MCW Metrobus Posted January 3, 2007 Report Share Posted January 3, 2007 I just returned from a short trip to Victoria, and have a few updates from that city's transit. While I didn't actually do any bus riding, I did drop by both garages to check out the scene there. This was my first time in the city since June, before the LFSs arrived. Thanks to a driver I know there who is a good friend of mine, I was given a full inside-out tour of 9212 in the Garbally yard. No photos unfortunately as I didn't have my camera with me that evening. 9816 is sitting at the back of Garbally with a badly crunched front end. I was told this bus rear ended a five-tonne truck. The bike rack bore the brunt of the impact, and the driver was lucky to escape with just a few scrapes. At Langford, I observed the following buses sitting stored: Orion Is - 6701, 6705, 6763 and 6772 Fishbowls - 762, 848, 5884, 5904, 5914, 5915 (edited - typo fixed) Of these, 5884 is the only one that has not seen service in Victoria recently. I think it came from Kelowna, a few months ago. All the same I assume it's in the same intact condition as the others. All the parted-out fishbowls have been sent for scrap. 5902 and 5910 were taken out several months ago, 839 and 970 were removed more recently. Given that the retired buses are now off property, the "graveyard area" on the grass against the north wall of Langford yard (which is the bit directly overlooked by a row of houses on Dunford Rd.) is now empty - except for one bus. 9925, a 1999 Dennis Dart, is parked there, and appears to be missing its back bumper. Checking allocations, it says that the bus is assigned to Victoria... but that makes no sense. Victoria doesn't have any 99s. Also, I can make out (from a photo) the residue of some lettering next to the BC Transit decal, which has been removed. I am fairly certain it reads "City of Cranbrook". I think that's about it. I did get some photos of the LFSs, they'll be posted when I get my act together. Having just got home I'm dealing with a bit of a backlog right now, also I'm going to Kelowna in two days, so things are hectic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general682002 Posted January 3, 2007 Report Share Posted January 3, 2007 Given that the retired buses are now off property, the "graveyard area" on the grass against the north wall of Langford yard (which is the bit directly overlooked by a row of houses on Dunford Rd.) is now empty - except for one bus. 9925, a 1999 Dennis Dart, is parked there, and appears to be missing its back bumper. Checking allocations, it says that the bus is assigned to Victoria... but that makes no sense. Victoria doesn't have any 99s. Also, I can make out (from a photo) the residue of some lettering next to the BC Transit decal, which has been removed. I am fairly certain it reads "City of Cranbrook". Seems that bus have retired in early stages? Now, do Victoria still have the Dart left on their fleet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCW Metrobus Posted January 3, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2007 Seems that bus have retired in early stages? Now, do Victoria still have the Dart left on their fleet? Yeah, Victoria still has 10 or 12 Darts. They're all 2000 models though (90xx series, 35 feet long). I don't think they ever had any 99s, or if they did, it was a long time ago. Last year Victoria was dumping a lot of their Darts on small systems as they inherited A/C D40LFs from other systems. That reminds me, it seems as though Victoria may have gained another few ex-smallcomm D40LFs. 8078 was in active service, as was 8084. Not sure when those two joined the Vic fleet, though I think they both came from Kelowna. A Prince George D40LF also appeared briefly at one of the Victoria garages a few months ago, but it ended up in Chilliwack. These movements are likely related to the arrival of new LFSs during the summer; Prince George got at least 3 or 4 of those, as did Kelowna. We know Nanaimo got 5 of them (9224-9228), and moved a couple of Orions to Kelowna. (What the reasoning behind that move was, I don't know.) Victoria has a bus shortage, so as far as I know the LFSs there were for fleet expansion, which would explain why no more Darts have been moved out. Classics are still active in full force during rush hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BCT-3122-D800-10240 Posted January 4, 2007 Report Share Posted January 4, 2007 At Langford, I observed the following buses sitting stored: Orion Is - 6701, 6705, 6763 and 6772 Fishbowls - 762, 848, 5884, 5904, 5914, 5914 Interesting info, George. But one question, you have listed 5914 twice in the list. So really, which is the other one? 5915 by chance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCW Metrobus Posted January 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2007 Interesting info, George. But one question, you have listed 5914 twice in the list. So really, which is the other one? 5915 by chance? D'oh! Yeah, that's a typo, the other bus is indeed 5915. In fact I wasn't expecting to see that bus there, since Les Broughton reported it being "off on assignment somewhere". But it's there at Langford. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCW Metrobus Posted January 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2007 That reminds me, it seems as though Victoria may have gained another few ex-smallcomm D40LFs. 8078 was in active service, as was 8084. Not sure when those two joined the Vic fleet, though I think they both came from Kelowna. A Prince George D40LF also appeared briefly at one of the Victoria garages a few months ago, but it ended up in Chilliwack. An addition to this list that I forgot about - #8086. This bus is ex-Prince George and is now listed as in service in Victoria. The bus that went from PG to Chilliwack is #9850. Apologies for any confusion caused. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Marie Hachey Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 Victoria Regional Transit System http://www.transitbc.com/regions/vic/?p=1.txt Is there someone aware of an actual bus roster for VRTS ? Thank you in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Board Admin A. Wong Posted January 31, 2007 Board Admin Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 I have an active roster you may want to check out. None of the Orion Vs are in service with Victoria though. Another good site for all BC transit systems: http://www.busweb.co.uk/bctransit/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Marie Hachey Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 I have an active roster you may want to check out. None of the Orion Vs are in service with Victoria though. Another good site for all BC transit systems: http://www.busweb.co.uk/bctransit/ Thank you for all these great sources of infos Your help is highly appreciated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCW Metrobus Posted February 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2007 Couple of updates from BC's capital: D40LFs 8095 and 8099 have both received the white Telus ad-wrap, the same one that has appeared on a couple of D40LFs in Vancouver over the past few weeks. Accident victim 9816 is visible inside the Garbally shops, presumably getting repaired. Novas were out in full force today, and at least one of them is based out of Langford, because I spotted it working the route 50. Can't remember offhand which bus it was, I'd have to check back on photos which I haven't even gotten off the camera yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Board Admin A. Wong Posted February 23, 2007 Board Admin Report Share Posted February 23, 2007 Nice, had a fun trip? ETS only has one Telus ad-wrapped bus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCW Metrobus Posted March 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2007 This isn't news out of Victoria, but it indirectly pertains to Victoria. GMC fishbowl #873 has been running in Abbotsford over the past few months, apparently pulled from storage as a temporary replacement for a D40LF that was sent away to be repaired after being involved in a serious collision. We have word that it is now retired, due to having blown its engine. Next stop: the scrapper. Wonder if anyone's piqued its GM plate yet? Last time I saw 873 a year ago, it still had one: http://www.etspe.ca/vrts/vrtsviewpic.php?p...7n/vrts873a.jpg 873 served in Victoria for several months in the fall of 2005 through to April 2006, when it went into storage along with the other 5 remaining fishbowls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCW Metrobus Posted May 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2007 Fishbowl sighting! Peter McLaughlin sent me a text message about an hour and a half ago saying that he spotted a fishbowl in service in Victoria today. He wasn't sure of the number. I have made a few phone calls to try and get a confirmation and a check at Garbally yard to try and figure out which one it is. Updates to come as I get them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCW Metrobus Posted May 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2007 Fishbowl sighting! Peter McLaughlin sent me a text message about an hour and a half ago saying that he spotted a fishbowl in service in Victoria today. He wasn't sure of the number. I have made a few phone calls to try and get a confirmation and a check at Garbally yard to try and figure out which one it is. Updates to come as I get them. Never mind. False alarm. SOMEBODY is going to get it, when he gets home! It was my birthday, not April Fools! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevlo86 Posted May 12, 2007 Report Share Posted May 12, 2007 I think George has had too much to drink and Peter totally tricked him On a more serious note, are there any Fishbowls operating with BC Transit at all? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enviro 500 Posted May 12, 2007 Report Share Posted May 12, 2007 I think George has had too much to drink today and Peter totally tricked him On a more serious note, are there any Fishbowls operating with BC Transit at all? All of them are inactive right now Dave Never mind. False alarm. SOMEBODY is going to get it, when he gets home! It was my birthday, not April Fools! LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
323 Surrey Ctrl Stn Posted May 12, 2007 Report Share Posted May 12, 2007 Never mind. False alarm. SOMEBODY is going to get it, when he gets home! It was my birthday, not April Fools! LOL So yesterday was your birthday? Haha what a nice gift! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCW Metrobus Posted May 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2007 I think George has had too much to drink and Peter totally tricked him Shhhhhh. All of them are inactive right now Yeah, apparently the last one to have seen service as I mentioned earlier in this thread was #873 in Abbotsford, until it blew its engine. Rumours are abound, however, that this year's bus order may be delayed, and that BCT is perusing through the contents of Langford storage to see if any fishbowls might be useable should they be needed. LOL So yesterday was your birthday? Haha what a nice gift! It would have been, if it was true! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general682002 Posted May 13, 2007 Report Share Posted May 13, 2007 Never mind. False alarm. SOMEBODY is going to get it, when he gets home! It was my birthday, not April Fools! You've almost s*it your pants when you read Peter's text message, did you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion V Posted July 20, 2007 Report Share Posted July 20, 2007 Are BC Transit's Tridents narrower than standard buses while the Enviro 500s are wider? Or is that not an issue for Nnorth American versions of them? In Asia, Tridents are 2500mm wide while Enviro 500s are 2550mm wide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BCT-3122-D800-10240 Posted July 21, 2007 Report Share Posted July 21, 2007 Are BC Transit's Tridents narrower than standard buses while the Enviro 500s are wider? Or is that not an issue for Nnorth American versions of them?In Asia, Tridents are 2500mm wide while Enviro 500s are 2550mm wide. I thought both models in Victoria were 102" wide... No? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCW Metrobus Posted July 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2007 I thought both models in Victoria were 102" wide... No? I think you're right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general682002 Posted July 21, 2007 Report Share Posted July 21, 2007 I think you're right. They are 100" width, first time ever made for North America. For those anyone who wants to visit the Gorge garage, forget it! I went there and appeantly a head security of BC Transit told me that due to strictly confidential issues that can't be given out, it's no longer for anyone from outside will be allow to do photograph. But other places I've no problem getting in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion V Posted July 22, 2007 Report Share Posted July 22, 2007 They are 100" width, first time ever made for North America.For those anyone who wants to visit the Gorge garage, forget it! I went there and appeantly a head security of BC Transit told me that due to strictly confidential issues that can't be given out, it's no longer for anyone from outside will be allow to do photograph. But other places I've no problem getting in. Anyone know about Vegas' E500s? Are they also 100" width? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general682002 Posted July 23, 2007 Report Share Posted July 23, 2007 Anyone know about Vegas' E500s? Are they also 100" width? Yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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