Articulated Posted April 26, 2012 Report Share Posted April 26, 2012 Hey all, I will be driving through the Sault on my way home in the next few days, and am going to try and grab a Classic while Im there. Is there any certain time I should try and aim for to get the best luck, or any days that they wont be out (i.e. weekends). Thanks, Bill Based on when Orion VIII and myself were in Sault Ste Marie last October, the service on weekdays operates as a pulse from the downtown every half hour. During the day, the :15 pulse is the "accessible" pulse where the majority of buses are accessible (typically 5-6 of the 7), and the :45 pulse is the "non-accessible" pulse where the majority of the buses are Classics (again, typically 6-7 of the 8). When evening service starts around 6:45, the buses on the accessible :15 pulse lay over for a dinner break, and they go onto the :45 pulse for the rest of the evening (with the non-accessible :45 pulse running into the garage). Every regular route operates on a one hour loop back to the terminal, so stick around for the two pulses and you'll get everything in service. The Community Bus would also be worth sticking around for since it still uses the SLFs. This should not have changed too much; IIRC the four LFS they had delivered since October retired their oldest Classic (102) and three Orion VIs. Keep an eye out for these LFS, I haven't seen any pictures of them yet as nobody's been out that way so far since they entered service. One more word of advice: remember that Sault Ste Marie is significantly further west and still in the same time zone; combined with layout of the street network, the sun is point directly "north" around 1-2pm; best time to photograph at the terminal is probably after 3. Good luck, let us how the shots go! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billster8724 Posted April 27, 2012 Report Share Posted April 27, 2012 Thanks haha. Im hoping I still can. turns out I may be flying home, than getting my car the following week or something :/ And yeah Id love to get my DSLR pointed on one of them lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t_harris01 Posted April 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2012 The classics alnerate...when i was there in March the classics came at the :45 mark...so try then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion VIII Posted April 27, 2012 Report Share Posted April 27, 2012 The classics alnerate...when i was there in March the classics came at the :45 mark...so try then Did you just completely miss Articulated's post? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t_harris01 Posted April 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2012 i guess i did...i apologize Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSMtransit67 Posted September 4, 2012 Report Share Posted September 4, 2012 We now have 5 Nova LFS 40-foot Smart buses.....one more to come each year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2822 Posted September 5, 2012 Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 Are the SSM Orion VI still active? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general682002 Posted September 7, 2012 Report Share Posted September 7, 2012 Are the SSM Orion VI still active? They should be cause they have 9 active before the LFS arrives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dj.surf.lfs Posted June 17, 2013 Report Share Posted June 17, 2013 Photos from Sault Ste. Marie yesterday and this morning. Didn't know their Sunday service started at 5:45am! LFS http://www.flickr.co...57634150339192/ VI http://www.flickr.co...57634168158780/ VII http://www.flickr.co...57634150342930/ NG http://www.flickr.co...57634150346092/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general682002 Posted June 17, 2013 Report Share Posted June 17, 2013 Thanks for the photos! I'm thinking they run so early because of the factory area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OC Transpo 8238 Posted August 6, 2013 Report Share Posted August 6, 2013 13 ex. OC Transpo Orion VI buses have been purchased by SSMT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Articulated Posted August 6, 2013 Report Share Posted August 6, 2013 13 ex. OC Transpo Orion VI buses have been purchased by SSMT. Do you have a source for this info? I find it hard to believe that after many underfunded years they could go out and purchase 13 (albeit used) buses at once... doesn't seem like a logical move on their part when they're already getting rid of their first-hand VIs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dj.surf.lfs Posted August 6, 2013 Report Share Posted August 6, 2013 http://www.cityssm.o..._13_MINUTES.pdf (Page 10) I think they are trying to wipe out the entire high floor fleet (12 Classics) by buying cheaper, used buses, thus making the system 100% accessible, similar to what Stratford did two years ago with the purchase of ex-HSR Novas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Articulated Posted August 6, 2013 Report Share Posted August 6, 2013 http://www.cityssm.o..._13_MINUTES.pdf (Page 10) I think they are trying to wipe out the entire high floor fleet (12 Classics) by buying cheaper, used buses, thus making the system 100% accessible, similar to what Stratford did two years ago with the purchase of ex-HSR Novas. Thanks for the link. Further digging on the Sault Ste Marie website brought up the extended agenda (warning: large file) including a 2-page report (pages 142 and 143 of the PDF) detailing the acquisition. Seems like they were trying to acquire either 6 or 12 buses (one or two tenders) for the $80,000 they put aside to refurbish one of their existing VIs. These will replace the 7 existing Orion VIs, not go towards replacement of the Classics. It's also noted that they will be receiving one new bus per year for the forseeable future, so at least they're not pinning all their hopes on these VIs. I still think they're probably overestimating the condition of the Ottawa VIs, but oh well. Should continue to make for an interesting fleet up there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dj.surf.lfs Posted August 7, 2013 Report Share Posted August 7, 2013 Thanks for clearing it up, good to know they're not getting rid of Classics yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general682002 Posted August 9, 2013 Report Share Posted August 9, 2013 Thanks for the link. Further digging on the Sault Ste Marie website brought up the extended agenda (warning: large file) including a 2-page report (pages 142 and 143 of the PDF) detailing the acquisition. Seems like they were trying to acquire either 6 or 12 buses (one or two tenders) for the $80,000 they put aside to refurbish one of their existing VIs. These will replace the 7 existing Orion VIs, not go towards replacement of the Classics. It's also noted that they will be receiving one new bus per year for the forseeable future, so at least they're not pinning all their hopes on these VIs. I still think they're probably overestimating the condition of the Ottawa VIs, but oh well. Should continue to make for an interesting fleet up there. Not to mentioned their SSM VI are falling apart big time! And no a/c! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSMtransit67 Posted August 31, 2013 Report Share Posted August 31, 2013 I can update......soon.....the fleet of Sault Ste. Marie....135 136 137 138 139 140 are all Novas.....we purchased buses from OC Transpo Orions.....not sure yet of the model. The count was 13 in total.....but maybe 8 to be added. The GM non accessible buses could be eliminated soon. So far one OC Transpo Orion got the sticker 141....will update. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OC Transpo 8238 Posted August 31, 2013 Report Share Posted August 31, 2013 Only 13 would come from OC Transpo. All other Orion VI units are slated for scrap if they haven't gone yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSMtransit67 Posted August 31, 2013 Report Share Posted August 31, 2013 Ok well everything will make sense in the new year......alot of things been changing rapidly there....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAverageJoe Posted August 31, 2013 Report Share Posted August 31, 2013 I can update......soon.....the fleet of Sault Ste. Marie....135 136 137 138 139 140 are all Novas.....we purchased buses from OC Transpo Orions.....not sure yet of the model. The count was 13 in total.....but maybe 8 to be added. The GM non accessible buses could be eliminated soon. So far one OC Transpo Orion got the sticker 141....will update. Werent the original SSM VI's gonna be replaced since they are in bad shape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2822 Posted September 1, 2013 Report Share Posted September 1, 2013 They currently have less then 10 VI buses so likely some Classics will retire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris W Posted September 1, 2013 Report Share Posted September 1, 2013 The ratio is 11 Classics to 8 Orion VIs. It helps when you are sitting next to the Street Side Guide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2822 Posted September 1, 2013 Report Share Posted September 1, 2013 Ok so If they are getting 13 used VI buses from Ottawa. Maybe 8 SSM VI's and the 5 worse classics will go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seashore_518203 Posted September 1, 2013 Report Share Posted September 1, 2013 I can update......soon.....the fleet of Sault Ste. Marie....135 136 137 138 139 140 are all Novas.....Was 140 a new Nova received in 2013? I was under the impression that SSM only had 5 Novas (135-139). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAverageJoe Posted September 6, 2013 Report Share Posted September 6, 2013 Ok so If they are getting 13 used VI buses from Ottawa. Maybe 8 SSM VI's and the 5 worse classics will go. Wait and see, how do we know all the ex OC Tranpo units with be for service, some could end up parts units. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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