PHOTOS: CET from 3/18

[LandoverDivision]

INTRODUCING THE ONE THE ONLY DE62LFA!!! 3 new NEW Circulators and the Express 42LFAs as well.

[OrionFlyer]

Awesome man, just awesome. It looks like the New Flyer Artics are going to be numbered in the 5400 series too.

So Northern and Montgomery are the only two divisions getting those?

Why on earth does WMATA insist on putting the Flag on backwards on their buses?

[LandoverDivision]

Awesome man, just awesome. It looks like the New Flyer Artics are going to be numbered in the 5400 series too.

So Northern and Montgomery are the only two divisions getting those?

Why on earth does WMATA insist on putting the Flag on backwards on their buses?

It seems that Nothern and Montgomery are the only ones getting them. The flag thing, I have no idea why.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

The flag isn't backwards.  Here is an explanation that can be applied to transit vehicles:

Why do American soldiers wear the U.S. flag insignia "backwards"  on the right shoulder of their utility uniforms, with the canton (the rectangle with the stars) on the observer's right? It's a question that soldiers hear frequently as they travel through civilian airports or talk to members of other services. And it does look "wrong"  because U.S. federal code calls for the canton always to be positioned to the left.

The soldiers aren't wrong, however, and neither are their tailors. The Army has two authorized flag patches, one to be worn on the left shoulder, with the canton facing left, and another "reverse field"  patch worn on the right shoulder, with the canton facing right. The two different orientations are mandated because Army regulations call for the flag "to be
worn so that to observers, it looks as if the flag is flying against a breeze."

What does a stiff wind have to do with this custom? The rule is a nod to the U.S. Army's early history, when wars were fought as a series of carefully choreographed battles, with two armies meeting on a field, clashing head-on until one side emerged victorious. In those battles, infantry and mounted cavalry units would always designate one soldier as "standard bearer"  to carry the colors into the fight. As the standard bearer charged, his rapid forward movement would cause the flag to stream back. And since the Stars and Stripes is mounted with the canton next to the pole, that section would always be forward.

So if a soldier were charging into battle, the flag would give the appearance of forward motion. When worn on the right shoulder, the flag only appears to be backwards. And that's why soldiers wear the flag patches on the right shoulder backwards. Because retreat in battle, as any soldier will tell you, is not the Army way.

This isn't the best photo, but if you look at how the flag is positioned on NYC Transit buses, you'll notice it also appears to be "backwards" on the right side of the vehicle:

[WMAveteran]

Thank you for the explanation about the flag.  A nice piece of information to remember.

[OrionFlyer]

Thanks for the explanation. Now I understand.

[79MetroExtraMD]

I'm just wondering where the numbers are starting for the DE62LFAs. 5431 seems pretty odd to start with for just 22 buses since the 60BRTs ended at 5422.

[LandoverDivision]

I'm just wondering where the numbers are starting for the DE62LFAs. 5431 seems pretty odd to start with for just 22 buses since the 60BRTs ended at 5422.

That's the same thing I said. I was thinking they should start with 6500 or something.

[WES]

6500s wouldn't make sense to a point, because that will be reserved for more 40 footers.  Unlike the 30 footers, which will seem to occupy the 3000 range, WMATA probably decided to keep all 60 footers in the 5000 range.

[LandoverDivision]

6500s wouldn't make sense to a point, because that will be reserved for more 40 footers.  Unlike the 30 footers, which will seem to occupy the 3000 range, WMATA probably decided to keep all 60 footers in the 5000 range.

So what about the 37LFAs? 5000s makes sense for the 60 footers. I thought they were going to range all the LFAs in the 6000s.

[WES]

I don't know about the 35 footers, but in the drawing didn't they have the 35 footers (or 37 footers) listed as the 3700s.  Those are up in the air as since WMATA has only bought these buses only 2 times now that's the 64,000 dollar question.  Of course when the 9400 middies were bought, WMATA still putting 30 footers above the 60 footers in the 5000 series.  That stopped with the Orion Vs

When they come in well shall soon see.  The other question would be, if the S9 is supposed to start the 29th, where are the buses for this route and shouldn't there be way more Flyers sitting in Carmen E Turner/Landover?

[LandoverDivision]

I was wondering that too. I was thinking maybe they are in other divisions, but we can't see them. What I was thinking was they may put some in service now then wait until later to put the rest in service.

[OrionFlyer]

Who's going to do the S9? Northern or Bladensburg?

I don't remember seeing anything about Northern getting new 40ft buses, only 60fts.

[LandoverDivision]

Who's going to do the S9? Northern or Bladensburg?

I don't remember seeing anything about Northern getting new 40ft buses, only 60fts.

That's a good question. wmata employee said that WMATA was going to give Northern some new buses but I'm not sure. Maybe Montgomery if Northern can't do it.

[C40LF_2464]

Dam man those 62LFA's look sweet. Guess almost all of the bus orders are in, all we are waiting for are the 37LFA's. Now lets see if Catoe plans to order some Xcelsiors for Landover and Northern and Bladensburg since its my home divisions. And i think thats a 37LFA rifgt next to the New Flyer artic.