Hello! I’m Geraldo Gonzalez as well-known as ''The King of Transit, a longest tern as transit bus enthusiast fan from Southeastern Pennsylvania (SEPTA in Philadelphia) now living in Wilmington, Delaware since Mid-Summer 1996, and I’m obsessed with Delaware Transit Corportation (DART First State).
I’ve loved transit for as long as I can remember, when I was about 3. On a family trip to Granite Run Mall via SEPTA routes 116 & 117, then also I had taken other bus routes in the Delaware Vallery including 113, 114, 118, 119 and 21 (To Penn Landing in Philadelphia, PA in the mid between 1994 and 1995,
Since I moved to Wilmington, Delaware, Delaware Authority for Regional Transit (DART) was the transit agency I saw daily when I was a kid after I moved and interested learning and taken the bus whenever I need to get to around places and areas, and I’ve had so many memories that have just stuck with me in 34 years.
This is me standing next of 2021 Gillig Advantage 40ft Bus # 21004 @ DART Garage. Wednesday November 20, 2024
Like, when my mom (While my dad was at work), and I took the Bus downtown as well-known as Rodney Square when I first moved here a year later in summer 1997. Rodney Square it's the most busiest weekly morning and evening rush hour, but it's a square park location downtown it's had over 60 bus routes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 (Outside Rodney Square), 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 45, 54, 55, 301 (inter-county bus route between Wilmington and Dover), New Jersey Transit Route 423 (Unit Friday May 28, 2010 Final route between Pennsville, NJ and Wilmington, DE) and SEPTA Route 202 West Chester and Wilmington (Rodney Square and Amtrak Wilmington Train Station) from Monday February 27, 1995 thru Friday, February 28, 1998 (Cutting back to Brandywine Town Center Connect with DART Routes 2 and 35 to Wilmington unit March, 2000)The bustling's buses always fun, but enjoyable to be on 8 years later at age 15 in the fall at the same date Friday, September 17, 2004 and traveled alone during evening rush hours visiting transit Center including Amtrak Wilmington Train Station (DART's Customer Service picking up schedules and ticketing fares to travel to another state by State in the northeast via SEPTA's Wilmington/Newark Regional Rail line train. Especially when I lost while I was in the city of Philadelphia during my train cancellations, rather taken the C bus from City Hall or walked to Board Street to transfer another bus (Route 37 to Chester unit the train went back on track way back to Wilmington). I got off, the bus moved on and I didn’t realize until long after the bus had i got off that the train I spotted moved headed southbound to Marcus Hook, PA before waiting for the next train to Wilmington on the late September 2007 on the hot late summer day
The year 2004 between early spring created a sense of dread and longing for something to do. I walked over to the Amtrak Wilmington Station or Rodney Square, than December 9, 2008, 2 days after my 20th Birthday and filmed the buses and trains coming in and out or pass by. It felt magical. Until then, I never understood the wonder of the trains, buses and trolleys the ever so large and majestic beings making you feel so small, large as they travel ever so fast and quietly.
The art of transit-fanning is a truly incredible hobby. You get to spend a day out in the wild and see majestic transit vehicles in their element trundling through the city. I truly recommend you try it.
What is transit-fanning, you might ask? It’s exactly what it sounds like, the verb of being a transit fan.
Whenever I’m out, transit-fanning is like a safari. With so many amazing transit vehicles, it makes you seem small in a world of beasts. If you’re ever wondering something, an ever-growing community of transit fans on social media and transit discussion boards (including myself) would be more than happy to help you out.
With the help of the community, I’ve learned so much, including the sheer scale of my transit district. After coming into the community knowing nothing, the entire world has opened up. Now I know more than I could’ve ever dreamt of 20 years ago. Many transit operators I know are more than happy to see a wave of young transit enthusiasts that’ll carry DART into the future, and why shouldn’t they be? Public transit is a connecting force that links a sprawling city closer together.
I’m often asked, “Why do you like taking pictures of buses and trains?”
It’s fun. We all share a love, transit fans and operators alike, and that’s public transit.
You shouldn’t think of public transportation as a slow or inconvenient means to get around, but a way to experience our city from a different perspective. No longer trapped in an automobile in heavy traffic, but in a large bus or train filled with people from all walks of life; each person with their own unique experiences. Once you look around and notice new things, you’ll experience the wonder that is DART.
In early mid-April 2002, I had started Practice with photography from my school homework assignment as actual application or use of an idea, belief, or method, as opposed to theories relating to it. "The principles and practice of teaching" as family photos (Before photographing public Transit that I had never done it before) in the mid late August 2002 before School year started, I started photograph of Buses since newest buses arrived, Notes: “They would have some old buses ready to retire,” “I’d just grab my camera and snap pictures before these old buses would fade off, out of service, so I can remember the buses that I rode in the past.”
I really didn’t think of it as art. I wouldn’t become an artist for another couple of years — in fact, I totally remember the exact date I became an artist. On Friday, September 17, 2004, I saw an announcement for a DART transit student poster contest. ''DART Contest - Dart First State'' Today, 20 years late, I am now a 10 month artist residency @ The Delaware contemporary as Professional artist painter started since Sunday August 25, 2024, unit June 13, 2025. More story coming soon!
- Geraldo The King of Transit Gonzalez
Me holding SEPTA Wilmington/Newark scale model standing next largest scale at The Delaware Transit Corporation office at Riverfront Wilmington, Delaware in the early October 2004.
Photo Gallery
A Collection of photographs of my work and also artwork from poster contest (Artwork from poster contest Courtesy of Delaware Transit Corporation)
