September 2008 Observations

[WayneNYC]

Why is the paint on 5409 and 5410 "irreplacable"?

What is the big deal about Bladensburg having diesel buses in addition to its CNG fleet?

Re: Ride On 5409 & 5410.  Agreed.  I questioned that term too.  We all know they're the specially painted anniversary buses, but I don't know what makes their paint scheme "irreplacable".

Bladensburg diesels:  I'd have to agree again, because from day one of the CNG buses at WMATA, Bladensburg has always had a few (non artic) diesels.

[79MetroExtraMD]

Why is the paint on 5409 and 5410 "irreplacable"?

What is the big deal about Bladensburg having diesel buses in addition to its CNG fleet?

Re: Ride On 5409 & 5410.  Agreed.  I questioned that term too.  We all know they're the specially painted anniversary buses, but I don't know what makes their paint scheme "irreplacable".

Bladensburg diesels:  I'd have to agree again, because from day one of the CNG buses at WMATA, Bladensburg has always had a few (non artic) diesels.

That's just like how FMR has C001-C004 which are diesel cutaways and its mostly a CNG facility. Remember, Metro only got into CNG in 2001.

[Perry]

I think those cutaways are there only due to convenience of operating TAGS.  If Royal was a 7 day a week garage, they'd probably be there.

[Tristan]

Actually it's C005-C010 now -- those old Ford/Startrans POSes are long gone.  Now it's...well it's Chevy/Startrans POSes but that's not the point.  I guess our roster needs updating.

[79MetroExtraMD]

Metrobus

2597 70 @ Georgia & New Hampshire
followed by
2436 79 @ Georgia & New Hampshire

[ChristopherF]

RIDE ON:
965397 on the 20 (Hillandale)
945361 on the 10 (Twinbrook)
945362 on the 10 (Hillandale)

METROBUS:
6110 on the NH1
6139 on the NH1
4020 on the A2
6107 on the A2
4349 on the 66
9362 on the 83
9411 on the J4 with an "M" block
4210 on the 86 (Calverton)
4213 on the R2 (Ft Totten)
4310 remains @ Northern.
4330 remains @ Montgomery & is now wrapped in the blue & white Chevron ad.
4396 remains @ Montgomery.
2078 on the C2 (Greenbelt Center), remains unrehabbed
2197 on the 36 (Friendship Heights)
2411 on the R4 (Brookland Station)
2372 on the 80 (Kennedy Center)
2634 on the 83 (Cherry Hill)
2632 on the 86 (Calverton)
2818 on the 86 (Rhode Island Avenue Station)
2410 on the 80 (Ft Totten)
2361 on the 80 (Kennedy Center)
2369 on the 80 (Ft Totten)
2362 on the R2 (Calverton)
5412 (NABI CNG articulated) recently did a test run on Riggs Rd in Adelphi.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

RIDE ON:
(96)5397 on the 20 (Hillandale)
(94)5361 on the 10 (Twinbrook)
(94)5362 on the 10 (Hillandale)

METROBUS:
6110 on the NH1
6139 on the NH1
4020 on the A2
6107 on the A2
4349 on the 66
9362 on the 83
9411 on the J4 with an "M" block
4210 on the 86 (Calverton)
4213 on the R2 (Ft Totten)
4310 remains @ Northern.
4330 remains @ Montgomery & is now wrapped in the blue & white Chevron ad.
4396 remains @ Montgomery.
2078 on the C2 (Greenbelt Center), remains unrehabbed
2197 on the 36 (Friendship Heights)
2411 on the R4 (Brookland Station)
2372 on the 80 (Kennedy Center)
2634 on the 83 (Cherry Hill)
2632 on the 86 (Calverton)
2818 on the 86 (Rhode Island Avenue Station)
2410 on the 80 (Ft Totten)
2361 on the 80 (Kennedy Center)
2369 on the 80 (Ft Totten)
2362 on the R2 (Calverton)
5412 (NABI CNG articulated) recently did a test run on Riggs Rd in Adelphi.

Can you please answer our questions???

[OrionFlyer]

Metrobus

2597 70 @ Georgia & New Hampshire
followed by
2436 79 @ Georgia & New Hampshire

2597 on the 70 line? Since when does four mile run do the 70?

[WayneNYC]

Metrobus

2597 70 @ Georgia & New Hampshire
followed by
2436 79 @ Georgia & New Hampshire

2597 on the 70 line? Since when does four mile run do the 70?

When you spot something strange like this... It's probably a bus filling in for the regular bus that should've made the trip.  Remember, stuff happens and when it does they'll get nearest available bus to make the trip(s).  It doesn't really matter if the bus if from another division, though I imagine in some cases it could be a union issue.

[BladensburgB2]

Hello everyone

92-P985 9320 (which was really a good treat)
90-N932 4345
90-N915 4279
96-NJ07 2159
90-N930 4299
92-N934 4281
90-N909 2150
92-N908 2114
92-N938 9780
90-N933 4301
M5-PM55 4021
N22-FN94 2594
P2-BP14 2624
32-W313 4350
W2-PW04 3926

[Scrabbleship]

You saw 2436 on the 79 yesterday afternoon? I saw it yesterday morning, around 7:20, resting at Silver Spring. Took a couple pictures too.

This evening I saw, and nearly rode, 2820 on the 79, first heading back into Silver Spring then heading down 9th Street.

[ChristopherF]

I actually asked a question to Ride On about replacing the Silver Anniversary scheme on bus #'s 975409 & 995410 a couple of years back.  I was told that Ride On will not repaint those 2 buses back into the blue-and-white scheme & that they must remain in the Silver Anniversary scheme through their retirement.  As a result, the Silver Anniversary scheme on Ride On bus #'s 975409 & 995410 are irreplaceable.  Now the observations:

RIDE ON:
075761 on the 10 (Hillandale)

METROBUS:
4349 on the 42 (Metro Center) & later on the 66
9362 on the 86 (Calverton)
9764 on the C9 with an "M" block
9802 on the C8 (College Park Station) with an "M" block
2079 on the C8 (White Flint Station), not sure if this was a recent rehab
4213 on the R2 (Ft Totten)
2373 on the R2 (Calverton & then to Ft Totten)
2372 on the R2 (Calverton)
4204 on the R2 (Calverton)

NOTES:
Some Metrobuses -- particularly the New Flyers (CNGs, hybrids or clean diesels) now have the Magic Johnson/Aetna banner ad, which are similar to the ones first seen earlier this year.  Some of the New Flyer CNGs, including 2410, still have the Magic Johnson/Aetna banner ad from last spring.

[wmata employee]

Regards to 2597 coach seen on the 70's that is a block thats comes off the 37 line in the rush periods it starts at half&0 streets then go in service to silver spring then it does a trip going towards archives then "NOT IN SERVICE" back to the division.

we do not have bus fill ins the system had a big fleet of staff sometimes we have shortages in buses but things happpen. so dont be suprised if u see a division doing an unsual route.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

actually asked a question to Ride On about replacing the Silver Anniversary scheme on bus #'s (97)5409 & (99)5410 a couple of years back.  I was told that Ride On will not repaint those 2 buses back into the blue-and-white scheme & that they must remain in the Silver Anniversary scheme through their retirement.  As a result, the Silver Anniversary scheme on Ride On bus #'s (97)5409 & (99)5410 are irreplaceable.

They must remain in that scheme forever?  Are you sure they simply didn't say there were no plans to repaint them at that time?  Does anyone else agree with me and think that when Ride-On develops a new scheme that is "ad friendly" it wouldn't be out of the question for those buses to be repainted?  Of course, only time will tell...

[WayneNYC]

actually asked a question to Ride On about replacing the Silver Anniversary scheme on bus #'s (97)5409 & (99)5410 a couple of years back.  I was told that Ride On will not repaint those 2 buses back into the blue-and-white scheme & that they must remain in the Silver Anniversary scheme through their retirement.  As a result, the Silver Anniversary scheme on Ride On bus #'s (97)5409 & (99)5410 are irreplaceable.

They must remain in that scheme forever?  Are you sure they simply didn't say there were no plans to repaint them at that time?  Does anyone else agree with me and think that when Ride-On develops a new scheme that is "ad friendly" it wouldn't be out of the question for those buses to be repainted?  Of course, only time will tell...

Agreed.  A couple of years ago that would simply put 5409 & 5410 in with all other Ride On buses.  Since Ride On doesn't seem to repaint their buses one could argue that all of them have "irreplacable" paint schemes.  I also agree that whenever Ride On comes up with a new scheme they'll probably repaint all buses (including 5409/10).  However, they'd probably not waste money repainting any buses that may be close to retirement.