During the 2003-2004 school year, I was in 9th grade at Fairfax High School. As you'd expect, I rode a school bus to school every day. Up to this point, I'd never ridden a brand new bus full time. During summer school the previous summer, I had ridden a brand new bus. That was only for a day though.
I started the school year off riding Bus 1531. 1531 was a 2001 AmTran Rear Engine (RE). 1531 was a good bus, though it had an issue with the stop arm. The warning lights and stop arm are normally supposed to turn off when the entrance door is closed after a stop. Well occasionally, the stop arm would remain out and flashing. To get it to fold back in, my driver would have to cut off the engine and then restart. As far as I know, 1531 still does this to this day.
My bus driver was one of the nicest i'd ever known. To those who rode her bus, she was simply known as Mrs. D. She was the kind of person who was always upbeat, always had a smile on her face. When you were feeling down, she would force you to smile. Mrs. D was an easy person to talk to and get along with. On her bus, she had a little magnet that said "I take my kids everywhere, but they keep coming back". This magnet was very true!
On April 12, 2004, things started off normally. I got on the bus in the morning and was dropped off at school about 20 or so minutes later. I went about my school day as usual. At 2:05pm, it was time to head home. I made my way outside to the buses and went looking for 1531. One problem, I couldn't find it! As I was walking down the line of buses looking for my bus, I noticed one of the new 2004 IC RE 200's that Fairfax County was getting this spring. As I walked past the bus admiring it and looking for my bus at the same time, I heard Mrs. D shout my name in excitement. I looked around to find out where she was, and couldn't see her. As I glanced over the new bus again, I saw where the voice was coming from. It was coming from this new bus! I rushed over to the new bus as quickly as possible! Mrs. D immediately told me in excitement that this was our new bus! I was extremely excited! This was the first new bus that I would be riding full time!
After talking to Mrs. D for a few moments about the bus, I stepped back outside to check the number on the side of the bus. Our new bus was Bus 1629.
I rode 1629 until the 2005-2006 school year when a different driver was assigned to my route. I was "downgraded" to Bus 1516, a 2001 AmTran RE. 1516's driver Mr. Bob was a nice guy that I had known for some time prior to him becoming my driver.
I've loved Bus 1629 ever since I began riding it. When people ask why I love this bus so much, I tell them that it was the first NEW bus I'd ever ridden full time. I also explain how 1629 seems to have something about it that gets my attention. I hope to one day drive 1629.
1629 is still driving for my school. At the present 1629 is still driven by Mrs. D.