Transitfan.com Charters

Transitfan.com Charters is a non-profit Charter Group providing transit fans with various bus fan charters in different regions of Quebec, mainly in the Montreal Metropolitan Area.

History

Transitfan.com Charters was founded in June 2011 with the planning stages starting in March 2011. The first charter began its planning stage in March 2011 and resulting us searching for a name. The name Transitfan.com Charters cam to life in May 2011. The name was chosen to represent the website, where the charter group was founded.

Our first and primary goal was to provide Transit fans, mainly the members of Transitfan.com[1] and Metrodemontreal.com[2] with organized events to get together and most of all, HAVE FUN.

To date, we have concentrated on chartering one specific model, though this model was not our first intention it started a series of charters featuring 1994 NovaBus Classics. We have also charter a 1982 GM New Look.

Organizers

Transitfan.com Charters has various members of Transitfan.com [3] as valuable charter organizers. Some charter incentives were proposed but never came to life, because of various reasons.

Pierre Mayer (Mystic)

Pierre was one of the primary people that helped bring Transitfan.com Charters to life. Pierre is the owner an administrator of Transitfan.com, which regrouped all of the organizers together, in order to see the birth of Transitfan.com Charters. He is a valuable resource while planning because of the various events he has attented.

Joseph McArdle (Montreal66)

Joseph was one of primary people that helped bring Transitfan.com Charters to life. He was the main planner of the STLaval #6405 Charter featuring a 1994 NovaBus Classic.

Joseph was also consulted on the 3 other events held by Transitfan.com Charters.

Joseph is also the main person of contact between the organizers and the participants of the charter in question. Joseph maintains the TransitFanNetwork Facebook Fan Page [4]. He is also the person to explain the various stops and announcements during the charter.

Justin Di Genova (MrTransitFan)

Justin was another one of the members that saw the birth of Transitfan.com Charters. He has the main resource when it came to planning the first event of Transitfan.com Charters.

Anthony D'Amico (ProchaineStation)

Anthony D'Amico was the third member that saw the birth of Transitfan.com Charters. He was one assitants in the planning of the Transitfan.com STLaval 1994 NovaBus Classic Charter.

Simon Bégin (Artic2009)

Simon is one of the busiest Transitfan.com Charter organizers. He was the brains behind the last 3 charters held in the regions of Trois-Rivères and Quebec City. Because of his vast knowledge of both cities, the second event featuring STTR #9403 was his first attempt of holding such an event which resulted in being more successful then the first event. His second attempt at planning an event, which was the most successful charter of the 2 previous was with the RTC L9419. His vast knowledge of the city made it possible to find the best photo stops in between departures. His internal sources within the RTC made it possible to get the last remaining classic currently in service at the RTC in the old STCUQ livery.

He was also essential in organizing a follow-up event after the RTCL9419 charter featuring Ex-STO 8202, which is owned by a private collector.

Kyle Harlow (Cogeno)

Kyle is a Transitfan.com Charters organizer that wanted to have an event featuring an STO Vehicle. Though his incentives were well planned, the interest in charter was not there, therefore the event never took place. A Future event in the STO area is still in the planning stages.

Ryan Grant (TransitStop)

Ryan is a Transitfan.com Charters organizer that wanted to hold an event featuring an OC Transpo Vehicle. Though his incentives were wll planned, the interest and other events led to the event being put on hold.

2011 Events

His is a list of events held by Transitfan.com Charters in order they happened.

STLaval #6405

This was the first event which resulted in the birth of Transitfan.com Charters. Held in Laval Quebec, on June 12th, 2011. This event was first to be an event featuring a 1992 MCI Classic from the STLaval but because of dispatch issues we were given a vehicle from 1994.

This event saw various photo stops, some of which were unusual. Our Pick-up location was at Cartier Metro where we met up with the participants. We had a secondary pick-up location to accommodate other participants at Henri-Bourassa Metro at the STLaval Terminus, which also doubled as a photo stop. We then moved our group to the other various photo stops which included;

• Gare St-Rose
• Terminus Auteuil
• Parc Lausanne
• Gare Ste-Dorthee
• Terminus Le Carrefour
• STL Storage - Provigo Lot

We did our photo stop in the parking lot of the Parc Lausanne. Despite the rain, we did have some moments with some sun and received all positive feedback from the participants.

Here is the group photo from the charter:
http://transitfan.com/gallery/var/albums/M66TG/charters/stl6405/CHARTER-6405-12062011-17.jpg

STTR #9403

In July 2011, Transitfan.com charters decided to hold its second charter of the year. Held in Trois-Rivères Quebec on July 31st, 2011. This charter was planned by our organizer from Trois-Rivères, Simon and was backed-up by Joseph.

This event saw various unique photo stops of which some were planned and some were not. Most of the photo stops held in the various terminis of the STTR and some of which were planned at the same time as other buses were to arrive to give an opportunity for participants to take pictures of the other buses from Trois-Rivières. Our pick-up location and first photo stop was at Terminus Centre-Ville, also the location of the Voyageur Bus Terminal. We then moved our group along the way to our other various Photo Stops, which included;

• CEGEP Trois-Rivières
• Carrefour Trois-Rivières Ouest
• Terminus Marel-Poulin - Route #4
• Aeroport de Trois-Rivières
• Bridge View (Unscheduled Stop)
• Termius Galeries Des Caps
• École Secondaire ???
• Terminus Fusey
• STTR Garage

Paricipants were also treated to a tour of the garage on the outside, and as a special surprise, we were able to pass through the Bus Wash and have an interior guided tour by our Driver Félix.

Here is the Group Photo:
http://i.imgur.com/KFeZU.jpg

RTC #L9419

In November 2011, Transitfan.com charters held its third charter of the year. Held in Quebec, Quebec on November 6th, 2011. This charter was planned by Simon Bégin, and was backed up by Joseph McArdle.

This event was the most successful so far, we did not have many stops but we had access to an exclusive bus; The only bus of the active fleet that still remains in the STCUQ (Former RTC, pre 2001) Livery. We did not have many photo stops, because we decided that with little photo stops, it gave more time for the participants to take pictures and we accented it with various spurts of Highway for people to get videos.

The various Photo stops included;

• Roland-Beaudin (Gare Autocar Ste-Foy)
• Colline Parlementaire
• Wilfrid-Caron/Racine
• Terminus Les Saules
• RTC Garage
• Terminus Galeries de la Capitale

The group were treated to an unplanned drive thru of the garage and a visit of the grounds. We took the opportunity to take our group picture at the garage, with the old bus, in front of the new logo.

Here is the Group Photo:
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/381834_310931318933067_169322286427305_1311510_1664187614_n.jpg

Private Charter: Ex-STO 8202/Ex-CMTS 32105

After our RTC #L9419 Charter, one of the owners of Ex-STO 8202/Ex-CMTS 32105, Félix invited all the participants if they wish, come and ride the bus. Félix is part owner of the bus along with Jean-Sebastien Marcotte and Martin Caron. The bus was beautifully restored since the purchase.

There were no planned photo stops, we stopped in 2 locations. Terminus Galeries Des Caps, where we picked up and dropped off, and an unplanned one at the Université de Quebec a Trois-Rivières, where we used the lighting in order to take our group photo.

Here is the Group Photo:
http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/388304_310595935633272_169322286427305_1309834_1191133033_n.jpg

Transitfan.com Charters ended their charter season with this charter.