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I mean, it depends on if anyone even still uses these things...but everything seems to work exactly the way it was left...

For years, I've been trying to launch DCATZ into a comprehensive community of transit enthusiasts.  I've been set back by personal life, professional life changes, technological hurdles, and more ... but I have a brief window of time now that makes this the best time to take the next step.

About a year ago, I approached Ralph Johnson, President of the DMV Mass Transit Museum (disclaimer: I'm VP) and asked if he was interested in combining efforts.  The question was raised to the organization's Board of Directors, which unanimously agreed to support DCATZ and making it an integral part of the Museum organization.

Luckily, I serve as webmaster of both entities, so making this happen wasn't exactly a Herculean effort, though it has been beset by some of the same challenges above.

Anyway, some time between now and January 1, you will visit this site, and it will look completely different.  It'll function somewhat differently, but in many ways, the same.  Your username and password will still work, but you might have to log in again.  This might take place as soon as this weekend or as late as December 31, I can't promise a specific date yet other than "soon".  I will endeavor to send out an email once I am ready to flip the switch,  but I'm posting this as fair warning in case I forget or am otherwise unable to do so. 

This will be the first step of many towards achieving the dream I set out on almost 10 years ago now.  There's more to come, but I don't want to over-promise right now.  So, we now resume our regularly scheduled programming...

This Saturday, September 21st, for those attending the WMATA Roadeo in Landover, Maryland, the DMV Mass Transit Museum will host a Bus Excursion and Cookout in nearby Alexandria, Virginia.

Recently acquired Alexandria DASH 1996 Gillig Phantom #53 will be used for the excursion.

The bus will depart at noon from the Roadeo and travel to the DASH transit yard where we will have a tour of the facility.

Afterwards, we will have photo stops along to the way to Gravelly Point park. Once there, we will have a cookout (rain or shine) and then return to the nearest WMATA Metro station to drop people off. The excursion should last about 6 hours.

In lieu of tickets, we ask for a donation of $25 to offset costs and aid in the preservation of transit vehicles being stored by the museum.

For those who want to attend, all donations can be in cash or through our PayPal account info@dmvmtm.org



...More information about the DMV Mass Transit Museum in the coming days...

No, or else it wouldn't have a public timetable.

What are the new LF Gilligs going to replace?

probably the remaining Phantoms (except for 100-102)

they are not replacing anything

Please ignore the speculation.

They will be replacing three 1996 Phantoms 40, 41, 43 and the 1998 Phantoms 45-51.  The Dash About service (which was replaced by the King St Trolley) was operated with wrapped 1998 Phantoms 44, 52 and 53, these buses will not be retired as of now because they have lower mileage than the rest of that particular series since Dash About only ran Fri-Sun.

There are no expansion buses in this order, it is a full replacement order.

WMATA messes with signs at random and for no reason.  Not sure if there's a revolving door in the department or what but it seems like during one quarter they like single frames, squeezing everything onto one screen, then the next quarter they like spreading things out over multiple frames.

Thought you guys might be interested in this:

http://www.silverspringsingular.com/2010/02/flickr-find-silver-spring-in-late-70s.html

Stumbled across it.  They have the first color photo I've ever seen of the original Ride On buses vehicles.

Header of website from left to right: MARC, Baltimore Light Rail, Howard Transit, ........ We ran out of MD pictures?

The doorway to the sales office says CAPITAL TRACTION CO above it, IIRC.  I have pics of this at home.  It's a pretty neat building actually.

Wasn't it said that the red LEDs were cheaper than the ambers?

Thanks for posting this.  I'll be moving soon and will have space for my trains again (can't wait!)...

Little annoyed that their 40th anniversary set doesn't have anything in the 40th anniversary paint schemes, but ... that's okay!

I thought something was strange when I read the subject, "For the AM General *Fans*"

Is that Ron as in Ron Holzer?

So the upgrade's done, let me know if that helps.  Problem seems too random to reproduce on demand.

Well, low-hanging fruit first.  I'll try an upgrade.  If things get screwy, try back later!