(Cell Phone Video) Houston METRO's Christmas Decorating Bus Exiting Parade

Following the display of four of Houston METRO's participating buses in a Christmas Bus Decorating Contest, they were captured leaving the Downtown Transit Center. The buses seen leaving are (in order):

New Flyer D40LF bus 2887 (West Garage)
Orion VII NG HEV bus 4641 (Fallbrook Garage)
Orion VII NG HEV bus 4629 (Hiram Clarke Garage)
Orion VII NG HEV bus 3681 (Polk Garage)

Exterior pics of those buses can be found here: http://s185.photobucket.com/albums/x121/METRObusfan/cell%20phone%20pics%20of%...

During the vid, there was an appearance by Kashmere's New Flyer D40LF bus 2942 operating the route that I ride daily (to and from Downtown Houston, of course)---the northbound 77 - Liberty/Mesa TC route.

Kashmere did participate but it was said that they took their stuff down so this is what you had left. Northwest Garage (First Transit) did not participate.

BTW, the buses had already been looked over by various judges---I believe---sometime two week ago prior to this and if you look at 3681, you can see why IT won 1st place in METRO's first "Bus Decorating Contest."

My apologies for the sound and vid quality because this was done via my cell phone. Nevertheless, it was truly a sight to see all those buses there.

Enjoy!

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Houston
• METRO
• New
• Flyer
• Orion
• Bus
• Decorating
• Contest

[Htown20XX]

I'm looking at it from a maintence point of view. An all orion fleet would be easier to maintain and stock spare parts

[htownman24]

@Htown20XX NOPE! I would have to disagree with an all Orion fleet and I seriously hope METRO doesn't go that route. Again, look at NYC. They have a good variety of buses there. If they can do it (trying to handle a good number of different buses just to keep them on the road), so can METRO.

[banksdabeast82]

The total number of views will continue increasing on your channel.

[htownman24]

@banksdabeast82 That's a good thing - especially for those who don't even know that I have such a channel.

[banksdabeast82]

Which bus garages that will get a fair share of these new Orions once they arrive?

[htownman24]

@banksdabeast82 Now this is something I would LOVE to answer cuz I got the answer yesterday: Kashmere will get units 5800-5819; West will get units 5820-5849; Polk will get units 5850-5879; Fallbrook will get units 5880-5899.

[Htown20XX]

I need to upload 88 route videos. This woman didn't want to pay she said her girlfriend Demetra was going to "come see" the driver and "flex up". Demetra never showed up.

[htownman24]

@LPenn0505 NOPE! METRO won't take back any of the buses given to Northwest unless they really need to. First Transit employees basically run the entire Northwest garage - and YES, that includes operating ALL of the buses there. They also maintain the buses. I don't think METRO gets anything in return that I should care about.

[LPenn0505]

@htownman24 Can't METRO take back some of their buses or have METRO employees work with First Transit employees. Does First Transit employess also drive METRO's buses or do they just maintain them? What do we get in return from allowing First Transit to operate OUR buses. More money for METRO?

[htownman24]

@LPenn0505 Not to me, it isn't. Northwest is operated by First Transit - not METRO - and they even don't have their own tow trucks - like METRO does (for example). Sure - other buses from other garages may have their fare share of problems but I just can'r see my full trust going into Northwest.  I can recall being on more of those buses having problems than anybody else.