3404 and 3405 retired from regular transit service in Vancouver in 1977. They were subsequently repainted and operated as “Shoppers’ buses”, retiring again in 1981. They were then relocated to Victoria where, under the ownership of the Victoria Electric Railway Association, they briefly operated again on a shoppers’ service sponsored by the Victoria Chamber of Commerce. Falling into disuse, they were donated to the TMS on July 14, 1999.
Both buses are equipped with British-made A.E.C. “Pancake” diesel engines – a horizontally-laid version of the engine used in London’s famous red double-deckers. 3404 is finished in BC Hydro’s popular livery introduced in the early ’60s. 3405 is finished in BC Electric’s all-over cream livery in which it was originally delivered.