Orion Bus International

[tomsbuspage]

didnt OC tranpso preserve one of theirs? i doubt orion 1s (whatever is still running) would get preseved they werent the greatest buses ever made, fishbowl is one thing, they were an interesting design, but the orion 1 i dont know, its like orion 5s being preseved, that wont happen either

Several years ago, OC Transpo was considering preserving 1998 Orion V #9885 as their last high-floor bus, but with the current management that seems very unlikely now.

[wchu94]

Aren't they preserving #317, the first Orion V CNG, as well?

317 is a museum bus. There are 2 active MTA's 1993 Orion V diesels but in driver training at Zegera. 191 and 210

[OC Transpo 8238]

Several years ago, OC Transpo was considering preserving 1998 Orion V #9885 as their last high-floor bus, but with the current management that seems very unlikely now.

OC Transpo was supposed to save one of every model that prowled the streets of Ottawa, but no one in management has the brains to do anything about PR or public interest and just cares about they're pocket book.

[leylandvictory2]

OC Transpo was supposed to save one of every model that prowled the streets of Ottawa, but no one in management has the brains to do anything about PR or public interest and just cares about they're pocket book.

Keep in mind OC Transpo's mandate is to provide public transit service in Ottawa and not preserving buses. Preserving retired buses cost money and sadly OC Transpo does not have the money to do that.

[BBC 9197]

Keep in mind OC Transpo's mandate is to provide public transit service in Ottawa and not preserving buses. Preserving retired buses cost money and sadly OC Transpo does not have the money to do that.

It's attitudes like this that prevent the preserving of our civic culture. We in Ontario are so quick to dismiss saving our history because it might cost us some of our precious money, the same money they turn around and waste on things of little to no value, like kickbacks.

Let's look out side the 'stingy, non-nostalgic Ontario box' to New York's MTA, and almost every mid to large European city. They all have nice historic fleets and they don't for a second discount the value of preserving their history.

[smallspy]

It's attitudes like this that prevent the preserving of our civic culture. We in Ontario are so quick to dismiss saving our history because it might cost us some of our precious money, the same money they turn around and waste on things of little to no value, like kickbacks.

Let's look out side the 'stingy, non-nostalgic Ontario box' to New York's MTA, and almost every mid to large European city. They all have nice historic fleets and they don't for a second discount the value of preserving their history.

I agree with you, except that there's one problem - in many cases, the agencies don't have enough money to provide the level of service they want to, nevermind worrying about their own history.

Dan

[BBC 9197]

I agree with you, except that there's one problem - in many cases, the agencies don't have enough money to provide the level of service they want to, nevermind worrying about their own history.

Dan

No believe me they have the money in there capital budget. They always cry poor on the operating side to ensure they get their funding.

With that said an agency that can't afford to restore their old equipment can alway save a unit from each series and allow volunteers to work on them, TRAMS in Vancouver is a great example.

[StormThief24]

Something tells me that the Godwin's Law of this board, instead of it being Nazis, is always about funding.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_law

Now can we get back on topic here?

[KTeen]

didnt OC tranpso preserve one of theirs? i doubt orion 1s (whatever is still running) would get preseved they werent the greatest buses ever made, fishbowl is one thing, they were an interesting design, but the orion 1 i dont know, its like orion 5s being preseved, that wont happen either

Ah, those good old fishbowls. Even to someone who didn't know s**t about buses, they could always be referenced as 'those buses with the side windows tilted forward'.

[cmc12]

Bringing this topic back to life, just curious as to who still has Orion Is in service (looking for some summer road trip ideas ).

I know that Brampton (6?), Sarnia (8), Welland (2), and Stratford (1) still have them, as well as the CNG demo used for the York University shuttle service. Does Toronto EMS still have theirs as well? Also, on the wiki, there is an Orion I that moved from Vaughan Transit -> Kingston Transit -> Aurora Transit, then 'sold to a Pererborough Carpet Shop', any details on if it's still around and, if so, where it is?

Also, any "friendly" scrap yards have any in stock?

Thanks!

[2044]

Does Toronto EMS still have theirs as well?

Thanks!

ESU 5 was recently put up for sale.

[Bus_Medic]

ESU 5 was recently put up for sale.

Now THAT would make a decent motorhome. Most of the work is done already....Even comes with the stationary generators and a/c built in .

[smallspy]

Now THAT would make a decent motorhome. Most of the work is done already....Even comes with the stationary generators and a/c built in .

I was thinking the same thing. It must also have a heavy-duty alt to provide the onboard 110Vac too.

Plus, plenty of beds!

Dan

[D. DeLarge]

I was thinking the same thing. It must also have a heavy-duty alt to provide the onboard 110Vac too.

Plus, plenty of beds!

Dan

Probably your typical rustbucket early Orion underneath the skin though.

[Bus_Medic]

I was thinking the same thing. It must also have a heavy-duty alt to provide the onboard 110Vac too.

Plus, plenty of beds!

Dan

that'd be the grille you see down low on the driver's side. There'll be a small displacement diesel "pup" generator hiding in there. The rest could be handled by a heavy duty inverter. Maybe they even ran the genset while moving.

Probably your typical rustbucket early Orion underneath the skin though.

Being a rarely used emergency vehicle, the mileage has to be rather low. I'll bet it's still decent underneath.

Normally the only thing that kills emergency equipment like that is obsolescence.

[busdude.com]

With the Orion 1 becoming rare, has anyone made an effort to preserve an Orion 1? Plently of fishbowls are saved and a few D800s.

I own one...

My 1990 Orion 1.508

I guess i dont have any current pictures of it up on there... but appearance wise it hasent changed much.

[BBC 9197]

I own one...

My 1990 Orion 1.508

ttp://www.busdude.com/zenphoto/albums/united-states/washington/privately-owned-misc/zack-willhoite/ZW_0427_037.jpg

I guess i dont have any current pictures of it up on there... but appearance wise it hasent changed much.

Nice bus, how do you insure it? I know personal bus ownership is prohibitive in Ontario due to government condoned gouging by the insurance industry.

[busdude.com]

Nice bus, how do you insure it? I know personal bus ownership is prohibitive in Ontario due to government condoned gouging by the insurance industry.

Through a regular insurance outfit. Its about 700 a year plus another 300 a year for license tabs.

[TheAverageJoe]

Through a regular insurance outfit. Its about 700 a year plus another 300 a year for license tabs.

That is a pretty sweet/cheap deal

[323 Surrey Ctrl Stn]

Through a regular insurance outfit. Its about 700 a year plus another 300 a year for license tabs.

American insurance FTW. I pay more to insure my 1992 Volvo 240 for a year then you do for a bus

Chris Cassidy

[BBC 9197]

Through a regular insurance outfit. Its about 700 a year plus another 300 a year for license tabs.

What province? I couldn't find any companies that would insure a bus in Ontario for less than $10,000.00 a year.

I just looked at the plates in your pic, your in the USA? Must be better insurance laws there

[Bus_Medic]

Washington state, iirc.

[general682002]

Washington state, iirc.

Correct.

[busdude.com]

What province? I couldn't find any companies that would insure a bus in Ontario for less than $10,000.00 a year.

I just looked at the plates in your pic, your in the USA? Must be better insurance laws there

Progressive in the states insures it. and yes the bus is from washington and lives in washington.

[Megabus Rider]

Does anybody know where I can get the Operator's Manual for the 2004 Orion V Suburban bus Manual (Go Transit Configuration)? I need it for tomorrow or this Tuesday... Thanks!