What is the Transit Museum Society?

The Transit Museum Society (TRAMS) was incorporated as a non-profit society in the fall of 1986 for "the restoration, preservation, and operation of historical vehicles significant to the history of public transit in British Columbia, to collect and preserve artifacts and memorabilia relating to their history, and to share knowledge and awareness of our transit history". In the early days the streetcars in the Lower Mainland and Victoria were known as trams after the English term for streetcar, thus the choice for the society's name.

What are the goals?

Transit in British Columbia, both past and present, has always been a leader in the transit industry; progressive, innovative, and unique. It's a fascinating story, a story that must be preserved with a museum, a collection of vehicles and artifacts, and an opportunity to tell the story of what a tremendous role transit has played in our development.

What is Coast Mountain Bus Company's role?

Coast Mountain Bus Companyis the corporate sponsor of the society, and has provided the vintage buses, storage and maintenance facilities, meeting facilities, insurance and license for the vehicles, and so on. The society however is completely self-governing through a steering committee and its own membership. The Transit Museum Society is incorporated as a British Columbia Society and is a registered charity under the Income Tax Act (Canada): donations made to TRAMS are income tax creditable in Canada.

Who can join?

Regular membership is open to all current and retired employees of Coast Mountain Bus Company or its predecessor companies: BC Transit, Metro Transit Operating Company, BC Hydro, Pacific Stage Lines and BC Electric. Associate membership is open to all with an interest in transit history.

What have we done so far?

In addition to good collections of photos and artifacts both in Coast Mountain Bus Company and private members' collections, there are a number of vehicles currently preserved. And in 1996, work started in conjunction with the City of Vancouver on the Downtown Historic Railway.