Category Archives: Photo of the Month

Bus Photo of the Month: September 2022

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New Flyer XDE40 7098

Location: 9th Street, NW at Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC
Operator of Vehicle: Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Date of Photo: April 11, 2011

Beginning with the launch of its first “MetroExtra” route in 2007, WMATA attempted to brand the new service with specially painted buses.  This branding eventually evolved into what are often referred to as the “MetroLocal” and “MetroExtra” schemes where most of the bus is painted silver with the back portion being painted red for local buses and blue for MetroExtra buses.  However, after about 14 years of the current schemes being in use, Metro is repainting all of the MetroExtra buses into the “standard” red Local scheme.  Instead, passengers will need to rely on the destination sign to identify MetroExtra services.

I suspect some of this stems from the fact that blue MetroExtra buses often wound up on local routes and vice versa, and I mentioned this as a reason I tend to dislike branded bus schemes in a post six years ago.  Frankly, I’m not a huge fan of the current Metrobus paint schemes and hope that when the livery is next updated that it is an improvement over the current one.

For more photos of WMATA New Flyer XDE40 buses, please click here.

Rail Photo of the Month: September 2022

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Kinki-Sharyo Type 7 LRV 3714

Location: Beacon Street between Washington Square and Fairbanks Street stations, Brookline, MA
Operator of Vehicle: Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority
Date of Photo: May 2, 2011

Despite what many seem to be inclined to think, the oldest subway system in North America is not in New York, but rather, in Boston.  In fact, this month marks the 125th anniversary of the opening of the segment of what is now known as the Green Line between Boylston and Park Street.  The original Tremont Street subway was built to provide a way to get streetcars off of congested streets at the surface, and has evolved to form part of the central trunk of today’s Green Line.  The line has been modified in various ways over the years as Boston has grown and developed, but the Boylston Station remains largely unaltered from its original 1897 state.  The Tremont Street Subway are designated as a National Historic Landmark due to its significance as the first subway in the United States.  The Green Line is in the midst of an expansion of sorts, with the new Union Square branch having opened in March 2022 and the Medford/Tufts branch scheduled to open in November 2022.

For more photos of the MBTA Green Line, please click here.

Rail Photo of the Month: August 2022

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SLM Diesel Electric #14

Location: Pikes Peak Summit, Colorado
Operator of Vehicle: Pikes Peak Cog Railway
Date of Photo: July 22, 2014

Considering the extreme heat waves being experienced throughout much of the United States right now, it seemed appropriate that the Photo of the Month for August 2022 should try finding a cooler climate to feature.  So naturally, we find ourselves over 14,000 feet above sea level at the Summit of Pikes Peak near Colorado Springs, CO.  The temperature at the mountain’s summit is usually about 30 degrees colder than in Manitou Springs, near the base of the mountain.  

The Pikes Peak Cog Railway opened in 1890 and has been in operation continuously since that time with the exception of a refurbishment from October 2017 through May 2021.  It was decided to build the line in order to have what inventor Zalmon Simmons called a more “civilized” way to reach the peak of the mountain after a difficult two day trip on his mule.  The railroad was built as a cog railway because standard trains would not be able to ascend or descend grades greater than 10 percent successfully and safely.  When the line first opened, it was operated by steam engines.  Diesel locomotives were introduced in the late 1930s.  The current rolling stock consists of diesel-electric hybrids built by Stadler Rail of Switzerland.

For more photos of the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, please click here.

Bus Photo of the Month: August 2022

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Orion V 82

Location: National Airport Station, Arlington, VA
Operator of Vehicle: Alexandria Transit Company (DASH)
Date of Photo: June 16, 2019

From the time of its establishment in 1984, DASH in Alexandria, VA has operated buses manufactured by Orion Industries until exactly one month ago.  On July 1 of this year, DASH ran a ceremonial farewell trip to its last Orion built buses, two Orion V units similar to the one in this photo.  Unfortunately, I was not able to attend this event, but from what I’ve seen, DASH made the event a special one.  The headsigns created for the special trips were definitely noteworthy.  In addition to marking the end of the Orion era at DASH, the retirement of the Orion Vs marks the end of high floor bus operations at DASH as the entire fleet is now made up of low floor vehicles.  

Orion ended manufacturing of the Orion V in 2009.  Considering the standard lifespan of a transit bus in North America is typically in the 12 to 15 year range, it is not surprising that the last Orion Vs still standing are gradually being retired now, with only a handful still in operation.  Given that Orion announced on April 25, 2012 that it would no longer take any orders for new buses and that its factories would close when outstanding orders were fulfilled, it should be expected that Orion built buses will no longer be plying the streets of North America within the next few years as the last Orion VIIs built by the company upon its closure are removed from service.

For more photos of DASH buses, please click here.

Rail Photo of the Month: June 2022

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1996 Tube Stock 96076

Location: West Hampstead Station, London, England
Operator of Vehicle: Transport for London (TfL)
Date of Photo: May 21, 2008

Lots of attention has been given to the new Elizabeth Line in London.  Known as Crossrail for most of its planning and construction phases, the Elizabeth Line is named after Queen Elizabeth II and opened just prior to her Platinum Jubilee, being celebrated this weekend.  This isn’t the first rail line in London that has a name connected to Elizabeth’s reign.  The Jubilee Line (pictured here) was named in honor of the queen’s Silver Jubilee; originally the line was to be called the Fleet Line.  This also isn’t the first rail line that Queen Elizabeth will have opened, as she attended the opening of the Victoria Line in 1969, at which time she became the first reigning monarch to ride the London Underground.

In light of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations and the new rail line in London, there are a number of interesting articles about her ties to London and British transportation over the years that are worth checking out.

The opening of a new route in London has also resulted in the largest revamp of the famed London Underground map diagram in the past 20 years.  However, not everyone is pleased and one map expert thinks that the map needs a total refresh instead.

For more photos of London Underground 1996 Stock, please click here.

Bus Photo of the Month: June 2022

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Flxible Metro-B 9256

Location: K Street, NW at Connecticut Avenue, Washington, DC
Operator of Vehicle: Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Date of Photo: July 16, 2003

On the occasion of my birthday month, I thought it would be fun to feature a photo of my first “home route.”  As the name implies, a home route is the route that goes by where you live and therefore take at the start or end of most trips.  For many people, their first home route isn’t one they can necessarily choose, as infants or toddlers have no agency in deciding where to live.

I believe that because my parents and I lived next to a bus line and subway station and used transit for much of our local travels rather than driving is a primary reason I am interested in transit.  We frequently took the L2 bus, pictured here, or the Red Line to go to a variety of different places.  I remember the original incarnation of the L4 and have vague memories of an L5 existing before the current (albeit suspended) L1 was introduced.  The L4 has since been discontinued, reinstated, and discontinued again, and the L2’s southern terminal in Downtown Washington and alignment south of Woodley Park has changed considerably in recent years.  However, this was and always will be the first bus route I relied on regularly.

What’s your home route?  Any special stories to share about it?  Share your answers in the comments!

For more photos of WMATA Flxible Metro-B buses, please click here.

Bus Photo of the Month: May 2022

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Orion V/CNG 5997

Location: Shady Grove Station, Derwood, MD
Operator of Vehicle: Ride On Montgomery County Transit
Date of Photo: March 20, 2009

Earlier this week, I saw some photos posted on social media of Ride On’s new electric buses, manufactured by Gillig.  My understanding is that the buses have been delivered to Ride On but have not yet entered service.  The order, placed in 2021, consists of ten buses that will operate out of the Silver Spring garage.  These ten buses will join four Proterras that have been in service since the fall of 2020.  

Back in 1996, Ride On ordered its first compressed natural gas buses.  These three buses originally featured a green and white livery with a cloud imagery wrap on the windows.  They were later repainted to match the scheme on the 40 foot CNG buses that were delivered in 1999.  While these buses are no longer in service, Ride On has almost exclusively ordered CNG buses for its Gaithersburg Garage since taking delivery of these buses over 20 years ago.

For more photos of Ride On 35 foot Orion V/CNG buses, please click here.

Rail Photo of the Month: May 2022

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Stanga 7003

Location: Piazza del Risorgimento, Rome, Italy
Operator of Vehicle: ATAC
Date of Photo: January 20, 2008

Rome is quite known for its ancient history, and attractions such as the Coliseum, Roman Forum, Vatican Museums, and more draw millions of tourists to the city each year.  It probably doesn’t come as a surprise that many of Rome’s trams currently in service were built over 70 years ago, and to my knowledge, there are currently no plans to replace them.  While some low floor trams operate on lines 2 and 8 (they are required on the latter due to a lack of turning loops at the terminals), the other lines mostly operate these single ended articulated trams that were commissioned shortly following World War II.

Although the trams might be quite old (dare I say ancient?), the rolling stock for lines A and B of the Rome Metro was constructed in this century.  And the newest line, Line C, is fully automated.  

For more photos of Stanga trams in Rome, please click here.

Rail Photo of the Month: April 2022

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ABB LRV 5043

Location: Camden Station, Baltimore, MD
Operator of Vehicle: MDOT MTA
Date of Photo: June 16, 2009

On this date in 1992, the Baltimore Light Rail began revenue operations.  The line’s initial segment operated from Timonium to Camden Yards, adjacent to the Orioles new stadium that opened the same day.  Maryland Governor William Donald Schaefer advocated for the construction of the line in order to facilitate travel to the new ballpark.  The line was constructed without federal funding, which is a rarity for US rapid transit construction, using the right of way previously used by several interurban streetcar and commuter rail routes, the Northern Central Railway, Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis Electric Railway and Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad.  Service was extended such that by 1997, the system reached its current extent, operating as far north as Hunt Valley and as far south as BWI Airport and Glen Burnie.  There is also a short spur line to Baltimore Penn Station.

Initially, much of the line outside of downtown was single track in order to save money during construction.  This limited service to 17 minute frequencies, so the line was closed down in portions in order to double track it between 2004 and 2006.  The original rolling stock still operates on the line, though it received a mid-life overhaul in the mid-2010s.  Also in 2017, the system was rebranded “Light RailLink” in conjunction with the BaltimoreLink bus network redesign.

For more photos of the Baltimore Light Rail, please click here.

Bus Photo of the Month: April 2022

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Mercedez-Benz OH 1718L-SB

Location: Avenida 9 de Julio at Vilamonte, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Operator of Vehicle: Micro Ómnibus 45 S.A.
Date of Photo: January 10, 2018

Your eyes are not deceiving you and this isn’t some kind of April Fool’s joke.  This is a bus with “left hand drive” operating in a country where vehicles drive on the right side of the road.  But what is that bus going in the opposite direction doing to the left of the approaching bus (from my angle as the photographer)?  

These buses are traveling along Avenida 9 de Julio, which is considered to be the widest street in the world according to Guinness World Records.  It is about 361 feet (110 meters) wide, with seven general purpose lanes in each direction flanked by a separate two lane street on each side and four bus lanes (two for each direction) in the middle.  The result is a street wider than a typical Manhattan city block that takes several light cycles to cross in its entirety as a pedestrian.

In 2013, the busway, formally known as the Metrobus 9 de Julio line opened.  Unlike the city’s other Metrobus routes, the Avenida 9 de Julio route was constructed with island platforms for its stations rather than side platforms.  This is what necessitates the buses to run on the “wrong” side of the street, as the buses need to be positioned so that the doors on the right side of the vehicle open on to the platforms.  In addition, due to the high volume of bus traffic in the busway, each direction has two lanes so that buses loading passengers can be overtaken by other buses.  Pavement markings indicate where each route is supposed to stop for the benefit of bus drivers and also help to facilitate vehicular movements as buses pull in to and pull away from the platforms.  It is an impressive sight to take in.

For more photos of Metrobus 9 de Julio, please click here.