Orion Bus Industries 'Orion I'

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Orion I
Orion I
Years of manufacture 1976 to 1993
Length 30 to 40 feet
Width 96 inches
Propulsion Diesel, CNG
Orion I

The Orion Bus Industries Orion I was a high floor transit bus available in 30, 35 and 40 foot lengths. This was the first bus produced by Orion, which at the time was known as Ontario Bus Industries. The first model produced was 30 feet long and 96 inches wide. In 1979, the first 35 foot long model was delivered. A 40 foot long model was made available in 1984. Nearly every Orion I used a diesel engine, however in 1988 the Orion I was made available in a Compressed Natural Gas version.[1]

The prototype had the destination sign angled downward and a slightly slanted windscreen. The headlights were also mounted lower with squared bezels and square turn signals. The early Orion Is also had a rear window with sharp edges.

This first bus by Orion was a moderate success, being able to compete with the New Flyer D40 and the popular General Motors Classic which were both available at the same time as the Orion I. Due to political pressure, many Ontario Bus agencies purchased these buses. Some examples lasted into the 2010s. Production continued until 1993, after which transit agencies began to look for wider buses and accessible buses, such as the Orion V.

From 1979 to 1981, Orion licensed the Orion I design to TMC. It was produced under the T-30 CityCruiser name.

Contents

Models

Model number Length
(feet, inches) 		Length
(mm) 		Total Seats Notes
01.501 31' 7" 9,627 31
01.502 Air conditioned bus
(Originally designated as "U.S. specification")
01.503 33 Suburban
01.504 36' 8" 11,176 39
01.505 41 Suburban
01.506 39
01.507 42
01.508 40' 7" 12,370 48
01.509 53 Suburban
01.510 36' 8" 11,176 45

Specifications

Dimensions

  • Lenght: 30, 35, 40 feet
  • Width: 96 inches

Engine

Transmission

Operators

Canada Flag of Canada.png

United States Flag of the United States.png

Demonstrator and engineering units

Below is a list of known demonstrator and engineering buses

Fleet number Thumbnail Year VIN Engine Transmission Notes
June 1976 101
1977 104
August 1979 168
January 1981 282
December 1981 401
  • 01.504 model.
  • Sold June 1983 to High Quality Inn (Orlando, FL).
December 1982 548
  • 01.505 model.
  • Sold March 1983 to Commercial Transport (Lively, ON).
December 1982 550
January 1983 588
  • 01.506 model.
  • Sold April 1983 to CyRide 1408.
January 1984 782
June 1984 941
  • 01.507 model.
  • Sold June 1984 to Northeast Transit (Ithaca, NY) 240.
June 1984 945
9901 1984 Detroit Diesel Series 6V92
June 1987 1630

Preserved units

Year Thumbnail Serial Original owner Fleet number Model Current owner
1981 341 Winnipeg Transit 953 01.501 Manitoba Transit Heritage Association
1987 2B1119277H6001644 Bay Metro Transit 134 ? Chicagoland Historical Bus Museum
1988 2B1169776J6001909 Pace 8723 01.508 Chicagoland Historical Bus Museum

References

  1. ↑ The History of Orion Transit Buses, orionbus.com, retrieved on 2009-08-02
  • Personal Notes and sightings
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