Having taken the Xcelsior Trolleys myself in Seattle a few years back, I'd think that they're at least not off the table. Personally I think the battery buses are intended more for replacing diesels and hybrids. The Xcelsior Line doesn't look to be going anywhere for a while so I think it's likely we'll see Xcelsior trolleys in the latter part of this decade.
Thank you for posting this. As a retired transit operator I found it very interesting. I found one error however. The Boundary loop did not open until 1955, not 1953 as you stated. Prior to that trolleys terminated at the Renfrew loop on Broadway immediately east of Renfrew (SE corner). B.C. Electric advertised the opening of Boundary loop for July 15, 1955 in an ad in the Vancouver Sun dated July 14/55 page 11. The ad further stated that installation of trolley overhead was not yet complete and that shuttle buses would temporarily carry passengers from the Renfrew loop to the Dominion Bridge plant on Boundary Rd. The loop finally opened for trolleys on Aug. 6, 1955 (Vancouver News Herald Aug. 6/55 p11) Here is an abbreviated timeline: Sept 16/49 - Introduction of Broadway East trolley coach (which later becomes route no. 2) running from Vancouver’s west end and thru downtown via Main, Broadway to Commercial; part of the Broadway East-Robson trolley coach route which replaced the streetcar line of same name. Feb. 16/50 - Broadway East trolley coach extended eastward to Renfrew loop (located on south side of Broadway immediately east of Renfrew.) July 18/52 - Introduction of Broadway Crosstown motor bus between Main and Granville, replacing Fairview streetcar. Oct. 31/52 Broadway Crosstown motor bus extended westward from Granville to Alma. Feb. 27/53 Broadway Crosstown motor bus extended eastward from Main to Commercial. May 8/53 Introduction of 9 Broadway Crosstown trolley coach between Alma and Commercial. It is interesting to note that the No. 2 Broadway East and No. 9 Broadway Crosstown routes actually co-existed as trolley routes for about 5 months. Oct 23/53 No. 2 Broadway-East trolley coach discontinued. 9 Broadway Crosstown extended east to Renfrew, replacing that portion of the No. 2 between Commercial and Renfrew. July 15/55 Boundary loop is advertised for the extension of the 9 Broadway Crosstown. However, as installation of trolley overhead is not complete, motor shuttle buses run from Renfrew loop to Dominion Bridge plant on Boundary until August. Aug. 6/55 With overhead installation complete No. 9 Broadway Crosstown begins using new loop at Boundary Road & Lougheed.
Thank you! Yeah this is one of my earlier videos on this channel, and it's always an honour to have older operators pointing out tidbits that are not quite known among the younger bus spotters (myself included)
It’s interesting that the whole trolleybus fleet is uniform, whereas bus fleet is mixed.
I wish #3 & #8 Downtown would go back on Richards st downtown and turn right on Davie & Robson st . So that Main & Fraser can connect on Granville st
Lets just hope they dont pull a 15 and perma remove the trolleybuses
Do you think NFI XT40s and XT60s could be options for Vancouver?
Having taken the Xcelsior Trolleys myself in Seattle a few years back, I'd think that they're at least not off the table. Personally I think the battery buses are intended more for replacing diesels and hybrids. The Xcelsior Line doesn't look to be going anywhere for a while so I think it's likely we'll see Xcelsior trolleys in the latter part of this decade.
This is an impressive effort! Thanks for it all. Anyone who explains my city to me helps me.
Yes!
Thank you for posting this. As a retired transit operator I found it very interesting. I found one error however. The Boundary loop did not open until 1955, not 1953 as you stated. Prior to that trolleys terminated at the Renfrew loop on Broadway immediately east of Renfrew (SE corner). B.C. Electric advertised the opening of Boundary loop for July 15, 1955 in an ad in the Vancouver Sun dated July 14/55 page 11. The ad further stated that installation of trolley overhead was not yet complete and that shuttle buses would temporarily carry passengers from the Renfrew loop to the Dominion Bridge plant on Boundary Rd. The loop finally opened for trolleys on Aug. 6, 1955 (Vancouver News Herald Aug. 6/55 p11)
Here is an abbreviated timeline:
Sept 16/49 - Introduction of Broadway East trolley coach (which later becomes route no. 2) running from Vancouver’s west end and thru downtown via Main, Broadway to Commercial; part of the Broadway East-Robson trolley coach route which replaced the streetcar line of same name.
Feb. 16/50 - Broadway East trolley coach extended eastward to Renfrew loop (located on south side of Broadway immediately east of Renfrew.)
July 18/52 - Introduction of Broadway Crosstown motor bus between Main and Granville, replacing Fairview streetcar.
Oct. 31/52 Broadway Crosstown motor bus extended westward from Granville to Alma.
Feb. 27/53 Broadway Crosstown motor bus extended eastward from Main to Commercial.
May 8/53 Introduction of 9 Broadway Crosstown trolley coach between Alma and Commercial. It is interesting to note that the No. 2 Broadway East and No. 9 Broadway Crosstown routes actually co-existed as trolley routes for about 5 months.
Oct 23/53 No. 2 Broadway-East trolley coach discontinued. 9 Broadway Crosstown extended east to Renfrew, replacing that portion of the No. 2 between Commercial and Renfrew.
July 15/55 Boundary loop is advertised for the extension of the 9 Broadway Crosstown. However, as installation of trolley overhead is not complete, motor shuttle buses run from Renfrew loop to Dominion Bridge plant on Boundary until August.
Aug. 6/55 With overhead installation complete No. 9 Broadway Crosstown begins using new loop at Boundary Road & Lougheed.
Thank you!
Yeah this is one of my earlier videos on this channel, and it's always an honour to have older operators pointing out tidbits that are not quite known among the younger bus spotters (myself included)
unless the 14 is shortened at boundary loop
TransLink owns the very last still operating fleet of trolley buses in all of Canada. Toronto’s streetcars don’t count as those are more like trains