The History of Metro Transit Archives Part II (2003-2006)

Continuing on with Part II...

It is January 2003 and my hometown transit system, MTA Maryland has taken delivery of 99 Neoplan Low Floors (0200-0299, except 0220, which was destroyed in an accident)

Here is 0208, fresh from delivery on January 20th, 2003.

Baltimore's second foray into the Low Floor Industry, these buses helped to retire the 1984 (8400) and 1985 (8500) series, although some held on due to an emergency that took place later that year.

8504 at Mondawmin Metro Station, June 2003

In the summer of 2003, MTA instituted a Light Rail Shuttle program that took the better of two years to complete. Many older Flxibles, displaced by the Neoplan order returned to service or were committed to the LRS until retirement.

7003 at Patapsco Light Rail Station, Spring 2004

Although mostly homebound, I was able to get out of town occasionally, mainly to Philadelphia.

3275 awaits its next assignment for the EL Shuttle

 

5232 in the Olney neighborhood in North Philadelphia

 

2004 was more of the same but 2005 came major changes. By 2005, I had saved up enough money to expand my horizons beyond the east coast. In August 2005 for my 25th birthday, I headed west to Sunny California. A week in Los Angeles, which was something I had never experienced up until that time. It wasn't just NABIs, Neoplans, and Flxibles. There were RTSs, Gilligs, CNG powered Neoplans and NABIs...in different colors. Here is a sample from that trip.

 

7904 on the Vermont Avenue Rapid

 

5508 on Santa Monica Blvd in Beverly Hills

Santa Monica Big Blue Bus MCI Classic in Downtown Santa Monica

 

2169 on the way to San Pedro in Downtown Los Angeles

 

 

Bus 5000, the first CNG high floor New Flyer in the then-new Metro Local scheme

 

 

After the amazing trip to California, it was back to business as usual, just a little closer to home. In April, 2006, I ventured to the steel city of Pittsburgh for the first time. During this same time, I purchased my first digital camera from Nikon. Here are some from that trip.

 

2484 in Fire Engine Red is one of many Port Authority Transit buses repainted in multiple colors. 

 

5011, a 1999 Neoplan seen in its original scheme under the PA Gold era





 

 2398 hangs a wide left in Downtown Pittsburgh

5301, the first of 76 buses in the "Neighborhood" scheme

 

That same year, I traveled to New York City to get the last hurrah of the private lines.

 

1705, a MCI Classic from New York Bus Service shortly before takeover on 23rd Street in Manhattan



 

3843, a Jamaica Bus Lines TMC RTS in Jamaica, Queens

 

262, a Green Bus Lines RTS dating back at Queensboro Plaza in Long Island City, Queens

 

7172, a rare roof-mounted CNG RTS in Downtown Brooklyn and Flatbush

3103, a Liberty Lines Express MCI Classic at Madison Square Park

 

4965, still at Command when the photo was taken in Midtown Manhattan 

.



2142, a worn out TMC RTS at Queensboro Plaza in Long Island City, Queens

 

Hope you enjoy Part II and stay tuned for "The History of Metro Transit Archives Part III"