Warm Winter Days

January 2022 Update

This quick winter update will cover a few key tasks that were completed in November and late January despite the fact that 1130 sat in hibernation for much of this time. In mid-November I decided to bring 1130 into the mechanic’s shop once again for its first bit of major work required to pass the CVIP inspection - replacement of the leaking rear wheel seals - before winter would set in. With the temperature just below 0*C that day it took me three tries to get the bus’s engine started! Eventually I was on my way, and this was also a good opportunity to really see how the bus and it’s interior heat perform in cold weather, finding out that the blower and defroster work flawlessly. After waiting about two weeks for the shop to get this done I went out to pick the bus up, which would be 1130’s last drive of 2021.

Other than that, much like in my previous October 2021 update, the better part of these few months saw me continuing my efforts to get the destination sign system working properly. Eventually I decided to order a brand new Daygreen 40 amp, 12- to 24- volt converter to hook up and power the system as a replacement for the original Vultron converter that was fried. I had to get a little creative in order to wire it up correctly due to the rather odd power inputs on the Vultron memory module, but fortunately the new converter did a good job at keeping the bus’s front and side signs powered and lit. I just had to remove the data upload connector that was riveted into the sign bulkhead in order to make room to mount this new converter in place.

The only problem that remained now was the rear sign. This issue is more than likely a problem with the long 9-pin extension cord leading from the front to the back of the bus, as I discovered that the rear sign works flawlessly if I bring it to the front and connect it to the memory module up there. At first I suspected the problem lay underneath the panels at the back of the bus that had been flooded with water when the rear window was damaged, but after I inspected the wire for as far as I could access it back there, I couldn’t find any obvious signs of a short or damage. So I decided to shelve this issue for the time being and just keep the rear sign disabled as it will be massively difficult and time consuming to remove the whole wire and inspect its entire length.

With all the sign headaches now aside, in December I took the liberty of ordering a Motorola Nextel radio handset and mount to throw into the bus for purely cosmetic purposes. Despite obviously not functioning and having a different service provider’s label on it, this handset is of the exact same style that was used on all Calgary Transit buses prior to the CAD/AVL rollout in 2013-2014. This small detail should make 1130’s driver’s station just a little bit more true to the bus’s time in revenue service. I eventually went out to the bus to get this installed on a warm Chinook day in late January as it was too cold to do this throughout much of December.

A few days after getting that radio installed, with the weather still being quite warm for January, I arranged plans with Peter to take 1130 out for its first run of 2022 and a few photo stops around the city. Our friends Randy and Hayden came along for the ride. The temperature was -2*C that morning and another three tries were needed to get the engine started but we were soon on our way out of the storage lot, and we picked up the guys at Douglas Glen terminal in SE Calgary, where Peter also had a chat with a surprised operator who saw the bus.

As this was 1130’s longest daytime outing yet and a lot of people were out and about on this beautiful Saturday morning, a lot of heads were turned by the historic bus! We made photo stops at Scotsman’s Hill in Ramsay, Douglasbank bus loop and Douglas Glen terminal, and all my photos from this day can be found below. I took over the driving from Peter for the journey back south from Ramsay and Peter recorded a video during that leg which can be found at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mGUCQyTrUQ