Ride-On's TMC Citycuisers and Orion Is and 1989 Gilligs

[Tritransit Area]

I was looking at delivery lists online and found that Ride On had TMCs from both 1979 and 1981.  Were these buses split between Gaithersburg and Silver Spring, with the Gaithersburg units being the newer ones?

This brings me to point 2.  Were the 1984 Orion Is delivered in the "original" scheme or the "1989 Gillig" scheme?

Finally, were the '89 Gilligs purchased as direct replacements of the mini buses, or just for expansion.  I'm wondering if the TMCs took out the mini-buses already.

Sigh, I miss those buses...

[Perry]

The 1984 Orions came in the original scheme.  I think the Gilligs were just add ons and replacements for the TMC's.  Those minibuses were long gone by then if I remember correctly.

I remember riding the first Gillig from Wheaton to Montgomery Mall on the 35.

[rideonrulez]

I was looking at delivery lists online and found that Ride On had TMCs from both 1979 and 1981.  Were these buses split between Gaithersburg and Silver Spring, with the Gaithersburg units being the newer ones?

This brings me to point 2.  Were the 1984 Orion Is delivered in the "original" scheme or the "1989 Gillig" scheme?

Finally, were the '89 Gilligs purchased as direct replacements of the mini buses, or just for expansion.  I'm wondering if the TMCs took out the mini-buses already.

Sigh, I miss those buses...

Time to pull out the history books....

point 1: I'm pretty sure the TMC's were delivered to both Silver Spring and Gaithersburg. I'll have to check on that one of these days. What I do remember is that when they rehabbed the TMC's (which was repainting them into the new scheme and renumbering them to the 5400's) they were at Gaithersburg for sure.

point 2:The 1984 Orion I's were delivered in the first paint scheme. The 1989 Gilligs were the first in the current Blue & White scheme. They were also the first with flip dot signs as all buses before came with roll signs.

The 1989 Gilligs were ordered for expansion and I think a few replacements. The expansion was for the Wheaton Station opening in 1990. Again I was just a little kid at the time this was all happening 

[Perry]

When the Gilligs first came out, they were in the new paint scheme and I remember my dad being excited to tell me about it saying they were black and blue. LOL.  I was like, what the hell, black bus with blue?  Then I realized he was talking about the back that had black and the blue and white paint.

I loved riding the TMC's, they were really solid and had that louuuuud roar.  When I was living in the Carole Highlands area off Univ. and Riggs and I could hear the buses in Langley Park when it was really quiet out at night.

[Tritransit Area]

I loved riding the TMCs as well.  The rear window was just fantastic for me, and I loved looking out that window and seeing the cloud of black smoke coming out from the exhaust pipe next to the window.  (Back then, it was acceptable for buses to spew out clouds of smoke.)

I'll never forget that engine sound either.  I've never heard anything like that high pitched "oh" sound that seemingly came from the exhaust pipe.

[rideonrulez]

Yes the TMC's had a very distinct sound. I also loved watching the front swing door slam everytime it closed. I hated the slow back door though.

[ir0cq09]

what kind of engine did the 1989 Gilligs have?? They sounded so effin cool..

[Tritransit Area]

I loved how the '89 Gilligs sounded as well.  I wish I started my recording career earlier, because I would have DEFINITELY recorded those buses.

Those buses had a Cummins C-series engine (don't remember the exact type) if I'm not mistaken.  This was hooked up to an Allison HT-series transmission, which probably added to its coolness.

[TransitGuru1981X]

I loved how the '89 Gilligs sounded as well.  I wish I started my recording career earlier, because I would have DEFINITELY recorded those buses.

Those buses had a Cummins C-series engine (don't remember the exact type) if I'm not mistaken.  This was hooked up to an Allison HT-series transmission, which probably added to its coolness.

I'm going to step in on this: At first - in regards to the 1989 Gilligs - they were originally delivered with a Caterpillar 3208T engine (3208s were very common in schoolbuses throughout the late '70s to the late '80s) and the transmissions were Allison MT-647 units. Around 1995, the engines on most of these buses were changed to Cummins C8.3 units.

Some of the TMC Citycruisers even received an engine change to the 3208T when they were rehabbed; #5470 was one of the last TMCs running that were not rehabbed.

~Ben

[DCT S9Z4Z6]

Yes the TMC's had a very distinct sound. I also loved watching the front swing door slam everytime it closed. I hated the slow back door though.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yes, the rear doors were slow.

But the 5109 - 5200 series TMC's that were based in Silver Spring, above the rear door, you could open the hatch, and next to the red air valve to open the rear doors, in case of an emergenecy, was a rear door delay switch, that was usually set in the 5sec - 7sec delay, from when the last person stepped off the step treadle, til the rear doors started to close.

Some operators knew of that switch, and would open the hatch, take out a dime, or flathead screwdriver & set the timing to 2seconds after the person cleared the doors. Those 2-3 seconds on Piney Branch Rd, or NW park apartments, saved time, compared to the 5-7 seconds if you left the switch alone. 

[DCT S9Z4Z6]

Time to pull out the history books....

point 1: I'm pretty sure the TMC's were delivered to both Silver Spring and Gaithersburg. I'll have to check on that one of these days. What I do remember is that when they rehabbed the TMC's (which was repainting them into the new scheme and renumbering them to the 5400's) they were at Gaithersburg for sure.

point 2:The 1984 Orion I's were delivered in the first paint scheme. The 1989 Gilligs were the first in the current Blue & White scheme. They were also the first with flip dot signs as all buses before came with roll signs.

The 1989 Gilligs were ordered for expansion and I think a few replacements. The expansion was for the Wheaton Station opening in 1990. Again I was just a little kid at the time this was all happening 
[/quote]

Actually,
Point 1:
At 1st, those TMC's were ONLY for Silver Spring. The reason I know this, is 1 TMC bus (5162) only had a destination sign, for Silver Spring area destinations. There was NO Friendship Heights, Rockville, Montgomery Village on the signroll.
There was even a time, that Silver Spring Ride-On did the route 55 on Sundays. Once the buses were rehabbed, Bus 5400 - Bus 5429, they were based in Silver Spring. . well, least as of September 1989.

Point2:
Yes. The '84 Orion's were delivered in the original paint scheme, and were based in Gaithersburg. Silver Spring did not have any Orion's, until the delivery of the 5500 series Orion's.

The 5300 Gillig Phantoms were used for the Wheaton & Forest Glen expansion in summer/fall of 1990. 57 Gillig Buses, numbered 5300 - 5356, all based in Silver Spring, once delivered.  And yes, the 57 Gilligs were used for expansion & to replace some rellic TMC's.