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| (327703) | |
NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by Joe V on Thu Mar 15 13:42:43 2018 A driver on the 114 (Ironbound garage) told me the 18xxx series NJT buses will be assigned to the garages that have the lowest accident rates, so south Jersey. 30 of their 5 year old (or so) 45' buses will cascade up to Ironbound to start replacing their 40' Cruisers. No idea when. |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by kcram3500 on Thu Mar 15 15:41:10 2018, in response to NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by Joe V on Thu Mar 15 13:42:43 2018. This is partly due to NJT still making amends for the 80s and 90s deliveries. For the 1982 MC-9s, the 1987 MC-9s, the Eagle 20s, and the first CNG 102D3s, they all went to Howell/US 9 service first (and in some cases, only). When delivery was forthcoming for the big 2001 order, the state Assembly and Senate made it very clear to NJT not to do that again. The first D4000s went to Meadowlands and Newton Avenue. In this order, the first NJT D4500CTs are going to Washington Township, a garage in serious need of new (and additional) coach equipment. |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by Joe V on Thu Mar 15 15:51:55 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by kcram3500 on Thu Mar 15 15:41:10 2018. I remember during the transition from the 1982 to the 2001 buses on the 114, I once rode a MC9 that had been assigned elsewhere, perhaps because it was newer than Ironbound's own. But it was so beaten up to hell inside, they should have left well enough alone.We get buses numbered sporadically from 7600 or so to 8500. They are in remarkably good shape. Never would think they are 17 years old. |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by kcram3500 on Thu Mar 15 17:29:38 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by Joe V on Thu Mar 15 15:51:55 2018. Also depends on which garage had a bus for most of its life. The original D4000 lav-equipped buses that ran the 319 from Meadowlands and Egg Harbor were moved to Fairview later in their lives, which has the shortest runs of any garage that uses MCIs. Howell buses would make their way to Market Street and Oradell after pounding the miles on US 9. |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by NJT Oradell on Fri Mar 16 08:28:15 2018, in response to NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by Joe V on Thu Mar 15 13:42:43 2018. When will they learn?! Doing that merely crushes morale in the receiving garage. Ironbound operates in a different environment and shouldn't be punished for that. I hope this turns out to be just another unfounded rumor. |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by Bill from Maspeth on Fri Mar 16 09:11:31 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by NJT Oradell on Fri Mar 16 08:28:15 2018. The words "NJT" and "morale" don't mix. |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by northshore on Fri Mar 16 11:41:28 2018, in response to NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by Joe V on Thu Mar 15 13:42:43 2018. South Jersey garages would be the routes serving the Philly/Camden/Atlantic City area |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by kcram3500 on Fri Mar 16 17:07:49 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by NJT Oradell on Fri Mar 16 08:28:15 2018. We've discussed this before, but the annual bus purchases by Public Service helped that morale issue because buses at any given garage turned over regularly. No issues about getting some other garage's wasted leftovers.My dad and two of my uncles worked for PS/TNJ - Dad in the 60s, and the uncs into the 70s. As your seniority grew, you could not only pick your routes, but you could "claim" a bus back then. My uncle who drove out of Orange had radar lock on 308A - drove it for years. Doing that gave the drivers a little sense of pride and responsibility - the more you drove a given bus, the faster you'd notice something wrong with it and got it to maintenance. Then came the 1976 Flxibles from NJDOT... here was a 102-inch bus with factory AC, power steering, and a V8 with the 3-speed overdrive automatic - all the GMCs were 96-inch, some had the retrofitted AC (that dripped water on the seats), manual steering, and the V6/2 speed automatic powertrain. Only time Unc saw a GMC after that was if he was doing a combo where he switched mid-schedule with another driver. Felt really bad for drivers in garages that were primarily suburban equipment - the deluxe-transit 500s and suburban 700-800s. Not only did you have manual steering, but that 4-speed Spicer was non-synchro, so you double-clutched every shift (unless you were REALLY good). Dad worked out of Lake Street and they occasionally did rush-hour runs on the 118 (NJT 108 before its service was sliced to the bone) so they had a few suburban Fishbowls. Dad hated that... you earned a day's pay driving those because you had all 4 limbs working - left arm yanking that huge steering wheel, right arm working the fare register, left leg clutching like mad, right leg on the accelerator and brake. When the Flxible suburbans came in... power steering, V8, overdrive automatic... you could hear the sighs of relief. We were living in Teaneck by then and half of Oradell turned over to the Flx - made all the runs more driver-friendly. |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by Joe V on Fri Mar 16 19:07:16 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by kcram3500 on Fri Mar 16 17:07:49 2018. NJT once had, maybe still has, some sort of driver of the month contest. He/she thens gets a dedicated bus for a period of timer. Some of them took good care of it, with deoderizer and keeping it extra clean. |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by kcram3500 on Fri Mar 16 21:42:07 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by Joe V on Fri Mar 16 19:07:16 2018. Pretty sure that was the Roadeo winner's bus. They'd get a bus with their name on it (where the side ads would be) recognizing them as that year's NJT Roadeo winner. |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by NJT Oradell on Sat Mar 17 09:51:37 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by kcram3500 on Fri Mar 16 17:07:49 2018. Good story! I would only offer one correction though, the 76 Flx's didn't come from the factory with power steering. A few were retrofitted with it after they were retrofitted with wheelchair lifts on the entry/exit door and proved to be almost impossible to steer. |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by NJT Oradell on Sat Mar 17 10:02:25 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by kcram3500 on Fri Mar 16 21:42:07 2018. I was there from 78 to 2010 and there was never any driver of the month. The winning roadeo driver had a dedicated bus for the year after he won but that was it as far as I remember. For most of my years a "pull out" person would assign out buses in no particular order in the morning during the week. At other times we would go out and select a bus but they even stopped that. By the time I left virtually all buses were assigned at all times. To NJT since all Oradell buses were "the same" it didn't matter which you were assigned to. The drivers had different opinions but as they told me on day one "I can get drivers easier than paper clips". |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by TransitChuckG on Sat Mar 17 12:02:46 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by NJT Oradell on Sat Mar 17 10:02:25 2018. Septa fuels and cleans buses overnight as most agencies do. The blocker has the order in which the buses are stacked in the rows. So by schedule in pull out times he assigns the buses to various routes and block numbers so the drivers get the first bus in line, next bus is the next pull out ,etc.So you never know if you are getting an old junker or a new bus. |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by BusRider on Sat Mar 17 12:08:28 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by NJT Oradell on Sat Mar 17 10:02:25 2018. What makes individual buses unique? Is it like a car, where it drives smoother than others?Also, If I may, Would you explain how the block/run numbering scheme works at NJT? I came across a site someone created expaining how SEPTA assigns theirs. Thank you for your time and service. |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by kcram3500 on Sat Mar 17 15:14:29 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by BusRider on Sat Mar 17 12:08:28 2018. What makes individual buses unique? Is it like a car, where it drives smoother than others?You drive your car every day and you become very familiar with it. You'll know before anyone else if something is wrong... pulling to one side, brakes feel soft, less power, Ac not as cold. Same is true if you drive the same bus every day. The driver will become very familiar with it and will know immediately when something is wrong. If you're constantly rotating/changing buses, you'll never get that "feel" for them, and a problem would have to be on the level of failure before it's noticed. |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by kcram3500 on Sat Mar 17 15:20:12 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by NJT Oradell on Sat Mar 17 09:51:37 2018. Unc was pretty sure they were power - could have just been a better steering gear than the GMCs. The 8V71 probably helped as well, since one could accelerate into a turn faster than with the weak 6V71. Can't ask him, as he's been gone over 20 years.I only rode one of those Wheelchair Flx suburbans once. (For those not old enough, they were given an "H" suffix to their fleet number to identify them as having a lift - e.g. 7750H.) Even as a passenger, I could detect the extra front end weight from the ride - bumps and potholes were a little harder at the front axle than the other units. |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by WayneJay on Sat Mar 17 19:33:42 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by kcram3500 on Sat Mar 17 15:14:29 2018. Makes sense. |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by WayneJay on Sat Mar 17 19:46:20 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by kcram3500 on Fri Mar 16 17:07:49 2018. Interesting. I remember when the Flxibles arrived, and I loved riding them with those awesome DD *V-71N engines. They got up to speed effortlessly. I didn't realize they had power steering.Being a kid growing up in the Bronx... In addition to learning about NYCTA/MABSTOA and all other in and near NYC... I was always intrigued by PS/TNJ and other NJ carriers. I always saw them on charters to/from the Bronx Zoo (I lived nearby) In my teen years when old enough to fan on my own... I'd often take PATH to Newark, and watch the bus action there. Sometimes I'd ride back to PABT on a 107, which was always a treat. We'd usually get a SDM-5302 fishbowl. I also require riding to PABT from Irvington once. 118??? |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by kcram3500 on Sat Mar 17 22:08:09 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by WayneJay on Sat Mar 17 19:46:20 2018. The 107 was/is the Irvington-New York route, the 118 was the downtown Newark-New York route.From the mid 1960s through the 1970s, the 118 was served almost exclusively by W700s (1965 GMC SDM5302). They didn't get anything newer until NJ Transit added some S8M5303s to the mix. The MC-9s couldn't accommodate the exact-fare boxes, so the then-renumbered 108 still ran the Fish until the 1989 Flxible Metro suburbans were delivered. |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by WayneJay on Sun Mar 18 09:55:29 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by kcram3500 on Sat Mar 17 22:08:09 2018. Ah, OK. Thanks for the correction and additional info.Another thing I'd do on occasion... Sometimes on a weekday when we didn't have school and/or half day... I'd go down to PABT during the PM rush hour and watch the non-stop bus action from the east end of the arrivals platform. |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by northshore on Sun Mar 18 11:31:15 2018, in response to NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by Joe V on Thu Mar 15 13:42:43 2018. I guess Newton Avenue Garage in Camden is NJ Transit's most southern garage |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by NJT Oradell on Sun Mar 18 12:04:26 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by BusRider on Sat Mar 17 12:08:28 2018. NJT has a number of garages and each garage customizes their parking plan to their individual needs. For example Oradell has a fleet of 2001 and 2002 MCI D4000's so where an individual bus is parked after daily servicing (fuel, fluid checks, tire inspection and washing) has more to do with availability of storage at a given time than location for the morning pullout. They fill the south barn first so that mechanics in the north barn can get buses on and off the work pits. The outside lot is for incoming buses to await daily servicing. Obviously as the night goes on all the areas become storage but that's generally how Oradell does it. A garage like the Meadowlands has several types of buses so they park specific types of buses in specific lanes so the morning pullout goes smoothly. I hope that answers your question. |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by NJT Oradell on Sun Mar 18 12:19:14 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by northshore on Sun Mar 18 11:31:15 2018. Turnersville and Egg Harbor are both south of Camden with Egg Harbor the furthest south I believe. |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by Bill from Maspeth on Sun Mar 18 13:16:47 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by northshore on Sun Mar 18 11:31:15 2018. Newton Ave. next to PATCO? If that's the place, it's not there anymore.If I'm mistaken, sorry. |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by northshore on Sun Mar 18 13:26:48 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by northshore on Sun Mar 18 11:31:15 2018. According to the NJT website, Newton Av, Camden is still there, but Turnersville is not. Egg Harbor must be the most southerly garage |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by Joe V on Sun Mar 18 14:28:04 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by northshore on Sun Mar 18 13:26:48 2018. The bus driver I talked to stated specifically 30 Egg Harbor 45' Cruisers will soon relocate to Ironbound. |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by kcram3500 on Sun Mar 18 14:35:10 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by northshore on Sun Mar 18 11:31:15 2018. Geographically, Egg Harbor is the southernmost NJT garage. It replaced the Atlantic City Garage (not to be confused with the AC Bus Terminal).Washington Township replaced Turnersville. WashTwp is in the same basic location as Turnersville was, but WashTwp is a new building. Think of it as Citi Field vs Shea Stadium, or MetLife Stadium vs Giants Stadium - new facility, same address. In a strictly north-south parameter, Newton Avenue is about halfway between Egg Harbor and Hamilton/Howell (both near I-195). |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by kcram3500 on Sun Mar 18 14:40:29 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by Joe V on Sun Mar 18 14:28:04 2018. Probably the rest of the hybrids. Ironbound had the original 4 hybrid MCIs, so the staff is familiar with how they operate. |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by Joe V on Sun Mar 18 14:42:18 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by kcram3500 on Sun Mar 18 14:40:29 2018. She said they were about 5 years old |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by kcram3500 on Sun Mar 18 15:12:44 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by Joe V on Sun Mar 18 14:42:18 2018. That would be the hybrids - Egg Harbor doesn't have any other MCIs in that age range. All the CNGs are at Howell. |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by BusRider on Mon Mar 19 09:30:04 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by NJT Oradell on Sun Mar 18 12:04:26 2018. Ahh okay thank you for that insight. Basically, I was referring to the run number on the front of the bus. Like in NYC, typically its 001,002, etc. Then in SEPTA, I recently read its a four-digit, with the first being the garage number, while the remainder are a specific group of numbers for that particular route.I inquired about NJT, because from photos it appears older buses had a two digit scheme, while buses today have a three-digit. Not including the fishbowls that had no run boxes. With your years of service, I imagined you've experienced various scheduling practices over time. |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by BusRider on Mon Mar 19 10:00:44 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by NJT Oradell on Sun Mar 18 12:04:26 2018. Ahh okay thank you for that insight. Basically, I was referring to the run number on the front of the bus. Like in NYC, typically its 001,002, etc. Then in SEPTA, I recently read its a four-digit, with the first being the garage number, while the remainder are a specific group of numbers for that particular route.I inquired about NJT, because from photos it appears older buses had a two digit scheme, while buses today have a three-digit. Not including the fishbowls that had no run boxes. With your years of service, I imagined you've experienced various scheduling practices over time. |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by BusRider on Mon Mar 19 10:00:52 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by NJT Oradell on Sun Mar 18 12:04:26 2018. Ahh okay thank you for that insight. Basically, I was referring to the run number on the front of the bus. Like in NYC, typically its 001,002, etc. Then in SEPTA, I recently read its a four-digit, with the first being the garage number, while the remainder are a specific group of numbers for that particular route.I inquired about NJT, because from photos it appears older buses had a two digit scheme, while buses today have a three-digit. Not including the fishbowls that had no run boxes. With your years of service, I imagined you've experienced various scheduling practices over time. |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by kcram3500 on Mon Mar 19 11:38:15 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by BusRider on Mon Mar 19 09:30:04 2018. The run number refers to the schedule the B/O is assigned. The GMC Fishbowls and Flx New looks did have run number signs added by NJT... the GMCs just had a metal rack where the driver would place numbered cards, while the Flx added the same 4-digit signs the MC-9s had. |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by northshore on Mon Mar 19 12:32:47 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by kcram3500 on Sun Mar 18 14:35:10 2018. Thanks for the explanation |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by TransitChuckG on Mon Mar 19 14:01:46 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by BusRider on Mon Mar 19 10:00:52 2018. Here is Septa's assignments, bus types,block number sequences, etc.Assignments |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by Bill from Maspeth on Mon Mar 19 16:48:40 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by TransitChuckG on Mon Mar 19 14:01:46 2018. Wow Chuck. Thanks for posting that, very informative. |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by JohnnyMints on Mon Mar 19 17:14:03 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by BusRider on Mon Mar 19 09:30:04 2018. Generally one and two digit run numbers refer to straight runs that pay a minimum of 8 hours; often times there'll be a zero before it, so 022/165 (read as "22 on the 165") or 007/164 are straight runs. Three digit numbers are generally for trippers (runs that pay less than 6 hours, usually worked as O/T or by extra board drivers) and combos (two trippers combined into a single run, usually with a few hours in between the two halvrs). 900 series run nimbers are usually extra sections for holidays and what-not. |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by JohnnyMints on Mon Mar 19 17:15:00 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by JohnnyMints on Mon Mar 19 17:14:03 2018. Let me amend that by adding that some three digit runs also refer to relief runs. |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by TransitChuckG on Mon Mar 19 17:25:47 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by Bill from Maspeth on Mon Mar 19 16:48:40 2018. My pleasure..... |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by TransitChuckG on Mon Mar 19 17:56:08 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by TransitChuckG on Mon Mar 19 17:25:47 2018. Current bus models at Septa. Septa bus roster |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by TransitChuckG on Mon Mar 19 19:29:45 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by TransitChuckG on Mon Mar 19 17:56:08 2018. The old PTC buses I rode had a metal frame that the block number that slid into the frame from the top.The block number cards were stenciled on heavy cardboard. The photo below is hard to see, but I think it has those metal frame block numbers holder. So that bus sitting there would be S-14 or something like that. PTC buses at Broad and Olney I used to ride the L bus to and from school. |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by Bill from Maspeth on Mon Mar 19 21:40:04 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by TransitChuckG on Mon Mar 19 17:56:08 2018. Thanks again. |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by BusRider on Mon Mar 19 22:44:39 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by Bill from Maspeth on Mon Mar 19 21:40:04 2018. Likewise, Thank you as well, TransitChuckG. |
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Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling |
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Posted by TransitChuckG on Tue Mar 20 19:31:58 2018, in response to Re: NJT Cruiser bus shuffling, posted by BusRider on Mon Mar 19 22:44:39 2018. You guys are all quite welcome. :) |
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