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The world keeps turning…

and TMS volunteers keep working!

Just a few shots to show what we have been doing at our Langley facility. Jason (helped by Anthony) continues to frame out the interior of P4107, our new ‘rolling musuem’. Matthew is working on rewiring the Hayes, including the conversion from a positive to negative ground system. (Early vehicles genrally used positive ground wiring based on a number of benefits that were the result of incomplete knowledge of electrical systems, especialy when wiring was cloth covered.) Lawrence, Ike and Ewan have been cleaning the vehicle’s various components and regreasing them.

Re-wiring the Hayes ‘Teadrop’

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Community Catch-up (March/April)

TMS, its buses and volunteers, were busy this past month. On the events front we attended the Blossom Block Party, held at the “Golden Triangle”. For those not familiar with the location, this is the area bounded by Burrard, Dunsmuir and Melville Streets. I believe that the term originated within BC Hydro planning and operations, referring to the high current load and high commercial value of the area. It was later adopted by the Transportation Department as a terminus even appearing (if I recall correctly) on destination signs.

 

 

Anyway, on April 4, 2026 volunteers aboard #730 attended the Block party where there were live DJ and dance performances, pop‑up bar and food vendors, kids’ activities and games in the car-free streets.

Then four days later, some volunteers attended the Day of Pink, on April 8th, as guests of Unifor Local 111 – the bus operator’s union. The Day of Pink is a Canadian anti‑bullying and anti‑discrimination event where people wear pink to stand against homophobia, transphobia, and all forms of bullying. This year was especially symbolic as it was the 25‑year anniversary of the passing of Canada’s landmark 2000 law — the Modernization of Benefits and Obligations Act (Bill C‑23) — which for the first time granted same‑sex couples equal federal benefits and obligations, marking a major turning point on the road to marriage equality.

(photo of 730 at Golden Triangle: Ewen Streit, below: Matthew Walker)

Rob Chew, Angus McIntyre and myself attended, bringing a Grant farebox and destination rool sign as “conversation starters” — which they were! Angus appeared onstage to recollect his early transit career as a gay bus operator.

Rob Chew
Angus is interviewed by Unifor’s Krista Lee Hansen.

On March 27th, there was the Larwill Park Dedication of Places That Matter. This is a program of the Vancouver Heritage Foundation, recognizing the historical importance of noteworthy places in Vancouver. The program is unique in that sites are nominated by the community. Each receives a plaque. #98 was Larwill Park with its history spanning from the early 1890s as an athletic ground, the Military Parade Grounds, the Pacific Stage Lines bus station in the 1940s to the 1990s, and its future as the site of the Vancouver Art Gallery. Appropriately, when we were asked to attend the dedication, representing the bus depot era, we chose to take 4612. As a North Vancouver bus, it is quite likely it operated from there. Member Evan Russell, who drove the bus to the event also gave a short speech. (Photos: Matthew Walker)

Evan Russell

And last Sunday (April 26th) was our “Rails to Rubber” fan-trip aboard 4612. This was organized by Milan Streit, building on the work of Lawrence Walker who had made contact with the Fraser Valley Heritage Rail Society. Some years ago, we donated interurban parts to the FVHRS in return for two dates when we could bring members and the general public to the Cloverdale Station for an interurban ride. We would be able to keep revenue generated. Milan combined this the second such venture with a fan trip to other local sites. We hear that a grand time was had by all – not to mention the FVHRS threw a surprise BBQ for us!

(Photos by Ewen Streit)

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Farewell, Rhonda

Rhonda Larrabee

On April 4th, TMS member Rhonda Larrabee said “goodbye” to the world.

Rhonda was a long‑time member of the Society and deeply involved in its life. Social events? The BBQ—she helped organize it. Serving food? Yes. The Annual General Meeting? She’d be there, checking off your name and handing you a ballot. Strategy meeting? She would be there too, helping her husband (and TMS President) Bryan organize everyone’s thoughts.

Events with Rhonda in charge—or even just helping—ran like clockwork. Why? Because she knew what had to be done, and then she told anybody standing around what to do. She didn’t ask. She told. (Always in a nice way, and always with a smile.) And you did what she said.

Strong personality? Of course. But she was the Chief of the Qayqayt First Nation.

Getting there, though, took grit, determination, and that strong personality—because the Qayqayt Nation was not supposed to exist. And it would not have, if not for Rhonda.

A smallpox epidemic in 1904 and the increasing encroachment of European settlement along the banks of the Fraser River in New Westminster and Brownsville decimated the band. In 1916, a federal commission closed the reserve and ordered its residents to leave. Then in 1951, the federal government effectively dissolved the band altogether.

Many years later, Rhonda decided to trace her heritage. When she discovered this history, she resolved to have the federal government once again recognize the Qayqayt Nation. It took years, but in 1994 she achieved that goal.

That was not the end of the journey. She then led the Nation down the long and difficult path toward treaty. She had nearly reached that goal when she was taken from her community. Someone else will continue along that path, but Chief Rhonda Larrabee will always be remembered as the person who began the journey.

The Society wishes to express its heartfelt condolences to her husband Bryan, her children, and their families. Our Society will survive Rhonda’s passing, but we are much poorer for her departure.

Thank you, Rhonda, for all you gave to us.
And goodbye.

(Photos of Rhonda & Bryan, courtesy Sue Walker)

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Nuts n’ bolts

Maintaining vintage vehicles is not all “big” items — sometimes its the small detail that counts. Recently, Lawrence Walker told me about working with the wheel nuts on our Hayes Teardrop.

So, the Hayes project continues to ramble along. As I said before, this project would take quite some time to complete. Lately things seem to have slowed down but we are still working every Sunday to get the job done. We have completed the repair to the front axle and steering system. Then we put the Hayes up on blocks to remove and inspect the wheels and brake drums; so far so good! So, most of the big heavy stuff is more or less done.

The re-wiring is coming along bit by bit. This gives me some much-needed time for what I call “general maintenance.”  You know, all those little jobs that are just as important as the big stuff. Things like wheel bearings. There are two per wheel, and they must be completely cleaned of all old grease in the solvent tank. They are then inspected for scratches or pitting and, if they are good, repacked with grease if they are undamaged. That’s good for a couple of hours. Then there are the wheel nuts and studs….. all 89 years old.  Just think of that now: over that time the nuts were put on and taken off at least once a week. Even discounting the Hayes being retired, that adds up to well over 2,000 on-and-off cycles so far. So as part of the wheel maintenance, I took about three hours per wheel to run a thread tap through each and every one of the ten nuts.

At first glance, spending hours running a tap through old wheel nuts might seem a little over the top. The goal wasn’t to cut new threads, but to clean and straighten the ones that were already there—removing decades of grime, corrosion, and microscopic damage. It makes the nuts go on smoothly, torque properly, and most importantly, reduces stress on the original studs. Could it have been skipped? Maybe. But with safety-critical parts and original hardware that can’t easily be replaced, it’s one of those jobs where taking the extra time now saves trouble later. Sometimes the boring, time-consuming work is what keeps old machinery safe, reliable, and rolling for another generation.

Back in the day, if they stripped the treads on a bolt hole, they would drill it out and rethread the hole bigger. For instance, from 1/2 inch to 9/16 inch, and use a bigger bolt. But in our case the bolt is a stud (like a bolt but threaded on both ends) and the axle won’t take a bigger bolt. So, what do you do? Something called a “Step-stud”, with 9/16 inch thread on one end and 1/2 inch on the other (shown at bottom right).  Great idea! But there’s a problem. Since the invention of the “Heli-coil” tread repair kits, step-studs in in anything other than metric are no longer available.  (A Heli‑Coil insert is basically a precision‑rolled stainless‑steel wire coil that forms a new internal thread when installed.) But never underestimate the cunning and treachery of and old mechanic to make his own! Thank you Bobb!!



Next will be an air system inspection and air line replacement. Then we’re going to change the polarity of the Hayes from positive ground to negative ground. That sounds more daunting a job than it is.   And then fix the oil leaks… all the oil leaks. So, as I said before I started this project, it’s a big undertaking. But like all big undertakings it is just a bunch of little undertakings!

Lawrence Walker

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Fageol Find

Ewan Streit

This 1947 Fageol Twin coach 41-S has had quite a life.

Entering service during the rails to rubber project, these Fageols ruled the streets. originally assigned to Oakridge Garage, she was renumbered to 3154 then transferred to New Westminster Garage and renumbered to 5985 which is still visible on her front today. This bus being such an early Twin Coach to enter service never made it to the rare BC Hydro Transit livery, but instead kept the BCE beige with a Hydro decal in front. In 1965 this bus and 10 others were sold to Calgary Transit System, this bus was renumbered to 202. Some were painted somewhat into the Calgary livery, this one did not, continuing to sport its BCE colour with just the Hydro decal being covered by a Calgary decal as it currently sports. After this the info gets fuzzy, it retired in the early 1970s and somehow made it to Okanagan falls where it has been currently sitting for nearly 25 years! (how far back the satellite goes back) there is also a strange bumper trailer attachment. Also the interior looks quite tampered with but not the worst I’ve seen. Hopefully someone with deep pockets stumbles upon her soon also!

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Bridge to Success

Bryan Larrabee, President.

We were asked by TransLink if we could contribute something on their behalf for the live auction fund raiser at the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Gala. We offered a 2 hour private charter on #4612 for 20 people. TransLink also included a custom made bus stop. We’re happy to report that the winning bidder paid $6,500. It was nice to collaborate with TransLink for a very worthy cause.

United Chinese Community Enrichment Services Society, organizer of the S.U.C.C.E.S.S programs, is one of Metro Vancouver’s most influential multicultural and immigrant‑support organizations. The non-profit was founded in 1973, offering programs for: Community inclusion and cultural integration, Newcomer settlement and language training, Employment and entrepreneurship, Seniors’ care and community programs, Affordable housing and Family and youth services. Their annual Bridge to S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Gala is one of the region’s major fundraising nights, regularly raising over $600,000 to support its programs.

Bryan with Chris Chan from TransLink; TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn

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2026-2027 TMS Board & Executive

Later this year we will celebrate our 40th Anniversary. At our recent (6th March) Annual General Meeting, and Director’s Meeting (13th March) our new Board of Directors, Executive and Managers were announced. They will help guide our Society into its next forty years.

The 2025-26 Board was re-elected by acclamation at the AGM.

The 2026-2027 TMS Board of Directors: from top to bottom, left to right: Richard Dyer, Angus McIntyre, Evan Russell, Milan Streit, Jason Sharpe, Rob Chew,. Below: Bryan Larrabee & Michael Taylor-Noonan

Bryan Larrabee resumes his role as TMS President, aided by Vice President Michael Taylor-Noonan.

At the March 13th Director’s Meeting (held in camera), the Board appointed various Executive & managerial roles: Jason Sharpe will resume his role as Secretary, Angus McIntyre that of Treasurer, along with the following managerial positions: Charters (Evan Russell), Web, Archives & Newsletter (Michael Taylor-Noonan), Sales (Savannah Dewolf & Sue Walker), Social Media (Milan Streit), & Photo Library (Rob Chew). Membership & Event committees were also formed.

So all aboard! And off we go towards a successful 2026 40th anniversary season!

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Speaking Socially

A big part of our communications with our members, and people potentially who might become members are or social media pages. The are co-ordinated by Milan Streit, and updated by his team of volunteers including Rob Chew and Stephen Goodman.

How is our strategy working? At our recent Annual General Meeting, Milan gave a short update.

The purpose of our social media pages is to engage fellow bus enthusiasts, while promoting the Society. Milan indicated that we have a growing fanbase, with most posts gaing 100+ likes. This is attributable to the high editorial standards demanded by our team: quality, fact-checked, well written and illustrated posts are the norm. Some posts go viral, attracting over 250,000 views! We use this social engagement to promote the Society, and its fund-rasing events.

Over the past year, on Instagram, we have over 1.1 million views. 20 posts had over 10,000 views. On Facebook, since the start of 2026, we have attracted over 100,300 viewers, with over 3600 followers over both platforms. One of the most popular categories for posts is early SkyTrain photos. Also, old transit maps and brochures are a big draw.

Milan also highlighted the types of posts that do not achieve our targets. As might be expected from the demographic of social media users, items about streetcars and interurbans under peform. So too, do posts about buses prior to 1960s, and those that are too obsure for people to remember.

Milan also pointed out other areas we we could improve: more active team members, showcasing our achives, more posts showing our members and greater collaboration with our website.

Is your interest piqued by this post? Head over to our Socials at:

Transit Museum Society (@transitmuseumsociety) • Instagram photos and videos

Transit Museum Society | Facebook

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馬年快樂

(Happy Year of the Horse)

Once again TMS was invited to appear in the 2026 edition of the Chinatown Spring Festival Parade, held to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

We were amongst the over 100 organizations that participated in the 2.5 hour parade – watched by many thousands of spectators, despite the rainy weather. Coach #9753 was driven by Anthony Sherst, while hosts included: Hubert Leong, Oscar Kapsa, Stephen Goodman, Rob Chew, Leland Babic, Ophelia Li, Rian Fatemi,
Jessica Yuill,  Aurora Powell, Matthew Walker,   Sue Walker and  Lawrence Walker.    A big “thank you” to all for representing the Society, and engaging with the mmany members of the public.

(Photos by Sue & Lawrence Walker)

(Photos by Martin Wu)