WMATA Had these?

[Annex4421]

MAN artics used to run on the old R8 from Calverton to Fort Totten.  It was fun to get one on there.  Not fun to get one on the Q2 as they crawled up the big hills on Viers Mill Road.

The 9600's at first I didn't care for, but after they repowered them I realized I missed them the old way.  When I first saw them in '92 I had no idea what it was since it looked so different than what WMATA had been getting, so it was nice to see a little variety.

What about these

What about them?

Don't you miss those

[Perry]

I do miss them, but they have to go at some point.

[Annex4421]

True. Just like the Metro D 's A an E's WMATA is gonna be weird without them

[WayneNYC]

Why don't you like the 21/2200s they're the Orion V's unless you'd prefer WMATA getting one similar to the one Ride-On has

Well... Personally, I've never cared much for Orion V & VII buses.  I'm aware that WMATA's 21/2200s buses are Orion Vs.  In my tolerance of Orion Vs over the years the 21/2200 simply had no "personality" to me.  IMO, most other buses seem to have something about them that's likeable.  For me on the 21/2200s the only good things I can say are they have great A/C and the soft seating.  That's the busfan side of me.  Now from a practical standpoint: I realize that these buses seem to be holding their own as serious workhorses at tough divisions like Northern and the Annex.

[Annex4421]

They're none at annex Its has been since 2005 that Annex had those which was 2220-2231, You probably was thinking of the old Southeastern and Western. The 42/4300s have soft seats too and basicly is the same bus. The 2100s have strong engines plus I get if you're Tired of them but like I said southeastern had them and they were popular on the A Routes not to mention the M6 on the weekends. As for the VII's I kinda see why you would dislike these because the 30 footers are too small for wmata, they should have ordered 35 footers.But at least you like the VI. The New flyers are just as good as the Orions Besides who know if tomorrow wmata stops ordering New Flyers. I understand that feel the suck but what if there were to be 21/2200s in you area? would you stop riding metro because of that. Plus although I love the flx's I give anything to see something else at Annex.

[Tritransit Area]

This is a nice topic.  I actually rode most of the buses featured here, and remember them.  I never rode a WMATA Gillig.  In fact, it wasn't until I read "The Story of Metro" and saw a picture of one.  Later, while riding in a car, I saw one in service.  Now, 30 foot Orion Vs dominate those routes:



Now, in regards to the 2100s, Montgomery and Northern were chock full of them, and I used to ride the ALL THE TIME on the K6.  While they are nice and apparently durable, they are so so so bland.  What makes them worse than the 4300s is that they are starting to have those EGR things, like the whooshing and a little screech every now and then.  But boy, are they fast!

I wouldn't mind if WMATA stopped ordering New Flyers.  I actually wasn't pleased that they decided to dominate the fleet with New Flyers.  WMATA was my escape from New Flyer City, otherwise known as Philadelphia, PA, where I hail from when I'm not a DC guy.

[Tritransit Area]

Oh yes, I used to ride the RTSs all the time on the K6 - not bad, but they sure did rattle!  I also used to ride the Flx New Looks on, you guessed it, the K6 as well way back in the day. 

I don't remember if Montgomery/Northern had 9200s in the early 90's.  I only remember riding the 93/9400s on the K6 and other WMATA routes.  Besides, the 9200 were JUST retired within the last few years, lol.

Ah, the memories

[Perry]

Montgomery got 9200's right away when they were delivered.  The C2 I'd catch from Hyattsville to Beltway Plaza for my job at Three Brothers would routinely get one of the 9220's.  This was the summer of '88.

[Perry]

The only time I rode one of the WMATA Gilligs was when we had them at PRTC after buying them from Quantico Marine Base.

[LandoverDivision]

I don't really mind the Flyers. I would like to see buses from different bus manufacturers too. I want to see some NovaBuses or some Designlines.

[Annex4421]

NOOOOO!! Nova NAW Designline won't mind

[Antozilla]

The Story of Metro?  Is that a book or is it Metro at 25 or ??

[Antozilla]

Guys how much of this is a conversation that should be taken of line and how much of this is posts that we all benefit from?   

[WMAveteran]

Like Wes, I thought the RTSs were cool.  I rode them a lot on the "J2."  They were delivered originally with non-opening windows because GM told Metro that the bus AC systems were fool-proof and Metro swallowed the story hook, line and sinker.  Unfortunately, since they were mechanical systems they did break down (and always at the most inopportune times - such as 90 degree days in July).  The stories about these rolling saunas were legendary. 
In addition to the mechanical problems, there was a construction problem caused by the fuel line for the separate motor than ran the AC system.  The AC fuel line sipped fuel from the main fuel tank, however it was not long enough to reach the bottom of the tank, so as the fuel level dropped the AC fuel line was left "high and dry" and thus no AC for the passengers.
Metro spent a fortune retrofitting the RTSs with opening windows and longer fuel lines.
Personally, although I really liked them, they were really slow and if the AC was functioning and the bus was climbing a hill - you could walk faster than the bus (lol).   

[DCT S9Z4Z6]

Not to mention, but if the bus was full, and people were standing in the rear stairwell, and fell onto the rear doors, the rear doors would spring open & you could be run over by the bus you were riding upon (9048) at Chevy Chase Circle.