Text by James Bow; photos by Robert King.
On Saturday, March 25, 2000, enthusiasts from the Toronto Transportation Society chartered 8051, one of the last New Look Fishbowls, for a farewell charter organized by the Toronto Transportation Society. The bus roamed the system 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.
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The bus charter picked up passengers at Jane Station and quickly retraced the route of the old 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 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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Stopping near a Jumbo Burgers near Junction Loop, bus 8051 rolled up an old Junction trolley bus rollsign.
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8051 displays the trolley bus tricolour route 63G in memory of the Ossington trolley bus as it enters Bicknell Loop.
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Following Dufferin's on-street short turn loop at Briar Hill, bus 8051 passes clothes drying on a line in a nearby backyard.
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On the stomping grounds of the Ranee run, 8051 pulls up a classic 109 Ranee sign.
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Paying a visit to Eglinton Loop, bus 8051 pulls up a 74 Mount Pleasant tricolour.
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At Roe Loop, bus 8051 pulls up another Nortown tricolour.
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On Calvington, bus 8051 pulls up an old all-black Calvington exposure.
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On Grandravine, bus 8051 recreates the long lost 119 Grandravine rush hour residential route.
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Near the DeHaviland plant, 8051 recreates the old 3 Ancater Park run.
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Here 8051 is signed for the classic Downsview bus route (Jane-Wilson Station).
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Just before 8051 departs York University, this photo shoot takes place, with an old 106A York University Express rollsign used. After a last photo shoot, the bus headed to Finch Station to let off its passengers for the end of an enjoyable day.
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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.