October 2008 Observations

[Scrabbleship]

Why should the buses wait for H Street? Run them on the 80's or the D6 in the interim so they just don't gather dust.

H Street is undergoing repaving from the streetcar project and Metro probably doesn't want the 5400s to go thru hell before they've had a chance to adapt to the streets. Also, the 80s and the D6 don't really need them plus there are a couple of turns on the D6 that are quite tight for a tic.

The streetcar project that may never come to fruition because there is no solid way to power the streetcars because nobody has the cojones to overturn the no overhead wires ban? Why do work for naught now?

[btconet]

The D6 turnaround at Sibley Hospital is pretty tight too, but as I understand it, artics have a smaller turning radius than standard buses.  That said, I'm not sure that the 80 and D6 need artics the way the routes that do have them need them.

Oh OK.  I had read this somehwere and I was always curious as to if it was 100% accurate.  I can understand in cases like the MAN and Volvo artics where the second axle is the drive axle and the third axle steers. 

Yes, you're right.  They can usually turn in a tighter cirle than a standard 40 footer because the front section is shorter than 40 feet and the rear axle is supposed to follow the same path as the second axle.  I don't know if this is always true.

The rear axle follows the second axle ONLY when the front wheel is not being turned any more.  I recall our turn on the 2 line coming out of Yale onto Frederick.  The second axle would clear by a foot, but being as you were still spinning the wheel to the right to avoid heading into oncoming traffic, the rear axle would brush or jump the same cub the second axle cleared.

[WayneNYC]

The D6 turnaround at Sibley Hospital is pretty tight too, but as I understand it, artics have a smaller turning radius than standard buses.  That said, I'm not sure that the 80 and D6 need artics the way the routes that do have them need them.

Oh OK.  I had read this somehwere and I was always curious as to if it was 100% accurate.  I can understand in cases like the MAN and Volvo artics where the second axle is the drive axle and the third axle steers. 

Yes, you're right.  They can usually turn in a tighter cirle than a standard 40 footer because the front section is shorter than 40 feet and the rear axle is supposed to follow the same path as the second axle.  I don't know if this is always true.

The rear axle follows the second axle ONLY when the front wheel is not being turned any more.  I recall our turn on the 2 line coming out of Yale onto Frederick.  The second axle would clear by a foot, but being as you were still spinning the wheel to the right to avoid heading into oncoming traffic, the rear axle would brush or jump the same cub the second axle cleared.

Oh OK.  Now this makes sense to me.  I had read the info I posted somehwere, but I remained curious as to how the third axle could track in the path of the second axle when turning.  In cases of the MAN and Volvo artics it makes sense, since the second axle is the drive axle and the third axle steers.

[ChristopherF]

RIDE ON:
995709 remains @ Gaithersburg.
915523 on the 33
925543 on the 30
045919 on the 48 (Rockville)
075763 on the 10 (Twinbrook)
075762 on the 34 (Wheaton) & later on the 9 (Silver Spring)
025593 on the 10 (Hillandale)

METROBUS:
6139 on the NH1
4020 on the NH1
4349 on the 36 (Friendship Heights)
4207 on the R2 (Calverton)
4211 on the R2 (Ft Totten)
4239 on the C2 (Greenbelt Center)
4240 remains @ Arlington.
4261, still in the MINI ad wrap, on the 3A (Annandale)
4262 remains @ Northern.
4311, still in the MINI ad wrap, on the Z8 (Briggs Chaney P&R)
4310 remains @ Northern.
4321, now in the Chevron ad wrap just like 4330 & 2139, on the Z8 (Briggs Chaney P&R)
4330 remains @ Montgomery.
4398 remains @ Montgomery.
2072 on the K6 (Ft Totten), freshly rehabbed
2078 on the Z8 (Silver Spring Station), remains unrehabbed
2099 on the Q2 (Silver Spring Station), remains unrehabbed
2176, now in the www.Germany.info Website ad wrap, on the 66
2610 on the 38B (Farragut Square)
6033 on the J2 (Montgomery Mall)
6049 on the F4 (New Carrollton)
6205 on the K6 (Ft Totten Station)
2301 on the 80 (Ft Totten)
2369 on the R2 (Calverton)
2308 on the R2 (Calverton)
IS 9610 STILL @ CET?

[rideonrulez]

5401 on the 59 to Montgomery Village

[79MetroExtraMD]

Metrobus

4390 R12 @ College Park
9408 Y5 @ Silver Spring

Ride On

729 2 @ East-West/Sundale

[WayneNYC]

Yesterday

9408 on the C8.  9412 deadheading from Shady Grove.  Silver spring PM rush action appeared to be rather civilized.

2194 (D5) broke down in the AM rush hour on Canal Rd near Georgetown University.

[ChristopherF]

RIDE ON:
015591 on the 10 (Twinbrook)

METROBUS:
6139 on the NH1
4020 on the NH1
4349 on the 66
9767 remains @ Montgomery.
4311, still in the MINI ad wrap, on the C8 (White Flint Station)
4310 remains @ Northern.
4398 remains @ Montgomery.
2508 on the 38B (Farragut Square)
2369 on the R2 (Calverton)
2317 on the R2 (Calverton)

[NewFlyer9736BCT]

5401 on the 59 to Montgomery Village

now this I GOTTA see

also...

5527 on the 100 today...and another type of coach was on the 100 this morning (last time it was an MCI, this time...I don't know what it is, but it looks older)

[ChristopherF]

WHAT?!?  975401 AT GAITHERSBURG?!?  YOU COME TO DCATZ & TELL US THAT 975401 IS AT GAITHERSBURG?

[rideonrulez]

WHAT?!?  975401 AT GAITHERSBURG?!?  YOU COME TO DCATZ & TELL US THAT 975401 IS AT GAITHERSBURG?

5400, 5401 & 5578 are currently at Gaithersburg but will be going back home to the training track soon.  Not sure where the last training bus is (5579) at this minute though I know it was being used at Nicholson last I saw it.

FYI-The MCI's will be around all week on the 100 if you still want a ride.....

[Scrabbleship]

I didn't get the number, but this morning around 8:00 an 20XX on the S2 in Silver Spring. Montgomery or Western helping out with the S's perhaps?

[79MetroExtraMD]

Metrobus

9408 @ Silver Spring

Ride On

537 @ Silver Spring

[79MetroExtraMD]

Metrobus

4097 S4 (M154) @ Silver Spring

Ride On

729 @ Silver Spring
727 20 @ Piney Branch/University
407 47 @ Wayne/Fenton (This bus was lost ).

[ChristopherF]

METROBUS NOTES:
Last night, a huge traffic accident on Riggs Road left at least 3 dead.  That forced 3 Metrobuses -- all on the R2 to Ft Totten -- to convert to special express service.  The 3 Metrobuses that converted to express service were 2321 (which I rode), 2435 & 2821.  Other sightings are:

METROBUS:
9387 remains @ Montgomery.
9767 remains @ Montgomery.
9774 remains @ Montgomery.
4241 on the 3B (Falls Church Station)
4254, 4379 & 2210 are now wrapped in the Chevron ad, just like 4321, 4330 & 2139
4330 remains @ Montgomery.
4358 on the 28B, still in the old Nationwide Insurance ad wrap
4374 on the 28B (King Street Station)
4379 on the 28A (Tysons Corner)
2082 on the K6, remains unrehabbed
2445 on the 86 (Calverton), 1 of the few Bladensburg buses with a "working" CleverDevices display
2425 on the 80 (Kennedy Center)