Text by James Bow, Photos by Robert King.
On Saturday, March 25, 2000, Toronto-area bus enthusiasts chartered TTC GM New Look bus #8051, one of the last New Look Fishbowls, for what was then to be a farewell charter organized by the Toronto Transportation Society. The bus roamed the TTC network and stopped at many loops, particularly loops which were familiar stopping points for Toronto's old trolley buses. Ray Neilson supplied the trolley bus rollsign and Joe supplied the Wilson linen.
Robert King was on this charter, and here are some of his photographs.
GM New Look 8051 Charter Image Archive
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The bus charter picked up passengers at Jane Station and quickly retraced the route of the old 4 ANNETTE trolley bus. Here, bus 8051 pulls out of one of St. George Station's bus bays, modified slightly since the Annette trolley bus ran through here. |
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Bus 8051 pauses at Yorkville beneath one of the old trolley bus wire holders in this re-creation of the 6 BAY trolley bus route. |
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Bus 8051 paid a visit to Lansdowne Garage, now all boarded up and minus all of its overhead wires. |
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Near Lansdowne Garage, bus 8051 pauses in an alleyway. The remains of an old trolley bus wire support frame at the top of the picture shows that this was an access route for Lansdowne Division trolley buses. |
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Making a charter stop near a Jumbo Burgers near Junction Loop, TTC GM New Look bus #8051 rolled up an old 40 JUNCTION trolley bus rollsign. Photo by Robert King. |
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Rolling into Bicknell Loop on its charter run, GM New Look #8051 displays an 63G OSSINGTON trolley bus tricolour route exposure in memory of the Ossington trolley bus. Photo by Robert King. |
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Following Dufferin's on-street short turn loop at Briar Hill, GM New Look bus 8051 passes clothes drying on a line in a nearby backyard, bearing a 29 DUFFERIN rollsign exposure. |
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Whilst in the Lawrence Heights district, TTC GM New Look #8051 pauses for railfans bearing a classic 109 RANEE rollsign. Photo by Robert King. |
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Whilst paying a charter visit to Eglinton Loop, GM New Look bus #8051 pulls up a 74 MOUNT PLEASANT tricolour. Photo by Robert King. |
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Paying a visit to Roe Loop at Avenue Road, GM New Look bus #8051 remembers the Nortown trolley bus by pulling up a classic 61 NORTOWN tricolour. Photo by Robert King. |
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On its charter visit to Calvington Avenue, GM New Look bus #8051 pulls up an old all-black 120 CALVINGTON exposure. Photo by Robert King. |
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On Grandravine, GM Fishbowl 8051 recreates the long lost 119 GRANDRAVINE rush hour residential route as part of a charter, four years after the service was replaced. Photo by Robert King. |
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As the charter stops near the DeHaviland plant, TTC GM New Look 8051 recreates the old 3 ANCASTER PARK run. Photo by Robert King. |
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As the charter passes through the Downsview area, GM New Look bus #8051 poses with a 108 DOWNSVIEW exposure. Photo by Robert King. |
After a last photo shoot, the bus headed to Finch Station to let off its passengers for the end of an enjoyable day.
Special thanks again to the organizers for planning an excellent charter and taking the extra time to make sure everyone enjoyed themselves. Stay tuned to our bus charter page to learn about more events like these being held in the future.
