Minneapolis "t" Buses....

[MVTArider]

I don't know if it had frameless windows or not, it was in front of the bus I was on. I'll let you know if I see anymore SW #'s. I saw a bunch of MCI coaches but wasn't close enough to see their #'s

Oh yeah, I rode on one of the '07 Glaval Bus cutaways 4724 with the large truck front on the 445 yesterday. The ride isn't as good as a regular bus but they seem to go really fast, especially on Yankee Doodle. :D

[MVTArider]

Saw "Down on Skid Row" on the TPT MN channel. It had a lot of shots of old Gillig Phantoms and a MAN Americana too. Also a lot of historical footage with 1950's era buses and streetcars. When you get stuff like that it makes the DTV converter box worth it. (I'm too cheap to spring for cable when I get TV over the air for free )

[Tcmetro]

Saw "Down on Skid Row" on the TPT MN channel. It had a lot of shots of old Gillig Phantoms and a MAN Americana too. Also a lot of historical footage with 1950's era buses and streetcars. When you get stuff like that it makes the DTV converter box worth it. (I'm too cheap to spring for cable when I get TV over the air for free )

Aww, man I missed that. I don't pick up TPT MN well though.

At the MOA I saw 2304 OOS, so there are still a few 2300's around.

[MVTArider]

At the MOA I saw 2304 OOS, so there are still a few 2300's around.

I have noticed there definitely is a decrease in the number of '95 buses running around since you do have to look for them now. I think its good they are still using some of the 2300's/300's though since there were a few I was on that seemed to run just as well as the 1000's. It's nice that MT can replace some of them now with new buses though, 331 was running awful when I was on it before the delivery of the 1100's.

I want to see what gets repainted next, 900's/1000's or 3100's/3200's (30-39) also wonder if they'll bother with anything before 2000 except the ones below 710 that are already done. I have a funny feeling if any are to be repainted soon they'll be done before September 1st. Also wonder if they'll put a lot of artics and/or hybrids around Xcel? They release plans on the 15th so we'll see what happens.

[Tcmetro]

Hopefully they put the D60LF's on all Route 54 trips. The 54 really doesn't need artics though, they should try and run more artics on the 16/50, 64, and 94. MT should also get some hybrid artics for routes like 6, 17, 18, and 21/53.

[Tcmetro]

I rode the Target Art Hop yesterday. Most buses had 60 or 70 people on them. Here is what they used: 3236 (in TAH wrap), 3251, 3101, 3102, and some other Phantom (1998-2002) which was packed. All in all it moved a lot of people who would have instead drove.

---

I also saw hybrid #7168 on route 18, and hybrids were on the 24 and 46 today.

[MVTArider]

Hopefully they put the D60LF's on all Route 54 trips. The 54 really doesn't need artics though, they should try and run more artics on the 16/50, 64, and 94. MT should also get some hybrid artics for routes like 6, 17, 18, and 21/53.

I agree While I enjoy riding the D60LF's on 54 they would definitely be more useful on 16/18. 50 already seems to use D60LFR's a lot, at least when I see it, and I bet once the fall semester is in session at the U they'll have more on the 50 again. When I rode the 17 it was full until the end of Nicolett Mall then there were empty seats available for most of the route. I have only been on it one day though so you probably have more experience riding.

[MVTArider]

Nice to see a lot of people using the Art-Hop service Hopefully they'll get more riders when they see what riding MT is really like ( then again if the bus was so packed then maybe not ). BTW isn't the free bus pass/ride complements of Target? I read on Twincities.com forum someone was whining their tax dollars were going into free bus rides. I think its funny though, it seems any PiPress story about bus or rail improvement/expansion there is this small group of complainers, some of which aren't even in the metro area! I just find some of these "experts" comments entertaining. I've seen its not worth bothering trying to defend transit there though, they just resort to personal attacks :lol:

[Tcmetro]

Those people on the PiPress and Star tribune boards drive me crazy so I quit reading them. The strib ones are only there to get more page views for more ad revenue.

[MVTArider]

Those people on the PiPress and Star tribune boards drive me crazy so I quit reading them. The strib ones are only there to get more page views for more ad revenue.

Yep I read them once in a while if I'm bored but I generally don't bother with them either. I wish people on those actually had suggestions and intelligent comments. I liked the one Chicago had going for the BRT article though, people actually wrote in about the service and what they would like to see. Big difference from all the racism and personal attacks on ours <_<

[Tcmetro]

Some Metro Transit articles:

About the new contract for MT drivers:

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/w.../metro_transit/

About the new Gillig BRT buses, and replacement of the Phantoms:

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/w...07/18/newbuses/

[MVTArider]

Glad there won't be another strike. That would be messy during the RNC too

Here are photos I took this morning of buses at: 5th st. and Minnesota, 5th st. transit station, the 94/Snelling lot, and Nicolett Mall. (Note: some of these pics might be a little fuzzy or out of focus as I'm still learning to use the camera.)

Also saw 3037 on 16 and 366 in downtown Minneapolis. I wanted to get more pictures of the 94/Snelling lot but there were a lot of people in the alley having smoke breaks so I didn't want to be too conspicuous.

[Tcmetro]

Woah!! Thanks for getting pics!!

[Busjack]

Glad there won't be another strike. That would be messy during the RNC too

Here are photos I took this morning of buses at: 5th st. and Minnesota, 5th st. transit station, the 94/Snelling lot, and Nicolett Mall.

Looks like where Mare hung out, but there was an old look bus in the background when she threw her hat in the air.

P.S. I liked Rhoda better.

[Tcmetro]

^^ There is a statue of Mary Tyler Moore throwing her hat on Nicollet and 7th in front of Macy's (formerly Dayton's/Marshall Field's), I guess that is the same spot in the show, but I really havev no idea.

[MVTArider]

Woah!! Thanks for getting pics!!

No problem I will be taking more and hopefully I will get better at taking them with practice. It really is a skill to photograph a bus well, I took 30 pictures today and as you see those were the ones worth posting

Looks like where Mare hung out, but there was an old look bus in the background when she threw her hat in the air.

Yep, actually I think I was about two blocks from the statue they made of her. I should take a picture of the statue with a Gillig BRT in the background.

P.S. I liked Rhoda better.

So do I More "real". I liked watching the reruns of that show.

Here are a few photos of 7174 in Apple Valley. My Dad heard they would have a bus there at the last Cedar Ave. Meeting. MVTA had it brought over on its way to delivery to get riders input. It was at the AVTS and on its way to St. Paul. It still had the plastic on the front and the driver said they drive them in from California since its basically the cheapest way to move them. Also its a good way to test and make sure there is not any problems.

[Busjack]

^^ There is a statue of Mary Tyler Moore throwing her hat on Nicollet and 7th in front of Macy's (formerly Dayton's/Marshall Field's), I guess that is the same spot in the show, but I really havev no idea.

Yep, but it had a Dayton's sign then. At first I wondered why they would put a statute in front of Macy's, until I saw the same scene of the TV show (shown on MeTV Channel 23 or 48 here).

[Busjack]

Here are a few photos of 7174 in Apple Valley.

I guess what looked weird was the lack of the window immediately in back of the driver's one. Also, it seems like the paint job accentuates the front protuberance (white bottom until you get the yellow over the bumper and under the wedge window, and the yellow doesn't connect with the yellow on the top).

[Guest]

Glad there won't be another strike. That would be messy during the RNC too

Here are photos I took this morning of buses at: 5th st. and Minnesota, 5th st. transit station, the 94/Snelling lot, and Nicolett Mall. (Note: some of these pics might be a little fuzzy or out of focus as I'm still learning to use the camera.)

Also saw 3037 on 16 and 366 in downtown Minneapolis. I wanted to get more pictures of the 94/Snelling lot but there were a lot of people in the alley having smoke breaks so I didn't want to be too conspicuous.

Excellent pics, wow the MTC fleet sure has changed since I was last there in 04. Keep em coming!! :)

[exitzero]

Glad there won't be another strike. That would be messy during the RNC too

Great, great pictures man.

I've ridden 2221, 2222 and 2226. Those, along with the 7000 series were the first Gilligs in the MT fleet to have transom-style windows (versus the sliding windows that you see on most MT Phantoms and the new Advantages)

Can't believe they still ahve 1539, 1986 and 2014 on the property! Those are 1989 and 1990 Phantoms.

If you happen to go back by the 94-Snelling lot, can you try and get some more of the backs of those Gilligs? I wonder if they still have the 7000s on the property. That would be great. Talk about Memory Lane.

Thanks again!

[MVTArider]

Excellent pics, wow the MTC fleet sure has changed since I was last there in 04. Keep em coming!!

Oh i've been wanting to get a digital camera and take pictures for a long time, so there will definitely be more

Great, great pictures man.

I've ridden 2221, 2222 and 2226. Those, along with the 7000 series were the first Gilligs in the MT fleet to have transom-style windows (versus the sliding windows that you see on most MT Phantoms and the new Advantages)

Can't believe they still ahve 1539, 1986 and 2014 on the property! Those are 1989 and 1990 Phantoms.

If you happen to go back by the 94-Snelling lot, can you try and get some more of the backs of those Gilligs? I wonder if they still have the 7000s on the property. That would be great. Talk about Memory Lane.

Thanks again!

The MVTA 7000's are there. I don't know about the other 7000's unless those are what you mean. I actually did see 2221 and 2226 there. Again I didn't hang around long since the alley where I was photographing was lined with people at the businesses taking breaks. Also a lot of delivery trucks and there was a crash nearby on the 94 exit ramp so the area had 3 -4 police cars. Its really easy to take pictures of the rears though since they are lined up against the fence so I will try for more pictures soon. I think I can get some good up close pictures of the fronts when the Fair is on since they use the lot for a park and ride. I'll probably be able to get in and grab pictures then. These are #'s from my memory so they might not be exact but here goes: 306,2221,2222?,2224,2226,2304, all the old MVTA Phantoms except 7070 which was scrapped. Of course there were more but I don't remember the other #'s. It was sad to see 7020 with its windows all broken out though That was the first MVTA Phantom I rode on. It was running beautifully that trip and the driver was one of the best so he knew how to take corners, brake and drive smoothly. I always loved it though when one of those came screamin' up to my stop instead of a Bluebird B)

[Tcmetro]

Plymouth Metrolink will replace their Blue Birds with Gilligs, possibly BRT's... Get your cameras ready .

http://councilmeetings.metc.state.mn.us/Tr...11_2008_215.pdf

[exitzero]

Plymouth Metrolink will replace their Blue Birds with Gilligs, possibly BRT's... Get your cameras ready .

http://councilmeetings.metc.state.mn.us/Tr...11_2008_215.pdf

What would really be cool is if they picked up some suburban Phantoms. I was in Seattle a couple weeks ago and Sound Transit (the regional agency there) runs some really nice Phantoms into and out of Seattle from various suburbs.

[Tcmetro]

I wish they would get suburban Phantoms too. SW Transit has some, 14 I beilive, from 2004.

[MVTArider]

Rode a Taxicab complements of Greyhound to St. Cloud today. (The bus that was supposed to pick up at the depot was MIA or something.) Anyways here are the pictures I took I Minneapolis and in St. Cloud, as well as a shot of a New Flyer at Eagan Transit Station. BTW on the way up to St. Cloud we passed a MBTA D?40LF coming the other way from New Flyer. I did not see and CTA DE60LF's though.

St. Cloud Metro Bus had Gillig 35 or 40? ft Low Floors, Gillig 35 ft Phantoms, and a few NF D35LF's. Dial a Ride appeared to have a few Orion II's from what I saw.

This morning and afternoon I saw a lot of 300's, and 2384, 9914 which did indeed say Natural gas on the fill flap.

Also saw a lot of different Motor Coaches at the Greyhound depot but I didn't take any pictures becuase I didn't want to get kicked out I will try swinging by there sometime though and try for a few pics then. On the way back I rode an old Jefferson Lines Prevost XL? coach. I think it is safe to call it old since it had stewardess call buttons :lol: