Built between 1985 and 1988, the TC40-102N (Transit bus, Classic model, 40 feet long, 102 inches wide, Not air-conditioned) ‘Classic’ was an evolution of the old General Motors ‘New Look’ model. General Motors built the 8500’s and the 8600’s; while Motor Coach Industries (MCI) produced the 8700’s and 8800’s after the GM plant in Quebec (where the Classic was produced) was sold to MCI in August 1987. The TC40-102N was the first bus delivered in the HSR's White with yellow & blue stripes paint scheme, entering service on June 3, 1985.
The 4 groups of classics were all virtually identical. The only significant difference among the 4 groups was that the 8500 series had only a single rear door, as opposed to the twin rear doors found on the other three groups. One minor difference that has been noticed is that the bus numbers on the front of the bus are in different colours and locations. This difference occurs not between groups of buses, but between individual buses. The majority of Classics had the bus number in the centre of the bus’s front, located on the yellow stripe and coloured black. However, a few buses have the front number located on the yellow stripe on the left side of the front, near the front doors, and others have a white number located in the centre on the blue stripe.
The 8500’s were retired in 2003, replaced by the C40LFs of the 510300 series. The arrival of the 0800 D40LFs resulted in the retirement of the last of the 8600s, and most of the 8700s and 8800s in May 2008. Only 6 TC40-102Ns remained in service: HSR 8707, 8711, 8714, 8803, 8806 and 8809. These final six were retired on April 30, 2009, bringing an end not only to the HSR's Classics, but to a long history of General Motors buses and to high floor buses used by the HSR.
(All photos © Tom Luton, except where noted)
HSR #8502 next to Divinity College, McMaster University, April 23, 2002
HSR #8504 at McMaster University, Oct 24, 2001
HSR #8504 at McMaster University, Oct 23, 2001. Note the single rear door.
HSR #8511 passes Divinity College at McMaster, Oct 23, 2001 (Note the white numbers on the blue stripe)
HSR #8512 at CNIB Loop, October 3 1985. (Photo by Ted Wickson, used with permission)
HSR #8601 exiting CNIB loop, June 4, 2004.
HSR #8602 in the afternoon sun at McMaster, Oct 24, 2001. After retirement, HSR 8602 would suffer an unusual fate-at the hands of Red Green!
HSR #8605 at the corner of Main and John, May 17, 1986 (Photo by Clayton Flagstaff, used with permission)
HSR #8613 at MacNab Terminal, December 8 2006 (Photo by TC40102N, used with permission).
HSR #8614 & #9720 at CNIB loop, July 22, 2004
HSR #8702 at McMaster University, April 16, 2004
HSR #8703 turning onto Stirling, April 23, 2002
HSR #8704 at Main St West and Emerson, March 24, 2004
HSR #8704 at James & King, June 12, 2004
HSR #8706 at McMaster, Oct 24, 2001
HSR #8706 at McMaster, April 13, 2004
HSR #8707 at McMaster, July 19, 2004
HSR #8711 and #779 at Eastgate Mall, May 7 1988. (Photo by David L. Phillips, used with permission.)
HSR #8712 and #779 at Bell Manor loop, May 7 1988. (Photo by David L. Phillips, used with permission.)
HSR #8715 at Bell Manor Loop, October 27, 2006 (Photo by TC40102N, used with permission).
HSR #8803 at the Sanford Bus Garage, April 15 1989. (Photo by Paul A. Bateson, used with permission)
HSR #8803 at the Sanford Bus Garage, April 15 1989. (Photo by Paul A. Bateson, used with permission)
HSR #8803 at McMaster, Oct 24, 2001
HSR #8804 at King and James, December 8, 2006 (Photo by TC40102N, used with permission).
HSR #8806 at the Hamilton GO Centre, October 30 2008.
HSR #8808 at McMaster, April 16, 2004
HSR #8809 at Gore Park, Dec 19, 2001. 8809 is heading up the mountain on the 21 UPPER KENILWORTH
HSR #8809 at Main & Jackson, October 30 2008.
HSR #8811, 9702, & 8810 at McMaster, April 16, 2004. HSR 8811 makes a cameo appearance in a TV ad for ING Direct that began showing in the late spring of 2006
Look for YouTube videos on HSR TC40-102Ns here (External Link).
