May 2011 Observations

[WayneNYC]

Yesterday during the PM rush hour, 6211 (J9) was on the shoulder of I-270.  A WMATA supervision vehcile and a Maryland SHA truck was behind the bus.  I was driving next to 6206, which I thought was going to be the rescue bus, but it kept moving. 

I'm guessing that they either got 6211 running again or maybe they were waiting for police arrive.  In the past with broken down buses on I-270, I've seen the police block the left lane to provide more protection for passengers when they have to board a rescue bus.

[RideOn5905]

5735 on the 46, then later parked at Shady Grove; evidently, this bus has returned to Gaithersburg.

On my first visit to Shady Grove today, there was some type of problem going on between 5713 and 5823. The former was about to do a 63 run, and the latter was on the 55 heading to Germantown. Both buses were empty, but their engines were running, and there were three drivers standing next to 5823 discussing what was going on. It seems that 5823 scraped against 5713 as it was pulling up. After a few minutes, a County service vehicle pulled up next to 5823, and a man dressed in white got out and started talking to the drivers of both buses. He then got out a camera and started taking pictures of both buses, before getting out a clipboard, writing something on a piece of paper and handing it to one of the drivers (probably 5823's). Before I could find out anything else, the 59 bus I was waiting for arrived, and I left the scene. They resolved it later, though, since both buses were gone when I returned to Shady Grove after lunch (I was on 5907, which sounds VERY beastly).

[WMAveteran]

Round-Trip from Gaithersburg P&R to BWI Amtrak station on May 4, 2011 using MTA Route 201, MCI D4500 coach #171C:
1) On the trip to BWI, departing at 2:00 PM, I was the only passenger all the way to the end of the line.  Apparently the operators have discretion on which route they use because on this trip the operator exited I-95 at Route 100 and then continued to MD 295 and then to I-195 and then directly to BWI Amtrak without driving through BWI Marshall airport.  The published route is I-95 to I-195 to BWI Marshall and then to BWI Amtrak.  Needless to say we arrived at the Amtrak station early (lol).
2) The return trip to Gaithersburg, departing at 4:00 PM,  had three passengers (two boarded at the airport) and the same operator followed the published route except for passing the stop at the Norbeck P&R since none of the three passengers requested that stop.  One passenger alighted at Burtonsville P&R, one alighted at Shady Grove Metro and I got off at Gaithersburg P&R.   This trip departed and arrived on time.

[WMAveteran]

 BWI Marshall Airport station on May 4, 2011:
1) MARC Train 537 (southbound, 4 cars, limited stop) pushed by MP36PH-3C #19;
2) MARC Train 426 northbound pulled by double-headed AEM-7 locomotives with an all bi-level consist (very impressive).  Apparently MARC is serious about putting more power on these heavy trains!  It arrived several minutes early and it looked like more than 100 people alighted.

[WES]

Looks like one of the Xcelsiors are in.  Didn't get a good look at it but it looks to be either 7003 or 7005.  Passed by Carmen E. Turner and saw the dang thing there. 

On another note, THE BUS can make an adjustment on the fly it looks like.  The route 28 is now serving Woodmore Town Center.

On another not forgot to mention that 3002 was rehabbed.

[NewFlyer9736BCT]

5735 on the 46, then later parked at Shady Grove; evidently, this bus has returned to Gaithersburg.

I just saw 5735 heading northbound on I-270 just north of I-370, I think it was on the 100 but I couldn't really tell. I just hope 5734 made it up here as well.

[NewFlyer9736BCT]

This just in...5736 on the 59!

[WES]

1)2590 freshly rehabbed, forgot which route I saw it on

2)Saw one of PRTC's new Advantages rolling in the HOV lanes near Glebe Road, bus 189

3)West Ox's LFAs have the retro fit also,.

4)2172 on the 79 and 4253 on the C28.

[rideonrulez]

New Flyer #7005 is in front of Metro Headquarters this morning for a "publicity" shot.

[DCAreaTransitFan]

1)2590 freshly rehabbed, forgot which route I saw it on

2)Saw one of PRTC's new Advantages rolling in the HOV lanes near Glebe Road, bus 189

3)West Ox's LFAs have the retro fit also,.

4)2172 on the 79 and 4253 on the C28.

PRTC only have 2 advantages 1 40 #189 always to be on west falls church 1 30ft # 272 on local routes

[Sand Box John]

WMAveteran
MTA: a D4500 coach wrapped in the ICC scheme was operating route 950 service, destination KENT ISLAND EXPRESS, on northbound New York Avenue NE at about 6:30PM, Friday, 4/29/2011.  Due to traffic and my direction of travel I couldn't record the coach number but it was interesting to note that ICC wrapped coaches are operating on MTA routes other than the 201 and 202.

Saw one of those ICC wrapped coaches on northbound Ritchie Highway MD-2 in Arnold at 1934 today.

[79MetroExtraMD]

MARC MP36 #10 on train 517 this morning. The first time I've ever seen this one in service after they were first unveiled by O'Malley.

[BigPimpinSlimDB]

Spotted an E2 bus headed toward Friendship Heights Station, Bus #2225. Strangely, the block number was BE22. I know Bladensburg does some rush-hour trips on the E2/E4 line, but they are usually blocked at BE5x.

[NewFlyer9736BCT]

Yesterday: 5736 on the 46
Today: 5734 on the 100 and an ICC wrapped bus on the 991

[LandoverDivision]

It's been a while since I posted here. Anyways, yesterday afternoon, there were 3 Flxibles serving some kind of shuttle yesterday: 9307, 9310 and 9394. Got a couple of pictures of them.