driver can input any four characters in the route number entry.
Attached is my favorite example of this. The driver of this bus (from 2005) would get off and sit in the shelter and just kinda hang out during his layover, but he left the bus open so people could sit inside and be protected from the elements and such...and to prevent people from asking him over and over what time he left: well, you see.
Quote from: Tristan on November 12, 2008, 11:51:20 AM
At WMATA, the route number and the destination are two separate codes, and on at least CD buses if not all others as well, the driver can input any four characters in the route number entry.
Attached is my favorite example of this. The driver of this bus (from 2005) would get off and sit in the shelter and just kinda hang out during his layover, but he left the bus open so people could sit inside and be protected from the elements and such...and to prevent people from asking him over and over what time he left: well, you see.
Makes sense now. So if the operator wanted to, he or she could but in "R3 NEW CARROLLTON STATION", OR "Y8 GREENBELT STATION", or even "16Y SILVER SPRING STATION" since the route and destination are different codes?
BTW that picture's awesome. Man I miss those green led flip dot signs. To bad the only buses that have them now are the Orion II's.
I wish I could have one of those just for myself, but those signs probably cost a lot, if they're still made.
The Clever Devices allow operators to input the route, at which point it will display all the options for that route. However, I think a driver can then choose "none of the above" and put in a different destination if he wishes to do so. For example, enter L2 as your route, and it will offer
Chevy Chase Circle to McPherson Square
McPherson Square to Chevy Chase Circle
Van Ness to Chevy Chase Circle
Should a driver want to put in something else (i.e. L2 WOODLEY PARK), he can still do that.
Quote from: Tristan on November 12, 2008, 11:51:20 AM
At WMATA, the route number and the destination are two separate codes, and on at least CD buses if not all others as well, the driver can input any four characters in the route number entry.
Attached is my favorite example of this. The driver of this bus (from 2005) would get off and sit in the shelter and just kinda hang out during his layover, but he left the bus open so people could sit inside and be protected from the elements and such...and to prevent people from asking him over and over what time he left: well, you see.
That's actually kinda smart. I hate it when people annoy bus drivers about "what time you leavin", or "how many minutes you got untill you pull off". Some people are too lazy to read a schedule. Back to the photo thing. Unfortunately i'm not going to have any photos today.
Quote from: WMATAGMOAGH on November 12, 2008, 02:34:18 PM
The Clever Devices allow operators to input the route, at which point it will display all the options for that route. However, I think a driver can then choose "none of the above" and put in a different destination if he wishes to do so. For example, enter L2 as your route, and it will offer
Chevy Chase Circle to McPherson Square
McPherson Square to Chevy Chase Circle
Van Ness to Chevy Chase Circle
Should a driver want to put in something else (i.e. L2 WOODLEY PARK), he can still do that.
I'm talking about non Clever Device ways of putting the R and D's in; the control panel hidden behind the Clever Device control.
Thats what truly does all the work, which leads me to ask, How does the CD control panel communicate with the destination sign control panel?
Anyone know the story behind "Sherry Williams's bus?" I found this at West Fall's Church Station on Veteran's Day. Silly me, seeing the headsign, almost thought an MC-9A was pulling in.
(http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/Bastranz/DC%20Area%20Transit/SherryWilsonbus-WestFallsChurch-11-.jpg)
Quote from: NGOrion on November 12, 2008, 04:11:46 PM
I'm talking about non Clever Device ways of putting the R and D's in; the control panel hidden behind the Clever Device control.
Thats what truly does all the work, which leads me to ask, How does the CD control panel communicate with the destination sign control panel?
The CD system communicates with the sign through a connector from the control head to the keypad of the sign controller. I've seen it a few times. Whenever a route is set, the CD system sends a signal to the sign controller to set it to the appropriate route and destination code. Of course, sometimes things don't work out properly. There has been the issue of 3839 and 3837 coming up on some Landover buses. I asked about that and an operator told me it was a Clever Devices issue that is causing the signs to display those numbers.
Hopefully soon, things will be fixed so that the system will automatically set itself and change signs when needed. So far, most 6000s, 6100s, 2800s have things working very well. I haven't seen it work properly on the 2000s. If I see the system working on a few buses out of a series, I'll list them here.
Quote from: 79MetroExtraMD on November 29, 2008, 08:53:28 PM
Quote from: NGOrion on November 12, 2008, 04:11:46 PM
I'm talking about non Clever Device ways of putting the R and D's in; the control panel hidden behind the Clever Device control.
Thats what truly does all the work, which leads me to ask, How does the CD control panel communicate with the destination sign control panel?
There has been the issue of 3839 and 3837 coming up on some Landover buses. I asked about that and an operator told me it was a Clever Devices issue that is causing the signs to display those numbers.
You know, I did see that occur on at least one (but I think two) buses yesterday out of Landover. One bus was on the T18 coming from New Carrollton (I don't remember the number, but it was a 6100 with a rear wrap). The sign was correctly set, with T18 going out the rear, and then suddenly it was 3839. Then, after a few moments, it reverted back to T18.
What a strange quirk.
Quote from: Tritransit Area on November 29, 2008, 08:05:06 PM
Anyone know the story behind "Sherry Williams's bus?" I found this at West Fall's Church Station on Veteran's Day. Silly me, seeing the headsign, almost thought an MC-9A was pulling in.
(http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/Bastranz/DC%20Area%20Transit/SherryWilsonbus-WestFallsChurch-11-.jpg)
Brandon,
That unfortunately is Loudoun Transit's
bus I mean vehicle. I think it is a Chumpion RE somethingorrather, but not sure.
Blue Turd Q Bus. Why is it at West Falls? VRT doesn't run anything there do they?
Albeit it doesn't look like it's actually doing anything, not even in a bay....
Quote from: Tristan on November 30, 2008, 10:04:37 AM
Blue Turd Q Bus. Why is it at West Falls? VRT doesn't run anything there do they?
Albeit it doesn't look like it's actually doing anything, not even in a bay....
Apparently there is at least 1 Loudoun County route that goes to West Falls Church Station
There are commuter routes, but is there a Transit route?
Okay, did some research - turns out VRT is trying to step it up a bit with their information...looks like they have a Ride Guide now. And listed in that book is a GW Shuttle service to Foggy Bottom and West Falls Church stations.
That's very interesting. I guess I caught quite a catch - too bad it is in that full wrap!
Eventually, this was bound to happen, and what a day for it to happen. I was lucky enough to ride this one.
Wow, that was fast to get repainted. Of course, there's the issue with the "Local" bus on a Rapid route!
Those 28XXs look good in the new scheme, though. The LACMTA style "M" decal technique doesn't quite work with these, and I wish they could've kept that grey around the headlights, but ah well.
Great catch!
Sounds like what Cato did when he was at LA Transit
They had Metro Local and Metro Rapid