News

According to Darryl Bulls of SEPTATransitVehicleNewsNetwork (A yahoo group), the current assignments of the New Hybrids are as follows:

Callowhill: 8120-8164
Comly: 8165-8199
Victory: 8200-8209
Fronter: 8210-8219

Hybrid 8120 (like 8000 back in 2005) is the pilot bus of the fleet.  More then likely it will be one of the last units placed into service.  The order as it stands now is 40% completed with the highest units to entered service is 8153 at Callowhill and 8174 at Comly, respectively.

 

((Photo to the right: New Shipment of Hybrids at Germantown Depot – Courtasy of Jayayess1190))

From SEPTA news page:

Combining community spirit and a celebration of 150 years of trolley service between Delaware County and Philadelphia, SEPTA is proud to support the annual OcTrolleyFest, this Saturday, October 18 at Powell Park on New Walnut Street in Darby. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. enjoy a delightful mix of food, fun and live music along with the opportunity to hop a ride aboard one of SEPTA’s rebuilt PCC trolley cars for a tour of the Darby, Yeadon, Colwyn and Southwest Philadelphia neighborhoods. Events are free and open to the public. Learn more by visiting www.octrolleyfest.org

Over the past week, 15 hybrid buses (8134-8149) were placed into revenue service at Callowhill.  Thus, this forced Callowhill to send their older NABI fleet to other depots.  These NABIS include: 5002-5003, 5005, and 5009 which were transferred to Midvale, 5011 is now at Southern, and Victory now has 5014 and 5016.  It’s quite possible more Callowhill and Comly NABIS will be reassigned to other depots as more hybrids are coming in.

Finally, the Silverliner V will be displayed to the public on track 0 at Suburban Station from October 2nd to October 16th, 11AM to 6PM.  The showing will start with a special ceremony with General Manager Joe Casey tomorrow at noon.

Out of the 35 new Trackless trolleys in service, about eighteen (18) of these units are now out of service because of electrical issues.  Many of these issues are because of a short which is found in their electrical system.  As result for the next several months, some trackless trolleys will be pulled from service so that SEPTA could give could address these issues.

Photo of Trackless #822 on route 75 – Taken by Kyle Wallace

Sure enough, with only about two weeks being on the property, SEPTA is already putting advertisements on the new hybrids.  They now have side and rear ads.  A few of them even have banner ads along the roof line, including 8129.

Also of note, with the new hybrids coming in, Callowhill is sending some of their original 50xx Ikaruses to Midvale.  Several of them in no particular order have been spotted on Midvale routes, including 5025 and 5031.  5030 was spotted at Comly a few days ago as well.  Also of note 5552, 5555, 5556, and 5557 are now at Midvale.  5552 and 5556 were on the 32 yesterday while 5557 was on the 9 and 5555 was on the 56.  Expect things to go a little crazy in terms of bus assignments while the new hybrids are coming in.

Amtrak and PennDOT came together to put up a new website highlighting the Keystone line from Harrisburg to New York, via Philadelphia.  There’s information about why people should take the train, as well as details about the amenities at each station along the line.  Check it out at www.catchthekeystone.com.

At the sunset of yesterday, Front5151 (A member on PTV) reported that the first batch (8121-8125)of the 2008 order of hybrids are here. These units are currently at Germantown depot undergoing inspection, and awaiting for tags. While at Germantown depot today, it appears 8126, 8127, and 8129 has also arrived on SEPTA’s property.

Upon viewing these hybrids, there were several things to notice:

1. These hybrids  retained the unique rear sign placement as on their 2001-2004 D40LF counterparts
2. The Thermoking A/C has been relocated to the front portion of the bus
3. The option for the low profile battery on top of the bus has been exercised.
4. Like their Trackless trolley counterparts, a security camera on the outside of the bus is apparent.
5. Unlike the other New Flyers operating out of SEPTA. These units are longer in terms of length therefore making these units the DE41LF.
6. The location of the fleet number on the rear side of the bus has been relocated to top-right side of the back just below the rear designation sign.  

As for photos, thankfully PTV board member Jayayess1190 has taken some excellent photos of these units at Germantown depot.

For comments, and more photos

http://philadelphiatransitforums.cjb.net/topic/7027977/4/

Photo was taken by Jayayess1190

According to Joe AKA silverliner_2 on the boards, the Nine Comet cars are set to arrive on SEPTA’s property by this weekend. These cars will be put into service by the October schedule change. Before then, these cars will undergo a minor overhaul. Their car numbers are, Comet I cabs 5121, 5132 and trailers 5727, 5728, 5735, 5741, 5742, and 5747. The extra car (#5118) will only serve a parts supply.

http://philadelphiatransitforums.cjb.net/topic/7027413/1/#new

More New Flyers were spotted operating on Allegheny’s routes today. This time around, several Frankford New Flyers were sighted on the routes 65 and 27. Their fleet numbers were 5801-5802, 5804 and 5904-5905. Expect more New Flyers to move from Frankford by the next week’s schedule change.

http://philadelphiatransitforums.cjb.net/topic/7012527/4/