By Bus or Boat - KPTS' Marina Terminal, 1962

The year 1962 was one of flux for Kingston's transit system. Not only was the system in transition from private operator Kingston City Coach Lines to the public Kingston Public Transit System, it was also looking for a home. There was no permanent bus terminal. The ad hoc plan was to maintain the buses at...a marina! The White Rose Marina, at the location of the former Canada Steamship Lines) terminal at the foot of Queen Street was the temporary home for service in mid-1962, with a projected move to the CLC property by October, where maintenance would take place until May, 1963. 

The location was quite unsatisfactory - too small, ill-equipped due to small access doors and inadequate jacks, fuel had to be pumped from a tank truck, and limited drain and sewage connections. Bus washing became high-tide. The Whig profiled the operation graphically on July 30, 1962:

Various locations had been surveyed:

The new buses were advertised in the Whig in October, 1962:

Cantabile BTW Wraps - Noted!

Noted! On a trip to pick up groceries, we passed Kingston Express New Flyers covering Route 15 and a Route 501. Both bore a new wrap - did I just see something new? 

In this case, the between-the-wheels wraps are for Cantabile Choirs - 'Raise Your Voice', which is the choral group's latest campaign. On its website, at least six different choral groups are pictured in shades of  blue, pink and purple, such as this one that is on KT 1370:

These wraps may have been applied only to Kingston Express buses due to their blue colour, naturally matching the graphics. More wrapped examples to follow!

More Electrics

Electric bus KT2502E - first observation. This week on Route 15 (above) and higher angle on May 18 also on Route 15:

 

Between-The-Wheels Wraps

 

In March, 2026 I photographed a new and an older between-the-wheels wrap, both on Route 15. Here is KT1951 with the We're Hiring wrap. A BTW wrap, non-commercial. KT1923 featured a different driver, facing the other way, We're Hiring wrap in late-2024.

First BTW commercial wrap - KT 1364 for the d spot dessert café:

New Year, New Wraps!

I was wondering if disappearing bus wraps would ever have a resurgence. Boom! This driver's-side Kelly green wrap for Aussie's Windows and Building Supply on KT 1502 swung around the corner and I snapped it - (top photo). The same wrap has also been applied to KT 1687. Though no street address is visible, the store is located at 590 Cataraqui Woods Drive. Welcome to Kingston, you Aussie's! Also on Route 15 on a dirty spring day, March 26:

and in springtime, on Roosevelt Drive (Route 15) on May 20, 2026:

Here's KT 1687 - April 6, 2026 on Route 502 Bayridge Drive at Conservatory

A week later, a second new wrap - driver's side KT 1254 for Westboro Flooring:

KT 1254 in springtime - May 12, 2026:

Fin (de l'année) addicts

On this, the last day of 2025 I saw a dark between-the-wheels wrapped bus heading up the street on Route 15. Like a ghost. I thought I'd seen this bus wrap before - possibly replacing a previous wrap that had become faded - for Gardiners Road pet store Finaddicts. Sure enough, on the return trip, there it was. Now on KT1256, not KT1257 like the previous Finaddicts menagerie, ca. 2023 (below) with differently-coloured logo and different animals plus updated fonts.                                                    

Kingston Transit Albums on Flickr

 Late 1970s to present - by Busman Extraordinaire/Paul A. Bateson

First Commercial Wrap on a Kingston Express Bus

Kingston Transit's first Kingston Express broadside bus wrap not promoting a civic cause. Seen here on Route 502 on October 24, 2025 KT 1684 will not only sell your house, it'll also take you down the road to your new home! Also later applied to 1683 and 1510. Jason Clarke's mug also adorns non-express buses KT 1901 and KT 1812.