Orion Bus Industries 'Orion I': Difference between revisions

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==Design==
==Design==
[[File:Oakville Transit 8541-a.jpg|thumb|left|Example of a 40-foot Orion I model.]]
[[File:Oakville Transit 8541-a.jpg|thumb|left|Example of a 40-foot Orion I model.]]
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.<ref>Orion. The bus you've been waiting for. Brochure. Ontario Bus Industries.</ref>   
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.<ref>[[Orion brochure|Orion. The bus you've been waiting for.]] Brochure. Ontario Bus Industries.</ref>   


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 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.<ref>The History of Orion Transit Buses. Orion Bus Industries. Retrieved on 2009-08-02. Web (now offline).</ref>
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.<ref>The History of Orion Transit Buses. Orion Bus Industries. Retrieved on 2009-08-02. Web (now offline).</ref> The Brooklyn Union Gas Company funded the design and production of two CNG-powered Orion I buses for the [[Command Bus Company]].<ref>Rosen, Jerome. “Powered by methane.” American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 01 May 1990.</ref> They initially had their CNG tanks under the floor and used a [[General Motors]] 454 engine.<ref>“ 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.</ref> 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.
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.
Line 110: Line 112:
|[[Detroit Diesel]] [[Detroit Diesel Series 92|6V92TA]] (1982-1993)
|[[Detroit Diesel]] [[Detroit Diesel Series 92|6V92TA]] (1982-1993)
|-
|-
|[[Cummins]] [[Cummins L10|L10]] (1984?-1993)
|[[Cummins]] [[Cummins L10|L10]] (1986-1993)
|-
|-
|[[Cummins]] [[Cummins L10G|L10G]] (CNG) (1989-1993)
|[[Cummins]] [[Cummins L10G|L10G]] (CNG) (1989-1993)
Line 185: Line 187:
* [[Collingwood Transit]] - Collingwood, ON
* [[Collingwood Transit]] - Collingwood, ON
* [[Commission de transport de Drummondville]] - Drummondville, QC
* [[Commission de transport de Drummondville]] - Drummondville, QC
* [[Commission de transport de la communauté urbaine de Québec]] - Quebec City, QC
* [[Commission de transport de la communauté urbaine de Québec]] - Québec City, QC
* [[Comox Valley Transit System]] - Comox, BC
* [[Comox Valley Transit System]] - Comox, BC
* [[Concordia University Shuttle Service]] - QC
* [[Concordia University Shuttle Service]] - QC
Line 342: Line 344:
* [[Jackson Transit Authority]] - Jackson, TN
* [[Jackson Transit Authority]] - Jackson, TN
* [[Jefferson Transit (WA)|Jefferson Transit]] - Jefferson County, WA
* [[Jefferson Transit (WA)|Jefferson Transit]] - Jefferson County, WA
* [[Ketchum-Sun Valley Public Transit Authority]] - Ketchum, ID
* [[Key West Transit]] - Key West, FL
* [[Key West Transit]] - Key West, FL
* [[Kitsap Transit]] - Kitsap County, WA
* [[Kitsap Transit]] - Kitsap County, WA
Line 359: Line 362:
* [[Missoula Urban Transportation District]] - Missoula, MT
* [[Missoula Urban Transportation District]] - Missoula, MT
* [[Montachusett Regional Transit Authority]] - MA
* [[Montachusett Regional Transit Authority]] - MA
* [[Mountain Rides Transportation Authority]] - Ketchum, ID
* [[Nashua Transit System]] (NTS) - Nashua, NH
* [[Nashua Transit System]] (NTS) - Nashua, NH
* [[New Castle Area Transit Authority]] (NCATA) - New Castle, PA
* [[New Castle Area Transit Authority]] (NCATA) - New Castle, PA
Line 422: Line 426:
!Year
!Year
!Serial/[[VIN]]
!Serial/[[VIN]]
!Model
!Engine
!Engine
!Transmission
!Transmission
Line 430: Line 435:
|June 1976
|June 1976
|[[Orion Bus Industries I Serials|0101]]
|[[Orion Bus Industries I Serials|0101]]
|01.501
|[[Detroit Diesel]] [[Detroit Diesel Series 53|6V53]]
|[[Detroit Diesel]] [[Detroit Diesel Series 53|6V53]]
|[[Allison]] [[Allison MT Series|MT-643]]<br>4 speed
|[[Allison]] [[Allison MT Series|MT-643]]<br>4 speed
|align="left" |
|align="left" |
*01.501 prototype.
*prototype.
*To [[G&G Tours]] 60.
*to [[G&G Tours]] 60.
|- align="center"
|- align="center"
|
|
|
|
|1977
|September 1977
|[[Orion Bus Industries I Serials|0104]]
|[[Orion Bus Industries I Serials|0104]]
|01.501
|[[Detroit Diesel]] [[Detroit Diesel Series 53|6V53]]
|[[Allison]] [[Allison MT Series|MT-643]]<br>4 speed
|align="left" |
*to [[Walsh Transportation]] 314 in May 1979.
|- align="center"
|
|
|September 1978
|[[Orion Bus Industries I Serials|0120]]
|01.502
|[[Detroit Diesel]] [[Detroit Diesel Series 53|6V53]]
|[[Detroit Diesel]] [[Detroit Diesel Series 53|6V53]]
|[[Allison]] [[Allison MT Series|MT-643]]<br>4 speed
|[[Allison]] [[Allison MT Series|MT-643]]<br>4 speed
|align="left" |
|align="left" |
*01.501 model.
*[[Transportation Manufacturing Corporation|TMC]] [[Transportation Manufacturing Corporation T-30 CityCruiser|CityCruiser]] prototype.
*To [[Walsh Transportation]] 314 in May 1979.
*first Orion built with air conditioning and a wheelchair lift.<ref>Gryfe, Alan. (January 1982). "Orion Production". ''Transfer Points.'' '''8''' (1): 4.</ref>
*to [[Biddeford-Saco Transit]] (Maine).
|- align="center"
|- align="center"
|
|
Line 450: Line 468:
|August 1979
|August 1979
|[[Orion Bus Industries I Serials|0168]]
|[[Orion Bus Industries I Serials|0168]]
|01.501
|[[Detroit Diesel]] [[Detroit Diesel Series 53|6V53]]
|[[Detroit Diesel]] [[Detroit Diesel Series 53|6V53]]
|[[Allison]] [[Allison MT Series|MT-643]]<br>4 speed
|[[Allison]] [[Allison MT Series|MT-643]]<br>4 speed
|align="left" |
|align="left" |
*01.501 model.
*to [[Kingston Township Transit]] 74349 in September 1979.
*To [[Kingston Township Transit]] 74349 in September 1979.
|- align="center"
|- align="center"
|
|
Line 460: Line 478:
|January 1981
|January 1981
|[[Orion Bus Industries I Serials|0282]]
|[[Orion Bus Industries I Serials|0282]]
|01.504
|[[Detroit Diesel]] [[Detroit Diesel Series 53|6V53N]]
|[[Detroit Diesel]] [[Detroit Diesel Series 53|6V53N]]
|[[Allison]] [[Allison MT Series|MT-643]]<br>4 speed
|[[Allison]] [[Allison MT Series|MT-643]]<br>4 speed
|align="left" |
|align="left" |
*01.504 model.
*to [[Oakville Transit]] [[Oakville Transit 8338|8338]] in April 1983.
*To [[Oakville Transit]] [[Oakville Transit 8338|8338]] in April 1983.
|- align="center"
|- align="center"
|
|
Line 470: Line 488:
|December 1981
|December 1981
|401
|401
|01.504
|[[Detroit Diesel]] [[Detroit Diesel Series 53|6V53N]]
|[[Detroit Diesel]] [[Detroit Diesel Series 53|6V53N]]
|[[Allison]] [[Allison MT Series|MT-643]]<br>4 speed
|[[Allison]] [[Allison MT Series|MT-643]]<br>4 speed
|align="left" |
|align="left" |
*01.504 model.
*to High Quality Inn (Orlando, FL) in June 1983.
*To High Quality Inn (Orlando, FL) in June 1983.
|- align="center"
|- align="center"
|
|
Line 480: Line 498:
|December 1982
|December 1982
|548
|548
|01.505
|[[Detroit Diesel]] [[Detroit Diesel Series 71|6V71N]]
|[[Detroit Diesel]] [[Detroit Diesel Series 71|6V71N]]
|[[Allison]] [[Allison MT Series|MT-644]]<br>4 speed
|[[Allison]] [[Allison MT Series|MT-644]]<br>4 speed
|align="left" |
|align="left" |
*01.505 model.
*to Commercial Transport (Lively, ON) in March 1983.
*To Commercial Transport (Lively, ON) in March 1983.
**later sold to Northern Transport (Lively, ON), which thenm became [[Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission]] [[Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission 201|201]].
**Later sold to Northern Transport (Lively, ON), which would later become [[Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission]] [[Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission 201|201]].
|- align="center"
|- align="center"
|
|
Line 491: Line 509:
|December 1982
|December 1982
|550
|550
|01.505
|
|
|
|
|align="left" |
|align="left" |
*01.505 model.
*to [[Grey Goose Bus Lines]] 102 in June 1983.
*To [[Grey Goose Bus Lines]] 102 in June 1983.
|- align="center"
|- align="center"
|
|
Line 501: Line 519:
|January 1983
|January 1983
|[[Orion Bus Industries I 'D VINs'#D6036588|2B112917XD6036588]]
|[[Orion Bus Industries I 'D VINs'#D6036588|2B112917XD6036588]]
|01.506
|[[Detroit Diesel]] [[Detroit Diesel Series 71|6V71TA]]
|[[Detroit Diesel]] [[Detroit Diesel Series 71|6V71TA]]
|[[Allison]] [[Allison HT Series|HT-740]]<br>4 speed
|[[Allison]] [[Allison HT Series|HT-740]]<br>4 speed
|align="left" |
|align="left" |
*01.506 model.
*to [[CyRide]] [[CyRide 908|1408]] in April 1984.
*To [[CyRide]] [[CyRide 908|1408]] in April 1984.
|- align="center"
|- align="center"
|
|
Line 511: Line 529:
|January 1984
|January 1984
|782
|782
|01.509
|[[Detroit Diesel]] [[Detroit Diesel Series 92|6V92TA]]
|[[Detroit Diesel]] [[Detroit Diesel Series 92|6V92TA]]
|[[Allison]] [[Allison HT Series|HT-747]]<br>4 speed
|[[Allison]] [[Allison HT Series|HT-747]]<br>4 speed
|align="left" |
|align="left" |
*01.509 model.
*diverted [[Capital District Transportation Authority]] 689.
*Diverted [[Capital District Transportation Authority]] 689.
*to [[Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission]] [[Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission 202|202]] in January 1985.
*To [[Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission]] [[Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission 202|202]] in January 1985.
|- align="center"
|- align="center"
|
|
Line 522: Line 540:
|June 1984
|June 1984
|941
|941
|01.507
|
|
|
|
|align="left" |
|align="left" |
*01.507 model.
*to Northeast Transit (Ithaca, NY) 240 in June 1984.
*To Northeast Transit (Ithaca, NY) 240 in June 1984.
|- align="center"
|- align="center"
|
|
Line 532: Line 550:
|June 1984
|June 1984
|[[Orion Bus Industries I 'E VINs'#E5548945|2B1169770E5548945]]
|[[Orion Bus Industries I 'E VINs'#E5548945|2B1169770E5548945]]
|01.508
|[[Detroit Diesel]] [[Detroit Diesel Series 92|6V92TA]]
|[[Detroit Diesel]] [[Detroit Diesel Series 92|6V92TA]]
|[[Voith]] [[Voith DIWA.2|D863.2]]<br>3 speed
|[[Voith]] [[Voith DIWA.2|D863.2]]<br>3 speed
|align="left" |
|align="left" |
*01.508 model.
*to [[Mississauga Transit]] [[Mississauga Transit 8610|8610]] in May 1987.
*To [[Mississauga Transit]] [[Mississauga Transit 8610|8610]] in May 1987.
|- align="center"
|- align="center"
|9901
|9901
Line 542: Line 560:
|1984
|1984
|
|
|01.508 Suburban
|[[Detroit Diesel]] [[Detroit Diesel Series 92|6V92TA]]
|[[Detroit Diesel]] [[Detroit Diesel Series 92|6V92TA]]
|
|
|align="left" |
|align="left" |
*Suburban 01.508 model.
*diverted [[Capital District Transportation Authority]] bus.
*Diverted [[Capital District Transportation Authority]] bus.
*[[Metropolitan Transportation Authority|MTA]] demonstrator.
*[[Metropolitan Transportation Authority|MTA]] demonstrator.
|- align="center"
|- align="center"
Line 553: Line 571:
|June 1987
|June 1987
|1630
|1630
|01.507
|
|
|
|
|align="left" |
|align="left" |
*01.507 model.
*sold in 1987? to [[Chula Vista Transit]] 016.
*Sold in 1987? to [[Chula Vista Transit]] 016.
|- align="center"
|- align="center"
|
|
Line 563: Line 581:
|August 1989
|August 1989
|[[Orion Bus Industries I 'K VINs'#K5001955|2B1169K74K5001955]]
|[[Orion Bus Industries I 'K VINs'#K5001955|2B1169K74K5001955]]
|01.508
|[[Cummins]] [[Cummins L10G|L10G]] 240 hp
|[[Cummins]] [[Cummins L10G|L10G]] 240 hp
|[[ZF]] [[ZF Ecomat|4HP500]]<br>4 speed
|[[ZF]] [[ZF Ecomat|4HP500]]<br>4 speed
|align="left" |
|align="left" |
*01.508 model.
*CNG demonstrator.
*CNG Demo.
*to [[Toronto Transit Commission|TTC]] [[Toronto Transit Commission 9360-9361|9360]].
*To [[Toronto Transit Commission|TTC]] [[Toronto Transit Commission 9360-9361|9360]].
|- align="center"
|- align="center"
|
|
Line 574: Line 592:
|July 1989
|July 1989
|[[Orion Bus Industries I 'K VINs'#K5001956|2B1169K76K5001956]]
|[[Orion Bus Industries I 'K VINs'#K5001956|2B1169K76K5001956]]
|01.508
|[[Cummins]] [[Cummins L10G|L10G]] 240 hp
|[[Cummins]] [[Cummins L10G|L10G]] 240 hp
|[[ZF]] [[ZF Ecomat|4HP500]]<br>4 speed
|[[ZF]] [[ZF Ecomat|4HP500]]<br>4 speed
|align="left" |
|align="left" |
*01.508 model.
*CNG demonstrator.
*CNG Demo.
*to [[Toronto Transit Commission|TTC]] [[Toronto Transit Commission 9360-9361|9361]].
*To [[Toronto Transit Commission|TTC]] [[Toronto Transit Commission 9360-9361|9361]].
|- align="center"
|- align="center"
|
|
Line 585: Line 603:
|1990
|1990
|[[Orion Bus Industries I 'L VINs'#L6002523|2B1139776L6002523]]
|[[Orion Bus Industries I 'L VINs'#L6002523|2B1139776L6002523]]
|01.507
|[[Detroit Diesel]] [[Detroit Diesel Series 92|6V92TA]]
|[[Detroit Diesel]] [[Detroit Diesel Series 92|6V92TA]]
|[[Allison]] [[Allison HT Series|HTB-748]]<br>4 speed
|[[Allison]] [[Allison HT Series|HTB-748]]<br>4 speed
|align="left" |
|align="left" |
*01.507 model.
*to [[Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority|BARTA]] [[Berks Area Reading Transportation Authority 9001-9011#9005|9005]].
*To [[Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority|BARTA]] [[Berks Area Reading Transportation Authority 9001-9011#9005|9005]].
|}
|}


Line 597: Line 615:
!Thumbnail
!Thumbnail
!Serial/[[VIN]]
!Serial/[[VIN]]
!Model
!Original owner
!Original owner
!Fleet number
!Fleet number
!Model
!Current owner
!Current owner
|- align="center"
|- align="center"
|1979
|August 1979
|
|
|
|0167
|01.503
|[[Perimeter Transportation]]
|[[Perimeter Transportation]]
|651
|651
|01.503
|[[Manitoba Transit Heritage Association]]
|[[Manitoba Transit Heritage Association]]
|- align="center"
|- align="center"
|1980
|1981
|
|
|0293
|0293
|01.501
|[[Toronto Transit Commission]]
|[[Toronto Transit Commission]]
|8375
|8375
|01.501
|Private owner
|Private owner
|- align="center" bgcolor=dddddd
|- align="center" bgcolor=dddddd
Line 621: Line 639:
|
|
|0341
|0341
|01.501
|[[Winnipeg Transit]]
|[[Winnipeg Transit]]
|953
|953
|01.501
|[[Manitoba Transit Heritage Association]]
|[[Manitoba Transit Heritage Association]]
|- align="center"
|- align="center"
Line 629: Line 647:
|
|
|?
|?
|01.502
|[[Pacific Transit System]]
|[[Pacific Transit System]]
|[[Pacific Transit System D10-D17|D1x]]
|[[Pacific Transit System D10-D17|D1x]]
|01.502
|Private owner
|Private owner
|- align="center"
|- align="center"
Line 637: Line 655:
|
|
|2B1119277H6001644
|2B1119277H6001644
|01.502
|[[Bay Metro Transit]]
|[[Bay Metro Transit]]
|134
|134
|01.502
|Chicagoland Historical Bus Museum
|Chicagoland Historical Bus Museum
|- align="center"
|- align="center"
Line 645: Line 663:
|
|
|?
|?
|01.502
|[[Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority]]
|[[Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority]]
|701
|701
|01.502
|[[Seashore Trolley Museum]]
|[[Seashore Trolley Museum]]
|- align="center"
|- align="center"
Line 653: Line 671:
|
|
|2B1169776J6001909
|2B1169776J6001909
|01.508
|[[Pace]]
|[[Pace]]
|8723
|8723
|01.508
|Chicagoland Historical Bus Museum
|Chicagoland Historical Bus Museum
|- align="center"
|- align="center"
Line 661: Line 679:
|[[File:DASH (Alexandria Transit Company) 28-a.jpg|128px]]
|[[File:DASH (Alexandria Transit Company) 28-a.jpg|128px]]
|?
|?
|01.507
|[[DASH (Alexandria Transit Company)]]
|[[DASH (Alexandria Transit Company)]]
|[[DASH (Alexandria Transit Company) 20-28#28|28]]
|[[DASH (Alexandria Transit Company) 20-28#28|28]]
|01.507
|Commonwealth Coach & Trolley of Roanoke
|Commonwealth Coach & Trolley of Roanoke
|- align="center"
|- align="center"
Line 669: Line 687:
|
|
|?
|?
|01.508
|[[Pierce Transit]]
|[[Pierce Transit]]
|427
|427
|01.508
|Private owner
|Private owner
|- align="center"
|- align="center"
Line 677: Line 695:
|
|
|2B1119777L6002553
|2B1119777L6002553
|01.502
|[[San Francisco MUNI]]
|[[San Francisco MUNI]]
|[[San Francisco MUNI 9001-9045|9010]]
|[[San Francisco MUNI 9001-9045|9010]]
|01.502
|[[San Francisco MUNI]]
|[[San Francisco MUNI]]
|- align="center"
|- align="center"
Line 685: Line 703:
|[[File:San Francisco MUNI 9030-a.jpg|128px]]
|[[File:San Francisco MUNI 9030-a.jpg|128px]]
|2B1119771L6002578
|2B1119771L6002578
|01.502
|[[San Francisco MUNI]]
|[[San Francisco MUNI]]
|[[San Francisco MUNI 9001-9045|9030]]
|[[San Francisco MUNI 9001-9045|9030]]
|01.502
|[[San Francisco MUNI]]
|[[San Francisco MUNI]]
|- align="center"
|- align="center"
Line 693: Line 711:
|[[File:Altoona Metro Transit 400-a.jpg|128px]]
|[[File:Altoona Metro Transit 400-a.jpg|128px]]
|[[Orion Bus Industries I 'P VINs'#P6003224|2B1119777P6003224]]
|[[Orion Bus Industries I 'P VINs'#P6003224|2B1119777P6003224]]
|01.502
|[[Altoona Metro Transit]]
|[[Altoona Metro Transit]]
|[[Altoona Metro Transit 400-407|400]]
|[[Altoona Metro Transit 400-407|400]]
|01.502
|Private owner
|Private owner
|- align="center"
|- align="center"
Line 701: Line 719:
|
|
|[[Orion Bus Industries I 'P VINs'#P6003232|P6003232]]
|[[Orion Bus Industries I 'P VINs'#P6003232|P6003232]]
|01.502
|[[Altoona Metro Transit]]
|[[Altoona Metro Transit]]
|[[Altoona Metro Transit 400-407|402]]
|[[Altoona Metro Transit 400-407|402]]
|01.502
|[[Museum of Bus Transportation]]
|Museum of Bus Transportation in Hershey, PA.
|}
|}


Revision as of 16:57, 19 December 2020

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 (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

Example of a 40-foot Orion I model.

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

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 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
  • to High Quality Inn (Orlando, FL) in June 1983.
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
  • to Northeast Transit (Ithaca, NY) 240 in June 1984.
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 DASH (Alexandria Transit Company) 28-a.jpg ? 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 San Francisco MUNI 9030-a.jpg 2B1119771L6002578 01.502 San Francisco MUNI 9030 San Francisco MUNI
1993 Altoona Metro Transit 400-a.jpg 2B1119777P6003224 01.502 Altoona Metro Transit 400 Private owner
1993 P6003232 01.502 Altoona Metro Transit 402 Museum of Bus Transportation

References

  1. ↑ Orion. The bus you've been waiting for. Brochure. Ontario Bus Industries.
  2. ↑ The History of Orion Transit Buses. Orion Bus Industries. Retrieved on 2009-08-02. Web (now offline).
  3. ↑ Rosen, Jerome. “Powered by methane.” American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 01 May 1990.
  4. ↑ “ 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.
  5. ↑ Gryfe, Alan. (January 1982). "Orion Production". Transfer Points. 8 (1): 4.
  • Personal Notes and sightings
Orion Bus Industries / Orion International
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Stratford Transit 9144-a.jpg
London Transit Commission 11-a.jpg
OC Transpo 8880-a.jpg
Niagara Parks Commission IV Tractor 3-a.jpg
Durham Region Transit 8063-a.jpg
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority 11033-a.jpg
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Mississauga Transit 1044-a.jpg
Orion I Orion II Orion III Orion IV Orion V Orion VI Orion VII Orion VII NG Orion VII EPA10
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