Seattle Area Transit Pictures

[bradfordbrian]

Mid's like "Yay, I'm driving a Gillig!"

[Shaun]

Found this article about double articulated busses.

Is this a joke?

http://altwire.utne.com/rt_story/urbanist_v4/community-transit-make-that-a-double-ven/632f5578506f6e46452f5846304f4e30693553484c673d3d

[118 Vashon via EXPRESS]

It was an April Fool's joke.

[Puget Sound Rider]

Some of what I got on Wednesday, February 5th during the Seahawks victory parade. It was so crazy out there.

University Street Station...The SB trains were already full when arriving. Everything was moving soooo slow down there. A train would come, then a bunch of buses, then another train-never ending.

6089 on rt 120.

RapidRide C Line PACKED FULL

There were two ex-Metro M.A.N. Americanas being used for Seattle Police officers. I knew SPD had a Phantom, but I didn't know about these two. They even kept the same numbers from Metro.

3078

3129

SPD was also using a CT D40LF, 9160

The ferries were totally nuts. We were taking 2300 passengers on the Tacoma (Coast Guard allows us 2500, but we had to allow room for error.).

Kitsap Transit using a Worker/Driver bus for routed service on Bainbridge. Taking people 1.5-2 hours to get off the island from the ferry.

PEOPLE EVERYWHERE

[SolDuc]

6117, Metro's newest bus in service on the C-Line just last sunday:

KCM New Flyer DE60LFR #6117 by SolDuc Photography, on Flickr

KCM 6969 on the 550 yesterday:

KCM New Flyer DE60LFR #6969 by SolDuc Photography, on Flickr

CT 23812 on the 532, yesterday as well:

CT New Flyer D60LF #23812 by SolDuc Photography, on Flickr

[roamer]

Is Sound Transit so short of coaches that both Metro and CT have to run their own equipment on Sound Transit routes?

[118 Vashon via EXPRESS]

Is Sound Transit so short of coaches that both Metro and CT have to run their own equipment on Sound Transit routes?

Yes. In fact there have been occasions where there have been King County Metro buses with ST livery wraps.

[RapidRideTy]

It also depends on what's available in the event something breaks down. I once drove ST 9638 on a route 255 because my original coach broke down and the Sound Transit coach was done with it's run for the day. Another instance I've had was on a 554/555 run. My coach blew a coolant line and I had to drive a Gillig from Central Base the rest of the run.

[roamer]

Thank you for the responses. I just thought by now, ST would have their equipment needs straightened out.

Yes, I also remember driving quite a few 2300s on ST routes on various occasions but that was over ten years ago.

But, what was even more weird is that I remember driving ST coaches on Metro routes. The ones that stick in my mind were the :"first of a kind -type" situations.

The first was when I working out of EB and it was near the end of the shake-up before ST service commenced in 1999 (?). They were bringing in the brand new 9000 coaches to get ready for the start of ST service. So toward the end of the shake-up they started to sign them out for us to try out and get used to. So they assigned them on Metro routes for a few weeks. It was neat not only for us but for passengers too as we got to drive and ride in these air conditioned, cloth seat, brand new Gilligs which was quite a different bus than we had been accustomed (first coach with a/c since some of those old carried-over Dearborn coaches). I remember getting one on a 226/235 relief run. Passenger reaction was amusing to see as it was the first time many got to see a ST coach close up and a lot of wows were heard as people boarded ...and the startled looks when the bus pulled up with this wavy blue color!

The other incident I remember which again was weird and a purely isolated incident is when I was working out of BB around 2003 (?) and ST had just purchased their first DE40LF ...I believe it was assigned to be used at Pierce Transit (or it could have been CT --can't remember but it wasn't a Metro ST coach ...however, I now see that it currently is!). It was/is coach 9200 and I think the first ST hybrid. So before putting it in service at PT (or CT?), they circulated it around to different bases for for mechanics to inspect. I don't think they were supposed to sign it out for service as none of the drivers had been "officially" qualified on it (however, it was essentially just a non-artic version of the DE60LF which was already on the property) but the mechanics at BB let me take it out for a night on the 230 (I think that what it was). From my recollection, it was wrapped in a yellow ad so nobody knew it was a ST coach but I remember getting quite a reaction from other drivers when laying over at the BTC.

Thanks again for letting me reminisce.

[RapidRideTy]

I appreciate learning about what was going on at Metro before I moved up to Seattle and ultimately got hired. Please continue with the reminiscing. As for 9200, she's still out and about, typically on the 540. I never got the chance to take her out, but from what I've heard, it's got its quirks, but once you're used to them, 9200 is a good coach.

[roamer]

I appreciate learning about what was going on at Metro before I moved up to Seattle and ultimately got hired. Please continue with the reminiscing. As for 9200, she's still out and about, typically on the 540. I never got the chance to take her out, but from what I've heard, it's got its quirks, but once you're used to them, 9200 is a good coach.

Thanks, Ty. I'm glad that the stories I post are not boring to all and may be of interest to some here. It's somewhat therapeutic for me to get these recollections out in writing. I still am working on what I remember of the first days when East Base first opened back in 1977 and will post those anecdotes at some point of what I remember about the equipment, facilities, and working conditions.

Yeah, I think coach 9200 came in just ahead of the D40LFs that Central received so it was a surprise to many drivers to see a low-floor 40-footer in service especially on the eastside. The thing that sticks in my mind is that it was so fast off the line, as a typical hybrid, compared to the 3200s.

[Puget Sound Rider]

Yes. In fact there have been occasions where there have been King County Metro buses with ST livery wraps.

PT has some of their 8000s ('99 Gilligs that were purchased from Sound Transit) wrapped in ST colors. They found themselves real short handed when they took over route 560. I'd have thought that some of the '01 Phantoms would have been moved from KCM to PT.

[SolDuc]

Some pictures from last Friday:

2301 at TIBS:

KCM New Flyer D60 #2301 by SolDuc Photography, on Flickr

9620, tried to board it at South Bellevue but it had a broken bike rack so I had to wait for the next one:

ST New Flyer DE60LF #9620K by SolDuc Photography, on Flickr

Route 601, from the outside and the inside. Three people onboard as the bus essentially deadheaded from SB to Seattle.

Link 113, again from the outside and inside:

My first photo of a bus running the E-Line was gorgeous:

KCM New Flyer DE60LFR #6087 by SolDuc Photography, on Flickr

Evening Link train pulling into Mount Baker:

Evening Commute Link Train entering Mount Baker Station by SolDuc Photography, on Flickr

And just for fun, my bike at Mount Baker.

Biking Link: Mount Baker Station by SolDuc Photography, on Flickr

[northwesterner]

Thanks, Ty. I'm glad that the stories I post are not boring to all and may be of interest to some here. It's somewhat therapeutic for me to get these recollections out in writing. I still am working on what I remember of the first days when East Base first opened back in 1977 and will post those anecdotes at some point of what I remember about the equipment, facilities, and working conditions.

Yeah, I think coach 9200 came in just ahead of the D40LFs that Central received so it was a surprise to many drivers to see a low-floor 40-footer in service especially on the eastside. The thing that sticks in my mind is that it was so fast off the line, as a typical hybrid, compared to the 3200s.

I believe (and maybe busdude.com can help me remember) that ST and Metro went in together for two Hybrid demonstrators in 2003. ST took the lead on this, and the articulated version (2599) came delivered in Metro paint but with ST specs (including punch strips). The 40ftr was delivered in ST colors as 9200. 9200 ran around with a "Tide" type wrap advertising that it was hybrid that pretty much covered up the ST waves. It did run at Metro, PT, and CT, before settling in at Metro. It did operate, in revenue, from a number of Metro bases (they even put out a press release on the routes/runs it would operate on). I have a photo of it operating N/B on 24th Ave NW in Ballard on route 75 somewhere in the archives.

[roamer]

I believe (and maybe busdude.com can help me remember) that ST and Metro went in together for two Hybrid demonstrators in 2003. ST took the lead on this, and the articulated version (2599) came delivered in Metro paint but with ST specs (including punch strips). The 40ftr was delivered in ST colors as 9200. 9200 ran around with a "Tide" type wrap advertising that it was hybrid that pretty much covered up the ST waves. It did run at Metro, PT, and CT, before settling in at Metro. It did operate, in revenue, from a number of Metro bases (they even put out a press release on the routes/runs it would operate on). I have a photo of it operating N/B on 24th Ave NW in Ballard on route 75 somewhere in the archives.

Ah, that does jog the memory. I do remember something like that. It makes much more sense than my comments. It seems that I more clearly remember things that happened back in the 70's and 80's (and not too clearly at that) than what happened more recently. Thank you, northwesterner.

[busdude.com]

Sound Transit bought 9200 at the same time Metro got 2599. ST was also going to get a CNG Hybrid, but that never happened. 9200 started a tour at Community Transit, Metro, Pierce Transit, and Intercity Transit. It also apparently went over to Kitsap Transit.

http://www.soundtran...ionM2002-16.htm

http://www.soundtran...M2002-16att.doc

Being displayed shortly after delivery at Union Station

At Some CT park and Ride (Mariner?)

In Service for Pierce Transit at TCC Transit Center

In Service for Intercity Transit in Tumwater, WA on Route 13

I never did get any pictures of it service for Kitsap or apparently metro.

[coordinator47]

At Metro the prime directive is fill the service. Sound Transit and Custom Bus service have priority over regular Metro service. If a Metro ST coach breaks down I use whatever is available. I can generally get hold of a bus off the road faster than the shops can respond, especially at night. I've run 3600s on the 554 and the C/D, 3000s (remember those?) on the 545 and an 1100 on the 560 years ago.

The only rule that we don't break is to send non tunnel coaches into the tunnel. February 12 was unique in that respect and only occurred after 2 PM when Tunnel Control relaxed the prohibition.

When getting down to the end of sign out a hostler might assign just about anything. North Base ran 1100s and 3600s on the 358 several times in December and January.

Sometimes a 9500 sneaks into the tunnel through error and/or ignorance. A couple of years ago I took a phone call from a 554 operator in 9546 laying over at Issaquah Highlands P&R. Her radio was in voice mode so she couldn't use it to call. She was hearing 9547 (in voice mode because data mode doesn't work in the tunnel) calling in a breakdown at University St Station and nobody else could hear it. The hostler erred and the operator was too new to recognize that 9547 wasn't a tunnel coach. He didn't understand why it wouldn't go into hush mode at Convention Place Station but that didn't stop him from continuing into the tunnel.

[anonymous guy]

To be fair, most of the tunnel-goers wouldn't bat an eye at the 9500s inside the tunnel.

Now the 2300s during South Base's shortage....

[SolDuc]

At Metro the prime directive is fill the service. Sound Transit and Custom Bus service have priority over regular Metro service. If a Metro ST coach breaks down I use whatever is available. I can generally get hold of a bus off the road faster than the shops can respond, especially at night. I've run 3600s on the 554 and the C/D, 3000s (remember those?) on the 545 and an 1100 on the 560 years ago.

Do RapidRides routes also have priority over other routes? It would seem logical as they have to use the RapidRide coaches but who knows.

[Puget Sound Rider]

I believe (and maybe busdude.com can help me remember) that ST and Metro went in together for two Hybrid demonstrators in 2003. ST took the lead on this, and the articulated version (2599) came delivered in Metro paint but with ST specs (including punch strips). The 40ftr was delivered in ST colors as 9200. 9200 ran around with a "Tide" type wrap advertising that it was hybrid that pretty much covered up the ST waves. It did run at Metro, PT, and CT, before settling in at Metro. It did operate, in revenue, from a number of Metro bases (they even put out a press release on the routes/runs it would operate on). I have a photo of it operating N/B on 24th Ave NW in Ballard on route 75 somewhere in the archives.

That would make sense as to why 2599 had the push strips and the sandpaper type floor, while the '04 DE60LFs had the cords and the floor with strips.

[northwesterner]

2599 also had Twin Vision signs, which was ST spec at the time (I still think the Twin Vision is the better sign).

[anonymous guy]

Also unlike the production 2600s, the 2599 originally came with a Cummins ISL engine. When that type of engine didn't pass emissions tests that year, they substituted the ISL spec with the CAT C9 engines which were larger. They retrofitted the 2599 with the larger CAT C9 engine and the 2599 went onto revenue service until it was disabled due to an engine fire.

Unfortunately, from what I recall, the first hybrid articulated coach in 2599 now lays in the Metro boneyard, with most usable parts taken out.

[Puget Sound Rider]

Some of the buses being used for the North Line Sounder shuttles

Pierce Transit 8059 and 8068

Sound Transit 9099P and 9413P

While not transit, it's still a bus...This bus boarded the ferry I was working on. Nice Crown school bus-Bainbridge Island School District #00. I have not seen one of these for a very long time.

[maximase86]

Been a while since I last saw a Crown Supercoach too. Edmonds School district used to have 2 tandem axle buses (67 and 68), as well as few single rear axle ones (18, 19, 20, 21, 65, 66). They were retired a few years ago I believe. Do you know I this was sporting a Detroit 6-71 or Cummins?

S

[northwesterner]

Its been a long time since any district really used a SuperCoach as a schedule route bus. However, a number of them (including Edmonds and Bainbridge Island) held on to a few as "backup" coaches used mostly as field trip / activity buses. As a bus reputed to run for eternity, this was a good role for them.