Bryan gets to write about Day 7: It started with a lot of uncertainty. On Sunday, Day 6, we knew that Mundies was scheduled to pick up the Office Bus #2805 at 9am on Monday and take it 108 km out to Rosedale. The rental forklift and pallet jack in Langley were booked for pick up and return in the morning. Our forklift at the Roseberry Shop was scheduled to go to Langley sometime Monday or Tuesday. We needed a smaller cube van for the last load of supplies from Roseberry to Langley. Would Penske have one available? The huge garbage bin in our compound had to be picked up Monday. The pile of scrap metal in our compound had not been touched by the guy that was removing scrap metal for us. (Photos: Bryan Larrabee and Rob Chew)

At 9am Monday morning, Sean and I were waiting at the shop for the tow truck and I noticed that over half of the scrap had been removed late Sunday evening. The scrap guy came through for us. As the tow truck arrived on the scene it occurred to me that when it got to it’s destination, it might not be able to make the tight right hand turn onto the property. I called Rick at Mundie’s and said that we may need a “plan B” but he assured me that the driver he assigned was the best in North America at coaxing his truck into tight spaces. He would call me if there was a problem. I was doubtful.

Michael agreed to deal with the rental forklift company and he asked them not to pick it up in Langley until 2pm. Alexia at Penske had a cube van available for us and she had it ready to go at 10:30 when I picked it up. Sean and I loaded the truck and we were on the road by 11:30. Rob agreed to meet us out in Langley and would coordinate the forklift coming and going.

We got a call from Chris while we were on the way to tell us that our forklift was getting loaded at Roseberry already .

As Sean and I arrived in Langley to unload the cube van I got the news that the Mundies tow truck was able to successfully deliver and unload #2805 although it was a slow and highly technical process.

In Langley, we had to back the Museum Bus #730 out of door #3 to get the rental forklift out and start unloading the cube van. As we were unloading the last two pallets I got a call from the rental company to tell us their truck was on it’s way to pick it up. The truck showed up just in time and as they were loading the rental forklift our own forklift arrived from Roseberry. We got it inside and pulled #730 back in the shop with hardly any room to move.

Rob kindly brought me lunch and he stayed to clean out the D40LF Low Floor to get it ready for a charter on Remembrance Day. Sean and I were back in Vancouver by 3:30 and I got a text from him to say that the garbage bin had been picked up. I put $60 worth of fuel in the cube van and returned it to Alexia at Penske in one piece. It felt like a major alignment of the stars had to take place on Day 7 and it did!

Editor: Typically, Bryan understates his involvement in this huge, complicated operation. I’m sure everyone would admit that without his planning and tireless oversight, we’d still be resident in Roseberry as the bulldozer moved in. Thank you, Bryan. Also thank you to those members of the Society who helped – stretching all the way back to those who scouted the Lower Mainland for suitable premises, way back when. They started our journey which culminated on Monday. Yea team TMS!

 

It’s Day 6. Time for a garage sale. Our sales team of Savannah Dewolf, Rhonda Larrabee, Thomas Westlake and leader Sue Walker welcomed buyers to our Roseberry shop. There were bus stop flags, destination blinds, assorted books and other transit miscellanea. (Pictures by Bryan Larrabee/Sue Walker)

Savannah & Rhonda count the proceeds….

The result?

That’s $4126! Well done crew!

The office bus is moved outside ready for pickup by Mundie’s and a trip to Rosedale. The end of a most successful operation… a big “thank you” to all!

Here we are…. Day 5. The remaining coaches are driven to their new home in Langley. (2805 will be the sole occupant of Roseberry until it is trailered out to Rosedale on Monday.) Trevor drove #730 out to Langley. “It was a lovely, sunny, Saturday morning drive.  The motor in that baby sings real nice on the road,” says Trevor. Probably no-one is more surprised by that than Lawrence. He wondered what the effect of being piled high with documents and archives would be on its pulling power.

(Photos by Trevor Batstone/Sue Walker) The remaining drivable coaches were driven out to Langley. All made the journey successfully with no issues reported. (Remainder of photos: Bryan or Rhonda Larrabee.)

Eric Webster, Lawrence, Jason and Alex discuss strategy before moving in the next coach.

Bryan Larrabee: “Yesterday Jason and I took the Triesel (#2649) out to the new shop.  We were concerned with the probability that there is a transmission leak on that bus, so I bought some ATF to take on the trip.  Richard pre-tripped the bus for us, took it around Roseberry for a short warm up and added a half liter of ATF.  We drove the bus to the Flying J on Annacis Island to fuel it up and Jason checked the transmission level.  It was at full.  We drove the route that Trevor suggested, through New Westminster, over the Mary Hill By-pass and through Coquitlam over the Golden Ears Bridge.  No hills and I was able to keep it at 60 km/hr or less all the way.  We successfully made it to the Langley shop and when Jason checked the transmission, the ATF lever was at add.  I logged the odometer reading at the Flying J but forgot to check it in Langley, but I will do it this week. The bus ran great, steering was fine and braking was good.  The bus obviously leaks ATF when running.  We backed into the service bay at door #1.”

“Don’t you forget about me….” #4612 at Roseberry.

Our active coaches await their turn to be parked indoors.

“Well, that was easy.” 35 footers alongside 40’ Brill coaches.

Below: They’re all in! (Photos: Lawrence Walker.)

 

“All by myself…” #2805 looks lonely at the now almost-deserted Roseberry warehouse. The facility will be demolished to make way for an extension to the Flower distribution complex. And, as a bonus, we have Angus’ video of 2416 leaving Roseberry… click thumbnail to play.

Day Four…

#2416 arrives, buses moved around. The previous tenant laid rubber mats on the floor. When they removed them, adhesive residue remained. These provided guidelines for lining up the vehicles. The new shop will allow more buses to be accessible, rather than having to stage vehicles in anticipation of their use. We can see Hayes #63 parked temporarily in the area we have designated a service bay (Door #1). The space will be occupied by Triesel #2649 when it arrives (hopefully! Check that transmission oil level!) on Saturday. It and #9753, #4612 and #730 will also be driven out. (Pictures courtesy of Bryan Larrabee and Trevor Batstone.

Although it doesn’t look like it, we will have shelving space to spare. This despite having to cut-down (Alex, thank you) the shelf uprights from 12ft to 8ft to confirm to a local by-law. Some redundant and duplicate spares were disposed of rather than being moved.

Other items will be sold in a garage sale on Sunday. We even got mentioned in the Burnaby Now!

https://www.burnabynow.com/local-news/historical-transit-society-hosting-garage-sale-in-burnaby-6058162

Day Three…and more deliveries.

Mundie’s brought out CD52A #3405, Hayes #63 and Fageol M852. Trolleycoach #2416 stayed overnight with Mundie’s and will be delivered Friday. Slated for the trip Saturday are the remaining coaches at Roseberry: 2649, 9753, 4612 & 730. Bryan was worried that there wouldn’t be enough room for the Triesel, but it looks as though we can fit the planed eight buses in Langley. To complete the picture: 3106, 3404, 3334, 4107 & 2040 are in Deroche. 678 and 4276 are in temporary storage in Rosedale.

(#3405 loaded at Roseberry/Milan Streit) (Arrival at Langley/Trevor Batstone)

(It’s a tight squeeze! Lawrence slips #3405 into position/Bryan Larrabee)

(#2416 loaded/Ron Hoskyn)

(Hayes #63 arrives at its new home/Bryan Larrabee)

(Fageol #M852 at Langley/Trevor Batstone)

I’d like to thank Sue, Bryan, Trevor and Ron for their photos – there are more I couldn’t fit in. We’ll publish those in the next newsletter. Above, Lawrence, Trevor and Jason at Langley, Ron is behind the camera.

Oh and the last delivery? Well, Bryan wanted to check to see if we have mail at the “Ninja House”. The postie opened the door and asked who we were before delivering a letter mailed by Bryan. We do not have a mailbox though, so please don’t mail anything – Canada Post doesn’t deliver on Sundays.

Day two… more pallets delivered by Angus. Evan & Alex maneuvered the fork lift to stack them on the shelves. Alex and Jason S. erected and secured shelving aided by Alex’s son, Eddie. It was “take your child to work” day. Eddie was a fast learner and eager worker! Five alarm companies have now visited our warehouse and will prepare quotations for a security system.

Due to very heavy traffic and accident on the Alex Fraser Bridge, we were unable to complete a second delivery. It will have to wait until the morning. Also tomorrow (Thursday), Mundies will bring two buses over, followed by two more on Friday. They will also take office bus #2805 to Rosedale on Monday. Also on Thursday, Bryan took #4612 for its CVIP inspection. It will be used as a backup coach for our Christmas Lights Tours.

Below, Sean & Milan continue to do sterling work at Roseberry loading pallets, while Jason anchors some shelving at Langley. Alex & Jason unload a work-bench. (Pictures: Bryan Larrabee, Michael Taylor-Noonan.)

 

It’s day one of our move to Langley! Angus drove three trips with our rented truck from Roseberry where Sean & Milan loaded pallets. At the Langley end, Lawrence, Alex, and Jason S. unloaded. Bryan had “official” duties such as a walk-through with the landlord, meeting with a locksmith, and then assembled shelving with your author.

Despite a late start because the previous tenant hadn’t fully moved out, all of us were pleased with the progress of our move so far. It’s going to be a tight squeeze fitting everything into our new shop, there are still discussions about where to store everything to maximize our storage space. Onto Day Two!