busasaurus (24.69.255.205)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 27, 2002 - 3:00 am: | |
Just an added note on the Bus of the Month Photo. First I want to thank the regulars on this board for the education I've received over the past few years.
I've only been a member of the Transit Musuem Society (TRAMS) here in Vancouver BC for the past 2 years. The efforts of past and present members has got us where we are today. As for myself, I'm just a busnut with very little mechanical experience, but between this board and our Sunday workparties on the buses, I've learned a ton.
TRAMS also operates a streetcar line from Science World to Granville Island on weekends through the summer. All volunteer based, everyone in it for the love of it. Most of us tend to be either streetcar buffs or busnuts, but some people are both. Check out the streetcar ride if you ever drop into town. It's probably the best way to ask about the buses.
Unfortunately, we have nowhere to display our buses for people to just come and see. We have a shop in the back corner of the transit centre in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver.
The photo was taken outside of our shop. The bus we're standing in front of is one of two 1957 CCF Brills (CD-52A's). We think they're the only operating versions of these buses... but what do we know?? Any scouts out there know of any others?
The D900A Flyer in the background was built in 1982, and is the latest model bus we have. It has a 6v71 engine, v730 Transmission, has double doors front and back. The drivers area was re-done on these when they were in service, and it has a Recardo seat with tilt steering. We scored some nearly new Michelins off one of the Fire Department wrecks they allowed us to raid for parts. The trolley version of this bus is still in service and is the workhorse of the transit system in Vancouver.
Speaking of Trolleys, we have two fully restored Brill trolleys as well. Along with our other buses they get out on fan trips and the odd movie shoot. The Brills were built in the late 40's and early 50's.
A local scrap dealer bought up the fleet of Brill trolleys back in the late 80's when they were retired. He kept them in an outside compound with some kind of grand plan to re-sell them. When he went broke last year the whole lot was scrapped. Before they got finished, in a moment of insanity, we acquired 12 of them. We still have 5 after farming some out to other museums and salvaging parts off the rest. We'll restore one of those for sure, but have no idea what to do with the last 4.
Our latest acquisition is a Triesel. Originally delivered to Vancouver as a Trolley built with re-manufactured Brill parts. When the E900 Flyers were bought, they were rebuilt into diesels. The bus we have still has the trolley poles, which were used to de-ice the overhead lines. If there's ever a one of a kind... this is it.
We also have a Fagoel, a 1937 Hayes, an IC-41 Brill Highway Bus, 2 fishbowls, a GM Old Look that never ran in Vancouver (from Victoria). Oh yeah, we even have a 1954 Reo tow truck that the Transit System retired fairly recently.
One of our Fishbowls will be featured in the next Twilight Zone movie.
You can check out our website at : www.trams.bc.ca
So thanks Ian. It was a real honour to make Bus of the Month.
-Bryan |