I'm going to start posting here some buses that operate "out of place" according to our daily block charts.
1/29/09: 5545 (SS) is operating on a Nicholson run
1/30/09: 5401 (training), 5410 (SS) and 5591 (SS) are operating Nicholson runs
Quote from: rideonrulez on January 30, 2009, 09:21:59 AM
I'm going to start posting here some buses that operate "out of place" according to our daily block charts.
1/29/09: 5545 (SS) is operating on a Nicholson run
1/30/09: 5401 (training), 5410 (SS) and 5591 (SS) are operating Nicholson runs
Thank you Chris...I now have a motivation to go out today =D
Very random reply but here's 5545 at Silver Spring:
(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd19/bjb91/S7300399.jpg)
I saw 5591 at Silver Spring today but it was not in service...I didn't get to see the others though =(
2/3/09: 5400 (training) is operating on a Nicholson run.
What do the blocks began with?
Quote from: wmata employee on February 03, 2009, 02:58:20 PM
What do the blocks began with?
Good question. Here it goes:
A-M blocks are operated by Silver Spring depot
N-Z blocks are operated by Gaithersburg depot
double digit blocks are operated by Nicholson depot
All this is soon to change though....
Quote from: rideonrulez on February 03, 2009, 04:29:13 PM
Quote from: wmata employee on February 03, 2009, 02:58:20 PM
What do the blocks began with?
Good question. Here it goes:
A-M blocks are operated by Silver Spring depot
N-Z blocks are operated by Gaithersburg depot
double digit blocks are operated by Nicholson depot
All this is soon to change though....
Is this due to the new Orbital radios being installed or something scheduling wise?
Quote from: rideonrulez on February 03, 2009, 04:29:13 PM
Quote from: wmata employee on February 03, 2009, 02:58:20 PM
What do the blocks began with?
Good question. Here it goes:
A-M blocks are operated by Silver Spring depot
N-Z blocks are operated by Gaithersburg depot
double digit blocks are operated by Nicholson depot
All this is soon to change though....
I had no idea it was that simple!
Quote from: rideonrulez on February 03, 2009, 04:29:13 PM
Quote from: wmata employee on February 03, 2009, 02:58:20 PM
What do the blocks began with?
Good question. Here it goes:
A-M blocks are operated by Silver Spring depot
N-Z blocks are operated by Gaithersburg depot
double digit blocks are operated by Nicholson depot
All this is soon to change though....
Is this change gonna involve 4-character blocks like WMATA? I'm guessing because not too long ago I was on a New Flyer (forgot the number and route) and the block was G437 I think. For one thing, it starts with a G, but it's a Gaithersburg route, so I'm also guessing it's gonna be G, S, and N for the division names?
Quote from: 79MetroExtraMD on February 03, 2009, 05:35:37 PM
Quote from: rideonrulez on February 03, 2009, 04:29:13 PM
Quote from: wmata employee on February 03, 2009, 02:58:20 PM
What do the blocks began with?
Good question. Here it goes:
A-M blocks are operated by Silver Spring depot
N-Z blocks are operated by Gaithersburg depot
double digit blocks are operated by Nicholson depot
All this is soon to change though....
Is this due to the new Orbital radios being installed or something scheduling wise?
Nothing to do with the Orbital radios but it has something to do with the scheduling side.
Quote
Is this change gonna involve 4-character blocks like WMATA? I'm guessing because not too long ago I was on a New Flyer (forgot the number and route) and the block was G437 I think. For one thing, it starts with a G, but it's a Gaithersburg route, so I'm also guessing it's gonna be G, S, and N for the division names?
"G437" was actually the run number and was only used for Inauguration Day service only as of now. It will be a 4-character block but have'nt decided if we want to use letter or number designation for depot codes.
Quote from: rideonrulez on February 04, 2009, 08:15:02 AM
Quote from: 79MetroExtraMD on February 03, 2009, 05:35:37 PM
Quote from: rideonrulez on February 03, 2009, 04:29:13 PM
Quote from: wmata employee on February 03, 2009, 02:58:20 PM
What do the blocks began with?
Good question. Here it goes:
A-M blocks are operated by Silver Spring depot
N-Z blocks are operated by Gaithersburg depot
double digit blocks are operated by Nicholson depot
All this is soon to change though....
Is this due to the new Orbital radios being installed or something scheduling wise?
Nothing to do with the Orbital radios but it has something to do with the scheduling side.
Quote
Is this change gonna involve 4-character blocks like WMATA? I'm guessing because not too long ago I was on a New Flyer (forgot the number and route) and the block was G437 I think. For one thing, it starts with a G, but it's a Gaithersburg route, so I'm also guessing it's gonna be G, S, and N for the division names?
"G437" was actually the run number and was only used for Inauguration Day service only as of now. It will be a 4-character block but have'nt decided if we want to use letter or number designation for depot codes.
Let's see. Letters would be good but most of the older buses have two character blocks (I wonder if that'll change). I agree with the G-Gaithersburg S-Silver Spring and N-Nicholson thing. Then there are the numbers comparing to MTA which did a four digit block system back in 07 (which is alot better now) 1-Bush 2-Eastern 3-Kirk 4-Northwest. But we'll have to wait and see what Moco cooks up in the coming weeks or so.
Quote from: 79MetroExtraMD on February 04, 2009, 10:28:12 AM
Quote from: rideonrulez on February 04, 2009, 08:15:02 AM
Quote from: 79MetroExtraMD on February 03, 2009, 05:35:37 PM
Quote from: rideonrulez on February 03, 2009, 04:29:13 PM
Quote from: wmata employee on February 03, 2009, 02:58:20 PM
What do the blocks began with?
Good question. Here it goes:
A-M blocks are operated by Silver Spring depot
N-Z blocks are operated by Gaithersburg depot
double digit blocks are operated by Nicholson depot
All this is soon to change though....
Is this due to the new Orbital radios being installed or something scheduling wise?
Nothing to do with the Orbital radios but it has something to do with the scheduling side.
Quote
Is this change gonna involve 4-character blocks like WMATA? I'm guessing because not too long ago I was on a New Flyer (forgot the number and route) and the block was G437 I think. For one thing, it starts with a G, but it's a Gaithersburg route, so I'm also guessing it's gonna be G, S, and N for the division names?
"G437" was actually the run number and was only used for Inauguration Day service only as of now. It will be a 4-character block but have'nt decided if we want to use letter or number designation for depot codes.
Let's see. Letters would be good but most of the older buses have two character blocks (I wonder if that'll change). I agree with the G-Gaithersburg S-Silver Spring and N-Nicholson thing. Then there are the numbers comparing to MTA which did a four digit block system back in 07 (which is alot better now) 1-Bush 2-Eastern 3-Kirk 4-Northwest. But we'll have to wait and see what Moco cooks up in the coming weeks or so.
I don't think it is worth it to replace two letter run boxes just for this. As for how Ride On could display the blocks on those buses, they could take the European approach where a metal or paper sign is placed in a slot on the outside of the vehicle or in a holder on the dash (see photo below) or they could just do what many transit systems do, which is not display a block number, though that has a high potential of creating difficulties for the supervisory staff.
(http://www.orenstransitpage.com/otplondonpics/dart5.jpg)
(http://www.orenstransitpage.com/otppolandpics/konstal14.jpg)
2/4/09: 5400 (training) is operating on a Nicholson run.
2/5/09: 5400 (training) is operating on a Nicholson run. 5501,5502,5523,5527,5529 (GB) is operating on a Nicholson run this morning.
Quote from: rideonrulez on February 05, 2009, 07:21:13 AM
2/5/09: 5501,5502,5523,5527,5529 (GB) is operating on a Nicholson run this morning.
Only this morning?
Quote from: NewFlyer97BCT on February 05, 2009, 08:15:58 AM
Quote from: rideonrulez on February 05, 2009, 07:21:13 AM
2/5/09: 5501,5502,5523,5527,5529 (GB) is operating on a Nicholson run this morning.
Only this morning?
As of now yes, later this afternoon I have no idea. It depends how many vehicles they can get ready by the time PM rush starts. You can also add 5401 (training) to the list too.
rideonrulez, is Ride-On starting to turn away from having Nicholson as the "cutaway depot"? There's an awful lot of heavy duty buses running there now...
Not that I'm complaining, but it'll sure catch my eye when I see a heavy duty bus on the 18 for the first time....ever.
Quote from: Tritransit Area on February 05, 2009, 02:11:36 PM
rideonrulez, is Ride-On starting to turn away from having Nicholson as the "cutaway depot"? There's an awful lot of heavy duty buses running there now...
Not that I'm complaining, but it'll sure catch my eye when I see a heavy duty bus on the 18 for the first time....ever.
Well we are getting more baby Gilligs to replace the rest of the Helldorado's so I guess you can say that. After this order arrives, That will only leave us with 61 cutaways in which 11 are at Silver Spring and 50 at Nicholson.
2/6/09: 5400 & 5401 (training) and 5501,5523 & 5529 are operating on Nicholson runs
2/9/09: 5400 & 5401 (training) and 5501 & 5502 (GB) are operating on Nicholson runs.
PM update: 5523, 5529 & 5537 are operating on Nicholson runs.
Spotted 5529 on the 21 this morning at Silver Spring.
Quote from: 79MetroExtraMD on February 09, 2009, 10:31:37 AM
Spotted 5529 on the 21 this morning at Silver Spring.
isn't the 21 a Silver Spring route now? as in...they run exclusively with the upper 5200 cutaways? or was that the 22?
The 21 actually has been a Silver Spring route since it first started service, which wasn't that long ago IIRC. It was interesting because it was the first cutaway route to run out of Silver Spring. I think it's the only cutaway-only route to run out of that depot to this day, if I'm not mistaken.
I dunno if it was on the 21 or not. The block sign had red numbers showing 21. The sign was crapped out. My second thought was either 18 or 22.
Quote
The 21 actually has been a Silver Spring route since it first started service, which wasn't that long ago IIRC. It was interesting because it was the first cutaway route to run out of Silver Spring. I think it's the only cutaway-only route to run out of that depot to this day, if I'm not mistaken.
I guess let me clear things up, the 21 has always been operated by Silver Spring depot. The 22 & 25 was transfered to Silver Spring from Nicholson effective September 28, 2008.
Quote
I dunno if it was on the 21 or not. The block sign had red numbers showing 21. The sign was crapped out. My second thought was either 18 or 22.
5529 was on the 18 this morning.
I have'nt said much here lately BUT the Orion I's looks like they will spend the rest of there lives at Nicholson, so I kind of gave up posting it here. But 5546 was running out of Nicholson yesterday (2/24/09).
I saw 5546 at Shady Grove Station like 2 weeks ago so i'm guessing it was already at Nicholson.
Plus, I believe 5537 is also a Nicholson bus, I saw that on the 45 last week, as well as a Gillig Phantom on the 45 (couldn't see the number). Also, 5401 on the 79 this afternoon.
2/26/09: 5296 (SS) is operating on a Nicholson run.
2/27/09: 5565 (GB) was operating on a Nicholson run.
3/3/09: 5551 & 5557 (GB) are operating on Nicholson runs this morning. What would be a neat pic oppurtunity is 5557 is down county doing the 3 & 18!!
Quote from: rideonrulez on March 03, 2009, 08:26:40 AM
3/3/09: 5551 & 5557 (GB) are operating on Nicholson runs this morning. What would be a neat pic oppurtunity is 5557 is down county doing the 3 & 18!!
I wish I knew about this earlier! I was down at SS at around noon-1pm but didn't see anything interesting there until I saw 2320 on the 79 (pic in the March Obs Photo thread)
Hmm, is there a reason why all of these "big" buses are running on those Nicholson routes? I can understand certain routes, like the T2 and the other ones that were just transferred there, but why are they running on the "smaller bus" routes?
Capacity needs?
3/18/09: 5404 & 5408 were operating on Nicholson runs.
3/19/09: 5404, 5408 & 5414 (SS) are operating on Nicholson runs this morning.