Orion V 9641

Location: Friendship Heights Station, Chevy Chase, MD
Operator of Vehicle: Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Date of Photo: June 2000

Since I went way back in the past for the Rail Photo of the Month for August 2024 and chose a photo taken using film from the early days of this website, I thought I would do the same for the Bus Photo of the Month.  There most of what you see in this photo or in the surrounding area has changed in the ensuing 24 years, except for the bus terminal itself.  For starters, the 36 was extended to Naylor Road Station when it opened on January 13, 2001, and was ultimately truncated to Foggy Bottom in August of 2014.  The 1992 Orion V buses would be retired in the early 2000s, though newer Orion Vs would remain in WMATA’s fleet until 2019.

The shopping center seen behind the bus has been renovated twice since this photo was taken.  Although not visible in this photo, Mazza Gallerie was behind and to the left of where I was standing until it was demolished in 2023 to be redeveloped.  What was then a Hecht’s department store was directly to my left when this photo was taken, closed in 2005, and has since been redeveloped into the Shops at Wisconsin Place.  Other projects have also taken place or are ongoing in the general vicinity of the Friendship Heights station.  

Perhaps it also goes without mention, but photography technology has improved significantly since I took this photo, digital photography has been accessible to nearly everyone for many years now, and I’d like to think my photography skills have improved since I took this picture.  What do you think?

For more photos of WMATA’s 1992 Orion V Buses, please click here.