AUBURN — Wednesday's frigid temperatures wreaked havoc on some early morning Citylink bus schedules.
Buses on five Citylink routes missed their first morning runs Wednesday while crews dealt with frozen air lines in the buses and complications with cold diesel fuel.
"Diesel fuel will gel up and we need to change filters," said Sandy Buchanan, general manager of Western Maine Transportation. Western Maine operates the Citylink Bus system.
"This can happen just going down the road," Buchanan said. "This happens even when you have vehicles kept warm inside overnight. When they go out, the cold air hits the warm air and it causes problems."
Buchanan said the cold is also a problem with pneumatic air systems that open the bus doors and release the brakes.
Temperatures caused delays on the Main, Lisbon, Sabattus and College street buses in Lewiston and on the New Auburn route.
The cold weather is expected to continue through the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
Buchanan said people that depend on the bus system should plan accordingly. They can call Western Maine at 784-9335, extension 1, to check status on the buses, visit the www.purplebus.org website or follow @purplebusla on Twitter. Western Maine announces all delays on that social media, according Marsha Bennett of the Lewiston Auburn Transit Committee.
"We just want to make sure people are bundled up warm and prepared in case there is a delay," Buchanan said.
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Freezing temps delay Twin Cities' buses
Scott 13.01.24 11:11 am ish ≠
Bus drivers have the most difficult and under appreciated job of justabout ne one . Q: You wanna' know why ? A: They carry precious cargo /s, Steve
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Winter in New England......
I don't think anyone can truly experience the true joy of a New England winter morning until they have climbed up into the drivers seat of their truck at about five o-clock in the AM. Like climbing into an ice sculpture, as nothing moves, even the lights don't want to come on. It isn't until you realize that you forgot to plug the truck in a couple of nights ago, that you really begin to realize just how cold it is. Ahh, the smell of diesel smoke in the crisp winter air, not your own smoke of course, the truck they sent to drag your truck into the garage so they can put five or six gas, space heaters on it so hopefully in an hour or so it will at least turn over.
I'm all set, the trucks running, the heats flowing, I hook up to my trailer, and I'm on my way down the road. Oh, wait a minute, the trailer won't move. Rats' frozen brake lines, no problem I have my trusty mini-sledge, An hour or so under the trailer hammering the brakes until they release, now I'm heading down the road.
As I light that first cigarette of the trip, I am happy with the knowledge that within an hour or so, I may start to get feeling back into my fingers and toe's. God, you got to love this job. Actually what I love even more, is being retired from this job. I do how ever, want to thank the people who still do this kind of work, it's not an easy life doing these things day in and day out. Just don't forget to plug in the truck.........
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