Photo: www.bangshift.com
Believed to be almost half of a century old, these bad boys are currently out of line, as newer models took their place. But for many years the tracked buses served as transport for visitors who would take one of the Columbia Icefield Snowmobile tours.
We’ve been spending quite a lot of time trying to figure out what exact models these babies are, but we only managed to narrow the choice to a couple, none of which offers 100% accuracy. However, before we get to that, let's just take one minute to talk about what they were used for.
The tracked buses were the first snowcats Brewster Travel Canada used to take visitors onto the surface of the Athabasca Glacier. The tour is currently done aboard modern Ice Explorers, which are newer model ice busses that feature six gigantic tires, each hooked to the drivetrain, and that have most certainly better suspension.
The tour is done by an experienced driver-guide who shares unique information about glaciers, ice fields and their impact on our environment during an one hour and 20 minute journey. It will cost you $50 to enjoy this unique experience, but you’re going to have to wait until next Spring since nobody goes there during the winter.
Good, now back to the tracked busses.
Nicknamed “Shake & Bake” for their poor ride quality, the initial busses were most likely produced in the 1950s and later custom modified into what they are now. Some believe the buses are in fact old highway coaches modified by Foremost Industries. Brewster allegedly did this until the first terra tire snow coach was built, in 1984.
Others believe the old buses were produced by either General Motors or Motor Coach Industries, while yet others claim the vehicles are converted Western-Flyer Canucks. Whatever the case might be, we’re pretty sure if they will ever get on sale Dan Bilzerian will be one of the buyers.
Meanwhile, we listed two videos below, in case you want to get a closer look on both the old bus and the new one.
The tracked buses were the first snowcats Brewster Travel Canada used to take visitors onto the surface of the Athabasca Glacier. The tour is currently done aboard modern Ice Explorers, which are newer model ice busses that feature six gigantic tires, each hooked to the drivetrain, and that have most certainly better suspension.
The tour is done by an experienced driver-guide who shares unique information about glaciers, ice fields and their impact on our environment during an one hour and 20 minute journey. It will cost you $50 to enjoy this unique experience, but you’re going to have to wait until next Spring since nobody goes there during the winter.
Good, now back to the tracked busses.
Nicknamed “Shake & Bake” for their poor ride quality, the initial busses were most likely produced in the 1950s and later custom modified into what they are now. Some believe the buses are in fact old highway coaches modified by Foremost Industries. Brewster allegedly did this until the first terra tire snow coach was built, in 1984.
Others believe the old buses were produced by either General Motors or Motor Coach Industries, while yet others claim the vehicles are converted Western-Flyer Canucks. Whatever the case might be, we’re pretty sure if they will ever get on sale Dan Bilzerian will be one of the buyers.
Meanwhile, we listed two videos below, in case you want to get a closer look on both the old bus and the new one.
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