The Transit Museum Society of British Columbia is dedicated to the restoration and preservation of decommissioned transit vehicles in Vancouver and the adjoining areas. Based in Burnaby, TRAMS currently has a fleet of thirteen operational vehicles and two non-operational. These vehicles were previously in use by both public and private operating companies between 1937 and 2010. Volunteers from TRAMS also operated the Vancouver Downtown Historic Railway and carried out restoration and maintenance of the historic electric interurban cars used on that line, until its operation was suspended indefinitely in 2012.
1937 Hayes "Teardrop" Model PCT-32, Pacific Stage Lines #63. Oldest operational bus in B.C. and last operational Hayes bus in the world.
1947 Canadian Car-Brill Model T-44 trolley coach, B. C. Electric #2040. One of the first trolleybuses for Vancouver to replace streetcar lines starting in 1948. The last of these vehicles were retired by BC Hydro & Power Authority in 1976.
1947 FageolTwin Coach Model 41S, B. C. Electric. #M852. Bought by BC Electric to assist with the “rails to rubber” conversion starting in 1947
1954 Canadian Car-Brill Model T-48A trolley coach, B. C. Hydro #2416. One of the last Brill trolleybuses purchased for Vancouver by BC Electric
1957 Canadian Car-Brill Model CD52A, BC Hydro #3404. Primarily used on the Macdonald / Knight Route. Later in 1977 the CD52A buses were repainted and used as “Shopper” buses that went between shopping centers in Vancouver and later in Victoria.
1957 Canadian Car-Brill CD52A, BC Electric #3405. Primarily used on the Macdonald / Knight Route. Later in 1977 the CD52A buses were repainted and used as “Shopper” buses that went between shopping centers in Vancouver and later in Victoria.
1957 General Motors Model TDH-4512 BC Electric #730. Originally Purchased for Victoria. Later served Mission, Powell River, and other small communities in B.C. Retired from service in 1986 as BC Transit #642, displayed at Expo 86 unrestored. Restored externally and converted to a mobile exhibit bus in 1989 for BC Transit's 1990 Centennial Celebration. Interior was renovated between late 2018 and mid-2019.
1964 General Motors TDH-4519, BC Hydro #4612. One of the first GM New Look buses purchased by BC Hydro for Vancouver.
1976 Flyer IndustriesE800, BC Transit V1109, "triesel" ; repainted back to "Metro Transit" yellow-and-orange-stripe livery and renumbered back to 2649
1982 Flyer Industries D901A, BC Transit 3334. 35 of these buses were purchased along with the similar E901A trolleybuses. Some of these buses lasted into the new millennium.
1982 General Motors T6H5307N, New Look type. "Fishbowl" Hillclimber, BC Transit P4107. One of the first buses for Vancouver with turbocharged 6V92TA engines which were used often for climbing up Burnaby Mountain to Simon Fraser University. 4107 currently serves as the society's "reindeer bus" during the month of December.
1991 New Flyer Industries D40 "Suburban," Coast Mountain Bus Company V3106. Purchased for long routes from Downtown Vancouver to White Rock, Tsawassen and Ladner. Features soft, front-facing seating and reading lights.
1951 Canadian Car T-48A BC Electric/BC Hydro/BC Transit 2341
1954 Canadian Car T-48A MTOC 2414
1954 Canadian Car T-48A 2401, 2404, and 24??
1954 REOheavy dutytow truck, BC Electric/BC Hydro/Metro Transit Operating Company finishing
Plans
In the future, TRAMS plans to acquire additional vehicles representing types which played a big part in the Vancouver transit system. These may include a New Flyer low-floor diesel bus and a New Flyer low-floor trolley.
