Orion Bus Industries 'Orion I': Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 16:36, 24 November 2020
Years of manufacture | 1976 to 1993 |
Length | 30 to 40 feet |
Width | 96 inches |
Propulsion | Diesel, CNG |
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 (then called Ontario Bus Industries) and was a moderate success. It was 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. Production continued until 1993, after which transit agencies began to look for wider buses as well as accessible buses, such as the Orion V.
Many transit agencies in Ontario purchased the Orion I with some examples lasting as late as 2011. Transit agencies in Ontario also purchased Orion I buses secondhand from the United States. Sarnia Transit kept one of their secondhand Orion I buses in service until July 2018.
From 1979 to 1981, Orion licensed the Orion I design to TMC. It was produced under the T-30 CityCruiser name.
Design
The Orion I had a jig-built frame composed of welded steel tubing. Satin-coated 18 and 20 gauge steel sheets were spot welded to the roof and to the sides. Below the floor level, aluminum sheets were bolted along the sides to allow for easy replacement.[1]
The prototype Orion I had the destination sign angled downward and a slightly slanted windshield. The headlights were mounted lower with squared bezels and square turn signals. Production buses had an upright destination sign area and round headlight bezels.
The first Orion I models were 30 feet long and 96 inches wide. The Orion I was envisioned as a heavy-duty, medium sized bus that would be more economical to operate on low ridership routes or by small transit systems. In 1979, the first 35 foot long model was delivered. A 40 foot long model was made available in 1984 with the first example going to Oakville Transit.
Nearly every Orion I used a diesel engine, however in 1988 the Orion I was made available with a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) drivetrain.[2] The Brooklyn Union Gas Company funded the design and production of two CNG-powered Orion I buses for the Command Bus Company.[3] They initially had their CNG tanks under the floor and used a General Motors 454 engine.[4] As part of a testing and research program by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, two CNG-powered Orion I buses were produced as demonstrators. These buses had their CNG tanks on the roof and used the new Cummins L10G engine.
The Orion I could be specified with two doors in a transit configuration or with one door in a suburban configuration. Suburban buses typically had all forward facing seats. Early Orion I buses had a characteristic single leaf front door that pivoted towards the windshield. Bi-parting plug and two-leaf slide-glide doors would later become options. Early buses also had a rear window with sharp edges and space set aside for an optional air conditioning unit. Later buses would have a taller rear window with rounded corners, or a louvered access door if they were air conditioned.
Models
Model number | Length | Seating cap. | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
01.501 | 31' 7" | 31 | |
01.502 | |||
01.503 | 33 | Suburban | |
01.504 | 36' 8" | 39 | |
01.505 | 41 | Suburban | |
01.506 | 39 | ||
01.507 | 42 | ||
01.508 | 40' 7" | 48 | |
01.509 | 53 | Suburban | |
01.510 | 36' 8" | 45 |
Specifications
Dimensions | ||
---|---|---|
Overall length: 31' 7", 36' 8", 40' 7" | ||
Width: 96" | ||
Height: 114" | ||
Engine | ||
Detroit Diesel 6V53N (1976-1982) | ||
Detroit Diesel 6V53T (1976-1982) | ||
Detroit Diesel 6V71N (1982-1989) | ||
Detroit Diesel 6V71TA (1982-1989) | ||
Detroit Diesel 6V92TA (1982-1993) | ||
Cummins L10 (1986-1993) | ||
Cummins L10G (CNG) (1989-1993) | ||
Transmission | ||
Allison MT-643 (1976-1982) | ||
Allison MT-644 (1982-?) | ||
Allison MT-647 (1982?-?) | ||
Allison HT-740 (1982-1983) | ||
Allison HT-747 (1983-1989) | ||
Allison HT(B)-748 (1984-1993) | ||
Renk-Doromat 874B | ||
Voith D851.2 (1984?-1993) | ||
Voith D863.2 (1984-1993) | ||
Voith D863.3 (1992?-1993) | ||
ZF 4HP500 (1985?-1993) | ||
ZF 4HP590 (1985?-1993) | ||
Axles | ||
Rockwell | ||
Brakes | ||
S-Cam drum brakes | ||
Steering | ||
Power steering (optional mechanical steering) |
Operators
Canada
- Acadian Lines - Moncton, NB
- Ajax Pickering Transit Authority - Ajax/Pickering, ON
- Ajax Transit - Ajax, ON
- Aurora Transit - Aurora, ON
- Autobus Drummondville (Bourgeois) - Drummondville, QC
- Autocar Connaisseur (Coach Canada/Gray Line Montreal) - Montreal, QC
- Banff Transit - Banff, AB
- Barrie Transit - Barrie, ON
- Beaver Bus Lines - Winnipeg, MB
- Belleville Transit - Belleville, ON
- Brampton Transit - Brampton, ON
- Brandon Transit - Brandon, MB
- Brockville Transit - Brockville, ON
- Burlington Transit - Burlington, ON
- Calgary Transit - Calgary, AB
- Cambridge Transit - Cambridge, ON
- Campbell River Transit System - Campbell River, BC
- Cannon Coach Lines - Richmond, BC
- Cardinal Coach Lines - Calgary, AB
- Central Fraser Valley Transit System - BC
- Charlottetown Transit/T3 Transit (Trius Tours) - Charlottetown, PE
- Charterways Transportation - Malton, ON
- Chatham Transit - Chatham, ON
- Chatham-Kent Transit - Chatham, ON
- Chilliwack/Agassiz-Harrison Transit System - BC
- Clarington Transit - ON
- Cobourg Transit - Cobourg, ON
- Codiac Transit - Moncton, NB
- Collingwood Transit - Collingwood, ON
- Commission de transport de Drummondville - Drummondville, QC
- Commission de transport de la communauté urbaine de Québec - Quebec City, QC
- Comox Valley Transit System - Comox, BC
- Concordia University Shuttle Service - QC
- Corner Brook Transit - Corner Brook, NL
- Cranbrook Transit System - Cranbrook, BC
- Cullingford Coaches - ON
- Dawson Creek Transit System - Dawson Creek, BC
- Dryden Transit - Dryden, ON
- Durham Region Transit - Durham Region, ON
- Elliot Lake Transit - Elliot Lake, ON
- Fort St. John Transit System - Fort St. John, BC
- Fortress of Louisbourg - Louisbourgh, NS
- GO Transit - Golden Horseshoe, ON
- Grand River Transit - ON
- Grande Prairie Transit - Grande Prairie, AB
- Gray Line Montreal - Montreal, QC
- Greater Toronto Airports Authority - ON
- Guelph Transit Commission - Guelph, ON
- Kelowna Regional Transit System - Kelowna, BC
- King's Brescia University Transit - ON
- Kings Transit - Kentville & Kings County, NS
- Kingston Transit - Kingston, ON
- Kingston Township Transit - Kingston, ON
- Kitchener Transit - Kitchener, ON
- Kitimat Transit System - Kitimat, BC
- Kootenay Boundary Transit System - Kootenay, BC
- Leamington Transit - Leamington, ON
- Lindsay Transit - Lindsay, ON
- London Transit Commission - London, ON
- Markham Transit - Markham, ON
- Metro Transit - Halifax/Dartmouth, NS
- Milton Transit - Milton, ON
- Midland Transit - Midland, ON
- Mississauga Transit - Mississauga, ON
- Moose Jaw Transit - Moose Jaw, SK
- Nanaimo Regional Transit System - Nanaimo, BC
- Nelson Transit System - Nelson, BC
- Newmarket Transit - Newmarket, ON
- North Bay Transit - North Bay, ON
- Nova Charter Services
- Oakville Transit - Oakville, ON
- Ontario Ministry of Correctional Services - ON
- Ontario Ministry of the Environment - ON
- Orillia Transit - Orillia, ON
- Oshawa Transit Commission - Oshawa, ON
- OC Transpo - Ottawa, ON
- Owen Sound Transit - Owen Sound, ON
- Pacific Western Transportation - Mississauga, ON
- Pembroke Transit - Pembroke, ON
- Penetang-Midland Coach Lines - Midland, ON
- Perimeter Transportation - BC
- Peterborough Transit - Peterborough, ON
- Pickering Transit - Pickering, ON
- Pictou County Regional Transit Authority - Pictou County, NS
- Prince George Transit System - Prince George, BC
- Prince Rupert & Port Edward Transit Systems - BC
- Regina Transit - Regina, SK
- Richmond Hill Transit - Richmond Hill, ON
- Sarnia Transit - Sarnia, ON
- Saskatoon Transit - Saskatoon, SK
- Southland Transportation - AB
- Squamish Transit System - Squamish, BC
- Sudbury Transit - Sudbury, ON
- St. Catharines Transit - St. Catharines, ON
- St. Thomas Transit - St. Thomas, ON
- Stratford Transit - Stratford, ON
- Tecumseh Transit - ON
- Terrace Regional Transit System - Terrace, BC
- Timmins Transit - Timmins, ON
- Toronto EMS - Toronto, ON
- Toronto Police Service - Toronto, ON
- Toronto Transit Commission - Toronto, ON
- Trailways of Canada - ON
- Transit Cape Breton - Cape Breton, NS
- Transit Windsor - Windsor, ON
- Travelways - ON
- TreVi Livery - Maple, ON
- ValleyMax - BC
- Vancouver Regional Transit System - Vancouver, BC
- Vancouver Trolley Company - Vancouver, BC
- Vaughan Transit - Vaughan, ON
- Vernon Regional Transit System - Vernon, BC
- Ville de Mont-Tremblant - Mont-Tremblant, QC
- Ville de Rouyn-Noranda - Rouyn-Noranda, QC
- Walsh Transportation - ON
- Welland Transit - Welland, ON
- West Vancouver Municipal Transit - West Vancouver, BC
- Whistler Transit System - Whistler, BC
- Whitby Transit - Whitby, ON
- Whitehorse Transit - Whitehorse, YK
- Williams Lake Transit System - Williams Lake, BC
- Winnipeg Transit - Winnipeg, MB
- Woodstock Transit - Woodstock, ON
- York Region Transit - York Region, ON
- York University Shuttle - ON
United States
- Altoona Metro Transit (Amtran) - Altoona, PA
- Augusta Transit - Augusta, GA
- Avon Transit - Avon, CO
- Avon-Beaver Creek Transit - CO
- BAT Community Connector - Bangor, ME
- Beaver Creek Transit - CO
- Berks Area Reading Transportation Authority (BARTA) - Reading, PA
- Berkshire Regional Transit Authority - MA
- Bloomington Transit - Bloomington, IN
- Blue Water Area Transit - Port Huron, MI
- Broome County Transit - Binghamton, NY
- Butte-Silver Bow Transit - Butte, MT
- Canton Regional Transit Authority - Canton, OH
- Cape Ann Transportation Authority - MA
- Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) - Albany, NY
- Capital Transit System - Juneau, AK
- Central Arkansas Transit Authority - Little Rock, AR
- CENTRO - Syracuse, Onondaga, Oswego, Cayuga & Oneida counties, NY
- Chatham Area Transit (CAT) - Savannah, GA
- Chautauqua Area Rural Transit System (CARTS) - Jamestown & Chautauqua County, NY
- Chemung County Transit System - Elmira & Chemung County, NY
- Chicago Transit Authority - Chicago, IL
- CitiBus – Watertown, NY
- City of Alexandria Transit - Alexandria, LA
- Clallam Transit - Clallam County, WA
- Clarksville Transit System (CTS) - Clarksville, TN
- Cleveland Area Rapid Transit - OK
- Coast Transit Authority - Gulfport/Biloxi, MS
- Command Bus Company - Brooklyn, NY
- Community Transit - Lynnwood & Snohomish County, WA
- Community Urban Bus Service (CUBS) - Longview & Kelso, WA
- Concord Area Transit (CAT) - Concord, NH
- Crawford Area Transportation Authority (CATA) - Meadville, PA
- Crown Heights Community Bus - Brooklyn, NY
- CUE Bus - Fairfax, VA
- CyRide - Ames, IA
- Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport - TX
- Danville Transit - Danville, VA
- DASH (Alexandria Transit Company) - Alexandria, VA
- DowneyLINK - Downey, CA
- Durham Area Transit Authority (DATA) - Durham, NC
- Erie Metropolitan Transportation Authority (EMTA) - Erie, PA
- Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) - Escambia County, FL
- Everett Transit - Everett, WA
- Fairfax Connector - Fairfax County, VA
- Gainesville Regional Transit System (RTS) - Gainesville, FL
- Gastonia Transit - Gastonia, NC
- Go West Transit (Western Illinois University) - Macomb, IL
- Golden Empire Transit - Bakersfield, CA
- Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority - MA
- Greater Glens Falls Transit - Glens Falls, NY
- Greater Lafayette Public Transportation Corporation - Lafayette, IN
- Housatonic Area Regional Transit (HART) - Danbury, CT
- Huntington Area Rapid Transit - Huntington, NY
- Indiana County Transit Authority (IndiGO) - Indiana, PA
- Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation (Indy-Go) - Indianapolis, IN
- Intercity Transit - Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater & Yelm, WA
- Intracity Transit - Hot Springs, AR
- Jackson Transit Authority - Jackson, TN
- Jefferson Transit - Jefferson County, WA
- Ketchum-Sun Valley Public Transit Authority - Ketchum, ID
- Key West Transit - Key West, FL
- Kitsap Transit - Kitsap County, WA
- Lakeland Area Mass Transit District (Citrus Connection) - Lakeland, FL
- Laketran - Lake County, OH
- LeeTran - Lee County, FL
- Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANTA) - Allentown & Lehigh Valley, PA
- LexTran - Lexington, KY
- LINK Transit - Chlean & Douglas Counties, WA
- Macon-Bibb County Transit Authority (MTA) - Macon & Bibb County, GA
- Manchester Transit Authority (MTA) - Manchester, NH
- Marshalltown Municipal Transit - Marshalltown, IA
- Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority (MVRTA) - Haverhill & Lawrence, MA
- MET Transit - Waterloo, IA
- MetroLINK - Rock Island, IL
- Milford Transit District - Milford, CT
- Missoula Urban Transportation District - Missoula, MT
- Montachusett Regional Transit Authority - MA
- Mountain Rides Transportation Authority - Ketchum, ID
- Nashua Transit System (NTS) - Nashua, NH
- New Castle Area Transit Authority (NCATA) - New Castle, PA
- New Orleans Regional Transit Authority - New Orleans, LA
- Newburgh Beacon Bus Corporation - NY
- NFTA Metro - Buffalo/Niagara Frontier Region
- North Slope Borough Transit - Barrow, AK
- Norwalk Transit District (WHEELS) - Norwalk, CT
- Norwalk Transit System - Norwalk, CA
- Oneonta Public Transit (OPT) - Oneonta, NY
- Owensboro Transit System (OTS) - Owensboro, KY
- Pace - (Suburban) Chicago, IL
- Pacific Transit System - Raymond & Pacific County, WA
- Paducah Area Transit System - KY
- Pierce Transit - Pierce County, WA
- Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) - Pinellas County, FL
- Pocatello Regional Transit - Pocatello, ID
- Port Arthur Transit (PAT) - Port Arthur, TX
- Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission - VA
- Poughkeepsie Transit - Poughkeepsie, NY
- Private Transportation - Brooklyn, NY
- Rabbit Transit - York, PA
- Razorback Transit - University of Arkansas
- Redwood Transit System - CA
- Ride-On - Montgomery County, MD
- RoadRUNNER Transit - Las Cruces, NM
- Salem Area Mass Transit District (Cherriots) - Salem, OR
- San Francisco MUNI - San Francisco, CA
- San Luis Obispo Transit (SLO Transit) - San Luis Obispo, CA
- Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) - Sarasota County, FL
- ShuttleBus - Biddeford, Saco & Old Orchard Beach, ME
- South East Area Transit (Z-Bus) - Zanesville, OH
- South Portland Bus Service - South Portland, ME
- Southeastern Michigan Transportation Authority (SEMTA) - (Suburban) Detroit, MI (operated for Blue Water Area Transit)
- SporTran - Shreveport & Bossier City, LA
- Stark Area Regional Transit Authority - Canton, OH
- Sunset Empire Transportation District - Astoria & Clatsop County, OR
- TCAT - Ithaca & Tompkins County, NY
- Tomtran - Ithaca & Tompkins County, NY
- Torrance Transit - Torrance, CA
- TransIT Services of Frederick County - Frederick County, MD
- Transport of Rockland (TOR) - Rockland County, NY
- Tuscaloosa Transit Authority (TTA) - Tuscaloosa, AL
- Twin Transit - Centralia & Chehalis, WA
- University Transit Service - University of Virginia
- Utah Transit Authority - Salt Lake City, UT
- Utica Transit Authority - Utica, NY
- Vail Transit - Vail, CO
- Valley Metro - Phoenix, AZ
- Walla Walla Valley Transit - Walla Walla, WA
- Waukesha Metro Transit - Waukesha, WI
- Wave Transit System - Mobile, AL
- Wooster Transit System (1973-1996) - Wooster, OH
- Yakima Transit - Yakima, WA
- Yamhill County Transit Area (YCTA) - McMinnville, OR
Demonstrator and engineering units
Below is a list of known demonstrator and engineering buses
Fleet number | Thumbnail | Year | Serial/VIN | Model | Engine | Transmission | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
June 1976 | 0101 | 01.501 | Detroit Diesel 6V53 | Allison MT-643 4 speed |
| ||
September 1977 | 0104 | 01.501 | Detroit Diesel 6V53 | Allison MT-643 4 speed |
| ||
September 1978 | 0120 | 01.502 | Detroit Diesel 6V53 | Allison MT-643 4 speed |
| ||
August 1979 | 0168 | 01.501 | Detroit Diesel 6V53 | Allison MT-643 4 speed |
| ||
January 1981 | 0282 | 01.504 | Detroit Diesel 6V53N | Allison MT-643 4 speed |
| ||
December 1981 | 401 | 01.504 | Detroit Diesel 6V53N | Allison MT-643 4 speed |
| ||
December 1982 | 548 | 01.505 | Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison MT-644 4 speed |
| ||
December 1982 | 550 | 01.505 |
| ||||
January 1983 | 2B112917XD6036588 | 01.506 | Detroit Diesel 6V71TA | Allison HT-740 4 speed |
|||
January 1984 | 782 | 01.509 | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Allison HT-747 4 speed |
| ||
June 1984 | 941 | 01.507 |
| ||||
June 1984 | 2B1169770E5548945 | 01.508 | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Voith D863.2 3 speed |
| ||
9901 | 1984 | 01.508 Suburban | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA |
| |||
June 1987 | 1630 | 01.507 |
| ||||
August 1989 | 2B1169K74K5001955 | 01.508 | Cummins L10G 240 hp | ZF 4HP500 4 speed |
|||
July 1989 | 2B1169K76K5001956 | 01.508 | Cummins L10G 240 hp | ZF 4HP500 4 speed |
|||
1990 | 2B1139776L6002523 | 01.507 | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Allison HTB-748 4 speed |
Preserved units
Year | Thumbnail | Serial/VIN | Model | Original owner | Fleet number | Current owner |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
August 1979 | 0167 | 01.503 | Perimeter Transportation | 651 | Manitoba Transit Heritage Association | |
1981 | 0293 | 01.501 | Toronto Transit Commission | 8375 | Private owner | |
1981 | 0341 | 01.501 | Winnipeg Transit | 953 | Manitoba Transit Heritage Association | |
1982 | ? | 01.502 | Pacific Transit System | D1x | Private owner | |
1987 | 2B1119277H6001644 | 01.502 | Bay Metro Transit | 134 | Chicagoland Historical Bus Museum | |
1987 | ? | 01.502 | Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority | 701 | Seashore Trolley Museum | |
1988 | 2B1169776J6001909 | 01.508 | Pace | 8723 | Chicagoland Historical Bus Museum | |
1991 | ? | 01.507 | DASH (Alexandria Transit Company) | 28 | Commonwealth Coach & Trolley of Roanoke | |
1990 | ? | 01.508 | Pierce Transit | 427 | Private owner | |
1990 | 2B1119777L6002553 | 01.502 | San Francisco MUNI | 9010 | San Francisco MUNI | |
1990 | 2B1119771L6002578 | 01.502 | San Francisco MUNI | 9030 | San Francisco MUNI | |
1993 | 2B1119777P6003224 | 01.502 | Altoona Metro Transit | 400 | Private owner | |
1993 | P6003232 | 01.502 | Altoona Metro Transit | 402 | Museum of Bus Transportation |
References
- ↑ Orion. The bus you've been waiting for. Brochure. Ontario Bus Industries.
- ↑ The History of Orion Transit Buses. Orion Bus Industries. Retrieved on 2009-08-02. Web (now offline).
- ↑ Rosen, Jerome. “Powered by methane.” American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 01 May 1990.
- ↑ “ Alternative Fuels: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Environmental Protection of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, United States Senate, One Hundred First Congress, Second Session, January 11, 1990, Volume 4.” U.S. Government Printing Office, January 1990.
- ↑ Gryfe, Alan. (January 1982). "Orion Production". Transfer Points. 8 (1): 4.
- Personal Notes and sightings