BrianD Posted September 5, 2021 Report Share Posted September 5, 2021 This old gem (1978 Orion I Brandon Transit Fleet #21) spent many years north of Brandon in Forrest MB as a non mobile Ice Cream Vendor...a few years back it was sold and moved across the road from this location and continued to be used in this manner. I passed through Forrest recently and old #21 is gone and it appears and old school bus has replaced it. I have no idea what or where it's ended up....hopefully the MTHA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusRider Posted September 13, 2021 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2021 I was planning on going to Wesman Salvage at some point this week for parts, so I might take a swing through were they keep buses and see if it ended up there. It would be a shame to see it get scrapped. Edit: Looks like they may have gotten rid of it sometime back in May. Might also give them a call to see where it ended up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusRider Posted September 20, 2021 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2021 No sign of any Orion's at Wesman Salvage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianD Posted September 20, 2021 Report Share Posted September 20, 2021 The way some of the current fleet are BT might need some of those old Calgary buses....lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusRider Posted September 22, 2021 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2021 On 9/20/2021 at 6:17 PM, BrianD said: The way some of the current fleet are BT might need some of those old Calgary buses....lol That's pretty typical of them going all the way back to at least 2008. Is it still the case that Transit is at the bottom of the list for priority of getting things fixed at the city garage? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusRider Posted October 8, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2021 Found some of my photos from 2015 of the Mad Dog Ice Cream bus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusRider Posted October 18, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2021 A bit behind schedule, but now happening nonetheless. A one year pilot project with the on demand transit service Blaise Transit. https://www.brandon.ca/public-notices-details?var=6212 The service will run 6 to midnight on Weekdays and Saturdays, and all day on stay holidays. I assume this also implies that Sunday service will become on demand all day. There was also mentioned in the press release that it will include a service expansion to areas currently served by TransCab. If not sure if that will only be during the hours the on demand service operates, or an all day service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SirAndrew710 Posted October 18, 2021 Report Share Posted October 18, 2021 1 hour ago, BusRider said: I assume this also implies that Sunday service will become on demand all day. Nope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusRider Posted October 19, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2021 5 hours ago, SirAndrew710 said: Nope. Huh, I guess I missed that. That's really an odd choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusRider Posted November 3, 2021 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2021 So I tried the on demand service for the first time today. It seemed like a bit of a mess at the moment though it mostly stemmed bugs with the software itself and the stop placement on Google Maps. Sometimes it wouldn't register a bus being at a stop at the right time and such. Other than that it seems like it'll be really good when the kinks are worked out. Makes the late night trips a lot more direct and quick rather than dealing with buses running on the hour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armorand Posted November 3, 2021 Report Share Posted November 3, 2021 On 9/19/2021 at 7:52 PM, BusRider said: No sign of any Orion's at Wesman Salvage. Curious - does Wesman sell buses in running condition, if offered? Or strictly salvage work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusRider Posted November 4, 2021 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2021 20 hours ago, armorand said: Curious - does Wesman sell buses in running condition, if offered? Or strictly salvage work? I think I was told just parts. I doubt the ones there are in running condition. You'd have to ask them. http://www.wesmansalvage.com Edit: I should add that they have let me go in and get some souvenirs for myself off the buses for a pretty reasonable price. It's mostly the engines and transmissions they care about since those can be used on other heavy duty vehicles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusRider Posted November 9, 2021 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2021 Either 16 or 17 (the MCI Classic) is parked inside the fire training compound at the airport. It's way in the back so it was too hard to see which one it is. Pictures to come when I get around to getting on the computer and uploading them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianD Posted November 10, 2021 Report Share Posted November 10, 2021 I've seen that bus too. I think its 17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusRider Posted November 15, 2021 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2021 Spotted the GM Old Look on a flatbed heading north on 1st Street. No idea where it was going. Never saw any tenders our for it or anything. Only know it was sitting for a few years with plates on it and in running condition but slightly rough cosmetic shape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianD Posted November 16, 2021 Report Share Posted November 16, 2021 21 hours ago, BusRider said: Spotted the GM Old Look on a flatbed heading north on 1st Street. No idea where it was going. Never saw any tenders our for it or anything. Only know it was sitting for a few years with plates on it and in running condition but slightly rough cosmetic shape. Do you mean bus 14, the restored 1957 unit that has been sitting in the city yard? It hasn't ran in at least 4 years....I've heard through the grape vine there might be a grant of some sort coming for the re-restoration of bus 14....The body is still decent but apparently the floor is bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusRider Posted November 16, 2021 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2021 That would be the one. Good to hear some confirmation that it's likely not disappearing. Would be cool if they could start using it again for public events again. I remember the "Boo Bus" in the early 2000's when they'd decorate it for Halloween. That or when they'd bring it out for free rides on Rider Appreciation Day, I guess they don't appreciate us anymore! Turns out my last ride on it was a lot longer ago than I remember. Last saw it out and about 9 years ago! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianD Posted November 17, 2021 Report Share Posted November 17, 2021 Cool Video.... It's possible it hasn't ran in longer than 4 years...lol Some days we could use this bus in service 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusRider Posted November 18, 2021 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2021 Went for another On Demand ride this evening and it was significantly more on time. The extra convenience of how quick this service has been is spoiling me. I really hope it stays. One thing I did note is that 5 buses are being used instead of 4 like the previous hourly night service. From what I hear, this is in an effort to keep pickups on time rather than a bump in ridership. That being said, it will be interesting to see the numbers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianD Posted November 18, 2021 Report Share Posted November 18, 2021 It's getting better, much better than two weeks ago...lol Still lots of kinks to get worked out. Will it stick around?...who knows Currently it's taking more resources to maintain service, more buses and staff, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G.A Posted January 10, 2022 Report Share Posted January 10, 2022 One of the EZ Rider's made it to Ontario and was operated by Kasper for a very short time. Not sure if it was used. It was for sale July of 2021. I did manage to get a photo. The property owner didn't know much as it was stored for Kasper. If one of yous can identify this one that would be great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wt_enthusiast_photos Posted January 10, 2022 Report Share Posted January 10, 2022 9 hours ago, G.A said: One of the EZ Rider's made it to Ontario and was operated by Kasper for a very short time. Not sure if it was used. It was for sale July of 2021. I did manage to get a photo. The property owner didn't know much as it was stored for Kasper. If one of yous can identify this one that would be great! No it was never used for service. It is Ex Brandon Transit unit 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isaac Williams Posted January 10, 2022 Report Share Posted January 10, 2022 If that is #12, then I saw that one in Winnipeg in 2017. Interesting to see it ended up in Ontario. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wt_enthusiast_photos Posted January 10, 2022 Report Share Posted January 10, 2022 37 minutes ago, Isaac Williams said: If that is #12, then I saw that one in Winnipeg in 2017. Interesting to see it ended up in Ontario. It’s been in Ontario for years now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusRider Posted January 23, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2022 Small update about the On Demand service. 4 buses are now used from 6pm to 8pm, then an additional 5th bus is added 8pm to midnight. This is changed from just operating 5 buses the whole time. This is due to increased demand later in the evening as a lot of restaurants and stores close between 9pm to 11pm. Another change is any bus will make a stop if there's a passenger waiting at a stop. This is an effort to reduce waiting times for people. The drivers are supposed to check if the person is heading in the general direction of where the bus is currently booked to go, and I believe dispatch can modify the bus the booked trip is assigned to. Personally, I don't think that's a great long term solution. What I'd really like to see is an option to book a trip "ASAP" or "Soonest Bus" instead of being forced to book 30 minutes in advance. Perhaps that way they could offer trips without a guaranteed arrival time, but really reduce the waiting time from booking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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