Toronto TTC Bus In Ireland GM New Look Fishbowl Bus

Former Toronto Transit Commission TTC Bus 2290 was saved from the scrapper's torch and is preserved by a group of bus enthusiasts from Ireland. Here you can see the GM New Look bus drive through the Irish countryside and stop along the way for some fuel.

[@kurtbowman606]

I'm happy it was spared from the scrap yard ...I was the last employee to drive this bus in service . I'm heading to Ireland so and was wondering where it is ..would love to see it .

[@tecmovie]

Kurt if you contact me, tecmovie at live dot com we can discuss there, Des.

[@BurnedNoodle]

Ttrucker TTC preserved those but two of them

[@42luke93]

Kurt Bowman Was this you driving? kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4DahqGnnLx7m5o That was funny and sad when you said, “next stop for this bus is the scrap yard.”

[@trainrover]

Typical of Rotton-Ø to customarily screw shit up, _eh,_ by denying standees' any fenestration at monitoring their progress through the continent's ugliest burg here..oh well.

[@debbiewithtype1diabetes559]

Wow I remember riding these busses as a teen

[@daveoh13]

i can honestly declare that i have driven this particular bus several times, & quite possibly on the 52-lawrence west route, too; it's great to see & hear it again, especially on the roads in ireland; these buses weren't very quick off the line, none of them in toronto had air-conditioning, nor disability-access, but they ran pretty reliably & were great in the snow! the t.t.c. got almost 30 years of service out of these buses (i drove 1 once that was 27 years old!), & i'm very happy to have had the opportunity to drive them; thanks for the upload...

[@fares-please]

Very neat! Thanks for watching.

[@AirplaneFreak]

Bradley O'Brien I wish they would do that for the Classic. Also the VII when they retire.

[@wartax5]

I believe the 52 was the last route I rode one of these on. It might have been 2008 or 09. Despite the lack of AC and finer amenities they got the job done and housed a fair number of passengers much more easily than the current crop of buses. 2290 looks to be in great shape. It'll last a long while thanks to the easier Irish winters, no doubt.

[@charlienyiti5880]

52 is by bus :D

[@johnmcgarry3335]

What division were you out of? Birchmount here

[@jppicur]

Don't know if I rode this particular bus but I lived on the Lawrence West route in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The sound reminds me so much of my daily commute to the Lawrence West subway station. My trips were not as scenic, though!

[@somedudeguytv]

Wow its so nice to see one of these preserved 1/4 across the world! I never herd its engines rev that high before. :p

[@seansheppard8635]

Quite a detour for the 52 Lawrence West! 😁

[@MrUranium238]

Thank you Ireland . from Toronto

[@counter546]

I know I rode this bus as a kid in Toronto..glad to see the old girl lives on :)

[@fares-please]

Definitely ! Thanks for watching ;-)

[@drew9932]

Pause the Video at 5:13-5:20, Probably the one of the rarest still images in my mind. A Lefts hand drive, American GM New Look. Beside a Renault Magnum in Ireland. Very Interesting! Focus your eyes on the car in the back round between them, and you can see even in your periphrial vision, that they are from two different worlds. Very Cool!

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

drew9932 This was definitely the most striking image for me too. Crazy juxtaposition!

[@mrcanadaoso]

Great video...Now, there's something you don't see everyday - TTC bus in Ireland!!

[@fares-please]

Gaston Palavicino Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@pieroluciano3272]

Great video! Love that engine sound, I remember imitating it as a kid back in the days when we would ride in these masterpieces! Thanks for the upload!

[@DublinAVs]

Fair play and thanks so much to the lads who preserved it! She's still full of power as seen in this video. You don't get that maintenance here in Dublin, buses won't last 10 years here but 30 years in Toronto!

[@alexhickey5633]

That detroit diesel sounds brilliant. Literally the sound i think of when i think bus. Even though no buses in my time had them theres something about a 2 stroke diesel

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Excellent! Boy, do I remember these fishbowls when they plied the streets of Brooklyn, NY. You've captured the sound of the engine quite well. Brings back memories. Thanks.

[@Richie858]

same here, the transit company where i live had a couple when i was a kid in the early to mid 90's

[@Supesfan88]

You've got a great bus there, my friend. The absolute work horses of the TTC! They're so much better than the ones they have now (you'd never seen a broken down bus when I was younger. Now, that's all you see. Especially in winter.) I laughed when I saw that it still had the Bernstein advert on the back...don't believe a damn word it tells you :) Take care and thanks for saving a gem!

[@fares-please]

Thank-you. I am not actually one of the group members, I live in Toronto myself and stopped by to visit on vacation. I'm sure the owners appreciate all the positive comments, thank you!

[@wainber1]

I like it that pretty much all current TTC buses are low floor. It's too bad more of them aren't articulated. The TTC bus now located in Ireland runs so well, even with all the doors facing into traffic.

[@trainrover]

they were crappy 💡💡💡 Ton o' rot must've been the only place that shunned the customary fishbowl New Look model with standees' strip fenestration along the entire length .. workhorses my derriere . . .

[@flynnstephens]

Thanks for this - yet another reason to visit Ireland (as if the Guinness and the people weren't reason enough). This reminds me of a time back in 1987 when, fresh from Toronto, I reported for basic USAF training at Lackland AFB in Texas. The last thing I expected to see in San Antonio were red and cream fishbowls, but the base transportation contractor was using ex TTC 3101 and a host of old 2900s to shuffle us around. These were worn out, and the 3101 was even rougher riding than I remembered it from the previous year (when my brother was driving it during the Long Branch streetcar line reconstruction project) - we felt every bump, and even some that weren't there. These tired New Looks disappeared when a new contractor arrived with van-based units. Looks like the 2290 has had the benefit of a rebuild and is in better hands. Good Luck.

[@crushingvanessa3277]

Sure is out of it's element. I've only been to Toronto airport so I never saw these in person. Thanks for saving it, definitly in beautiful condition.

[@kn00tcn]

there are texaco stations outside of the states?

[@Fcutdlady]

kn00tcn yes there are. We have them here In Ireland. Also glad to say I know who owns this bus. It is being well looked after

[@ianfalconer7405]

HOPE THÈY MAKE GOOD USE OF A CLASSIC BUS GM NEW LOOK

[@tecmovie]

That video came out very well, thanks Brad. Glad you enjoyed your time in Ireland.

[@wainber1]

I love Ireland so much that I booked a trip to visit the country. I'm sure I will enjoy the countryside.

[@tomg8187]

if my memory serves me correct I remember loading this bus up on a trailer at mount dennis garage maybe 6 or so years ago.

[@NigelWheatley]

Brilliant video, great to see. Pity they've had to put the Irish ZV number plate on there, looks a bit out of place!

[@rmbarkey]

You need some transfers for your cutter. It just doesn't look right without them! Send me your address and I'll mail you some. They may not be from the proper route but anything is better than nothing. Thanks for sharing. I enjoyed hearing the sound of that engine again!

[@fares-please]

I believe they already have some Lawrence West transfers. Just have to stick them in the holder. I'm glad you enjoyed the video!

[@ianfalconer7405]

WONDER IF THEY RE DID THE WHOLE BIS 😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@ianfalconer7405]

WONDER IF THEY REDID THE INSIDE AND OUT

[@canuckpaul125]

also see kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXfSnqCagJiGd8U

[@michaelriehl8104]

like the Toronto to Ireland globe animation at the start :-)

[@ianfalconer7405]

ACANADIAN ICON T😢TC BUS IN IRERLAND

[@Kevin1230san]

Imagine someone from Toronto who traveled to Ireland and saw a TTC bus driving through town.

[@Kipling45]

52 Lawrence west, that the bus route that pases by my middle school and high school 😁

[@fares-please]

Awesome! Now the 52 is represented quite well in beautiful Ireland!

[@mxr572]

ps. GM used to build great vehicles. USED TO!

[@fares-please]

Absolutely!

[@Notorious40z]

How much is the boat ride over for this thing lol , cool to see it’s gotten a better life.

[@luckydesilva8309]

Wish we still had them keep the G M s any day issued of the crap we got now

[@georgegong6813]

Wow Ireland of all places! Very nice indeed. Visited Toronto twice in my lifetime. Not a resident from there. San Francisco had over 390 of these as well. Love seeing them as well operating even as preserved & restored elsewhere. Like San Francisco x Municipal Railway double ended PCC streetcar @ a tram museum in Australia! One day I hope to visit both countries to view them in person! Great job all!

[@DaveDeltic]

Melbourne had two PCC cars for a couple of new tram routes after WWII, but the project was deemed too expensive so abandoned. One car was used as a prototype for another, completely different class of vehicle, the Z-class, but the one survives in the museum mentioned by George Gong.

[@rossmunro1381]

OH GAWD that blind lawyer in Toronto will be having a fit.The bus is not announcing the bus stops for him....better call the human rights AGAIN.

[@schnuurtchke]

How’d that TTC bus get transported to Ireland?

[@fares-please]

It was shipped ove by ship, purchased by a transit enthusiast group there.

[@gastonpalavicino8827]

Wow, love that, TTC bus in Ireland, now that's something. And a 52 Lawrence West route, too...Amazing!

[@jcosta11110]

Even the call stop system is in place...does it work in Ireland? LOL

[@handleDAW]

Why is it there?

[@ShamoyRahman]

How did you guys ship this to Ireland?

[@fares-please]

Hey there. It was shipped over the Atlantic, first to Liverpool and then to Ireland.

[@crescenttransit54studios]

GM Fishbowl #2290 our number 1 leader in Ireland she's a protagonist of TTC

[@joshuap.2413]

How the hell did that bus got all the way to europe

[@fares-please]

It was shipped across on a ship.

[@Bettiem44]

Nice to see one of our old buses having an Irish Romp in her retirement.

[@johnmcgarry3335]

Many of our Irish breteren drive for TTC back in the day!

[@BritishRail60062]

That's a proper classic right there. Much better than the modern plastic.

[@TorontoPopulistConservative]

These buses are a part of my childhood I will never get back. I think they might have been a later model though as I don't remember the destination sign looking like that. I remember they were still on Eglinton long after a lot of other routes had abandoned them.

[@johnmcgarry3335]

I love the sound of that Detroit when it gets warm and wound up!!! Bless you for preserving this piece of Toronto history! Brought a tear to my Irish eyes

[@trainrover]

the absence of the standees' strip fenestration on these buses of the TTC's was one of dozens of dozens of aspects around Ton o' rot that customarily suppress that burg to suburban stature 💡💡💡

[@calgarytek]

This is the only thing GM made that actually lasted. The only thing I hated about these buses was the engine note. The V8 version is better.

[@ClassicTVMan1981X]

They could also have saved a Cummins/Voith-equipped Flxible Metro. Anyway, I knew the reason they preserved this: the powertrain on this bus was the same kind used on some of their buses.

[@JohnSulu14]

It seems fun to have a North American bus in Toronto

[@ClassicTVMan1981X]

@@JohnSulu14 Yes, but also one from Portland, Oregon (ex-Tri-Met 1801, for one).

[@FreedomLovingLoyalistOfficial]

what the

[@eddielloyd13]

Your farely well putting your foot to the floor, your welling it on county roads you nutter.

[@Novaflyer7000]

The original #8790 may be in the hands of the different owners but the new bus called #8790 just hit the road just as its great grandpa did. Just dreaming of visiting the Rep. of Ireland to ride on these again.

[@fares-please]

Ireland is a great place to visit. Lots to see and do, especially for train and transit enthusiasts!

[@WeatherxCalipha]

5:14 Jesus, the truck is huge compared to the GM... but the GM is probably better built and stronger.

[@BenLomonRail]

Amazing! Glad she's in good hands, and find it so special that it's gone so far away.

[@djsiii4737]

I definitely rode this bus on Lawrence back in the day! I wish the driver hit the fare box button just to hear it again.

[@fares-please]

Awesome, glad we could bring back some cool memories!

[@djhotgq25]

A Great Piece of Equipment!!!!

[@schnuurtchke]

When that engine revs I become a kid again

[@fares-please]

Such a sweet sound!

[@michaelsegal3558]

I thought the Fishbowl buses had electronic signs

[@TorontoPopulistConservative]

Right that's what I'm saying. I don't remember this destination sign

[@michaelsegal3558]

@@TorontoPopulistConservative yeah me neither

[@TorontoPopulistConservative]

@@michaelsegal3558 I checked, this is a much older model. The platform is the same but the configuration is older. The buses we remember had electronic displays that illuminated with green. You can learn a lot about the fleets used by the TTC over the years on a website called CPTDB. I spent over an hour on that site looking at rare bus models we used to see when we were younger that are now phased out.

[@irtbmtind89]

I'm surprised the TTC didn't take out the CIS or the farebox.

[@fares-please]

Part of preserving the bus is to make sure it looks exactly as it did when it was retired from service, so that meant keeping the fare box and CIS box.

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

Brad O'Brien I assume the rollsign was dug out of a box somewhere though, right? The rollsign when it was retired would have been much more recent than that one.

[@irtbmtind89]

reaperexpress I think that rollsign was specifically created for a charter. And it wasn't a true rollsign either, just a single static exposure.

[@imgursdownvote4love771]

Now there are two Fishbowl in the British Isles!

[@mxr572]

used to ride that bus on Lawrence. hope it still lives. old busses never die, they emigrate.

[@fares-please]

It is still there with the Transit Enthusiast Group in Ireland

[@RR-xu5xk]

the 52 that goes to Pearson, got lost, ended up in a cargo plane and now in Ireland.

[@fares-please]

LOL that is possible :)

[@michaelsegal3558]

And why was there a TTC bus in Ireland?

[@cringyfilipino773]

Can some tell me how they somehow got 2290 from Toronto to Ireland?

[@fares-please]

It was shipped over the Atlantic on a ship.

[@harps1974]

I've been on this bus as Bay 6.....Neilson 133....Finch 39E

[@BurnedNoodle]

There’s Two Finch 36 Finch West The Danger Route And 39 Finch East

[@guyanuezeheat]

by far the BEST buses ever that ttc ever had gm fishbowls are sooo BEAUTIFUL the design interior and exterior beautiful engine sound and they are extremely fucking fast...BRING BACK THE GM FISHBOWLS TTC STOP BEING ASSHOLES this was and will always be my favourite bus, PERIOD...

[@daveoh13]

btw; where, exactly, in ireland is #2290?

[@fares-please]

In a rural area just outside of Dublin.

[@camillesymons2170]

I just love that powerful Detroit Diesel 6V/71 sound! It is so interesting that one of these beauties was shipped over to Ireland and how they drive in the left hand side of the road! It must take quite a bit of getting used to. Beautiful video!

[@kerrbear1980]

This is the best. I miss that sound. Those loud GM motors. My dad drove this series at the TTC. Didnt start well in the winter, so they'd have to leave them running at the divison overnight cuz they wouldn't startup again the the morning otherwise lol

[@bababooey7576]

Those old fishbowls i used to think were brutal when i was a kid, then i realized what gems they were/are. They lasted and lasted driving the tough intown routes for all those years.in Toronto. ..Today, i see so many of the new ones being towed away...often. even the pre "digital" route signs overhead i see too...the old scroll style

[@sentai22]

by any chance he the same owner that owns the NYCTA 3966 RTS bus

[@dublin0850]

Maybe I was on that but here in Toronto.They were my favorite bus in the winter they had great heaters but no AC for the Summer.

[@Fumxe]

I remember when these were still in active service on the 52 line. Riding these to school everyday was like a dream.

[@WeatherxCalipha]

Fumxe Yeah, then the Orion VII's started coming in and these buses started to disappear.

[@Fumxe]

Now the Orion V's that used to run the 29 are disappearing because of the newer Nova Buses. LFS and Artic's.

[@WeatherxCalipha]

Fumxe And what of the Nova RTS'? Do they still run near Jane and Finch?

[@Fumxe]

I believe they still do. They still run them on the 96 Wilson.

[@WeatherxCalipha]

Fumxe I've never ridden those, and I've only ridden the Orion V about 20 times... I miss the GM's a lot though, I believe I took a ride on the GM Classic once or twice, but I also wish I'd ridden the Flyer D901's and D40HF's.

[@scottied86]

So great that these are being restored but I'd hate to drive it down some of those narrow country roads! lol

[@keenanmenard1736]

they have a TTC bus and a Texaco in Ireland ??? WOW

[@Okanagan48]

I drove these models in Ottawa. Good old buses.

[@GMC6523]

when did this bus got sent to Ireland

[@CTCUQ]

Its awesome to see fishbowl in other country! I hope the owner will keep itfor àè long time and taken care! :) Thanks for sharing :)

[@fares-please]

Thanks! Yes the bus is in very good hands. They will take very good care of her I am sure.

[@georgegong6813]

Just a thought came into mind right about now! Was this expensive to ship back to Ireland!?

[@fares-please]

I'm not 100% sure of that, but I would believe so.

[@viktoriyabezlyudna2342]

Hello Ireland! I’m Toronto!

[@CanadaGaming9012]

What is wrong with the gm bus

[@fares-please]

I don’t see anything wrong with it ?

[@CanadaGaming9012]

chadcruisers its O.K.A.Y. bradley

[@sonofglide]

I've been on that bus lol

[@kevinobico8269]

How many disabled people do you see on the new buses today, especially during rush hour? These buses lasted longer than their replacements. Original number of this vehicle was 8790.The roll sign was created by a TTC bus driver who received permission to use it on the bus' last days on the 52 route. (When the roll signs went digital, the 52 route was simply named LAWRENCE.)

[@sonicboy678]

You make it sound as if people with mobility issues should be barred from buses.

[@sonicboy678]

There are some notable differences between these buses and more recent ones, such as the low floor that goes back to the same point as the rear doorway and the wheelchair accessibility (these buses were simply not built with that in mind and retrofitting them would be too costly to be worth the effort).

[@ClassicTVMan1981X]

Ex-8790.

[@glenatkinson7732]

excellent vid...nice to see a bit of Toronto in Ireland

[@fares-please]

Thank you!

[@GMC6523]

what year is that bus and why were the gm's had to be scraped were the buses braking down?

[@MH-hy2ot]

1983. This came to Ireland last February. The fishbowls had to be scraped because they were too old and there wasn't parts for them being made anymore. Sometimes new mechanics wouldn't understand the engine of this bus which adds to the many reasons that the fishbowls had to be scrapped. They were good solid buses though.

[@GMC6523]

and put 30 years in them already I hope the next 5 year I hope the new 2 stroke detroit engines will come back to the market with better fuel economy and not burning too much oil!!

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Dennis Smith Another reason why the fishbowls were taken out of service was because they were not wheelchair-equipped. I'm surprised they lasted as long as they did in Toronto. US cities withdrew them earlier, often to comply with federal regulations, and funding was provided to purchase new low-floor/or wheelchair-equipped buses.

[@aroundtorontotwo]

very nice

[@TorontoTransitFan]

How did they get that there

[@fares-please]

Shipped across the Atlantic on a Cargo Ship

[@schienenbus_leipzig5529]

I ♥ GM Sound.