Puget Sound Rider

"Strait Shot" beginning June 17. Interesting to see they decided to do a trip on Sunday too. http://www.clallamtransit.com/Portals/17/Images/Schedule and Map/The Strait Shot.pdf I was at the Bainbridge Terminal when they were doing some training with a 40' Gillig LF on 4/26.

These are from Friday. I only saw 9301, which had route/destination on passenger side but only destination on driver side It got put on wiki page https://cptdb.ca/wiki/index.php/File:Sound_Transit_91701.jpg

These were from last week in Westport

Saw a photo today of new ST 91701 at CT base. Also, the 9300s ('16 MCI D4500s) have gone into service.

Kitsap Transit has recently changed their operations in Poulsbo. The new "North Viking Transit Center" opened on 12/4. Route 90 buses no longer have a letter (90A/90B etc) attached to the number. The commuter runs from the Bainbridge Ferry now show "90 Express to..." or "90 All stops". Personally I like the letter designator better, as it was clear to riders what bus went where. In addition to the new transit center, there is finally a bus that connects with the 4:45AM ferry to Seattle, something that was previously lacking

Those were the ones I mentioned in a previous post. I never saw them on the roads, not sure why they kept them for so long. Been a long time since I posted here. Got a look inside one of the new Gillig Low Floors (786). Their seats are a whole lot different than anything they've gotten before.

Had to be 2399. The only D60 with LED signs

From what I've seen, the afternoon 22 is also operated with a 7200 (different than the morning one). It was posted previously that KCM was planning on getting some/all of Everett's D60s. They are spec'd the same as KCM D60s...Just the aesthetic variations.

I remember riding those. They had plastic seats without fabric in the rear of the coach. #804 had a USS Missouri mural on the side. I though that KT sold the remaining 2002/03 Aerotechs (975-980). I saw one (not sure what #) at the Bainbridge Ferry this morning. Interesting that they decided to hold on to a couple of them

I haven't been posted in a long time... I went out on March 8th to catch up on whats happening. Took a ride on the First Hill Streetcar. The train I took back to Pioneer Square was running on battery and I didn't event know it until I saw the pantograph lowered in my photos. I like the next stop display they have...I think it could be made a little better if it showed more of a map format with cross streets, connections to Metro and what not. Anyways, amongst other things, I saw a very dirty 4517 with Minnesota plates and no KCM decals "out of service" headed east on Jackson St. Would this be some sort of acceptance testing by KCM? 4501 Training RapidRide XDE60 6200

I went out on Monday and got to see 4517 testing. Very dirty still with Minnesota plates. No KCM logos or bike rack Also caught a ride on 6200. I like the interior layout better than the other RR coaches. I think the 4500s are the same except for the missing seats in the articulated joint. Sorry if any of this was covered before. I haven't read up on the latest posts. Just wanted to do a quick share of some of what I saw on Monday. I'll catch up on the rest tomorrow.

Video of 4349 on battery power with front doors open King County Metro 2015 New Flyer XT40 4349 by Zack Heistand, on Flickr

Just an observation from yesterday. I saw several 4100s and 4200s running around with no advertisements (ad racks in place, just empty) Something I did not know: There are hooks that hold the poles down on the top of the coach on the 4300s. I watched the hooks retract (into the orange plastic covers) after the poles were reconnected to the wires. Does that work the opposite way? Operator flips a switch/button to retract poles and the hooks come down to hold poles to the roof of the coach? I think I may have heard something in the past about the driver being able to retract poles from the seat...Can't remember though I went out to Seattle yesterday for the first time in a while. All the RapidRide XDE60s I saw seemed to be doing testing of some sort, as none were in service on any RapidRide route. Looking at the front of the buses sort of reminds me of the DE60LFA, except for the one-piece windshield. In my opinion, the section behind the windows in the rear, as well as the back, are rather bland without any colors or logos or what not. It looks like it would be a great place to put a RapidRide or Metro decal. I imagine that the rear will eventually be used for advertisements. Aside from the new RapidRide coaches, I saw 4300 and 4301 in service. Both still have the smaller coach number decals on the front and sides, and the large numbers on the rear.

Not me on this one. That would make sense to keep some of them in a "reserve fleet" (Like Pierce Transit). I have not seen any new XT40s showing up in the last couple weeks. Any ideas? (I'm wondering if the RapidRide XDE60s take precedence and are being readied for service). The 2004/2005 Gillig Low Floors that Kitsap Transit have that problem. The low seats windows are too high and the high seat windows go too low. [url=https://flic.kr/p/fziyaB] People in the low seats have to stretch their necks to see and people in the high seats nearly have their butts exposed to the outside world. One seat, on the intermediate step up is perfect.

From what I've seen perusing the internet, the BAE only seems to show up on 40' coaches (Gotta be some exceptions, but not a normal thing for a 60'). Allison is used on both 40' and 60' coaches. Anybody have information on what Metro is doing with the 4100s once they are retired (other than parts coaches)? Also (I've asked before, but want to see if anybody has seen any updated information), what happens to diesel Phantoms and D60s after they are retired? There were a few King County surplus auctions (bi-annual and specials) that had King County Metro buses in 2011-2013, but the recent ones only have Access buses. Also, have not seen any KC or ST coaches on bidadoo, Northwest Bus Sales, Transit Sales International, Public Surplus, etc.

From my observations, it is very rare to have a Phantom on 510, 511 or 512 (I have not personally observed one on the 512). During the morning/afternoon commutes, some 513 trips use Phantoms. It does happen, but I don't think it's a regular thing.

Speaking of the First Hill Streetcar, this was on Monday. Same as above, battery going west and on wire going east.

Yesterday I saw 4335 de-wire at 4th/Jackson. The driver stopped the coach (blocking bus access to the 4th/Jackson Island for a light cycle) and went back to put the poles back on the wires...Why do that when the battery power should have been able to get the coach out of the intersection and to a better location to re-wire?

They don't run the 4200s in the snow. I don't recall ever seeing them during snowy days. The hills seem to be good places for articulated coaches to jackknife. Wont be seeing a scene like this again; Probably will be Orions and XT40s if this happens now Then there is the damage chains can cause...Seems to be the worst on the D/DE60LFs. The plastic thing around the rear wheel was removed on the DE60LFs. Notice the 2004 DE60LFs had the cover removed (Sound Transit '04 DE60LFs had covers put back on). The newer DE60LF/Rs came without the rear wheel cover and have a thin metal trim around the rear wheels (except for ST DE60LFRs).

WOW. Talk about bad timing. 3740 hit by tree. http://cdn.tegna-tv.com/-mm-/40a3a66bf51c7878471670b02e3fe5871d93c085/c=321-0-788-623&r=537&c=0-0-534-712/local/-/media/2015/11/17/NWGroup/KING/635833664228414774-Tree-on-Metrobus-King-Co.-Sheriff.JPG http://www.king5.com/story/weather/2015/11/16/rain-potentially-damaging-winds-heavy-mountain-snow-coming/75869650/

I saw one TriMet Phantom when I was there in September, on the 12 at Parkrose/Sumner TC TriMet 1997 Gillig Phantom 2106 by Zack Heistand, on Flickr

3314 is at SB too

I was wondering if they were going to bring some of them back to South for a while before retirement (like the D60s). It make sense if they use them on the commuter trips that do mostly freeway operations. Send Orions back to the eastside and use the Gilligs for weekday commuter runs. I would think that would be a way to extend the Gilligs lives a little longer, running a few hours a day five days a week. When I posted the list, I only included coaches in service since the shakeup started. A few coaches had their last in-service records on OBA around 9/22 and 9/23 as of October 31st. They have since been in operation this past week. In addition to the above mentioned numbers, 3494 went out of service on 9/23 and have re-appeared on OBA this week, presumably at SB as well. 3237 and 3534 may be included as well. A few Gilligs were last reported in early August; Coach number (last day on OBA): 3333 (8/5) 3508 (8/6) 3514 (8/7) 3516 (8/7) Also, does anybody know what's up with 7176? It has not been on OBA for quite some time.

How did they end up with Kinkisharyo in the first place? Siemens seems to be more well equipped (experience and local support) than them. I really like the interior layouts of TriMet's MAX trains. It seems they had a perfect example of what works and could have mirrored the MAX interior layouts. Would they have been able to piggyback on TriMet's orders if they had wanted to (Not sure how it works with LRVs)?

Since the service change last month: 32 of the 40's (3220, 3237, 3259-60, 3275, 3302, 3314, 3316, 3321, 3337, 3340-41, 3357, 3391-92, 3397, 3416, 3421, 3426, 3430, 3449, 3485, 3519, 3522-23, 3527, 3534, 3547, 3559-60, 3581 and 3586 35 of the 30's 1100-01 (North Base), 1103-05, 1107-08, 1113-14, 1116-18, 1120, 1122-23, 1125, 1127, 1129, 1131, 1133, 1135, 1139, 1142-43, 1154, 1156, 1159-60, 1168-70, 1174, 1180, 1187 and 1192. Seem to only run on weekdays along with XDE40s. A lot pop up just during commute times.