March 2010 Observations

[Tristan]

Hmm...I thought the 25 was the only route that had this requirement.  Are they going to keep the requirement in effect when the Baby Gilligs take over?

I think they'll find some way to either bargain with the neighborhood or do some bizarre order. GE30LFR's anyone?

Is the 5 still operated by Nicholson in the evenings with cutaways?

Those runs are now all Baby Gillig from what I've noticed.

I think it was a noise abatement agreement...but considering that the baby Gilligs are quieter than even some cars, maybe there won't be an issue if they just take the neighborhood association out for a ride.

[LandoverDivision]

4390 is no longer a B30 bus and it does not have an airport rack in it which means this might be the same for the other Orion Vs that were B30 buses.

[79MetroExtraMD]

4390 is no longer a B30 bus and it does not have an airpot rack in it which means this might be the same for the other Orion Vs that were B30 buses.

A matter of time before this happened. Those buses have been running on that line for 9 years.

[NewFlyer9736BCT]

do they still have suburban seating?

[ChristopherF]

RIDE ON:
005809 on the 48 (Rockville)
055823 on the 48 (Wheaton)
095348 on the 10 (Twinbrook)
025592 on the 10 (Hillandale)

METROBUS (*asterisk indicates unrehabbed 2001-02 New Flyer C40LF buses):
6139 on the NH1
4020 on the NH1
4349 on the 28A (King Street Station)
9819 on the C8 (College Park Station)
9833 on the C4 (PG Plaza Station)
4080 on the C8 (White Flint Station)
4320 on the J2 (Silver Spring Station)
4325 on the C4 (Twinbrook Station)
4330 on the C8 (White Flint Station)
4331 on the C8 (White Flint Station)
4333 on the C8 (White Flint Station)
4383 on the F4 (Silver Spring Station)
2077 on the K6 (White Oak)
2078 on the C2 (Wheaton Station)
2080 on the C8 (College Park Station)
2083 on the J2 (Montgomery Mall)
2084 on the C2 (Greenbelt Center)
6032 on the C4 (Twinbrook Station)
6035 on the K6 (White Oak)
6038 on the C2 (Wheaton Station)
6173 on the F8 (Langley Park)
6175 on the F8 (Cheverly Station)
6178 on the F4 (New Carrollton Station)
6186 on the Q2 (Silver Spring Station)
6190 on the C8 (College Park Station)
6191 on the Z6 (Silver Spring Station)
6197 on the C2 (Wheaton Station)
6199 on the C2 (Greenbelt Center)
6200 on the Z8 (Briggs Chaney Park & Ride)
6325 on the F6 (Silver Spring Station)
6367 on the K6 (Ft Totten)
2506 on the 38B (Farragut Square)
2592 on the 38B (Ballston Station)
2634 on the 86 (Rhode Island Avenue Station)
2448 on the 86 (Rhode Island Avenue Station)
2397 on the R4 (Highview)
2326* on the R4 (Brookland Station)
2325 on the R3 (Ft Totten)
2381 on the 83, freshly rehabbed & repainted in silver/red
2419 on the 86 (Cherry Hill)
2461* on the 86 (Calverton)
2405* on the 83 (Rhode Island Avenue Station)
2417 on the R2 (Calverton)
2411* on the 86 (Calverton) & then on the R2 (Ft Totten)
2374* on the R2 (Calverton)

[LandoverDivision]

do they still have suburban seating?

Yup sur does but it looks like the other suburban seated Orion Vs.

[NewFlyer9736BCT]

do they still have suburban seating?

Yup sur does but it looks like the other suburban seated Orion Vs.

ah just as I thought. I predict that they will move to either Annex or Royal. Possibly Montgomery as well, or West Ox...
we'll see...

speaking of which, where did you see 4390?

[LandoverDivision]

do they still have suburban seating?

Yup sur does but it looks like the other suburban seated Orion Vs.

ah just as I thought. I predict that they will move to either Annex or Royal. Possibly Montgomery as well, or West Ox...
we'll see...

speaking of which, where did you see 4390?

Turning on MLK Hwy at Ardwick-Ardmore Rd.

[ChristopherF]

RIDE ON:
005819 on the 48 (Rockville)
055833 on the 48 (Wheaton)
095326 on the 20 (Silver Spring)
095327 on the 20 (Hillandale)
095328 on the 5 (Twinbrook)
965387 on the 5 (Silver Spring)

FAIRFAX CONNECTOR:
7764 on the 950 (West Falls Church)
7771 on the 505 (Reston Town Ctr via Reston East)
9749 on the 950 (Reston Town Ctr via Herndon- Monroe P&R)
7828 on the 505 (West Falls Church Metro)

PRTC OMNIRIDE:
308 (Manassas)
321 (West Falls Church Metro)
326 (West Falls Church Metro)
188 (Gainesville/ Linton Hall Road)

METROBUS (*asterisk indicates unrehabbed 2001-02 New Flyer C40LF buses):
6110 on the NH1
4020 on the NH1
4349 on the 28A (King Street Station)
9484 on the F2 (Takoma Station)
9486 on the F2 (Cheverly Station)
9496 on the F8 (Cheverly Station)
4228 on the 1A (Ballston Station)
4305 on the Y9 (Silver Spring Station)
4322 on the Y8 (Silver Spring Station)
4374 on the 28A (Tysons Corner)
4381 on the F4 (New Carrollton)
4387 on the F4 (Silver Spring Station)
2089 on the C8 (White Flint Station)
2135 on the S2 (Federal Triangle)
2178 on the 36 (Naylor Road Station)
2179 on the 42 (Metro Center)
2186 on the 32 (Southern Avenue Station)
2199 on the 31 (Friendship Heights Station)
2202 on the 42 (Mt Pleasant)
2210 on the 42 (Metro Center)
2220 on the 32 & is now the THIRD bus wrapped in the Explore Germany ad
2228 on the 36 (Friendship Heights Station)
6018 on the C4 (Twinbrook Station)
6023 on the C4 (PG Plaza Station)
6024 on the K6 (Ft Totten)
6028 on the K6 (Ft Totten)
6039 on the Y8 (Silver Spring Station)
6158 on the R12 (New Carrollton Station)
6166 on the F4 (New Carrolton)
6168 on the F4 (Silver Spring Station)
6172 on the F4 (Silver Spring Station)
6186 on the Y9 (Montgomery Gen Hospital)
6192 on the Z8 (Briggs Chaney Park & Ride)
6195 on the Y8 (Montgomery Gen Hospital)
6200 on the Z8 (Silver Spring Station)
6204 on the C4 (Twinbrook Station)
6205 on the C8 (College Park Station)
6305 on the R12 (Deanwood Station)
6344 on the S2 (Federal Triangle)
6345 on the S2 (Silver Spring Station)
6346 on the E2 (Ft Totten)
6356 on the 42 (Mt Pleasant)
6362 on the 64 (Ft Totten)
6363 on the E2 (Ft Totten)
6365 on the J2 (Silver Spring Station)
6375 on the C4 (Twinbrook Station)
6378 on the Y8 (Montgomery Gen Hospital)
6381 on the J2 (Montgomery Mall)
6382 on the Y8 (Silver Spring Station)
6387 on the Z8 (Briggs Chaney Park & Ride)
2553 on the 38B (Ballston Station)
2561 on the 38B (Farragut Square)
2819 on the X2 (Minnesota Avenue Station)
2824 on the R2 (Ft Totten)
2634 on the R2 (Calverton)
2371* on the X2 (Lafayette Square)
2405* on the 80 (Kennedy Center)
2396* on the 80 (Ft Totten)
2333 on the R4 (Highview)
2344 on the R4, freshly rehabbed & repainted in silver/red
2444 on the P6, freshly rehabbed & repainted in silver/red
2413* on the P6 (Anacostia Station)
2460* on the 86 (Rhode Island Avenue Station)
2387 on the 86 (Calverton)
2353 on the 86 (Calverton & then to Rhode Island Avenue Station)
2302* on the R2 (Calverton)

[NewFlyer9736BCT]

9406 deadheading into Montgomery Division
9412 on the T2

Ride On's 5303 was about to start the 47 at Rockville, but the bus broke down, so people had to wait for the next one. the bus driver even commented that the 300s were good for nothing buses (5300-5304, or maybe all the 5300 hybrids, not sure what he meant)
Ride On's 5393 is now at Nicholson, seen on the route 6 (runs really nice as well)

[Annex4421]

BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!! well not that much I just wanted to say that, but as of yesterday 2 THE BUS 2010 Gillig Low Floors are now in service the buses were units 61389 and 63195. and 6156 has moved to Annex, ChrisF can you find 6157 I know 6158 is still Landover I jus need to find 57.

[ChristopherF]

RIDE ON:
005819 on the 48 (Rockville)
035915 on the 48 (Rockville)
045923 on the 48 (wheaton)
055952 on the 48 (Wheaton)
095329 on the 10 (Twinbrook)
095330 on the 10 (Twinbrook)
095754 on the 10 (Hillandale)
015581 on the 10 (Hillandale)

FAIRFAX CONNECTOR:
9790 on the RIBS 1
9792 on the RIBS 2
9794 on the RIBS 3
7923 on the RIBS 4
7871 on the 401 (Franconia- Springfield)
7876 on the 401 (Tysons West*Park)
7771 on the 950 (Reston Town Ctr via Herndon- Monroe P&R)
7819 on the 505 (West Falls Church Metro)

METROBUS (*asterisk indicates unrehabbed 2001-02 New Flyer C40LF buses):
6139 on the NH1
4020 on the NH1
4364 on the 28A (Tysons Corner)
9344 on the F6
9819 on the C8 (College Park Station)
9824 on the C2 (Greenbelt Center)
4086 on the Z8 (Castle Blvd)
4088 on the C8 (White Flint Station)
4091 on the C8 (White Flint Station)
4094 on the K6 (Ft Totten)
5240 on the X2 (Lafayette Square)
4203 on the 83 (Rhode Island Avenue Station)
4321 on the C8 (College Park Station)
4322 on the K6 (White Oak)
4324 on the Y8 (Silver Spring Station)
4330 on the Z8 (Silver Spring Station)
4331 on the C8 (White Flint Station)
4332 on the K6 (Ft Totten)
4333 on the C8 (College Park Station)
4349 on the 28A (Tysons Corner)
4380 on the F4 (New Carrollton)
2000 on the R12 (Deanwood Station)
2006 on the R12 (New Carrollton Station)
2075 on the Z8 (Silver Spring Station)
2086 on the Z8 (Silver Spring Station)
2088 on the C8 (College Park Station)
2091 on the C8 (College Park Station)
2094 on the K6 (White Oak)
2103 on the S2 (Silver Spring Station)
2145 on the S2 (Federal Triangle)
6016 on the K6 (White Oak)
6019 on the Z8 (Briggs Chaney Park & Ride)
6023 on the K6 (Ft Totten)
6028 on the K6 (White Oak)
6046 on the F4 (Silver Spring Station)
6172 on the F4 (New Carrollton Station)
6192 on the J2 (Montgomery Mall)
6197 on the J2 (Montgomery Mall)
6200 on the Y8 (Silver Spring Station)
6210 on the Z6 (Silver Spring Station)
6340 on the S4 (Silver Spring Station)
6344 on the S2 (Silver Spring Station)
6366 on the C8 (White Flint Station)
6368 on the Y8 (Silver Spring Station) & then on the K6 (Ft Totten)
6373 on the C4 (PG Plaza Station)
6375 on the C4 (Twinbrook Station)
6380 on the Z6 (Burtonsville)
6387 on the C8 (White Flint Station)
6391 on the C8 (College Park Station)
6393 on the J2 (Silver Spring Station)
6411 on the F4 (Silver Spring Station)
6457 on the Z6 (Silver Spring Station)
5446 on the Y8 (Silver Spring Station)
5447 on the 70 (Silver Spring Station)
2553 on the 23A (Tysons Corner Westpark)
2663 on the 23A (Crystal City)
2633 on the R2 (Ft Totten)
2637 on the D8 (Union Sta)
2801 on the 79 (Archives)
2808 on the R5 (Calverton)
2824 on the 83 (Cherry Hill)
2301* on the D6 (Sibley Hospital)
2326* on the 80 (Kennedy Center)
2329 on the R2 (Calverton & then to Ft Totten)
2348 on the D8 with destination signs stuck on "NOT IN SERVICE"
2370 on the 86 (Rhode Island Avenue Station)
2373* on the 86 (Calverton)
2389 on the H2, freshly rehabbed & repainted in silver/red
2398* on the D8 (Union Sta)
2404 on the R2 (Calverton)
2413* on the D6 (Stadium Armory)
2446* on the X2 (Minnestoa Avenue Station)
2458* on the 80 (Ft Totten)
2444 on the R2 (Calverton & then to Ft Totten)
2354 on the R2 (Calverton)
IS 9310 STILL @ CET?

[WES]

A few observations from THE BUS.  First off there seems to be two '96 Gilligs that are still alive.  62899 was seen today, enroute from the garage about to turn onto Ritchie Road.  62898 may still be alive that was the other one seen after all of the first batch of Advantages were delievered.

Second:
63195 on the 23, oddly enough passing by my house.  Something must have happened on Nalley route, because I think the F14 was doing the same.  As for the Gilligs 35', basically the exact same as the '08 Gilligs, except for front and rear doors are squared.

63194 on the 28

63193 on the 26

Passed the Carmen E Turner and saw 7 more DE42LFAs that were just recently delievered, all in the "Local" scheme.  The DE37LFA and the DE62LFA that were there, apparently aren't there anymore, I didn't see them.

Last but not least:
-Passed by THE BUS's garage and saw a few things.  Saw a bunch of HDXs and in another lot saw two reject Orion Vs and one 40' TL960s that looked like they might be retired and if those Orions retire, I don't think they'll go somewhere else, those suckers maybe seeing the scrap heep, they are around 12-13 years old. 

Saw a few interesting things though.  In that same lot I saw those could-be retired buses saw a few baby Gilligs and one other interesting sighting.  Saw a CNG El Dorado in all white sitting there, for testing, don't know.  I said earlier that they did have a few CNG CAGVs, so seeing a CNG bus there isn't unusual.  I am pretty sure if they do, they would have to upgrade their CNG feuling facilities.

[79MetroExtraMD]

4330 on the C8 wrapped in the smoking alarms save lives wrap for Montgomery Co.