Calgary Transit #7632

Among collectors of classic vehicles there’s a fringe group that does things a little different. A little? Let’s label them crazy weirdos and leave it at that. There’s no ’57 Bel Airs for these folks, no T-Birds, no roided out muscle cars, but instead things called Fishbowls, Old Looks and Flyers. It’ll be one of the latter we’ll be looking at here, once Calgary Transit #7632 that on retirement was saved from, at best, a very uncertain future (meaning certain scrapping).

Yes, these people are into into transit buses. Wait…what…who does that? Turns out we have a few friends bitten by the bug and each is beyond help.

We got to do a ride along with one and had a blast just roaming the city. It’s not a real ancient bus (I have socks older) but who has the forethought to save them at this point? Ken Baker does I guess and he’s our host today. The Calgary Transit System still has many examples of this model (although newer) but where will they be in a decade or two? Cut up into little bits most likely but now at least one’s been set aside.

Our ride: We’re looking at a New Flyer D40LF from 1996 here – D=diesel, 40=feet, LF=low floor. The LF series was a popular one all over North America and offered in various lengths (30, 35, 40, 60 feet) with the longest examples articulated, and many differing powertrains (diesel – perhaps most popular, gas or diesel hybrid, natural gas, trolley electric – in a variant, fuel cell – have we forgotten anyone?). The D40LF was the most common model but no matter the size or how configured, share a family resemblance.

Good morning from Calgary Transit #7632.

This example was made in Winnipeg Manitoba, although the firm also manufactures buses in the US. New Flyer goes back to the 1930s, and at times was known as Western Flyer or plain old Flyer. The Winnipeg plant was the original and still HQ. Your author got to go along on a class tour of the facility in the 1970s (not sure if it’s the same factory seen on Google Earth today), but had zero interest in such things at time. The only thoughts were of pinball, good ol’ pinball…and pizza, yeah pepperoni pizza…and Battlestar Galactic was pretty cool too…that’s it. But not buses.

The LF series was produced from the early 1990s to the early 2010s for countless transit agencies. A similar looking LFR model, with a more streamlined look, was also made for time and likewise a good seller.

The LF series were the first low floor buses produced in North America (well technically the back third is still high floor and requires a step up) and as such were quite ground breaking. That the floor at the doors is almost flush with the sidewalk sure made things easier for the disabled and those with mobility issues. To help things along further, the bus can even kneel and further lower its height. In contrast entering an older high floor bus feels like climbing Everest.

CTS #7632 is powered by a Detroit Diesel 50 Series, four cylinder engine. For decades, engines from this manufacturer were the most popular choice for transit buses but it seems they moved away from that market early this century. The transmission is an Allison Bus Series automatic. Is it me, or do all transit bus transmissions seem to whine loudly?

This bus last ran in CTS service in early 2020, about the time the last Detroit Diesel powered examples were stricken off the roster (all D40LFs numbered in the 7600s and made in the 1996-1999 period). Not long before being parked, it was used in a special goodbye 50 Series fantrip. Once retired these often end up at the scrap yard but not this one, though.

This is one of a handful of LF models preserved thus far. However, there’s a lot of them still in service so more might get saved in the future. Who knows?

We asked Ken to fill us in on how it came in his possession (edited for brevity):

“(When) purchasing a bus from Calgary Transit, one goes through the City of Calgary Surplus Sales. I contacted them directly and had to explain why I was purchasing the bus and asking for 7632 specifically. Normally they would chose one at random for me. 7632 is one bus I remember riding as a kid and the one we chartered that Nicholas Blonski hosted for the Farewell to Series 50 charter on March 15, 2020. It literally was the last charter before the world shut down (ed: thanks to Covid).”

Ken’s changed out signage, but otherwise the bus appears much as is did when in CTS service. That it still looks the part became the source of much fun on our little trip about town. You’d see people at bus stops step forward in anticipation of boarding as we approached, then we’d zip past honking and pointing and laughing uproariously. Jokes on you dude…see you laterrrrrrrrr…..

The first part’s true.

Ken hopes to repaint the bus down the road and has a few ideas. Presently it carries the older CTS white/blue paint scheme, still common out there but being phased out for the current white/red.

Let the fun begin: We had a couple targets in mind, a bus loop in Edgemont where we could catch sunrise (it was an early start) and a now dead-end road where were could pull off a pacing shot without being a nuisance to others. Otherwise, we just drove about aimlessly and watched the world go by.

Joining the party and acting as chauffeur was one Peter McLaughlin, driver for Calgary Transit and with maybe a billion miles under his belt. Or something like that. He mentions likely driving #7632 while still in service, but then given how long he’s been at it, he could say that for most of the fleet. If he’s captain on your bus, be sure and say hi for us.

An earlier gas stop was an eye opener – it cost that much?!!! Later, we double dared Peter to take it through a Tim’s drive through, but all that got us was an eyeroll. Then came a little fun with the signage.

A malfunctioning heater didn’t put a damper on the fun this chilly October day. Sure, we couldn’t feel our fingers and I think I lost a toe, but that’s no reason to stop.

Magic happens in Edgemont and the bus loop affords a perfect line with which to catch the rising sun. There it is on the horizon and with luck we hope to catch an elusive sunstar. It’s hit and miss sometimes, capturing these and even with the right lens (and not all do it well) and knowing the proper settings (which can differ from lens to lens), Mother Nature can always throw a curve ball. But not this day.

These bus posts are not popular compared to other subjects we cover BIGDoer.com and while a lot of work and having to suffer through that numbing cold, this special moment made it worthwhile. That morning sky – the oranges, yellows and stunning purples – it’s beautiful. Even if no one sees this or reads this, we’d not change a thing.

Our pacing shot takes place on a once major road, truncated due to new highway construction and so devoid of traffic. It looks like the Flyer’s screaming down the highway, but it’s mostly an illusion. Stabilizer on, rapid fire on, then drag the shutter to give blurred background, while moving at a fairly modest speed, and viola. It meant being a contortionist in this case, but it’s just another day doing what we do

It’s an early start to capture the best light.

It takes a lot of tries – back and forth – back and forth – but finally we get it. These can be a challenge too. Well look at that…we’ve been at it since before the sun came up and it’s now noon. Time just zipped past, but I think we’re done. Anyway, I got to get that frostbitten pinky looked at and now I can only count to nine.

Will passengers please exit by the rear…

More: This is not Ken’s first bus and given it’s hard to stop once infected, I doubt it’ll be his last. Over the years he’s owned almost a dozen GMC Fishbowls from the 1960s-1980s period. These were similarly a common sight and quite popular among collectors given the ease as which they can be found. Most of Ken’s were ex-Edmonton Transit (booo Edmonton) with one each coming from Lethbridge Alberta, Winnipeg Manitoba and Victoria British Columbia.

I suspect you’ll see more of Calgary Transit #7632 in the future and even before we were done, came discussions of a sequel. We have all these crazy ideas…

Know more (new windows): Fishbowl Buses (BIGDoer.com), Calgary Transit #7632 and Flyer Low Floor Series.

Stay tuned for lots more fresh content posted regularly @ BIGDoer.com!

They’re saying…

“The wonderful out-of-the way locations and the photos of them are pure gold…Keep up the good work!” William Gibbons.

Something similar…
TDH-3501 – An Old Look @ Red Deer Airport.
The Big Red Bus – Cruising around Edmonton in a Fishbowl.
Baby Fishbowl – It’s so cute!

If you wish more information on what you’ve seen here, by all means contact us!

Date: October, 2021.
Location: Calgary, AB.
Article references and thanks: Ken Baker, Peter McLaughlin and the Canadian Public Transit Discussion Board Wiki.

This bus belongs to collector Ken Baker.

Just pretending to be the #77.

Sunrise!

Magic happens at the Edgemont Bus Loop.

The elusive sunstar.

A perfect butt print.

The business end of things.

The button’s well worn from decades of use.

CTS #7632 was retired only recently.

Made by New Flyer in Manitoba.

What the driver sees.

Destination: fun!

Our driver’s Peter McLaughlin (see him?).

Industrial park cruising.

Please exit by the rear…

A final shot and we part ways.