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As mentioned in the thread about the Translink Classics sold to BC Transit, there are now two 1987 GM Classics in service in Whistler. These join 8917-8919, which were the first three Classics to be sold off by Translink to BCT, about a year ago.

Here are photos of 8910 and 8906 in their new home:

8906whexsf8.jpg

8910whexxl3.jpg

8910whex2ey0.jpg

And also spotted in Whistler today, something I didn't realize was still around. Orion I #6783 was on the village shuttle today. Peter may be able to provide some information on the history of this unit... I don't know whether it is an original Whistler unit or not.

6783qf3.jpg

Anyone know when this unit was last sighted? It appears to be an oddball in Whistler's fleet as it is the only Orion I with an Allison transmission, the same as its cousin 6784 in Chilliwack, which I rode on route 25 in Vancouver when it was on loan to Translink.

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I remember seeing 6783 back in April 2006 when I was in Whistler with my school band

Anyway, here are my photos...............

8910 packed with passengers during daytime:

http://www.trans-vancouver.fotopic.net/p47481250.html

8910 night-shot:

http://www.trans-vancouver.fotopic.net/p47481245.html

S4140 before becoming BC Transit #8910:

http://www.trans-vancouver.fotopic.net/p37345546.html

8906 night-shot..........I was really lucky as the bus didn't stay for long, and too much stupid people walking up and down in front of my camera. I had a grand total of ONE opportunity to hit the shutter, it was one of those either hit-or-miss-for-eternity shots!

http://www.trans-vancouver.fotopic.net/p47481244.html

8919, ex-B4160:

http://www.trans-vancouver.fotopic.net/p47481243.html

Enjoy!

Dave

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And also spotted in Whistler today, something I didn't realize was still around. Orion I #6783 was on the village shuttle today. Peter may be able to provide some information on the history of this unit... I don't know whether it is an original Whistler unit or not.

6783qf3.jpg

Anyone know when this unit was last sighted? It appears to be an oddball in Whistler's fleet as it is the only Orion I with an Allison transmission, the same as its cousin 6784 in Chilliwack, which I rode on route 25 in Vancouver when it was on loan to Translink.

I rode this one during summer, it's an 89. The rest are 1990-91 with Voith.

The 2nd hand Classic are just temporary as those Fuel Cell buses are coming in 2 years.

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And also spotted in Whistler today, something I didn't realize was still around. Orion I #6783 was on the village shuttle today. Peter may be able to provide some information on the history of this unit... I don't know whether it is an original Whistler unit or not.

6783qf3.jpg

Anyone know when this unit was last sighted? It appears to be an oddball in Whistler's fleet as it is the only Orion I with an Allison transmission, the same as its cousin 6784 in Chilliwack, which I rode on route 25 in Vancouver when it was on loan to Translink.

Oh wow! I had no idea that was there and now I am not happy that I never saw it! It looks like it has been there for awhile. It was obviously stored inside the Whistler Garage when I was there with Martin earlier this year, but we did not check out the buses parked inside. I think we took a peak inside a few windows but didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. It was originally a Chilliwack unit the last I knew, however, it has been gone from there for some time as we already know. I just don't know where it went from there, but I am almost thinking it headed straight to Whistler. Very interesting. Its also the second Orion I that I know of running in Whistler with the Transorb from bumper! #6735 being the other.

Now I wonder if #6782 is in Whistler as well?! I gotta get back there again during the ski season.

Did U see #6715 (Or was that #6712??) out there btw? Its the only 1992 Orion I running there that I know of.

I rode this one during summer, it's an 89. The rest are 1990-91 with Voith.

The 2nd hand Classic are just temporary as those Fuel Cell buses are coming in 2 years.

They would all be 1991's and one or two 1992's. The only 1990 Orion's in BC Transit fleet are the Orion V's. No Orion I's were delivered in 1990.

And U never told us about #6783 being there previously? :-p What else did U see there that we don't know about?

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They would all be 1991's and one or two 1992's. The only 1990 Orion's in BC Transit fleet are the Orion V's. No Orion I's were delivered in 1990.

And U never told us about #6783 being there previously? :-p What else did U see there that we don't know about?

Hmmm, strange enough they have aluminum windows in the 90's.

Who are you talking to, me or Curious George?

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Hmmm, strange enough they have aluminum windows in the 90's.

Who are you talking to, me or Curious George?

Well, my text was under yours, so I was talking to you. And the text that is underneath Georges' text was in responce to him. But its only the 1989 Orion I's and earlier ones in BC Transit that had the Aluminum window frames. The 1991 and 1992 Orion I's had the usual black window frames along with the 1990 and 1991 Orion V's.

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Well, my text was under yours, so I was talking to you. And the text that is underneath Georges' text was in responce to him. But its only the 1989 Orion I's and earlier ones in BC Transit that had the Aluminum window frames. The 1991 and 1992 Orion I's had the usual black window frames along with the 1990 and 1991 Orion V's.

Hmmm, I seem to be in a right track. And 6783 was in Whistler during summer, I have to look at my photos for the record.

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Current BC Transit Orion fleet as follows (Not just Whistler):

Possibly a few 1980 & 1981 Orion I's which are as follows:

6701-6706 - 1980 Orion I 01.501

6750-6765 - 1980 Orion I 01.504

6707-6710 - 1981 Orion I 01.501

6766-6781 - 1981 Orion I 01.504

Last I heard, a few of the 1980/81 batch may still be active as spares, but I have had no conformation on any of these.

6782-6789 - 1989 Orion I 01.507

600-609 - 1990 Orion V 05.501

6720-6735 - 1991 Orion I 01.507

610 - 1991 Orion V 05.501

6711-6716 - 1992 Orion I 01.507

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  • 1 month later...
  • 2 months later...
Oh wow! I had no idea that was there and now I am not happy that I never saw it! It looks like it has been there for awhile. It was obviously stored inside the Whistler Garage when I was there with Martin earlier this year, but we did not check out the buses parked inside. I think we took a peak inside a few windows but didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. It was originally a Chilliwack unit the last I knew, however, it has been gone from there for some time as we already know. I just don't know where it went from there, but I am almost thinking it headed straight to Whistler. Very interesting. Its also the second Orion I that I know of running in Whistler with the Transorb from bumper! #6735 being the other.

6783 went from Chilliwack to Prince Rupert. She had the bike rack installed after leaving Chilliwack and before arriving in Prince Rupert. I saw her up there during a band trip in 2002 running their service from Prince Rupert to Port Edward. As for 6782 I'd like to know where she's at too if anyone has some idea. Yesterday in whistler though I saw a few odd balls. Orion V's 8604 and 8605 are up there running around now. and Victoria Classic 939 is also running around up there. 939 really stands out because her destination sign reads "50 Langford". I never see these things at the right time though. It's kind of hard to drive and take pictures at the same time.

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  • 2 months later...

Took a brief trip up to Whistler today with Chris C., and have the following updates:

6783 is still running around. This was originally reported by me in late 2007 in this thread, and I know Peter is sore he didn't see it when he was there, but it's still going strong.

8902 was out today, I don't think it's been shot in service in Whistler yet. Chris and I rode it on the village shuttle, and rode 8919 on the village shuttle shortly thereafter.

And speaking of which, both 8918 and 8919 (I suspect the same is true for 8917, the third suburban Classic) have been retrofitted with orange LED display signs. Anyone want to take a stab at what make/model of signs they are? I don't know myself...

Photos:

8902:

8902pb9.jpg

8910 with bike rack:

8910bikerackxg6.jpg

6723 and 8902:

67238902yh0.jpg

8918:

8918arf0.jpg

8918qc3.jpg

8919:

8919dd9.jpg

A Brewster J4500:

brewster3051024x768ay7.jpg

We travelled there and back on Perimeter. For the trip up, we had MCI EL3 #806, which was a bit of a surprise as normally the summer service demand doesn't call for a coach, but this bus had 28 people on it. For the return, we rode the latest addition to the Perimeter fleet - #903, a Goshen cutaway. It wasn't nearly as bad as I expected it to be - it's terrible for loading luggage, but the engine noise is minimal in the rear, where we were seated.

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The ex-TransLink MCIs still look like oddballs in the fleet due to their non-matching paint schemes in comparison to the rest of the fleet.

As well, I wonder what the antennas on the top of the Axion-fitted MCIs are for?

- Allan Kuan

Radios... all the school buses in the city has thoes... and when i get around to it... i think i have a picture of what thoes radios look like...

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  • 4 weeks later...

Currently, these are the buses that I have known that have or are still operating in Whistler.

1987 GM Classic - 8906, 8910

1989 MCI Classic - 8902

1989 MCI Classic - 8917, 8918, 8919 (Surburban)

1989 Orion I - 6783

1991 Orion I - 6724, 6725, 6727, 6730, 6731, 6732, 6733, 6734, 6735

1992 Orion I - 6712

1999 Dennis Dart - 9905, 9906, 9907, 9908, 9909

1999 Dennis Dart - 9945, 9949, 9947 (transffered out to another community, they were only a temporary assignment for Whistler)

2000 Dennis Dart - 0001, 0002, 0003, 0004, 0005, 0006, 0007

Now, I believe some Fishbowls and 1980-81 Orion I's have run in the Whistler fleet at some point before 2000. But I am not sure which ones these were, so if anyone can shed some light on the history of the fleet, it would be greatly appreciated.

Also, I believe before BC Transit picked up the 3 Suburban MCI Classics (8917-8919) from Vancouver, some Victoria Classics operated for the Whistler Sea-to-Sky Service. I believe one of these units was Victoria 1991 MCI Classic #956 ?

I believe the Whistler Transit System started in 1991 with the original 6 assigned 1991 Orion I 01.507 #'s 6730-6735. Is this correct? If not, please correct this or anything else in this list! Thanks!

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  • 3 months later...

Well after some time today in Whistler I came back full of Classics and with some sad news.

First Classics that were seen in service today: 8902, 8904, 8905, 8910, 8911, 8913, 8917, 8919

Second, the sad news. Apparently in a few weeks the Classics will be replaced by NOVAS. Yes that's right Novas in Whistler :P I heard this from several drivers but I'm not 100% sure about that yet as we all know how amazing Novas have preformed in the snow :P And I'm not even sure if there are any more orders for more BC Transit Novas.

Chris

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Well after some time today in Whistler I came back full of Classics and with some sad news.

First Classics that were seen in service today: 8902, 8904, 8905, 8910, 8911, 8913, 8917, 8919

Second, the sad news. Apparently in a few weeks the Classics will be replaced by NOVAS. Yes that's right Novas in Whistler :P I heard this from several drivers but I'm not 100% sure about that yet as we all know how amazing Novas have preformed in the snow :P And I'm not even sure if there are any more orders for more BC Transit Novas.

Chris

The Nova's Probably perform better in the snow compared to the Darts!

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