Text and pictures by Lex Reid
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On February 8, 2015 I got a tour of Toronto Transit Commission’s Malvern Garage by a TTC Employee. We went through many parts of the yard including the repair area, driver waiting area, bus parking bays, and the driver dispatch area. In the yard there was a bunch of sidelined Orion VII hybrids getting their batteries repaired due to the cold weather. I also got to meet some bus operators, and mechanics.
I got to see one of the last remaining Orion V buses, #7013. We boarded the bus and I was allowed to start her up, with the help of a lot of instruction from my guide. I got to kneel the bus, test the Ramp and doors, and also the Luminator sign. I also got to test the Novabus LFS Artic #9093, starting it up, and playing with the Luminator sign.
We then went on to the dispatch area, which showed the current buses that were on service that day on Malvern’s many routes, including 85 SHEPPARD EAST, 95 YORK MILLS, 53 STEELES EAST, 130 MIDDLEFIELD and 129 McCOWAN NORTH. After the dispatch area, we toured the repair area and saw a whole pack of Orion VII Hybrid buses, including buses 1734, 1754, 1101, and 1752, getting repaired from the weather, receiving transmission upgrades, and so on.
As the tour came to an close we went through the operator waiting area and saw where the drivers got to relax and wait for their upcoming run.
I hoped you enjoyed my little story about my tour at Malvern Complex and enjoy the pictures below!
Malvern Garage Tour Image Archive
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This banner welcomed visitors to Malvern Garage. Photo by Toronto Transport Guy. |
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Here we see the offices at Malvern Garage, where everything is organized and drivers prepare for their runs. Photo by Toronto Transport Guy. |
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The bulletin board announces the schedules and other notices for each of the routes. Photo by Toronto Transport Guy. |
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More schedules and notices on the bulletin board at Malvern. Photo by Toronto Transport Guy. |
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The bus and scheduling assignments for 85 SHEPPARD EAST on February 8, 2015. Photo by Toronto Transport Guy. |
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Here we see an entrance to the Malvern repair bays, with buses awaiting repair. Photo by Toronto Transport Guy. |
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TTC Orion V bus #7013 sits in the repair bay at Malvern with a coating of dirt. Photo by Toronto Transport Guy. |
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A collection of Orion buses, including one on a hoist, awaiting repair at Malvern Garage. Photo by Toronto Transport Guy. |
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TTC Orion VII "Next Gen" bus #1734 sits in its repair dock at Malvern Garage. Photo by Toronto Transport Guy. |
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TTC Orion V bus #7013 has its lights on and is ready to go. Photo by Toronto Transport Guy. |
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TTC Nova LFS articulated bus #9080 rests on a hoist at Malvern Garage's repair shop. Photo by Toronto Transport Guy. |
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Before heading out on the street, Malvern's buses must be washed. TTC Orion VII bus #1087 heads through the wash lane during the garage tour. Photo by Toronto Transport Guy. |
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TTC Orion VII "Next Gen" bus #1757 also gets a wash. Photo by Toronto Transport Guy. |
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Here we see one of the newer buses' Luminator sign controllers, displaying a 85 SHEPPARD EAST destination sign. Photo by Toronto Transport Guy. |
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One of the older buses' Luminator signs was also tested, also showing a 85 SHEPPARD EAST destination. Photo by Toronto Transport Guy. |
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TTC Orion VII bus #1086, Orion VII "Next Gen" hybrid bus #1716, and Nova LFS articulated bus #9076 stand ready to hit the streets at Malvern Garage. Photo by Toronto Transport Guy. |
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Once the tour was done, it was out to the staging area outside Malvern on a frosty winter day. Photo by Toronto Transport Guy. |
Thanks to Jelo Gutierrez Cantos for his corrections to this piece.
