March 2010 Observations

[NewFlyer9736BCT]

today:
6210 on the Q6
6167 on the T18
9488 on the F1
9400 on the F6
9302 on the F4
9405 on the J5
PRTC bus 325 was wrapped in the Powerball/Mega Millions ad

also...I finally saw one of the missing Ride On 2007 cutaways today!!! it wasn't in service, in fact, it was at an International lot at the intersection of Tuxedo Rd and Kenilworth Ave, along with other International cutaways (non Ride On) and school buses. The Ride On one I saw there was 5217 btw, it didn't look like it was being scrapped or anything, it was just sitting there.

[Flxible]

Pardon my bias, but here's what I came to town for:

9336 on the J1
98?? on the Z11
9831 on the Z11
9404 on the ??
9405 on the J5 and Q4
4081 on the Z2
9826 on the ??
4101 on the Z8
9488 on the 84
9302 on the J2
4099 on the Z6
4090 on the Z8
4084 on the J4
4087 on the Z11
4102 on the Z9
4094 on the Q4
9820 on the C4
9400 on the ??

And as an added bonus:
6891 (UMD headsign-actual rte unknown)
5529 on the 22....only thing in Hillandale that wasn't a cutaway.  Thank you Ride On for saving a I!
6019 on the Q2
5823 on the 46 (along with many other Flyers on the 46 and 55.  Love 'em!)
5307 on the 5
5375-rte unknown.  Saw this one a lot today at SS.

[ChristopherF]

RIDE ON:
025150 on the 30 (Medical Center)
085005 on the 30 (Bethesda)
085745 on the 20 (Silver Spring)
095319 on the 20 (Hillandale)
095757 on the 5 (Twinbrook)
025593 on the 5 (Silver Spring)

FAIRFAX CONNECTOR:
9783 on the RIBS 1
9784 on the RIBS 2
9785 on the RIBS 3
7910 on the RIBS 4
9725 on the 950 (West Falls Church)
9730 on the 505 (Reston Town Ctr via Reston East)
9735 on the 950 (Reston Town Ctr via Herndon- Monroe P&R)
7829 on the 505 (West Falls Church Metro)

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

METROBUS (*asterisk indicates unrehabbed 2001-02 New Flyer C40LF buses):
6110 on the NH1
6107 on the NH1
4349 on the 28A (King Street Station)
4304 on the C8 (College Park Station)
4306 on the C8 (White Flint Station)
4308 on the Z8 (Silver Spring Station)
4309 on the 28A (Tysons Corner)
4320 on the Q4 (Rockville Station)
4321 on the Y8 (Montgomery Gen Hospital)
4322 on the C8 (College Park Station)
4324 on the Y8 & is now wrapped in the U.S. Census 2010 ad
4326 on the Y9 & is now wrapped in the U.S. Census 2010 ad
4332 on the C8 (White Flint Station)
4334 on the Y8 (Montgomery Gen Hospital)
4335 on the J2 (Silver Spring Station)
2075 on the Q6 (Shady Grove Station)
2100 on the 70 (Silver Spring Station)
2107 on the S2 & is now wrapped in the U.S. Census 2010 ad
2145 on the S4 (Federal Triangle)
2174 on the S2 (Silver Spring Station)
6016 on the K6 (White Oak)
6019 on the K6 (White Oak)
6021 on the K6 (Ft Totten)
6024 on the K6 (Ft Totten)
6026 on the K6 (Ft Totten)
6028 on the K6 (Ft Totten)
6030 on the K6 (White Oak)
6032 on the K6 (Ft Totten)
6039 on the Y8 (Silver Spring Station)
6048 on the F4 (Silver Spring Station)
6173 on the R12 (New Carrollton Station)
6186 on the Y8 (Montgomery Gen Hospital)
6187 on the C4 (PG Plaza Station)
6188 on the C8 (White Flint Station) & then on the Y8 (Montgomery Gen Hospital)
6192 on the C2 (Greenbelt Center)
6199 on the Y8 (Silver Spring Station)
6202 on the J2 (Silver Spring Station)
6206 on the C8 (College Park Station) & later on the J2 (Montgomery Mall)
6207 on the C8 (White Flint Station)
6209 on the C8 (College Park Station)
6210 on the C8 (White Flint Station)
6365 on the Z8 (Briggs Chaney Park & Ride)
6366 on the C4 (Twinbrook Station)
6374 on the C4 (Twinbrook Station) & then on the Z8 (Briggs Chaney Park & Ride)
6380 on the Z8 (Silver Spring Station)
6459 on the C8 (White Flint Station)
5452 on the 70 (Silver Spring Station)
3761 on the H8 (Mt Pleasant)
3770 on the H8 (Rhode Island Avenue Station)
2593 on the 23A (Tysons Corner Westpark)
2638 on the 23A (Crystal City)
2678 on the REX (Fort Belvoir)
2684 on the REX (King Street Station)
2637 on the R2 (Ft Totten)
2374* on the 80 (Kennedy Center)
2303 on the 80 (Ft Totten)
2398* on the X2 (Lafayette Square)
2463* on the R4 (Highview)
2820 on the 83 (Cherry Hill)
2819 on the 86 (Calverton)
2321 on the 86 (Calverton & then to Rhode Island Avenue Station)
2301* on the R2 (Calverton)

[OrionFlyer]

6214 is at Landover now, but the question is, is it an airport bus now?

<body copyright="All data copyright WMATA Washington 2010.">
?
<predictions agencyTitle="WMATA Washington" routeTitle="B30 GREENBELT-BWI" routeTag="B30" stopTitle="Bwi Business District Light Rail St">
?
<direction title="South to Greenbelt Station">
<prediction seconds="3962" minutes="66" epochTime="1269310440000" isDeparture="true" dirTag="B30_B30_1" vehicle="6216" block="LG11"/>
<prediction seconds="5762" minutes="96" epochTime="1269312240000" isDeparture="true" dirTag="B30_B30_1" vehicle="6214" block="LG12"/>
</direction>
</predictions>
</body>

[ChristopherF]

RIDE ON:
095322 on the 10 (Twinbrook)
995412 on the 10 (Hillandale)

FAIRFAX CONNECTOR:
9783 on the RIBS 1
9784 on the RIBS 2
9785 on the RIBS 3
7903 on the RIBS 4
9710 on the 171 (Huntington Station W)
7865 on the 171 (Franconia- Springfield)

METROBUS:
6139 on the W line
6107 on the NH1
4349 on the 28A (Tysons Corner)
4289 on the S2 (Federal Triangle)
4322 on the K6 (Ft Totten)
4323 on the C8 (College Park Station)
4391 on the F4 (Silver Spring Station)
2099 on the C8 (White Flint Station)
2101 on the 70 (Archives)
6026 on the K6 (Ft Totten)
6028 on the C8 (White Flint Station)
6030 on the C8 (College Park Station)
6186 on the Z8 (Silver Spring Station)
6187 on the C4 (PG Plaza Station)
6188 on the J2 (Montgomery Mall)
6196 on the J2 (Silver Spring Station)
6202 on the J2 (Silver Spring Station)
6205 on the J2 (Silver Spring Station)
6207 on the J2 (Montgomery Mall)
6208 on the J2 (Silver Spring Station)
6209 on the J2 (Silver Spring Station)
6210 on the J2 (Silver Spring Station)
6333 on the F4 (New Carrollton Station)
6361 on the E2 (Friendship Heights Station)
6367 on the Z8 (Briggs Chaney Park & Ride)
6383 on the C4 (Twinbrook Station)
2583 on the 38B (Ballston Station)
2591 on the 38B (Farragut Square)
2395 on the R2 (Calverton & then to Ft Totten)
2412 on the R2 (Calvcerton)

[WayneNYC]

6214 on the B30 going s/b on I-95.  They diverted to I-95 because of the serious accident on the B-W Pkwy this morning near MD 198.  The road was actually closed for a bit until the medevac helicopter left.

6214 is at Landover now, but the question is, is it an airport bus now?
<body copyright="All data copyright WMATA Washington 2010.">
?
<predictions agencyTitle="WMATA Washington" routeTitle="B30 GREENBELT-BWI" routeTag="B30" stopTitle="Bwi Business District Light Rail St">
?
<direction title="South to Greenbelt Station">
<prediction seconds="3962" minutes="66" epochTime="1269310440000" isDeparture="true" dirTag="B30_B30_1" vehicle="6216" block="LG11"/>
<prediction seconds="5762" minutes="96" epochTime="1269312240000" isDeparture="true" dirTag="B30_B30_1" vehicle="6214" block="LG12"/>
</direction>
</predictions>
</body>

That a safe assumption.  6214 is now painted in the express color scheme.

[OrionFlyer]

Add 6213 to that list at well. So now that's 6212-6214, 6216 and 6217 that are airport buses now. So my question now is, whats going to happen to 4390-4395?

<body copyright="All data copyright WMATA Washington 2010.">
?
<predictions agencyTitle="WMATA Washington" routeTitle="B30 GREENBELT-BWI" routeTag="B30" stopTitle="Greenbelt Station + Bus Bay D">
?
<direction title="North to Bwi/Thurgood Marshall Airport">
<prediction seconds="1649" minutes="27" epochTime="1269436800000" isDeparture="true" dirTag="B30_B30_0" vehicle="6213" block="LG03"/>
<prediction seconds="4049" minutes="67" epochTime="1269439200000" isDeparture="true" dirTag="B30_B30_0" vehicle="6214" block="LG01"/>
</direction>
</predictions>
</body>

[Scrabbleship]

So my question now is, whats going to happen to 4390-4395?

I saw a 439X on the F4 yesterday while I was working out but couldn't make out the number. I think they'll swap buses in and out as time permits on that line.

Wacky idea: Give 4390-4395 to FMR for the 5A (mainly for capacity to help out with the 2700's), Bladensburg gives a few 436's that would've been retired to Landover, FMR gives Bladensburg some more 2600's. Fair deal?

[Tritransit Area]

Pardon my bias, but here's what I came to town for:

9336 on the J1
98?? on the Z11
9831 on the Z11
9404 on the ??
9405 on the J5 and Q4
4081 on the Z2
9826 on the ??
4101 on the Z8
9488 on the 84
9302 on the J2
4099 on the Z6
4090 on the Z8
4084 on the J4
4087 on the Z11
4102 on the Z9
4094 on the Q4
9820 on the C4
9400 on the ??

And as an added bonus:
6891 (UMD headsign-actual rte unknown)
5529 on the 22....only thing in Hillandale that wasn't a cutaway.  Thank you Ride On for saving a I!
6019 on the Q2
5823 on the 46 (along with many other Flyers on the 46 and 55.  Love 'em!)
5307 on the 5
5375-rte unknown.  Saw this one a lot today at SS.

I wish that was an accurate representation of the fleet today, lol

[LandoverDivision]

There are 3 Airport Orion Vs at CET right now.

[NewFlyer9736BCT]

So my question now is, whats going to happen to 4390-4395?

I saw a 439X on the F4 yesterday while I was working out but couldn't make out the number. I think they'll swap buses in and out as time permits on that line.

Wacky idea: Give 4390-4395 to FMR for the 5A (mainly for capacity to help out with the 2700's), Bladensburg gives a few 436's that would've been retired to Landover, FMR gives Bladensburg some more 2600's. Fair deal?

FMR already has plenty of suburbans, I doubt it needs anymore, especially if they will lack some seats due to the luggage racks. What I had in mind was remove the luggage racks on 4390-4395 and make them regular suburbans, and those would move to Annex or Royal for those Oxon Hill/Ft Washington, etc. routes. Either that or put regular seating for use on any other route, but the latter seems unlikely. we'll have to see what happens.

about the 5200s moving to Landover...I mean, I know that Bladensburg is in overload of artics which are only used on the X2, U8, and R line, but where could they go? Landover...let's see...we all know they have crowded routes and such, but that's what increased frequency during rush hour is for. If that doesn't seem that it will help, then those slow 5200s will most likely NOT make it any better, so I'd say stick with the 40 footers, unless Landover could get something faster like the DE62LFAs.

Now I have a question of my own: will Bladensburg ever give FMR any C40LFs? that would be an interesting find to see one in Arlington County or around there.

There are 3 Airport Orion Vs at CET right now.

I wonder what they're doing there. Seeing as they have mileage from all that highway driving on the B30, I wouldn't be surprised if they retired before the other 4300s, but THIS early I wasn't expecting... Then again, they might just be there for the non-B30 initiation/switching of divisions.

[Tristan]

Highway mileage is better than city miles.  That's why Connector's RTSes have held on for so long.  They *could* be there for some sort of work to the tune of what we're talking about -- decomming as Airport buses and recomming them as either regular suburbans or regular transits; if any such work were to be done, CET would be the place to do it.

[ChristopherF]

RIDE ON:
075295 on the 30 (Medical Center)
085005 on the 30 (Bethesda)
095325 on the 10 (Twinbrook)
995416 on the 10 (Hillandale)

THE BUS (PG CO.):
63159 on the 14 (Prince Georges Plaza Metro)

METROBUS (*asterisk indicates unrehabbed 2001-02 New Flyer C40LF buses):
6139 on the NH1
4020 on the NH1
4349 on the 28A (Tysons Corner)
9326 on the 86 (Rhode Islnd Ave Station)
9824 on the C4 (PG Plaza Station)
9828 on the C8 (College Park Station)
4077 on the K6 (Ft Totten)
4078 on the Q6 (Shady Grove Station)
4080 on the K6 (Ft Totten)
4087 on the C8 (White Flint Station) & then on the K6 (Ft Totten)
4094 on the Y8 (Silver Spring Station)
4103 on the Z8 (Silver Spring Station)
4285 on the S2 (Federal Triangle)
4320 on the Q4 (Rockville Station)
4322 on the C8 (College Park Station)
4331 on the C8 (White Flint Station)
4333 on the K6 (White Oak)
4379 on the F6 & is now wrapped in the U.S. Census 2010 ad
2077 on the K6 (White Oak)
2078 on the Q6 (Wheaton Station)
2080 on the K6 (White Oak)
2087 on the C8 (College Park Station) & then on the Z6 (Burtonsville)
2094 on the Y8 (Montgomery Gen Hospital)
2097 on the C4 (PG Plaza Station)
2103 on the S4 (Silver Spring Station)
6021 on the K6 (Ft Totten)
6024 on the K6 (White Oak)
6026 on the K6 (Ft Totten)
6027 on the K6 (White Oak)
6028 on the C8 (College Park Station)
6030 on the Y8 (Silver Spring Station)
6033 on the K6 (White Oak)
6039 on the C2 (Wheaton Station)
6103 on the NH1
6188 on the C4 (Twinbrook Station)
6191 on the T2 (Friendship Heights Station)
6192 on the C2 (Greenbelt Center)
6193 on the Y8 (Montgomery Gen Hospital)
6323 on the F4 (New Carrollton Station)
6378 on the Q2 (Shady Grove Station)
6383 on the Z8 (Briggs Chaney Park & Ride)
6389 on the Q4 (Rockville Station)
5431 on the Y8 (Silver Spring Station)
5433 on the C2 (Greenbelt Center)
5438 on the Y8; bus had to end service early @ Wheaton Station Tuesday due to a flat tire
5404 on the R2 (Calverton)
5410 on the R2 (Ft Totten)
5415 on the R2 (Ft Totten)
2820 on the 83 (Cherry Hill)
2821 on the 86 (Calverton)
2374* on the 83 (Rhode Island Avenue Station)
2412 on the R2 (Calverton & then to Ft totten)
2416 on the R2 (Calverton)

[OrionFlyer]

6215 is now at Landover too.

[79MetroExtraMD]

Ah. I've always suggested those buses should be at Landover (at least half of them). They would work best for the B30 than with the J7/J9. Lately, most of the blocks on the B30 have had 6200 high backs.