August 2008 Observations

[Tristan]

2139 seen earlier this week on the 10A...unless a DC garage is chipping in on Royal's 10 trips, I have to guess this means that 2100s are back in VA, though I hope it's just a Southeastern displacement and not a permanent fixture.  Looked rehabbed, FWIW.

[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.

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

Good enough, thanks.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

2080 at Friendship Heights, appeared to be rehabbed

[WES]

THE BUS 62994 was broken down doing the 27, heading towards the Landover Station on Landover Road.

[ChristopherF]

My bus observations for 8/11/08:

METROBUS:
2068 on the Z6 (Silver Spring Station), remains unrehabbed
4229 on the Z6 (Burtonsville) with an "M" block

[WMATAGMOAGH]

A friend of mine who is a transit fan just sent me a message saying he saw an MCI on the 5A at L'Enfant Plaza during his lunch break.  Said the bus had WMATA logos, no bike rack.  Unit number was 9990.

[79MetroExtraMD]

A friend of mine who is a transit fan just sent me a message saying he saw an MCI on the 5A at L'Enfant Plaza during his lunch break.  Said the bus had WMATA logos, no bike rack.  Unit number was 9990.

Hmm. Interesting. Sounds like a demo (I hope to heck they get MCIs).

[Tristan]

A friend of mine who is a transit fan just sent me a message saying he saw an MCI on the 5A at L'Enfant Plaza during his lunch break.  Said the bus had WMATA logos, no bike rack.  Unit number was 9990.

I might have to scope out FMR tonight...

I gotta wonder though -- I don't think WMATA has ever done an in-service demonstration.  How is fare being collected?  If they're taking any money, they almost have to accept SmarTrips as well.  Maybe they have a certain number of extra boxes to put on demo buses?  Would an MCI demo even have farebox mounting brackets/drillouts?  Or are certain lucky people saving $3/$3.10 a trip today?

[Perry]

Hmm, time to check out the I-66 webcams!!!

[Tristan]

If anyone gets super bored, 66 @ Glebe is at a great angle:

http://www.trafficland.com/city/WAS/index.html?campid=0&ssns=14&;

[Perry]

The few minutes or so that I was looking at it I saw several Loudoun Commuter buses, a couple of FFX Connector RTS's and one Orion VII which I think was the 5A.  I think I just missed the DC-bound one so I'm not sure if the MCI is still floating around on there or was just a mid-day test.

[Tristan]

Perry, I said if you get super bored.  If you had that much free time, where are our P13 schedules?   

[Perry]

Haha, well I was taking a break at work. LOL

[WayneNYC]

Oh gosh.  I have nothing against MCIs, although I think the most recent restyling is kind of goofy looking.  I really hope WMATA is not planning to purchase MCIs.

[ChristopherF]

My 8/12 bus sightings are as follows:

METROBUS:
2012 on the F4 (Silver Spring Station), remains unrehabbed
2078 on the C4 (Twinbrook Station), remains unrehabbed
2096 on the C8 (College Park Station), remains unrehabbed

THE BUS:
An unidentified 2008 Gillig Advantage clean diesel was sighted on the 17 (Langley Park via Ikea).  This was the 1st time I have ever seen a Gillig Advantage in THE BUS' colors.  And yes, that particular 2008 Gillig Advantage has the exhaust pipe that is identical to the 5 buses that (Montgomery County) Ride On has.