November 2008 Sightings

[WMATAGMOAGH]

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.

There isn't much wondering involved.  Orion creates many jobs in New York State, so even after the Buy Orion program formally ended, the MTA still wants to support the company within its own state.

[NewFlyer9736BCT]

5543 on the 100 southbound this morning

...and the Orion VIIs (both WMATA and Ride-On) seem fine to me...

[OrionFlyer]

5543 on the 100 southbound this morning

...and the Orion VIIs (both WMATA and Ride-On) seem fine to me...

They seem fine to me too.

[ChristopherF]

METROBUS:
6110 on the A2
6139 on the K12
4020 on the C12
4349 on the 36 (Friendship Heights)
4215 on the 83 (Cherry Hill)
4379 on the 28A (King Street Station)
2076 on the C8 (College Park Station), freshly rehabbed
2096 on the C4, remains unrehabbed
2620 on the 23A (Crystal City)
2626 on the 28B (Tysons Corner) with an "F" block?
2420 on the R2 (Calverton)
2320 on the R2 (Calverton)

[Tristan]

5543 on the 100 southbound this morning

...and the Orion VIIs (both WMATA and Ride-On) seem fine to me...

Try riding them every day.  You can't live in Baltimore and come ride them once or twice and say they seem fine.

While I admit that many of the problems have largely been resolved, Orion still delivered 250 pieces of crap.

[Tristan]

METROBUS:
6110 on the A2
6139 on the K12
4020 on the C12
4349 on the 36 (Friendship Heights)
4215 on the 83 (Cherry Hill)
4379 on the 28A (King Street Station)
2076 on the C8 (College Park Station), freshly rehabbed
2096 on the C4, remains unrehabbed
2620 on the 23A (Crystal City)
2626 on the 28B (Tysons Corner) with an "F" block?
2420 on the R2 (Calverton)
2320 on the R2 (Calverton)

Whats so unusual about 2626 on the 28B? The 28A,B is done by Four Mile Run too.

Says who?

[OrionFlyer]

What do you mean, "Says Who"? Last time I checked Royal and FMR does this line.

I saw an Orion VII on the 28A last time I was at West Falls Chruch Station. It was going to King St Station.

[Tristan]

What day was it, and where did you check?  That's what I mean "says who"

[79MetroExtraMD]

Let's see.
-If he saw the C8, it had to be either a weekday or Saturday.
-Usually the 4200s come out on the 83 line on weekdays and
-4378 was on the 28A.

So, it had to be a weekday.

[OrionFlyer]

What day was it, and where did you check?  That's what I mean "says who"

It was on a Friday sometime after 4:00PM. I was coming from Tysons. I rode the 3T to W Church Station. When I got there thats when I saw it. I just assumed that FMR helps out Royal with this line during Rush Hour but hey I could be wrong. I rode an Orion V on the 28B to Tysons.

Wait a minute doesn't FMR do this  route on weekends?

[NewFlyer9736BCT]

Last I checked, 2626 was a Bladensburg bus. Now consider that, plus the fact that it was on a Royal route on the weekday (with the F block...I think I did see some Orion VIIs on the 28A/B during the weekdays before, but I guess he's acknowledging the fact that 2626 is (or was) a Bladensburg bus.)


Oh and a little random fact: The P6 is the only route that goes into all 4 quarters of DC (NW, NE, SW, SE), I may be wrong but the P6 is the only route I can think of in that aspect.

[Tristan]

Yes, FMR does all VA routes on weekends, which is why I asked.  I think FMR does some 28B Bailey's Crossroads shorts, but I've not actually seen FMR cover any 28 trips on the regular.

Ken, I was asking NGOrion what day HE saw the Orion VII, not Chris.

[Tristan]

http://www.dctransit.info/forums/transit-today/just-when-you-think-that-duh-bus-couldn%27t-shock-and-awe-anymore/

[NewFlyer9736BCT]

5506 on the 79 this afternoon at Shady Grove. Destination: "Germantown - Dorsey Mill"

...does the 79 actually go to Dorsey Mill or is the sign on 5506 just out of date?

[79MetroExtraMD]

Speaking of 79

2822 on the 79 at Georgia/Florida tonight. This is the second time this week I've seen a regular 2800 on the 79.

Also, from the other night, I saw a 2800 (Tylenol edition) with 79 MINNESOTA AVENUE STATION going northbound at GA Ave-Petworth.