August 2008 Observations

[WES]

They are coming in, slowly  but surely.  The NABI BRTs are heading in, saw about 4 or 5 of them parked at Bladensburg this evening.

And another thing, 9322 will probably be in the 3rd scheme pretty soon, so be on the lookout.  It is at Bladensburg right now being prepped.

[Tristan]

Anyone notice how, lately, DASH only wins roadeos when I'm present? 

Maybe you should become a judge this year so you can give DASH the help they need!! You better tell Clarence to step it up too!! Oh and no speeches from Brad please..... 

Hey you actually need to be nice to Brad now

And another thing, 9322 will probably be in the 3rd scheme pretty soon, so be on the lookout.  It is at Bladensburg right now being prepped.

More seasoned posters here know who I'm about to put on suicide watch

[NewFlyer9736BCT]

So Christopher, I see you finally joined one of the DC forums.

Well here are my sightings:

I saw 2550 yesterday on the 10B (weekend FMR run), I didn't know about the interior but it has been blue crushed with the NGV wrap.

2071 and 2075 fresh and rehabbed...both seen on the Q2 (this was a couple of days ago)
-(2075 makes a nice whining noise as it accelerates, gotta love that noise)

9411 at Montgomery
9319, 9330, 9331, and 9334 at Arlington
9312, 9332, 9333, 9371 at Landover
9301, 9302, 9303, 9309, 9323, 9340, 9341, 9342, 9352-9358, 9377, 9395, 9400, and 9404 at Royal (maybe more that I missed, but it seems like they have the most B's so far)

Montgomery 9300s: 9346, 9351, 9370, 9387, 9409...I am not sure if they remain at Montgomery

And who can forget...with every single new delivery of Ride-On buses, at least one of them has the route 47 programmed with Parkside-Grosvenor as the destination. In this case, it's 5726, and I will not quit till I get a picture of that bus on that line (it's just funny...lol)

And Chris...I heard that 5718 has been out of service for a while...I swear I saw that bus not too long ago (maybe a couple of months ago). What I haven't seen in a while is 5717, 5720, and 5724.

Another question Chris, when the other new clean diesel Gilligs arrive, will they continue as 5731-5749 or will there be too many to fit within that range? I don't know it seems confusing at this point, on top of that there will be the 30-footers.

[/long post]

[Tristan]

I should mention that the new seats on 2550...are pretty darn comfortable, and I think they're made in such a way that that will always be the case, versus the foam padding on the older softseaters that wears down over time and eventually leaves you sitting on springs and frames.

[Tristan]

I'm posting this from my PM box on behalf of ChristopherF...I'm assuming it was an accident to send it to me instead of posting it on the board.  Mr. F, I assume you'll correct me if I'm wrong.

My 8/3/08 bus sightings are as follows:

METROBUS:
2651 NOT IN SERVICE at Rosslyn
2816 on the X2 (Lafayette Square)
2630 on the X2 (Lafayette Square)
2054 on the 42 (Metro Center), remains unrehabbed
2081 on the C4 (Twinbrook Station), recently rehabbed
6038 on the K6 (Ft Totten)
2164 on the 70 (Archives), bus now has Luminator signs
2361 on the 80 (Ft Totten)
2369 on the R2 (Calverton)

NOTES:
I haven't heard if Ride On will be putting any more new clean diesel buses in service this year.  But none of the 5 Gillig Advantage clean diesels (which are similar to the 2007 Gillig Advantage hybrids) have the automated announcer systems installed.  995705 doesn't have that, either.  If I remember correctly, none of Ride On's 1996-98 Orion V "teenage buses" have the automated announcer systems installed.

[Tristan]

Okay now that the post is there...I have to ask, do you just post every bus you see?  Only one of these items is anything special and that's 2816 on the X2...

The point of the sightings thread is more to point out oddities in regular patterns.  I guess you can post whatever you see here but it isn't really noteworthy unless it's different......maybe like a GEORGE bus on the 28B or something like that.  I guess we never really explained the concept.

[WES]

To expand on what Tristan said, the sightings by month shouldn't be for a sighting that is normal, but what isn't for example.....

2801 on the 79--usual, not noteworthy
2801 on the 80--that is noteworthy
2801 seen on the 79 with a TWIN VISION sign-- that is note worthy.

The sightings by month is supposed to highlight news worthy items such as, new bus sightings, bus sightings on strange routes, buses with experimental equipment (aka, destination signs, seats, new paint schemes, etc.), the latest wraps, bus malfunctions, recent rehabs and things such as that.  Seeing 2401 on the X2 isn't that great, seeing 2401 on the 16B is.

[btconet]

One thing I will say though.  Personally, when I see notes of ordinary sightings from 20-50 years ago, they're golden.  It's easy to remember the "ordinary" as it pertains to last week or last month.  As time goes on, however, the memory gets much more difficult. 

I'd agree that this thread is definitely a more of a place to mention the out of the ordinary, but it's good to see someone taking the time to make note of the ordinary to have a future record of just what was SOP at this moment in time.

[79MetroExtraMD]

2801 seen on the 79 with a TWIN VISION sign-- that is note worthy.

2801 has a Luminator TITAN sign with a full color route number panel.

[NewFlyer9736BCT]

And what is on the back of 2801? It shows the route number then scrolls like a marquee with some kind of destination or something (didn't quite see it)

[79MetroExtraMD]

And what is on the back of 2801? It shows the route number then scrolls like a marquee with some kind of destination or something (didn't quite see it)

Same sign. For some apparent reason, the stops aren't being displayed on the interior sign, but are scrolling on the rear route sign. The not so Clever Devices .

[Tristan]

One thing I will say though.  Personally, when I see notes of ordinary sightings from 20-50 years ago, they're golden.  It's easy to remember the "ordinary" as it pertains to last week or last month.  As time goes on, however, the memory gets much more difficult. 

I'd agree that this thread is definitely a more of a place to mention the out of the ordinary, but it's good to see someone taking the time to make note of the ordinary to have a future record of just what was SOP at this moment in time.

You and your good points 

[btconet]

One thing I will say though.  Personally, when I see notes of ordinary sightings from 20-50 years ago, they're golden.  It's easy to remember the "ordinary" as it pertains to last week or last month.  As time goes on, however, the memory gets much more difficult. 

I'd agree that this thread is definitely a more of a place to mention the out of the ordinary, but it's good to see someone taking the time to make note of the ordinary to have a future record of just what was SOP at this moment in time.

You and your good points 

Heck, I'm guiltier than anyone.  I don't generally record observations, ordinary or otherwise, and I have a bad habit of not taking photos of ordinary equipment on its ordinary assignment.  At least if you have the latter (and date it to some degree), you come away with a good visual record of what ran where.

[ChristopherF]

My 8/6/08 bus sightings are as follows:

RIDE ON:
975409, with the -paint scheme that can never, ever, ever be changed at any time-, on the 16 (Silver Spring)
995709 remains @ Gaithersburg.
025609 on the 10 (Hillandale), 2 of the 3 chime cords inside that bus are broken
5531-A on the 56 (Rockville)
965566 on the 48 (Rockville), bus now has the Orbital announcer system installed

METROBUS:
4325 on the T2 (Friendship Heights) & is no longer wrapped in the Adobe LifeCycle ES ad
2076 on the Q2 (Silver Spring Station), remains unrehabbed
2078 on the Q2 (Shady Grove Station), remains unrehabbed

[WayneNYC]

My 8/6/08 bus sightings are as follows:

RIDE ON:

995709 remains @ Gaithersburg.

I think Chris already mentioned that those 5700 series Orion Vs at Gaithersburg are there for the long haul.