August 2008 Observations

[Tristan]

We also already mentioned that the first two digits are not a part of the bus number and that this forum is not for day-to-day stuff, but...I think we're not getting the point across.  Maybe he just isn't reading the posts and just posting and running?

[NewFlyer9736BCT]

We also already mentioned that the first two digits are not a part of the bus number and that this forum is not for day-to-day stuff, but...I think we're not getting the point across.  Maybe he just isn't reading the posts and just posting and running?

Before joining the forums he kept emailing me with the same kind of stuff...and sometimes asking me where 4242, 4020, and 9610 were.
After responding to him about the buses, he still kept asking me about them...so there's your answer to whether he read your post or not.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

We also already mentioned that the first two digits are not a part of the bus number and that this forum is not for day-to-day stuff, but...I think we're not getting the point across.  Maybe he just isn't reading the posts and just posting and running?

Before joining the forums he kept emailing me with the same kind of stuff...and sometimes asking me where 4242, 4020, and 9610 were.
After responding to him about the buses, he still kept asking me about them...so there's your answer to whether he read your post or not.

I got similar emails, too.  I agree with Adam, it isn't the end of the world to create a record of the mundane, but it does add posts.

My observation of the day: 5834's side destination sign is doing something I don't think I've ever seen.  The bottom half of the display had all its LEDs lit up, the top half was dark.  The rear sign was not working either, but I don't know if it was a related issue or not.  I saw the side sign while the bus was displaying 46 MEDICAL CENTER and 46 MONT COLL/ROCKVILLE, but only saw the rear as it was finishing the run to Medical Center.

[ChristopherF]

I was actually going to mention about 055834's side destination sign until I saw Oren's post.  I rode that particular bus on the 59 from Montgomery Village to Lakeforest yesterday.  Also, 995715 has the far right displays on the front & side badly messed up. 

And last, but not least, be on the lookout for Landover-based bus routes that have recently had their destination signs reprogrammed.  I saw an Orion VI that had "NEW CARROLLTON STATION" -- displayed in two lines -- on the front destination sign a few weeks ago.  That same bus had the rear route sign alternating between "CAUTION TESTING" and "F4."  Again, please be on the lookout.

[WES]

The double stacked destination programming has been going on for a while now.  Most of the buses have been reprogrammming to double stack long destinations, who knows when they will finish up on that project.

I forgot to mention that, about the "CAUTION TESTING IN PROGRESS" displayed on the destination signs.  Oddly enough I have only seen that just on Landover based buses and no other division.  I think I was waiting to get a picture to demonstrate what was going on, but haven't gotten one yet.

[ChristopherF]

Thanks Wes.  I was the one who tipped everyone with the most recent reprogramming of  destination signs on WMATA's Landover buses.  I saw another example of this on 2031 on the F6 earlier this evening.  The rear route sign on that bus rotated between "CAUTION TESTING" and "F6".

My short list of other notable sightings for 8/7/08:

THE BUS (PG CO.)
53016 is now in THE BUS scheme, spotted on Baltimore Ave near Cherry Hill Road in College Park

METROBUS:
4200 on the R2 (Calverton)

[WES]

And so it 53012 (of course former MTA 3012), is also painted.  The blower still 3013 without a 5 in front of it and some of the former shuttle bug wrapped SLFs in the 63130s.

Saw 9494 on the 18 and let's just say, this bus would have even been better at Northern, running the 70 all day and this bus would have been in better shape than what I saw today.  The new Gilligs still look pretty decent---SHOCKING isn't it.

[Scrabbleship]

Today on the 26 heading towards Glenmont within 10 minutes of each other. One of Ride On's oldest buses (5501) and one of Ride On's newest buses (5828). 5828 has a seat cushion loose in the back, not good at all.

Also, heading past Connecticut on the J2 I saw a Western O5, Knight Riders and all, on the L7. Why would Western be doing a block on the Maryland L's nowadays?

[79MetroExtraMD]

Today on the 26 heading towards Glenmont within 10 minutes of each other. One of Ride On's oldest buses (5501) and one of Ride On's newest buses (5828). 5828 has a seat cushion loose in the back, not good at all.

Also, heading past Connecticut on the J2 I saw a Western O5, Knight Riders and all, on the L7. Why would Western be doing a block on the Maryland L's nowadays?

I think Western does the L7 now. I've seen a few of them when I was riding the 34 from Wheaton to Bethesda.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

Today on the 26 heading towards Glenmont within 10 minutes of each other. One of Ride On's oldest buses (5501) and one of Ride On's newest buses (5828). 5828 has a seat cushion loose in the back, not good at all.

Also, heading past Connecticut on the J2 I saw a Western O5, Knight Riders and all, on the L7. Why would Western be doing a block on the Maryland L's nowadays?

I think there have always been a few L7 and possibly L8 trips covered by Western.  Also, as part of the route shifts when Southeastern closed, its possible all the L7 trips (and there aren't many) got shifted to Western to balance out assignments.  Otherwise, there was some other disruption and the backup came from Western.

[ChristopherF]

My bus obervations for 08/09/08:

RIDE ON:
995709 remains @ Gaithersburg.
995410, with the -paint scheme that can never, ever, ever be changed at any time-, on the 10 (Twinbrook)
995804 on the 55 (Germantown Transit Center), the only 40-footer I saw -- & rode -- on that route, the rest were 35-footers
085729 is the bus that is on display at the 60th annual Montgomery County Fair

METROBUS:
4351 on the 70 (Silver Spring Station) with an "N" block
4228 & 4230 remain @ Montgomery.
4263 remains @ Northern.
4227 & 4229 were @ Montgomery, but according to another poster, they were recently seen on Annex routes.  Status unknown.

[NewFlyer9736BCT]

4351 at Northern??? Not too long ago I saw that bus in Royal turf (I think 10 line or 28 line)

And according to AnnexOperator, 4227-4230 have moved to Annex, but I have to agree with Christopher that 4228 remains at Montgomery, I knew I saw that bus not too long ago around here. I don't know about 4230 though.

Oh I forgot to mention this, about a month ago I was riding the Q2 when another Q2 bus passed ours. That bus was 9771, and the rear sign had a 2-line display of "Q2 Shady" *flip* "Grove Sta", both lines displaying that.

It was pretty funny, unfortunately 9771 beat our bus to Rockville and it left before I could get a picture of it

[WMATAGMOAGH]

What was the bus at last year's fair?  I was at the fair, but I never made it to the Ride On display.

[WayneNYC]

What was the bus at last year's fair?  I was at the fair, but I never made it to the Ride On display.

I want to say it either 5947 or 5948, but it's a bit fuzzy a year later.

[ChristopherF]

SPECIFIC METROBUS OBSERVATIONS (08/09/08):
4228, still with an "M" block, was deadheading (NOT IN SERVICE) on Piney Branch Rd in Silver Spring.
4230 on the Q2 (Shady Grove Station), still with an "M" block