December 2011 Observations

NewFlyer9736BCT · December 01, 2011, 12:14:48 PM

can't believe it's December already!

here's what I saw this morning

7071 W13
7073 P19
6368 and 6369 on the S2/4
6347 at Pentagon with an A block
2175 S4
2186 9E
2547 at Pentagon with blue fleet numbers on the back instead of white (recent rehab fyi)
4340 back in service on the C4 today

RideOn5905 · December 03, 2011, 06:24:23 PM

Ride-On buses are back to having destination voices for the first time since, like, 2009, I believe.
5713 on the 48; this bus sounds like a jackhammer when idling.
2172 on the S2/S4 (don't remember which)
6442 and 6444 on the Red Line shuttle; I've never seen "Express" DE42LFA's from Western on shuttles like this before, I guess they were called in due to the sheer length of this one (Glenmont to Rhode Island Avenue; quite a doozy).
2093 on the J2; this is only my second time riding an Orion VI, the engine was loud and the bus was running strong.

NewFlyer9736BCT · December 05, 2011, 03:04:23 PM

Drove by Gaithersburg division, 5948 is sitting in a place where you can see from the street, secluded from the other buses, engine open and rear sign missing. I hope it will be OK, it's been there for quite a while

NewFlyer9736BCT · December 06, 2011, 03:48:06 PM

forgot to mention this: yesterday I was on Sam Eig Hwy about to turn on Fields Rd, I saw Ride On's 5374 (Gillig Phantom) heading eastbound on Sam Eig. I think it might be a training bus or something, but I was surprised since I haven't seen the 5300s Phantoms in a very long time.

79MetroExtraMD · December 06, 2011, 11:24:45 PM

7053 on the J4 this morning

rideonrulez · December 07, 2011, 09:02:45 PM

Just saw Ride On New Flyer #5830 on the #46 with plenty of police around it at Halpine Rd & Rockville Pike. It looks like it hit a pedestrian, possibly a fatality as they had Pike closed and the standard caution tape around the scene with clothes and remnants (possibly a body) still on the street.

See if its on the news for more details....

WMATAGMOAGH · December 08, 2011, 02:02:03 AM

Quote from: rideonrulez on December 07, 2011, 09:02:45 PM
Just saw Ride On New Flyer #5830 on the #46 with plenty of police around it at Halpine Rd & Rockville Pike. It looks like it hit a pedestrian, possibly a fatality as they had Pike closed and the standard caution tape around the scene with clothes and remnants (possibly a body) still on the street. See if its on the news for more details....

http://wtop.com/?nid=52&sid=2661584

WayneNYC · December 08, 2011, 09:16:53 AM

Quote from: WMATAGMOAGH on December 08, 2011, 02:02:03 AM
Quote from: rideonrulez on December 07, 2011, 09:02:45 PM
Just saw Ride On New Flyer #5830 on the #46 with plenty of police around it at Halpine Rd & Rockville Pike. It looks like it hit a pedestrian, possibly a fatality as they had Pike closed and the standard caution tape around the scene with clothes and remnants (possibly a body) still on the street. See if its on the news for more details....

http://wtop.com/?nid=52&sid=2661584

The news (at 11:00 PM) actually had reported this to be a "deadly" accident, but they gave an update later to say that the victim has life-threatening injuries.

RideOn5905 · December 12, 2011, 06:26:18 PM

2638 on the 16G; this bus is freshly rehabbed (#1544) and has a beautiful-sounding engine.
2502 on the 7Y with a broken farebox.
7032 at Twinbrook this afternoon.

NewFlyer9736BCT · December 16, 2011, 05:47:54 PM

walked by Bladensburg division again today, here's what I saw:

5301 still sitting there, no visible signs of damage or anything (at least from the outside)
The same cluster of lower 4200s I saw last time...still there, but sadly all of their fleet numbers were spray-painted black (except for 4201). it's official, they're done for

6506 and a 2100 (I think it was 2179, can't remember for sure) sitting next to the cluster of retired 4200s. they both had some damage done to the back of the bus, looks fixable though
2724 sitting there next to 5301, the very front of the bus is covered with a tarp or something, dunno what happened but it looks like that's the reason it hasn't been seen in service in a while (on nextbus and in person)
2723 sitting there near 5301 and 2724, hasn't been touched yet (at least not repainted)
unfortunately I did not get to see any new rehabs that are soon to return to service, nor have I seen 5306 or 5320

plus:
2600 on the 38B (found this bus in service despite the GPS unit not working)
6184 on the Z6 (same as above; confirmed move from Annex)
note about 2602: unrehabbed with a C Gas engine, but it sounds and rides really nice for its kind
Ride On's 5829 is no longer wrapped in that ugly Wells Fargo ad

WayneNYC · December 16, 2011, 06:34:33 PM

Ride On 5713 being hooked to tow truck on I-270 near the split this morning.

rideonrulez · December 21, 2011, 02:57:14 PM

I forgot to mention that PG THE BUS has recieved there first 30ft Gilligs!!

Also for you WMATA Xcelsior fans, All of the 7100 series "BAE" buses are slated to go to Western.

RideOn5905 · December 21, 2011, 03:58:24 PM

Western, huh? Any word on which buses are getting the boot because of this?

WES · December 22, 2011, 07:26:14 PM

Quote from: rideonrulez on December 21, 2011, 02:57:14 PM
I forgot to mention that PG THE BUS has recieved there first 30ft Gilligs!!

Also for you WMATA Xcelsior fans, All of the 7100 series "BAE" buses are slated to go to Western.

I guess it's the final curtains for the SLFs. Ahhh I remember the days when THE BUS had ODVs and CAGVs and now it going to become practically all Gillig. All Gillig beats the crap THE BUS used to have any day of the week. A Gillig without an engine beats the crap THE BUS used to have.

79MetroExtraMD · December 23, 2011, 06:46:42 PM

7091 H4
2803 H3
both at Little Harvard & Mt Pleasant

News:

December 2011 Observations