Author: admin

Museum Makeover

As you now doubt know, we are building a new “mobile museum” in our 1982 GM “Fishbowl” bus, #4107. Project leader Jason Sharpe has always insisted that this will not be merely a replacement for our present museum bus, 730. So, this project is not about taking the cabinets and exhibits out of the 1957 GM bus (if we could fit them through the doors!) but starting from scratch – examining what our visitors would want to see.

730’s exhibits focused on the history of transit from 1890 to the formation of TransLink. No one era was predominantly displayed. 4107, however, will be biased towards our transit history from the 60s and 70s onwards. We will keep 730 active, and available to attend events so that we can still present a full picture of Vancouver’s transit past.

Interest in transit is shown across many generations. But what we have discovered is that 730 isn’t very interesting for younger enthusiasts. The cabinets housing the displays are too high for youngsters to view! There are no “interactive” displays. Jason says he’ll address these issues by mounting cabinets vertically on the walls of 4107. He’ll include interactive features such as fareboxes and a destination blind which can turn to show different termini.

Austin Terpstra-O’Keefe has recently joined the “conversion team.” He has brought with him a desire to include more multi-media exhibits than we originally intended. This was mainly because of the extra cost this would involve. But Austin has struck up a relationship with the BC Technology for Learning Society. It offers gently used computer technology at free or low-cost to schools, low-income individuals, Indigenous groups, and fellow non-profit societies. The donated computers are refurbished by youth technicians who get paid work experience.

“We discussed our requirements, and BC Tech is enthusiastic about collaborating with us, expressing great confidence in our concept…. They are exploring options to provide us with low-cost or free devices,” says Austin. He also drew up these mock ups of what the rear of 4107 will look like. We can’t wait for the project to be finished. It’s certain to be a great success with our visiting public!

Happy New Year to all our members and supporters!

As we begin the new year, we’d like to just explain what has happened to the blog posts you may wish to re-read. As a Society, our mission is “preservation.” Sometimes the Internet can be quite the reverse — posts can disappear. (Though, I suspect those posts you regret may still be available deep inside the Goggle servers!) Because our blog posts often contain information which should be retained, every year we archive them and place them in our online library called TOPICS. There they are searchable, backed up, and always available. (You can search using the term ‘blog’.)

May 2025 be all you wish it to be!

Bryan Larrabee, President, Transit Museum Society

A Visit From Santa and Mrs. Claus

This week we were invited to attend the Richmond Transit Centre (RTC) Holiday lunch, so Angus, Lawrence, Matthew and I took #4612 to join the festivities.  We were treated to a full turkey dinner and met many of the RTC operators, mechanics and staff.  Lawrence fixed up the story boards and put them in the bus and we gave tours.  A nice surprise was a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.

It was an honour and a pleasure to be invited and of course our 1964 GM Fishbowl (#4612) was a big hit.  We took the opportunity to photograph some of the remaining 9 Orions as well as one of the Santa Buses. 

Of course Angus McIntyre knew nearly everyone and posed for several pictures himself.

Lots of transit talk and comparison of the Fishbowl with the current fleet.  The non-ergonomic driver’s area drew a lot of comments especially from operators wondering what it must have been like to have no power steering, no adjustable steering wheel and seat.  The advertisements in the bus were popular and Angus was more than willing to talk about driving in the old days.

Writes Sue Walker, our Sales Manager:

“There was a gentleman that came by our Langley shop yesterday to pickup the last two bench seats removed from our D40LF during Jason Sharpe’s refresh project. He is doing a project of his own, but his involves a 1921 Ford Model T Runabout. The seats fit perfectly into the car. He was so impressed with what we do and who we are, that he gave us a small donation.” Definitely not OEM!