Members' Buses

Members' Buses
In addition to the buses in the official historic fleet, a number of members maintain and operate buses of historic interest. Some of these are in commercial service, others are long-term restoration projects
Part 1: Former transit vehicles
Vehicles formerly used in transit service in British Columbia (B C Electric Railway, B C Hydro & Power Authority, Urban Transit Authority of B C/Metro Transit Operating Company, B C Transit, Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority/Coast Mountain Bus Company)
1971 GM TDH3301	There were very few 30 foot New Look ("baby fishbowl") buses built by General Motors and only one, this one, purchased new for transit service in BC. Distinguished as the last bus purchased by the City of Nelson, 6000 was in regular service in the Kootenays until 1989 when it was stored in Victoria. Four years later it was acquired for preservation by Norman Smith and it was a feature of the Saanich Historical Artifacts Society's "Heritage Acres" park for ten years, before being sold to its present owner in 2003. It is preserved in B C Transit colours and is in operating condition.
City of Nelson 118/B C Transit 6000
Owner: John Day
1974 GM S8H5304A	One of 15 "Suburbans" acquired during the big service expansion in 1973-1976, this vehicle came equipped with reclining seats and baggage handling capability, as it was intended to displace the highway coaches used by Pacific Stage Lines on its routes to White Rock. This bus is in running order.
B C Hydro/B C Transit 3213
Owner: Andy Hill
1976 GM T6H4523N	This coach has been converted to a communications hub and command centre for volunteer radio operators and emergency social services volunteers in the City of Vancouver. This bus goes to major special events as volunteers provide communications for the safety of participants. The bus also serves at emergencies such as apartment fires or evacuation scenes. It is deployable as an alternate communications net control or site command for the City if needed in a disaster
B C Transit 5509
Owner: VECTOR (Vancouver Emergency Community Telecommunications Organization).
Project manager: Bryan Larrabee
Part 2: Non-B C Transit buses
1956 GM PD4501 "Scenicruiser"	Not many seated Scenicruisers are left out of the 1001 originally made as Greyhound's signature coach of the 1950's and early 1960's. This vehicle was acquired for preservation in late 2005 and was moved from St Cloud Minnesota to storage in the Vancouver area in May 2006, a cross-country drive of 1900 miles.
Pacific Greyhound Lines K2322
Owner: Sean Keating
1969 GM S6H4503A Glasstop	For years these two buses drove cruise ship passengers around the sights at Ketchikan Alaska. 208 was retired to Texas in 2004, and driven back to Vancouver in late 2005. Identical twin #212 was acquired directly from Westours Motor Coaches in 2006. These vehicles are in operating condition and available for charter and tour work. For information contact Nostalgia Tours Inc. or phone 604 690-TOUR (604-690-8687)
Westours Motor Coaches (Gray Line of Alaska) 208 and 212
Owner: Blue & White Bus & Coach Ltd. (John Day)
1969 GM S8M5303A Glasstop	Similar to the two 35 foot glasstops (above), this 40 footer also spent much of its working life in Alaska though it originated in Southern California. Now privately owned for future restoration.
Westours Motor Coaches (Gray Line of Alaska) 108
Owner: Andy Hill
1973 Leyland National RRM148M	This pioneering bus was produced as a suburban version of the Leyland National, and as such was displayed at the Earls Court exhibition in 1973. Following several years' demonstration use, it was used by West Midlands Police and, from 1984 to 1992 as a school bus for Suffolk County Council. It was restored to original condition over a period of years, exhibited at several bus rallies in Britain, and purchased by its present owner in 2004. The bus remains in Britain, thousands of miles away from its proud owner.
ex-Leyland demonstrator, ex-West Midlands Police, ex-Suffolk County Council (UK)
Owner: John Royle, Osoyoos B.C.
Part 3: Vehicles no longer owned
Vehicles which have been disposed of, for preservation by others or for scrap
1947 Canadian Car C-36	Typical of the "small Brills" that were used to convert both Vancouver and Victoria streetcar systems to bus operation in the late 1940's and early 1950's, this last survivor was retrieved from the woods near Sayward, Vancouver Island, in 2003 by member John Day. A heavy-duty restoration of this vehicle is needed
B C Electric/B C Hydro (Victoria) 697
Sold to William Johnston, Surrey BC, 2007, and subsequently resold. Whereabouts unknown.