10TC 3600-3609

10 Transit Commission 3600-3609 were 2000 New Flyer D30LFs operated on low ridership routes. These were the last "short" buses operated by the agency, being used on low ridership routes. The 10 buses were specifically ordered for the Elkshire Division in 2016, one of 10TC's contract maps until early 2017.

History
Minibus service was not common at any period in 10TC's history, with only short buses such as 001-003 being used as cutaways on the former route Y5. Those units were former school buses and it was decided that actual transit buses be used for services at that point.

3600-3609 were unique at their time, featuring only a front door, red destination display and a short wheelbase. The red destination display meant that they were only for Elkshire's route 23, the lowest ridership route at the time. However, only 3600 and 3608 entered service, with the other 8 buses left to rot. They were kept at Elkshire until closing. Both buses were moved to Forest Drive Division to work as spare buses on the A/S Lines in the event shuttle buses were needed.

3600 was retired in early 2018, replaced with 3626 and 3627. 3608 later moved to Hyattsville to replace the aging Dennis Dart, which barely saw service anyways. It was kept in 10TC livery and upon the closure of that division, it was put into storage. Its destination sign later was rendered inoperational following the mandatory implementation of Filtering Enabled and PGS Physics Solver.

3608 made one last appearance in late 2018 before retirement, operating UWIS/WRBS route 98, making it the only time a D30LF would operate that route. Therefore, it was also the last time a bus with fill-in displays would operate in all of 10 Transit Commission, as after 3608's last run, all buses from that era were retired from service and replaced with the 2018 fleet.

Did You Know?

 * The intended successor for 3608 was a Gillig Advantage 29' that was to be built for an unruly driver to operate after proving he could not drive the standard buses in the fleet, although he was fired before it could be delivered.