The HSR received 5 DE41LFs in the spring of 2007. These were the HSR's first hybrid buses. Although they were officially DE40LFs, some additional equipment resulted in the buses being lengthened from 40 ft to 41 ft, making these buses DE41LFs.
The HSR buses that were delivered in 2006 & 2007 had a slightly different numbering system than previous HSR orders. The 34 buses delivered in 2006/2007 were all part of a single order, but the HSR decided to split the numbering of the buses based on the type of propulsion used. The diesel buses were numbered in the 0700s, and the Hybrid buses were numbered in the 0600s. The diesel buses were delivered first, and they all arrived by the end of Dec 2006. The Hybrid buses arrived in early spring 2007, resulting in the 2006 buses being numbered in the 0700s, and the 2007 buses numbered in the 0600s!
Two of the DE41LF's were retired due to accidents. HSR #0604 suffered a brake fire that spread rapidly and caused extensive damage on July 10, 2009. HSR #0605 was in a collision with a tractor-trailer at Rymal and Miles on December 3, 2010. With two out of five buses gone in less than five years, the DE41LF's were the unluckiest fleet of vehicles in the history of the HSR. (The only other fleet of vehicles with a comparible amount of bad luck were the HSR's Stephenson streetcars). HSR #603 was retired in May 2019, and the rest of the DE41LF fleet was put into storage for future use at the same time, ultimately being retired in July 2022.
(All photos © Tom Luton, except where noted)
HSR #0601 at John & King, May 29, 2008
HSR #0602 at Longwood & King, May 2, 2015
HSR #0604 at McMaster University, November 13, 2007
HSR #0605 at McMaster University, November 13, 2007
Look for YouTube videos on HSR DE41LFs here (External Link).
