When Did It Begin

[WES]

Your interest in transit, that is.  For me it might have been when I was beginning to walk.  I remember living on Benning Road, almost always catching either a AM General or GM New Look on the old U2 to go downtown.  I have practically ridden every bus in WMATA's fleet (except for the surburban new looks      ), DASH's fleet (except for the new Gilligs and newest Orions--yea riding the 2006s is the same BIG DEAL), RIDE ON (truck buses don't count), Fairfax Connector(except for the 30 foot Orion Is), ART(again ODVs don't count--NABIs do), CUE, even THE BUS(again ODVs, CAGVs, school buses, and econoline vans don't count).

[LandoverDivision]

Your interest in transit, that is.  For me it might have been when I was beginning to walk.  I remember living on Benning Road, almost always catching either a AM General or GM New Look on the old U2 to go downtown.  I have practically ridden every bus in WMATA's fleet (except for the surburban new looks      ), DASH's fleet (except for the new Gilligs and newest Orions--yea riding the 2006s is the same BIG DEAL), RIDE ON (truck buses don't count), Fairfax Connector(except for the 30 foot Orion Is), ART(again ODVs don't count--NABIs do), CUE, even THE BUS(again ODVs, CAGVs, school buses, and econoline vans don't count).

Well, ever since I was an infant. My mom use to take us on the bus all the time. I remember riding the GM Fishbowls on the V5, V6, V7, V8. Also the 90, 92, 30s, an the X2. Love t6ose 1992 Detroit Deisel Orion Vs. I also loved riding the MAN Artics. Truthfully, I didn't really get into knowing bus names or engine names untill about mid '06. I also remember riding the NABI Artics inthe mid 90s. The Flxibles were another of my favorites. Everytime these babys hit a bump and the windows an seats vibrate, woo, that sound caught my ears everytime. Good times, good times

[jbgroup1]

My interest started when I first starting the bus regularly in 1979.  I used to catch the A12 Deanwood from Barlowe Rd to Eastern Ave. and Dix Street then went to the old Seat Pleasant bus terminal on 63rd & Dix (it's still there!).  I remember the X2, X4 and X6 all going to Lafayette Square and terminating at the park across from the White House.  I lost interest when I moved to Forestville in 1981 then regained interest and never lost it in 1985. 

 

[Perry]

My interest started as soon as I can remember taking the bus.  From 1971 when I was born until about 1973 we lived in Highview behind PG Plaza (it was just becoming the dump that it is today) and I would sit out on the steps waiting for my dad to take the bus home from DC.  No subways then, all the buses went into DC.  Before the C4 of today went to PG Plaza, we had the J8 running from Wheaton Plaza to Beltway Plaza and when I was about 3, I remember a bus operator who became friendly with the family as my dad used to ride with him to work when he operated the old F9 into DC (this was 1974 or so).  I also remember some of the mean-a$$ old school operators that were on there who must have been driving since way back in the day. From there, I remember when the 8000 series Flxibles came into service, then the first time an RTS appeared in 1979 and how excited I was that I rode one the first day I ever saw anything like that, and remembering that new bus smell.  From there, I just started learning where all of the buses were housed and how much I despised the AM Generals yet these days I miss them and seeing the photos of them just now on nycsubway.org brings back fond memories....

From there it just blossomed into my career as a transit planner.  It's cool that I was able to harness my hobby into a career.  The buses of today, although pretty neat from certain standpoints, just don't have the same allure to me as what I remember growing up on.  Nonetheless, my oldest son Joey, who will be 4 in March is getting an interest in buses and little by little I'm taking him out a bit and showing him photos and he's learning them.  I think it's cool he's taken an interest in them too.

[coneyraven]

For me, growing up in "the sticks" of Howard County, before Columbia and the suburbia of today (I remember U.S. 29 as a 2-lane road) --- transit was never in my mind, that is, until I read in the Washington Post and Star about the subway getting ready to open, then I took my first ride right after the Blue Line opened in '77 -- I was almost 15 then --- that was all it took, but my interest went in the direction of map collections, article collecting, and any other trinkets or momentos I could get my hands on....which all revolved around he planning of the lines....the technical side of things never really sparked an interest in my, but it does raise my curiosity when I talk to Sand Box John and folks like that....plus, one thing I've noticed is how the younger folk view things compared to us "old timers" --- quite different.

[C40LF_2464]

Well when i was little my Father allways rode metro even if he can drive always metro so its like everyday when i spend time with him we always ride metro rail and metro bus and he new alot of bus drivers and allways wanted me to be a Bus driver when i grow up lol and he was a mechanic for amtrak and i tought i was just weird for likeing buses then a couple years back i saw this sexy bus just pass by then i got on the computer and found out other people like transit just like me so thats how it started and not untill like late 07 i started learning the names of the buses and im still stucking learning the Flxibles bus names lol!!! Thanks for the topic its really intressting!!!

[WayneNYC]

I had it for as far back as I can remember.  Growing up in the Bronx, NY, I remember I could see two routes (Bx20 & Bx36) from our apartment window.  A nice bonus was they we lived within 1 mile of two bus depots, so again I got to see lots of deadheading buses.  Many times I'd see one coming from the garage and the B/O would be changing sign.  It was cool seeing all the different route numbers/destinations.  I learned quite a bit of info just observing over the  years.  We also lived nearby to the Bronx Zoo, so I got to see tons of chartered buses going to/from the zoo.  Most of those chartered buses were old PSC/Transport of New Jersey buses.  Since we didn't have a car we went everywhere by bus or subway.  Then in school I used to watch the #2 & 5 trains passing on the el. I just always looked forward to riding the buses and subway.  The subway was always a treat because both the #2 & 5 were express trains and I got such a rush from the fast (and noisy) trains.  I remember whenever we visited relatives and/or family friends I'd feel cheated if (1) someone gave us a ride home or (2) it was late and we came home in a taxi.  I used to read the maps endlessly and by time I was 10 I knew all Bronx bus routes and most of those in Manhattan.  I also had the subway system mastered too by time I was sixteen I knew all of the NYCTA?MABSTOA depots as well as DOT privates, NYCTA rail yards/shops.  I think I was about 17/18 when I finally rode through each stop on the subway system.  So whenever my mom or brother had a transit question, they'd ask me.

Then there were things that kept my interest in transit.  During my teen years NYCTA used to operate the "Nostalgia Train" every weekend.  I rode this train every week for a couple of years until the TA's budget cuts killed it.  Then I'd ride the various bus shuttles which covered subway outages.  In my late teens I started spreading out and exploring the other boroughs, Westchester County, Long Island and New Jersey.

I did consider a transit career, and went through the hiring process to be a MABSTOA bus operator.  I turned down the offer to concentrate more on school and eventually an IT career.

[NewFlyer9736BCT]

Just out of randomnesss...

I guess the best I can explain is numbers...

I just like numbers...and I do remember riding a Ride-On 5500s Orion V one day. Then later (I'll never forget this), I rode 5623 on the 56 in 2005. I remember seeing a 5500 before and thinking "o wow there must be over 100 of these buses"

and yeah, from there, I began figuring out stuff for myself, and a couple of months later, discovered Oren's Transit Page and BTCo, and I guess I just built up from there.

EDIT - Actually, I always liked buses and trains, even before this. I just haven't gotten REALLY into it until about 3 years ago.

[orionvii2680]

Riding busses all my life did it to me.

[Tritransit Area]

I honestly can't say when my interest in transit started.  I had such a strong interest ever since I was born I imagine, since that was my family's only form of transportation.  Plus, my mom and I always went to various places around the area, and like to travel to different places.  As no one in my family works in the transit field, my parents always wonder where I inherited my keen interest in public transportation.

I guess it helped that my family relied on 3 different transit systems (WMATA and Ride-On in MD, and SEPTA in PA) which all had significantly different fleets when I was a kid.  In fact, at that time I thought that the transit companies made their own buses! 

Plus, new buses were often being delivered in MD, and I loved riding the "new buses".  Transit buses always had such wonderful sounds with their powertrains, especially those powered by the 6v92TAs (which was practically everything back them).  Also, the L10 Bs were very interesting with their unique shifts (due to long gears) and the "truck sounding" engine.

I didn't start researching the names and models of transit vehicles until I was about 10 or 11, when SEPTA's new NABI buses were coming in.  At that time, the only bus name I knew was "Neoplan", thanks to the big name plaques that were on the back walls of the earlier late Neoplan buses.

Armed with the word Neoplan and SEPTA, I found different sites and pictures, and came across one subway board that would forever change my life, nycsubway.org.

With this board, I learned so much about the going ons about transit, and I was hooked - not only about the different bus and train models out there, but about the operations of transit.  With all the politics and whatnot, it was very interesting to me.  Plus, I got to meet so many friends who were filled with a wealth of transit knowledge and enthusiasm, and found myself as a part of a unique community of transit enthusiasts.

Nowadays, I'm still amazed at how far I've come in transit knowledge and memories.  I'm so grateful and thrilled that I managed to start of in the transit field as a Transit Service Coordinator, using the knowledge I obtained to help people out there get around to work and play.

Most of the buses that were so influencial in my growth as a transit fan are either gone or about to go, which certainly stuns me.  I must agree with Perry, though; these buses, no matter how much they are redesigned, just don't have the charm that the buses of yesterday once had.  It's too bad that future generations won't be able to tell tales of riding buses with a screaming 6v92TA, or be able to remember the rattle and shakes and bounce of a Flxible Metro.  Now buses more or less are the same, and they sound essentially the same as well!  However, the technology sure keeps them interesting!

There's my long winded tale.

[Annex4421]

Mines started a little when I was 3 when my mom took me for a ride on the bus, my 1st bus ride was on a MAN Artic, which by the was when I saw had green windows and not to mention it was and artic!!!!!!!, then 2 yrs later when the NABI 60 SFW's came out I knew then I loved buses, just as much as cars, then when we moved to the other side of Southeast I lived on nothing but Flxibles, Orion V's (1992) and the Gillig Phantoms, before I used to HATE the Metro D's until we took a ride on the 92 across the 11th street bridge and it was bouncing up and down and the leans were sick *sigh* those were the days.

[WayneNYC]

then 2 yrs later when the NABI 60 SFW's came out I knew then I loved buses, just as much as cars, then when we moved to the other side of Southeast I lived on nothing but Flxibles, Orion V's (1992) and the Gillig Phantoms, before I used to HATE the Metro D's until we took a ride on the 92 across the 11th street bridge and it was bouncing up and down and the leans were sick *sigh* those were the days.

Are you referring to WMATA's 5201-5245?  If so, those are NABI 436 or more accurately American-Ikaurus 436.