Toronto Transit Commission 9200-9249
Toronto Transit Commission 9200-9249 were Orion 06.501 buses powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) built and delivered between 1997 and 1998.
Engine | Transmission | Seating | Destination Sign |
---|---|---|---|
Cummins L10G 240 hp | Allison World B400R 5 speed | 28: American Seating Model 6468 | Luminator Mega:MAX |
History
Order
The TTC awarded Ontario Bus Industries a $37.7 million contract at the beginning of 1994 for the supply of 100 of their new low-floor buses.[1] The TTC had previously purchased the low-floor Orion II, but the new 40-foot Orion VI would be used in conventional service. This was a welcomed decision from the elderly and disabled community. The Ontario Government announced the previous year that all buses purchased in the province would have to be wheelchair accessible.[2]
The first of the new buses was expected to be delivered in September 1994 with all 100 in service by the end of 1995, however, delays in production soon mounted.[3] A prototype vehicle was delivered to the TTC in July 1995 for testing. It was used in service on the 7 Bathurst and eventually returned to Orion.[4] In an attempt to expedite delivery of the new buses, half of the order was built as lift-equipped high floor buses in 1996. All of the low-floor Orion VIs were finally delivered by the middle of 1998.
Modifications
In September 1998, the TTC pulled all 50 buses from service after they realized that the buses were being overloaded. They were worried that this could lead to wheel failures. A stronger wheel rim was sourced to rectify the problem. At the same time, the TTC also had to replace deficient steering arms after Orion gave notice of the problem. The buses returned to service in early 1999. The fleet had bike racks installed in 2005.
Deployment History
When new, the 9200's were based out of Wilson Garage, and found on the 29 Dufferin route. It was intended to operate the 29 for a period exclusively with the new 9200's in order to evaluate the concept of low floor buses on the TTC, and the effect their lower seating and standing capacity may have.[5]
Throughout their regular service lives, these buses were usually found on routes 7 Bathurst, 29 Dufferin, 47 Lansdowne, 98 Willowdale-Senlac, 105 Dufferin North, 161 Rogers Rd and 196 York University Rocket.
Retirements
In 2004, 9243 fell off a maintenance hoist inside Wilson Garage, and 9244 also caught fire, leading to the retirement of both units. When deciding to phase out their CNG-powered fleet, the TTC determined it would be difficult to convert their Orion VI CNG buses into diesel powered buses, so they decided to retire them rather than convert them like the Orion V's. The final Orion VI CNG units were retired in 2006. As these buses only operated for just eight years, they are one of the shortest-lived series of regular TTC buses.
Fleet numbers from this retired series were partially reused for the new 2018 LFS buses.
Details
Fleet Number | Thumbnail | Date | VIN | License plate(s) | Garage | Status/Disposal | Notes |
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9200 | February 1998 | 1VH669K70V6040076 | BJ5 389 | Wilson | Retired October 2005 |
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9201 | February 1998 | 1VH669K72V6040077 | BJ5 371 | Wilson | Retired December 2005 |
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9202 | March 1998 | 1VH669K74V6040078 | BJ5 404 | Wilson | Retired January 2006 |
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9203 | February 1998 | 1VH669K76V6040079 | BJ5 388 | Wilson | Retired October 2006 |
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9204 | April 1998 | 1VH669K72V6040080 | BJ5 404 | Wilson | Retired September 2005 |
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9205 | May 1998 | 1VH669K74V6040081 | BJ5 400 | Wilson | Retired November 2006 |
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9206 | April 1998 | 1VH669K76V6040082 | BJ5 399 | Wilson | Retired November 2006 |
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9207 | April 1998 | 1VH669K78V6040083 | BJ5 398 | Wilson | Retired October 2006 |
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9208 | April 1998 | 1VH669K7XV6040084 | BJ5 397 | Wilson | Retired June 2006 |
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9209 | May 1998 | 1VH669K71V6040085 | BJ5 396 | Wilson | Retired February 2006 |
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9210 | April 1998 | 1VH669K73V6040086 | BJ5 437 | Wilson | Retired February 2006 |
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9211 | May 1998 | 1VH669K75V6040087 | BJ5 439 | Wilson | Retired January 2006 |
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9212 | April 1998 | 1VH669K77V6040088 | BJ5 438 | Wilson | Retired November 2006 |
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9213 | April 1998 | 1VH669K79V6040089 | BJ5 440 | Wilson | Retired November 2006 |
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9214 | May 1998 | 1VH669K75V6040090 | BJ5 441 | Wilson | Retired July 2006 |
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9215 | June 1998 | 1VH669K77V6040091 | BJ5 442 | Wilson | Retired May 2006 |
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9216 | April 1998 | 1VH669K79V6040092 | BJ5 443 | Wilson | Retired November 2006 |
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9217 | April 1998 | 1VH669K70V6040093 | BJ5 444 | Wilson | Retired December 2006 |
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9218 | June 1998 | 1VH669K72V6040094 | BJ5 445 | Wilson | Retired November 2006 |
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9219 | February 1998 | 1VH669K74V6040095 | BJ5 394 | Wilson | Retired November 2006 |
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9220 | March 1998 | 1VH669K76V6040096 | BJ5 406 | Wilson | Retired November 2006 |
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9221 | April 1998 | 1VH669K78V6040097 | BJ5 446 | Wilson | Retired March 2006 |
Appeared in the music video "Take it Away" by The Used. | |
9222 | February 1998 | 1VH669K7XV6040098 | BJ5 390 | Wilson | Retired July 2005 |
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9223 | February 1998 | 1VH669K71V6040099 | BJ5 391 | Wilson | Retired June 2005 |
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9224 | April 1998 | 1VH669K74V6040100 | BJ5 447 | Wilson | Retired May 2006 |
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9225 | June 1998 | 1VH669K76V6040101 | BJ5 448 | Wilson | Retired November 2006 |
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9226 | February 1998 | 1VH669K78V6040102 | BJ5 393 | Wilson | Retired November 2006 |
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9227 | February 1998 | 1VH669K7XV6040103 | BL2 700 (prev. BK7 383; ?) |
Wilson | Retired February 2006 |
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9228 | March 1998 | 1VH669K71V6040104 | BJ5 449 | Wilson | Retired November 2006 |
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9229 | March 1998 | 1VH669K73V6040105 | BJ5 395 | Wilson | Retired January 2006 |
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9230 | May 1998 | 1VH669K75V6040106 | BJ5 450 | Wilson | Retired October 2005 |
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9231 | June 1998 | 1VH669K77V6040107 | BJ5 451 | Wilson | Retired September 2006 |
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9232 | March 1998 | 1VH669K79V6040108 | BJ5 403 | Wilson | Retired June 2005 |
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9233 | February 1998 | 1VH669K70V6040109 | BJ5 407 | Wilson | Retired November 2006 |
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9234 | March 1998 | 1VH669K77V6040110 | BJ5 405 | Wilson | Retired November 2006 |
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9235 | February 1998 | 1VH669K79V6040111 | BJ5 402 | Wilson | Retired October 2006 |
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9236 | March 1998 | 1VH669K70V6040112 | BJ5 452 | Wilson | Retired November 2005 |
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9237 | April 1998 | 1VH669K72V6040113 | BJ5 453 | Wilson | Retired February 2006 |
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9238 | June 1998 | 1VH669K74V6040114 | BJ5 454 | Wilson | Retired May 2006 |
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9239 | May 1998 | 1VH669K76V6040115 | BJ5 455 | Wilson | Retired December 2006 |
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9240 | April 1998 | 1VH669K78V6040116 | BJ5 456 | Wilson | Retired September 2005 |
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9241 | March 1998 | 1VH669K7XV6040117 | BJ5 457 | Wilson | Retired May 2006 |
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9242 | July 1998 | 1VH669K71V6040118 | BJ5 458 | Wilson | Retired November 2006 |
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9243 | May 1998 | 1VH669K73V6040119 | BJ5 459 | Wilson | January 2004 Fell off a maintenance hoist at Duncan Shops. |
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9244 | May 1998 | 1VH669K7XV6040120 | BJ5 460 | Wilson | January 2004 Caught fire at Downsview Station. |
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9245 | May 1998 | 1VH669K71V6040121 | BJ5 461 | Wilson | Retired February 2006 |
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9246 | May 1998 | 1VH669K73V6040122 | BJ5 462 | Wilson | Retired June 2005 |
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9247 | June 1998 | 1VH669K75V6040123 | BJ5 463 | Wilson | Retired September 2005 |
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9248 | July 1998 | 1VH669K77V6040124 | BJ5 464 | Wilson | Retired October 2006 |
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9249 | April 1998 | 1VH669K71V6040197 | BJ5 465 | Wilson | Retired November 2006 |
References
- ↑ Royson James, Toronto S. "TTC Spends $38 Million on 100 'Low-Floor' Buses New-Look Vehicles More Accessible to Disabled Riders." Toronto Star Jan 12 1994: A7. ProQuest. 24 Nov. 2016.
- ↑ "'Low' Buses for Elderly Acceptable to the TTC." Toronto Star Jun 12 1992: A4. ProQuest. 24 Nov. 2016.
- ↑ Bruce Campion-Smith, TORONTO S. "Delayed Deliveries of New Buses Hurt Transit Systems." Toronto Star Oct 28 1994: A6. ProQuest. 24 Nov. 2016.
- ↑ By Bruce Campion-Smith, Toronto S. "Low Bus Hailed as High Flyer." Toronto Star Jul 26 1995 ProQuest. 24 Nov. 2016.
- ↑ UCRS newsletter #569, July 1998.