June 25, 2014:

 

            I got up and got dressed. I went to the restaurant for breakfast. After breakfast, I got my stuff together. I went outside to wait for Des. He came a couple minutes later. We went to a mall across the street from the hotel before we headed off. TTC 2290 was stored an hour or so away from Dublin. We passed by the shuttle that runs between my hotel and the airport. I had expected a cutaway or a van. Instead, it was a double decker bus! Des told me that he knows the person who drives the shuttle bus.

 

            We talked about buses and planes. I told him how I know someone in Niagara Falls who owns Niagara Transit’s first fishbowl. At one point, we pulled to the side of the road to wait for someone else who was driving a highway coach the club also owned. After several minutes, he showed up. I stepped out and photographed the bus.

 

 

            We then headed out. The Transport Enthusiasts Club has three barns where they keep their buses. We stopped at the first barn to put the highway coach away. I photographed the highway coach again and some buses in the barn.

 

            I am not the first transit fan from Toronto to have seen TTC #2290 in Ireland. However, I may have been the third.

 

 

 

            Des pointed out a bus that was built by Bombardier that ran in Ireland. These were the only group of buses built by Bombardier and they have the same engine as the fishbowls in Toronto! That fact plus the fact a member was living in Toronto and liked the fishbowls are the reason #2290 was acquired. I photographed the Bombardier bus and a couple other buses.

 

 

 

            I then photographed a bus that Des said he personally owns.

 

 

            The highway coach was then moved into the shed. I photographed it before the doors were closed and locked.

 

 

            The three of us headed for the next shed. We passed over an abandoned railway line along the way. We got to that shed. In that shed, TTC #2290 was kept in. The door was opened and I saw #2290 right away and photographed it.

 

 

            We were soon joined by a couple other people from the Transport Enthusiasts Club. I heard they hadn’t been on 2290 yet.

 

            At one point someone held up a Bombardier plate which I photographed.

 

 

            They started TTC #2290. I listened to the engine and thought to myself I miss hearing that in Toronto. I took a photo of #2290’s engine and an older double decker bus from Dublin.

 

 

 

            We had to wait a few minutes for the air pressure to build up in #2290. It was drizzling a bit. Eventually, #2290 was ready to go and it was carefully backed out of the shed. Like with #189 at Sandtoft, TTC 2290 covers the most surface area of all the buses in their fleet.

 

            I filmed #2290 backing out of the shed and then I photographed it.

 

 

            The Transport Enthusiasts Club made a couple minor changes to TTC #2290: They had replaced the bulbs in the headlights with ones better suited for driving in Ireland. They also replaced the mirrors. They kept the originals though.

 

            I got on with the four people from the Transport Enthusiasts Club. We drove a few miles down the road. The roads in the Irish countryside are narrow. It made me almost feel like we were driving a TTC fishbowl in the area around my family’s cottage, except we were driving on the left hand side of the road.

 

            We got to a place a few miles away and I got off and photographed TTC #2290.

 

 

 

            I was asked to try to limit any features that could give a clue where the Transport Enthusiasts Club’s buses are located as to prevent local vandals from finding them and vandalizing their buses; even though they were pretty much in the middle of nowhere. I didn’t have the heart to tell them how Halton County was hit by vandals in late 2007 even though they are also pretty much in the middle of nowhere.

 

            Meanwhile #2290 was repositioned. I took a video and some more photos of it.

 

 

 

 

            #2290 was originally numbered #8790 when it was first built. It was renumbered #2290 in the early 2000s when the bus was rebuilt. It was one of 52 fishbowls to have been rebuilt a second time in late 2009 when the TTC was having problems with their new Hybrid buses.

 

            I photographed a few features inside 2290 including a pad of TTC transfers!

 

 

 

 

            I learned that the electronic sign in #2290 wasn’t working and they had put a card for route 52 over the electronic sign. TTC route #52 was the last route in which fishbowls were regularly assigned. There was a transit fan that drove on the 52 who had made the signs and put it over the electronic sign whenever he drove a fishbowl on route 52.

 

            On December 16, 2011, which was the last day fishbowls operated in service, he was driving fishbowl #2286 and had put the card over the electronic sign.

 

 

Here’s #2286 with the route 52 sign over its electronic sign on 12/16/2011.

 

            We then took #2290 back to the shed. To show my gratitude, I gave them 20 Euros for fuel.

 

            When we got back to the shed, I was told how the TTC had removed the TTC crests and other stickers. They had given the club a few stickers but told them not to apply them until the bus was in Ireland. At the time I visited, they needed to get a couple more stickers including the sticker that reads “This vehicle stops at all railway crossing”.

 

            #2290 was put back in the shed. I took some photos of other buses in the shed.

 

 

 

 

            After we had left the shed, they closed and locked it. We then drove to a pub for lunch. During lunch, we talked a bit about buses and planes. They mentioned the first season episode of Air Crash Investigation {Mayday back in Canada} about the Azores Glider. I told them I had seen the plane involved in the incident a week earlier in Montreal!

 

            I asked if there was any intention to take #2290 to Sandtoft and pose it with Edmonton BBC #189. They said they’d like to, but the main issue was money.

 

            After lunch, they asked me what I wanted to do after. I said I’d like to ride the light rail line in Dublin. I was told another Transport Enthusiasts Club member; Gary Manahan would take me.

 

            When we left, I went with Gary and another TEC member. We drove out and stopped for gas. I bought a Coke while at the gas station. We stopped at a bus garage where the other person worked. I was told I could photograph the buses in the yard but not post them. I took some photos, but I will not post them here.

 

            Gary and I then left and hit the highway. We stopped at Gary’s house while he ran in to get some things. Gary ended up giving me a couple books and showed me a third on the history of Bombardier. That book had some interesting photos of a VIA LRC locomotive, a photo of an Amtrak Horizon fleet coach when it was new, a GO train, and an H-6 when they were new which I found kinda ironic as the last H-6 train was retired days earlier.

 

            Gary and I then left and drove to a light rail station. We parked a few blocks away and we walked. There are two light rail lines in Dublin, but they don’t cross. We were on the Green line. The right of way used by the green line was apparently an old railway line. I photographed a light rail car on the William Dargan Bridge.

 

 

            Gary pointed out a double decker bus saying it was a rare model here. I photographed it.

 

 

            While waiting for a train, I photographed another train going the opposite direction.

 

 

            I got a ticket. Gary had a pass but when the train came, we got on. Gary realized he needed to put money on it so we got off at the next stop while Gary reloaded his card. I photographed the train.

 

 

            I was told the cars were built in France. It was now raining. The next train arrived and we rode into Dublin. At one point, we ran through some street running trackage. We went around a curve before stopping at the next to last station. We got off and I photographed the train.

 

 

            We waited for the next train to arrive. I photographed it at the station.

 

 

            I sprinted ahead and filmed the train going around the curve. Gary and I then returned to the station and rode the next train to Stephen’s Green; the end of the line where I photographed it.

 

 

            We originally planned to go to the railway station, but it was raining heavily and it was a few blocks away. I decided I wanted to return to my hotel so we waited for the next train. When it arrived, I photographed it.

 

 

            We then rode to the station where we got on. I saw a Dennis built double decker. I photographed it.

 

 

            I filmed another light rail train passing over the William Dargan Bridge. We talked a bit more about TTC #2290 and Edmonton BBC #189 in Sandtoft. Gary asked me about the 28 BBCs that went to Bulgaria. I told him that they may be scrapped due to customs issues. That is a shame because those were the 28 BBCs in the best condition.

 

            We walked back to Gary’s car and then drove out. Gary mentioned that the cost to ship the fishbowl was considerably less once it turned 30 years old. At the time of its retirement, it was 28 and they acquired title to it the following year. After the bus was stored in Toronto for a year, it was shipped to a port on a flatbed truck.

 

            #2290 was shipped to Liverpool; not directly to Dublin. I had seen a photograph of #2290 in Liverpool next to a brand new GO Transit double decker awaiting shipping to Canada. I also saw a video if #2290 driving around the port in Liverpool on YouTube. In the YouTube video, the GPS on the bus is announcing the next stop being Sheppard subway station. Gary told me that the audio was added by whoever made the video and that the next stop announcement wasn’t really working on #2290.

 

            We drove by the port where many ferry companies come. There was a tunnel, but you had to pay to drive through it, so we took the long way back. We also passed the other end of the Green {light rail} line. We passed under a rail line and I filmed the only heavy rail line I saw.

 

            We got back to my hotel a little while later. I went to my room and brought my laptop to the lobby and showed him some photos and went online. I emailed a few photos of TTC #2290 and Edmonton #189. He sent me a few photos of #2290 and other stuff.

 

            He also asked me if any PCCs were ever painted in the CLRV livery. I told him two were and showed him some pictures of them in the CLRV livery.

 

            Eventually, we went to dinner at a McDonald’s near my hotel. After dinner, I walked back to my hotel and worked on this report some more.

 

            At one point, I decided to go out again to a nearby gas station. I saw there was a highway coach in the parking lot. I photographed it.

 

 

            I walked to the gas station and bought some milk and a cereal bar for tomorrow morning as my flight home left pretty early. I noticed there was a Tim Horton’s in the gas station! This was another little reminder of home.

 

            I returned to my hotel where I worked on this report a little. I set the alarm on my phone for 5:10 am and packed my stuff. I soon called it a night.

 

June 26, 2014:

 

            I got up at 5:10 am and got dressed. I ate the cereal bar I bought the night before. I then finished packing and went to the lobby. I checked out of my hotel and waited for the shuttle to the airport.

 

            The shuttle came and I paid one Euro and got on. We soon departed. We made one brief stop on the way to the airport. We didn’t go to the terminals. Instead, we stopped at an area where shuttle buses go. I got off and photographed the bus.

 

 

            There are two terminals at Dublin Airport: Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. I would be flying out of Terminal 1. I walked to Terminal 1 and found the counter for Air Transat and checked in. I checked my suitcase and cleared security without incident. I found my gate and photographed a couple planes including an Aer Lingus Airbus A320 in a heritage livery.

 

 

 

            Although I had plenty of time before my plane left, I saw my plane at the gate already. Like when I flew to Paris, I would be flying on an Airbus A310. However, this plane was in Air Transit’s new livery. I photographed it though rain on the window partially obscured the photo.

 

 

            I then had something to eat at a restaurant in the terminal. I attempted to have a massage in a coin operated massage chair, but it wasn’t working. I found a place to work and went online. The adapter that didn’t work in my room worked here though and I worked for a little while.

 

            At one point, I saw a Westjet Boeing 737 arrive. I knew Westjet was planning service to Dublin when I was booking my plane tickets. However, when I was comparing airlines, it said “Flight subject to government approval” which made me hesitant to book with Westjet. Nice to see Westjet got the government approval to fly to Dublin.

 

            Westjet flies from Toronto to Dublin making a stop in St. Johns Newfoundland and back again. However, I would learn that they would be looking into wide body jets in the future.

 

            I photographed the Westjet plane.

 

 

 

            I then returned to my gate to await my plane’s boarding. Boarding soon commenced. I took my window seat and again found it cramped. Despite the pilot saying we may be able to leave early, we left on time. From the plane, I photographed a British Airways Airbus A319 and a US Airways Boeing 767.

 

 

 

            I filmed the plane taking off. We took off heading east. We turned around and were eventually flying over the Atlantic Ocean. There was a screen that showed the plane’s progress. This flight was not direct. We would have an hour stopover in Montreal. I was given a form to fill out for customs when we landed in Toronto.

 

            I pulled my laptop out and watched the movie “Last Vegas” on Air Transat’s entertainment service. By the time the movie was over, my laptop’s battery was at 34%.

 

            I watched the in flight entertainment and read during the flight. At one point, I was served lunch. From the plane, I could see icebergs at one point. I photographed them from the plane.

 

 

Those white dots are the icebergs.

 

            I continued to watch the plane’s progress. We were south of the tip of Greenland at one point. The flight attendants were passing out pizza, but I declined since I don’t like pizza.

 

            We soon flew over Labrador. It felt good to be over Canada at least. We were eventually getting close to Montreal. I saw a highway and looked for something I could recognize. I believe it was the highway that runs parallel to the railway line that VIA’s Ocean and Montreal-Quebec City trains use.

 

            We were soon on final approach to Montreal. I could see an intermodel train from the airplane. It felt good to see a train that’s common to me.

 

            As the plane landed, I filmed the landing. I noticed another Air Transat jet taxiing to the terminal. When we got off the runway, we did a 180 onto a taxi way. I could see a third Air Transat jet landing. We were soon at the terminal. Quite a few people got off in Montreal. From my seat, I photographed an Air Canada jet.

 

 

            An Air Canada Airbus A330 pulled up to the gate next to us. I photographed it.

 

 

            23 more people boarded my plane. They boarded from a shuttle through the plane’s back left hand door. I would learn that they had come from another Air Transat flight from Glasgow, Scotland. However, more people had gotten off in Montreal than got on. The plane was pretty empty when we departed. As we departed, I photographed the Air Canada A330 again.

 

 

            We taxied out to the runway. I filmed the take off. We took off to the north. The flight from Montreal to Toronto was under an hour. We were soon flying over Ontario and soon, we were flying over Oshawa. I could make out highway 401.

 

            We flew over downtown Toronto. From the plane, I photographed the CN Tower and Rogers Center.

 

 

            We would be flying into Pearson International Airport from the west. From the plane, I could make out where highways 401 and 407 meet. It was good to be almost home.

 

            I filmed the plane landing in Toronto. We were soon parked at the gate at Terminal 3. I got off and photographed the plane.

 

 

            I then photographed a Canjet Boeing 737 and the plane I flew on again.

 

 

 

            I then made my way to customs. I noticed it was automated. I inserted the form into a machine and it stamped it. I showed it to an agent and then went to get my suitcase. My flight was sharing the baggage carousel with another Air Transit flight from Orlando, Florida. Air Transat didn’t loose my suitcase and I got it. I then handed my customs form to a customs agent as I left into the arrivals area.

 

            My mom was waiting for me. I was happy to see her having been overseas for the last week. We then went to the parking lot. On the way, we passed a bus stop and I photographed a TTC Orion 7 NG Hybrid on route #52; the same route to last have fishbowls regularly assigned to it.

 

 

 

            We then went to the parking lot and left the airport. We took the 407 and arrived home a little while later.

 

Conclusions:

 

            This was my first trip to Europe! I am really glad I did it! I’m especially glad I got to ride on both Edmonton #189 and TTC #2290 again. I just wish I hadn’t missed the train I planned to take from Paris.

 

            Between European trains and North American trains, both have their advantages. North American trains guarantee you having a seat. European trains are much faster as the governments care more about passenger rail than in Canada and the United States.

 

            While I’m glad I got to ride through the Channel Tunnel, unless I have things to see in both mainland Europe and Britain, I will either fly into the Britain or the more convenient airport in mainland Europe.

 

            While this trip was pretty expensive, there’s still a chance I could return to Europe next year as my cousin is getting married in Spain. At the time I write this, I don’t know if I’ll be able to make if, but if I won the lottery and/or the $2000 voucher for Air Transat, I’ll be sure to go back to Europe and I might detour to see #2290 again.

 

            I found the employees at Air Transat to be friendly and helpful. I may fly with them again. However, with the seats being cramped, I may like to try another airline for a transatlantic flight to see how it stacks up.

 

            One last thing to note is that two weeks after I returned from this trip, I met up with Des and some others from the Transport Enthusiasts Club at the Halton County Radial Railway Museum kind of like how I met up with Richard from the Illinois Railway museum at HCRR following my 2012 Chicago trip. However, while I met Richard again purely by chance, I had received some text messages from Des saying he was in the Toronto area.

 

            As for me, my next trip will be no later than early October when I return to Six Flags Great Adventure to ride Kingda-Ka once it reopens. Until next time…

 

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