November 2008 Sightings

[Tristan]

Metrobus

4398 F6/ @ College Park

Ride On
5729 AD TEST @ Silver Spring
5730 15 @ Silver Spring
572x 14 @ Piney Branch/University

What does AD TEST mean?

[ChristopherF]

PRTC OMNIRIDE:
316 on the Gainesville/Linton Hall Road route

NOTES:
There are still some WMATA Orion VI buses that HAVE NOT been rehabbed.  At last checked, 2018, 2056, 2078, 2082, 2093, 2096 & 2099 have not yet been rehabbed.  I haven't seen 2008, 2012, 2068, 2069, 2076 & 2092 in recent weeks, if not months.

[Tritransit Area]

They might need an 8 car train at the peak of the peak.  Still not sure if running them is justified.  You sure there wasn't some type of delay going on?

I don't think there was a delay, but I had just gotten off an Orange line train, making the transfer to the Red to go back to Union Station.  The train came within a few minutes, which I dont think is unusual.  But there were a lot of people waiting.

There were standees on the Red Line train going the other direction as well, although surely not packed.

[Tritransit Area]

PRTC OMNIRIDE:
316 on the Gainesville/Linton Hall Road route

NOTES:
There are still some WMATA Orion VI buses that HAVE NOT been rehabbed.  At last checked, 2018, 2056, 2078, 2082, 2093, 2096 & 2099 have not yet been rehabbed.  I haven't seen 2008, 2012, 2068, 2069, 2076 & 2092 in recent weeks, if not months.

Do the ones that aren't rehabbed still have the Flip LeDOT signs, or was that another program much like with the Orion Vs?

[OrionFlyer]

Do the ones that aren't rehabbed still have the Flip LeDOT signs, or was that another program much like with the Orion Vs?

Thats what I've been wondering.

[Tristan]

All buses in WMATA's fleet except for the IIs and the Metro-Bs have LED signs; signs were replaced independent of the rehab projects.

[WES]

Guess where 6301 is parked as of now...........At Arlington.  It is parked outside of Arlington Division next to the Shell Station, across from Ballston Mall.  The thing is practically parked posing for a pic opportunity. 

For those geniuses you can either take a pic from across the street or wait till the thing is in service, but don't be an idiot and try and go into Arlington to get a pic.

[79MetroExtraMD]

Guess where 6301 is parked as of now...........At Arlington.  It is parked outside of Arlington Division next to the Shell Station, across from Ballston Mall.  The thing is practically parked posing for a pic opportunity. 

For those geniuses you can either take a pic from across the street or wait till the thing is in service, but don't be an idiot and try and go into Arlington to get a pic.

How ironic. A new bus at a garage that won't get squat anymore since it's closing.

[Scrabbleship]

Guess where 6301 is parked as of now...........At Arlington.  It is parked outside of Arlington Division next to the Shell Station, across from Ballston Mall.  The thing is practically parked posing for a pic opportunity. 

For those geniuses you can either take a pic from across the street or wait till the thing is in service, but don't be an idiot and try and go into Arlington to get a pic.

How ironic. A new bus at a garage that won't get squat anymore since it's closing.

Arlington once had squat? Outside of the Thomases for GEORGE, when was the last time they got a new bus of any sort?

[Perry]

When the Orion VI first came out, one was parked at that garage too.  It's an interesting little garage.  It used to be made up primarily of 9600 and 4200 series Orions, 9400 series Flxible 35 footers.  Now it seems like it has a little bit of everything.  The lot in the back used to be the most interesting part because it had all sorts of random buses that would come to visit to be worked on. 

Other than the 35 footers, it was pretty boring riding Arlington buses in the late 90's. 

[rideonrulez]

Forgot to post this, Spotted a Fairfax Connector Orion VII Next Generation 30ft with frameless windows numbered in the high 9700's at the South County garage.

[OrionFlyer]

Forgot to post this, Spotted a Fairfax Connector Orion VII Next Generation 30ft with frameless windows numbered in the high 9700's at the South County garage.

I really hope WMATA and MTA gets those in future orders.

[Tristan]

I don't think WMATA will even talk to Orion after the VII order.

You might think they look good, but from the problems both Ride On & WMATA had with their last orders, I think they will be just that -- LAST ORDERS.

We even had some bad QC issues with our last Orion Vs, which I'm pretty sure are the last Orions we'll be getting.  We tested a VII and our Maintenance Director wasn't impressed.

And yes, I know all new buses have issues, but compare the Orion VIIs to the C/D40LFRs and one wins hands down.  Hint: it's not a constellation.  Hint #2: they came out so well that WMATA ordered hundreds more of them.

So, don't hold your breath. 

[WES]

Forgot to post this, Spotted a Fairfax Connector Orion VII Next Generation 30ft with frameless windows numbered in the high 9700's at the South County garage.

I might know this but I still don't understand why in the heck would you start to number a bus in the 9700s when your last bus you order years ago was numbered in the 7900s.

And though I also get numbering buses one after another, but with more Flyers coming why number these right after the Flyers and then get some more Flyers numbered after the Orion VIIs.

This is where Fairfax EARNS its name DIS-connector.

[79MetroExtraMD]

I don't think WMATA will even talk to Orion after the VII order.

You might think they look good, but from the problems both Ride On & WMATA had with their last orders, I think they will be just that -- LAST ORDERS.

We even had some bad QC issues with our last Orion Vs, which I'm pretty sure are the last Orions we'll be getting.  We tested a VII and our Maintenance Director wasn't impressed.

And yes, I know all new buses have issues, but compare the Orion VIIs to the C/D40LFRs and one wins hands down.  Hint: it's not a constellation.  Hint #2: they came out so well that WMATA ordered hundreds more of them.

So, don't hold your breath. 

And you wonder why NYC still orders them.