Bus Photos of the Month:
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| January 2004: |
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Ken Baker's Pick: Not really a photo showing a particular bus or LRV vehicle, but it was
an interesting photo that I decided to use. This is the view looking
southbound on the Dalhousie/Fish Creek-Lacombe line just a bit north of
the Banff Trail Station. There was problems with the trains heading
southbound from Dalhousie that day (December 15, 2003, the first day of
service to the new Dalhousie LRT Extension) because of a train with door
problems was limping the system and causing every train behind it to back
up and stop at every signal. My train stopped at signal C63 inside
of the Crowchild Tunnel so I decided to take this chance to photograph the
view looking out of the tunnel from the train while it waited for a yellow
light (at the very least) to proceed heading southbound. The photo
turned out so well that I decided to use this photo for my photo of the
month. |
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Martin Parsons Pick: First we see #1029 at Clareview with 1017 and 1008 behind it as
the train was getting ready to head south, then we see the same train at
Churchill Station. This was the first day that the repainted LRV's were in
service. It has taken 6.5 years since the new system wide paint scheme and
logo were introduced, and 8 months since the new paint scheme was first
shown off during the 25th Anniversary of the LRT for it finally appear on
some LRV's. |
| February 2004: |
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Ken Baker's Pick: Diversified Transportation #1031 is a Prevost H5-60 articulated
highway coach shown photographed in Fort McMurray, Alberta on Fraser
Avenue at Main Street, taken on April 7, 2003. These buses feature the 60 feet of length, a
rear entry/exit door, loads of interior and storage room, and more!
Come and check out the latest Diversified Transportation update that
includes this photo and 40 others in the Coaches section to the left! |
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Martin Parsons Pick: St Albert 858 is a 2004 Dennis SLF-230 30
foot bus shown arriving at the West Edmonton Mall Transit Centre as a
Route 205 - West Edmonton Mall on February 3, 2004 |
| March 2004: |
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Ken Baker's Pick: Fort McMurray Transit 1928 is a 1993 NovaBUS TC40102N
"Classic" bus operating on a Route 3A - Gregorie as it turns off
of Main Street onto Franklin Avenue in downtown Fort McMurray on April 7,
2003. |
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Martin Parsons Pick: OK... So I couldn't decide which pic to use, so I used both. #917 and
1005 are among the 2 newest additions to Strathcona County Transit fleet.
#917 is an ex BC Transit 1981 T6H-5307N as is probably #916. The bus was
photographed southbound on 100 St at Jasper Ave. #1005 is a 2003 or 2004
Prevost XL-II, which along with #1006, has expanded SCT's XL-II fleet to 6
buses. #1005 is eastbound on 102A Ave nearing 101 St as a route 413.
Theses buses and the previous XL-II's are being fitted with electronic
destination signs. |
| April 2004: |
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Ken Bakers Pick: From March 8 to 11, 2004, Edmonton Transit had a
chance to test out the Allison Electric Drives diesel-electric hybrid bus.
The Allison Electric Drive system was built into this 2001 Gillig Phantom
body, powered by a 330HP Electric motor that runs off of 6 batteries and
the 220HP Cummins ISB 5.9L diesel engine. This bus was brought up to
different transit systems in the province of Alberta, with stops in
Calgary, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat (I think), Red Deer, and finally ending
up in Edmonton before it was trucked out to Vancouver, BC. This bus
was my first Gillig Phantom bus to see and to ride, and to say the least,
I was very impressed with the way it performed and felt! These two
views were both taken on March 9, 2004, the first view at the NAIT loop,
outside of the Westwood Garage while the second view was taken as the bus
departed the Kingsway Transit Centre after they had dropped me off along
with another driver. |
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Martin Parsons Pick: These two photos show the Lovat TBM being
used on the Edmonton SLRT extension to bore the twin tunnels from
University to south of 87 Ave. It broke through first in November while
working on the southbound tunnel, then in March it broke through on the
north bound tunnel.
The first photo shows the TBM as viewed from the University Station. The
second photo was taken by a SLRT worker who offered to take my camera
inside and take a few photos. As you can see I didn't say no! The TBM now
will be further propelled into the recovery shaft and then dismantled and
lifted out piece by piece as it is no longer needed in Edmonton. |
| May 2004: |
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Ken Baker's Pick: Diversified 219 is a 1969 GM S6H4503 shown photographed at the
PWT/Diversified
yard in south Edmonton. The bus beside in the photo is another one
of the S6H4503's #218. Photo taken on July 7, 1983. Come check
out the Diversified Transportation section (In the Coaches section) in the
future for some beautiful Peter Cox photos that will be added soon!!! |
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Martin Parsons Pick: Winnipeg Transit 1976 Flyer D800 on a
layover while it was working what looks like a route 29. |
| June 2004: |
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Ken Baker's Pick: Santa Monica 5180 is one of the most historical fishbowls
built. It was a 1986 GM T8H5307A, serial G3500179 and was the last
ever produced fishbowl. From approximately 1983, GM slowly phased
out the fishbowl in favor of the newer and updated "Classic"
design which was built by two of it's other successor companies, GM Diesel
Division (Canada) began the design in 1983 to 1987 for production models,
MCI/Greyhound built them from 1987 to 1993 and NovaBUS built the
"Classic" from 1993 to 1997. Over the years, only few systems
ordered the fishbowl in the T6H4523N, T6H5307N, T8H5307A, and T8H5308A
models, and only 20 groups of orders were placed from January 1983 until
5180 was produced by April 1986. 5180 is powered by a Detroit Diesel
6V92TA engine with the Allison V730 or V731 transmission, equipped with
factory air conditioning and a wheel chair lift in the front door.
Thanks to Andrew Novak from http://www.rapidtransit-press.com
for allowing me to use this photo to mark the 18th anniversary since the
last GM Fishbowl was produced. You can click the above photo to view
the full sized image. This bus is still in service today and for
those who want to ride it, 5180 is currently operating on a weekday
afternoon tripper on line 7. It starts at the Veterans Hospital and heads
south on Sawtelle Blvd. then east on Pico Blvd and is assigned to only one
driver. Thanks to Russ Jones for the information on where this bus
still runs today. |
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Martin Parsons Pick: Seattle Metro AMG Trolleybus #999 finishes a turn while on its way back to
the garage after the evening rush hour. These buses are now all retired.
#1008 has been restored and is now part of MEHVA's collection. |
| July 2004: |
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Ken Baker's Pick:
Although I couldn't make up my mind which one of these shots would be
used, I decided to use them all. Edmonton Transit 4908 is shown
photographed in the three photos above while operating on a demonstration
to Calgary Transit. This bus was used as a possible future type of
bus that could be operated on the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
system that will be beginning operation in the Fall 2004 signup in
Calgary. The bus itself is a 2003 New Flyer D60LF powered by a
Cummins ISL engine with the Allison B500R6 transmission. The first
photo was taken on June 7, 2004 on the first day of the demonstration
parked outside of the Sandstone Terminal as I got the driver to pose it
with Route 2 - Mount Pleasant on the destination sign (A route the
demonstration didn't operate on), the second photo was taken on June 15,
2004 while the bus was on layover on Centre Street North at McKnight
Blvd as a Route 3 - City Centre, and the third photo was also taken
on June 15th, but this time on 12th Avenue at 5 Street SW after the bus
had completed the morning piece on the Route 3 - City Centre and was about
to head back to Spring Gardens Garage. This demonstration went from
June 7 to June 17 on weekdays on the Route 3 - Sandstone to City Centre
and the Route 101 - Coach Hill in the AM and PM rush hours. Thank
you to Edmonton Transit for loaning Calgary Transit this bus! |
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Martin Parsons Pick:
Here we see Quick Coach #1563, a 1973 TDH-3302N. This bus is ex Calgary
Transit #330 is among one of the few "Baby Fishbowls" still
around. It is currently in operating condition, however, it doesn't see
much service. Here we see the bus at the Vancouver bus depot picking up
passengers while running a pickup service for Quick Coach's service to
Seattle. |
| August 2004: |
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Ken Baker's Pick: Brewster 221 is a MCI 102C3 shown
photographed on the runway of the Calgary International Airport in June
2002 during the G8 world summit that took place in Kananaskis Country in
the Rocky Mountains of Alberta. 221 was used to transport the crew
of the airplane in the background, the world famous United States of
America "Air Force One" airplane. Just to even see a photo
of a bus on a runway these days is rare enough, but to have a photo of a
Canadian companies charter bus parked on the runway beside both of the
United States' Air Force One planes is even more rare. Special
thanks goes to Peter Brown who submitted this photo, along with the other
two shots of this bus in the
Brewster Transportation section, that were taken by his dad Ted Brown
who drives for Brewster. |
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Martin Parsons Pick: First of all, works as been freakin' nuts and with the trolley issue
keeping me busy I haven't had a lot of time to donate towards Barp, but
things just might be calming down a bit. Anyways, ERRS #601, ex Hannover
601 is seen outside of the Strathcona car barns while being moved around.
The car could be in revenue service soon after being moved the D.L.
McDonald Transit Yards. This car was a prototype for Hannover, built by
Siemens - Duwag. The car was purchased by the BC Government to show off
LRT technology, however the Skytrain was chosen. Then the car was sold to
the ERRS. |
| September 2004: |
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Ken Baker's Pick: Well, I really
couldn't make up my mind which bus I wanted to use for my photo of the
month, so I decided to use two preserved buses. Both buses are GM
T6H4521 models, however being restored by two different people.
Ex-Edmonton Transit #5 is shown in the first photo, built in 1968 along
with units #1-10, shown in storage at the former Cromdale Garage for
Edmonton Transit waiting to be restored. That bus was photographed
on August 25, 2004 while a group of local bus fans got a rare chance to
tour the old bus garage and photograph all that was in storage. The
second photo shows Ex-Edmonton Transit #22, built in 1969 along with units
#11-25, shown in the parking lot of a local Wal-Mart store in Calgary,
Alberta while I work at restoring this bus back to it's 1978 looks.
This photo was taken on August 12, 2004. Pretty soon, I should have
#22 looking like new again with a fresh coat of red and white paint
hopefully sometime in 2005. This bus is in pretty awesome shape and
by far is the best GM I have owned to today. Please check out the
Preserved Bus section to see more photos and information about the
restoration of this bus at http://www.barp.ca/preserved/0022/index.html
For those of you interested in bus recordings, there is a 7 minute
clip linked on that page too under the August 12, 2004 listing at the
bottom of that page. |
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Martin Parsons Pick: Geneva double articulated trolleybus #721
outside of the railway station at the Geneva Airport. |
| October 2004: |
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Ken Baker's Pick:
Ken Baker's Bus Photo: A significant
point in the history of trolley bus operations in Edmonton Transit occurred
on July 27, 2004. City Council of Edmonton voted 8-5 to keep the
trolley bus system going until 2008 when it would be reviewed again and a
cost comparison between operating trolley buses versus diesel-electric
hybrid buses would be put head to head.
September 18th, 2004 was another milestone day in trolley bus operation
as Edmonton's swift, strong, and silent trolley buses made it back on the
Route 5 - Westmount/Coliseum for the first time since back in May 2004
when the trolleys were pulled from the road.
My bus photo of the month reflects another milestone of trolley bus
history as #158 is shown in the first two photos on display on 102 Avenue
during the 60th Anniversary of the Trolley bus system in Edmonton, the
oldest trolley bus system still operating today in Canada, with
Vancouver's system about 11 years younger than Edmonton's. Those two
photos were taken on September 25, 1999 with 158 advertising "Don't
pull the shade on our environment" painted advertisement all over the
bus.
But back to 2004 when Edmonton Transit management and some members of
city council fought to have the trolley bus system abandoned, there was
some major controversy that came up. Councilor Jane Batty had one of
the most unforgettable quotes about Edmonton's trolley bus system, stating
that "... the trolley buses are a luxury to have...". Is
this true? Is it a luxury to have a fresh breath of air at street
level? Edmonton kept trying to push trolley buses out the door and
push having "clean" diesel buses on the road. They aren't
that clean as you think they are, they still pollute the same, just that
the pollution is a translucent gas instead of the clouds of smoke like the
older diesel bus fleet.
But where is 158 advertising it's "Don't pull the shade on our
environment" painted ad? 158 is now in storage at Cromdale, as
shown in the third photo as it was found on August 25, 2004. What a
shame to see this bus in storage where it's message can never be heard.
Help keep the trolley buses operating in the city of Edmonton!
For those of you that live in Edmonton, on October 18th, vote for someone
who will keep trolley buses going for our future. Write to City
Councilors, the Mayor, and Edmonton Transit asking to buy a low floor
accessible trolley bus. The low floor trolley bus is available from
New Flyer Industries of Canada. Vancouver, BC already has a contract
to purchase 228 of these low floor trolley buses from New Flyer
Industries. Please show your encouragement to have one of
Vancouver's new trolley buses demonstrated in Edmonton when the first ones
come off the production line between 2005 and 2007.
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Martin Parsons Pick: Red Deer Transit has on lease 3 ETS bus.
1974 T6H-5307N's #305 and 308, and 1975 T6H-5307N #343. #308 is the only
one in service right now, and is seen in these photos departing the Red
Deer Transit Garage, and earlier sitting inside waiting to leave. |
| November 2004: |
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Ken Baker's Pick: Lethbridge Transit 125
is a 1980 GM T6H5307N shown photographed parked outside of the Lethbridge
Transit Garage waiting for it's next run. This bus now sports the
Firestone rubber bumpers on it that came from Ex-Winnipeg Transit #271.
Come check out the latest Lethbridge Transit update including these 3
photos and 49 other new photos added on November 12, 2004!
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Martin Parsons Pick: ETS #4908 is seen making a turn onto 96 Ave from 105 St as a route 9.
The bus was photographed while on the final days of a detour for road
construction on Rossdale/ River Valley Road. |
| December 2004: |
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Ken Baker's Pick: BC Transit
#767 is a 1966 GM TDH4519 shown restored at the Saanich Historical
Artifacts Society in Saanichton, BC (A suburb of Victoria). In 1990,
this bus, along with #762, were both rebuilt from the ground up and
included several modifications such as a repainted interior, reupholstered
passenger seats, upright exhaust and air intake system, new driver's seat
and telescoping/tilting steering column, and other modifications to make
this bus feel like a T6H4523N before it was retired. It later served
Victoria for all it's life until around 2002 when it was retired.
762 is still in service as of sometime in 2004 in Duncan, BC, just north
of Victoria, and hopefully that bus will survive longer than 767 in
revenue service.
767 can be viewed at the Saanich Historical Artifacts Society off of
Lochside Drive and Pat Bay Highway in Sannichton, BC. The Saanich
Historical Artifacts Society's website can be viewed at http://www.horizon.bc.ca/~shas/
for more information about the society. |
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Martin Parsons Pick: None picked. |
Rail Photos of the Month:
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| January 2004: |
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Ken Baker's Pick:
Southern Railway of British Columbia #384 is a 1974 EMD SD38-2 shown
photographed here at the SRY yards in the New Westminister, BC on
September 14, 2003 |
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Martin Parsons pick was not selected for this month |
| February 2004: |
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Ken Baker's Pick:
Rocky Mountainer Railtours 8015 is a GMD GP40-2(W) photographed on May 31,
2003 inside of the CP Rail Alyth Yards in Calgary, Alberta |
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Martin Parsons pick: CN #2596 leading a train through Kamloops on a hot summer day. #2596
is a 9-44CW. |
| April 2004: |
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Ken Baker's Pick:
CP Rail 1632 is a EMD GP9 shown at about mile 174.9 of the Brooks Subdivision
with 1515 leading it and coupled to caboose 434609 as it pushes a train towards
the industrial yards in Calgary, AB, located off of 9th Avenue and about 7
Street SE. This photo was taken on June 3, 2003.
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Martin Parsons pick: VIA #201, a SW1000, is seen here at VIA's at VIA's
Mimco yards.
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| May 2004: |
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Ken Baker's Pick:
CP Rail 5853 is shown heading through the Rocky Mountains at Glacier, BC
leading a grain train on August 24, 1986
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Martin Parsons pick:
CPR 8557 is the sole unit on a westbound train heading out of Downtown
Calgary on the Laggan sub on a chilly December day in 2003.
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| June 2004: |
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Ken Baker's Pick:
CP Rail 4743 is a 1970 MLW M-636 shown photographed at the Saratoga Spur
mile 4 on May 8, 1993. This locomotive is now Delaware-Lackawanna
3643.
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Martin Parsons pick was not selected this month
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| July 2004: |
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Neither Ken Baker or Martin Parsons made a selection for this
month. Sorry :-(
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| August 2004: |
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Ken Baker's Pick: STCUM 1301 is a GMD FP7A, shown photographed
in Montreal, Quebec leading a train on a sunny day on May 19, 1994.
Société de transport de la Communauté urbaine de Montréal is what STCUM stands for. STCUM
operates commuter rail service through the metropolitan Montreal area.
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Martin Parsons pick was not selected for this month
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| September 2004: |
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Ken Baker's Pick: SOO Line 1203 is
shown running at the CP/SOO Line Yard in Bensenville, IL on November 29,
1996.
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Martin Parsons pick was not selected for this month
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| October 2004: |
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Ken Baker's Pick: Canadian
Atlantic Railway #8019, a MLW RS23, is shown photographed in St. John, NB
on May 15, 1994
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Martin Parsons Pick:
Canadian Pacific AC4400CW #8526 is seen leading an eastbound train out of
Calgary on July 11, 2004.
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| November 2004 to December 2004: |
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Neither Ken Baker or Martin Parsons made a selection for these months. Sorry :-(
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