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Click on the diagram to see a full plan and elevation |
Orion Bus Industries was incorporated in 1975 by the government of Ontario as Ontario Bus Industries. It was designed to build a local industry for transit vehicles and was a bus counterpart to Ontario’s streetcar-producing Urban Transit Development Corporation. At the time, transit agencies in Ontario had 75% of their capital expenses paid for by the Ontario government, and all agencies were strongly encouraged to buy local. As a result, OBI supplied a number of buses for transit agencies throughout the province, including the Toronto Transit Commission.
OBI was primarily based out of Mississauga Ontario, but opened a plant in Oriskany, New York, to try and break into the American market. The provincial government gradually divested itself of OBI, and the company was renamed Orion in 1995, after its brand of buses. In the year 2000, it was acquired by DaimlerChrysler, and it remains a strong player in the bus industry market.
The Orion 1
The Orion 1s were the shortest buses the TTC purchased since the 1960s. Just thirty feet long, they were built on the principle that their smaller size and lighter weight would save the commission money on fuel costs. Their smaller capacity was designed for service on more lightly-travelled routes. When delivered, the Orion I’s were originally split between Eglinton and Davenport divisions. Out of Davenport, they operated on (then) 7E Bathurst (St. Clair West to Wilson stations, when the branch operated seven days a week), 33 Forest Hill (where they encountered crush problems when school let out) and 82 Rosedale.
The promised cost savings did not materialize, as the most expensive part of a bus was the driver. These vehicles operated throughout the 1980s on such lightly traveled routes as 19 Church, 78 St. Andrews, 101 Edward’s Gardens and 97 Yonge (especially the Steeles to Front Branch). They were also the last TTC buses to be delivered in the old maroon and cream paint scheme and the first to appear in the TTC’s current colours. They ran until the early 1990s when they were retired from TTC service and sold off to other transit properties and private operators.
Orion II Community Bus
There was a need for a specialized vehicle for the transportation of the disabled, OBI (Ontario Bus Industries) began work on the OrionII bus. The TTC purchased 30 OrionII in 1985 and an additional 58 in 1987. More of these buses were later delivered in 1988 and again in 1991.
Orion/Ikarus Articulated (Orion 3)
Click here for a more detailed look at the Ikarus articulateds.
The Orion 5
Throughout 1991 and 1992 the TTC took delivery of 106 Orion 5s replacing earlier GM ‘New Look’ models. They were numbered 6640-6745 and came equipped with air conditioning, power steering, vandal proof seats and easier access features. They were also the first TTC buses which came equipped with Electronic destination signs. Over their career, they were based out of Eglinton, Queensway and Malvern divisions and now reside at Birchmount and Queensway divisions.
TTC also ordered 25 addtional Orion 5s powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fuel and based them out of Wilson garage. They have all been retired with the last of the units pulled from service in the beginning of March 2005.
The Orion 5 Lift
These series of buses were delivered in 1996. They are the first in the TTC’s fleet to be wheelchair lift equipped, allowing passengers in wheelchairs to travel on the regular bus routes. They were also the first to be equipped with Luminator’s ‘MegaMax’ destination sign. Just like their earlier 6600 series sisters, they are equipped with air conditioning and passenger assistance features. Based out of Malvern, Arrow and Wilson divisions, they operate on routes such as 7, 29, 36, 39 plus many other ‘accessible’ routes.
Orion 5 Lifts powered by Diesel were numbered 7000 - 7134 and were initially based from Arrow and Malvern, CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) powered models were numbered 9400 - 9449 and were initially based out of Wilson division.
(Update: September 10, 2005): The diesel models of this class are now all based at Malvern and operate on routes 38, 39, 53, 85, 133 and 134. They are currently through their mid-life rebuild (about 67% complete).
The CNGs are still at Wilson and operate primarily on routes 29 and 60. They are also starting their mid-life rebuilds. The first bus to go through the rebuild is 9408, one of the parts of the rebuild is the conversion of these buses to diesel using Cummins M11 engines. Currently two buses have already been converted to diesel using two different engines. 9402 was converted to diesel in the summer of 2002 using an engine out of a retired Flyer D40-90, 9400 was converted in early 2004 using a Cummins M11. Differences are that 9402’s CNG tank was removed, while 9400 still retained its rooftop storage bin. These buses are now getting bike racks installed on them, with all units receiving one by June 19.
The Orion 6
50 of these CNG powered buses were delivered in 1998. They were the TTC’s first low floor, wheelchair accessible buses. They were initially based out of Wilson garage and started running on the 161 Rogers Road and 7 Bathurst routes.
They are numbered 9200 - 9249 (taking the old Flyer Trolley Coach numbers).
(Update: June 12, 2005): Only 48 of these buses remain in service, 9243 fell off a hoist and 9244 was lost to a fire, both in January 2004. The Orion 6’s operate primarily on routes 7, 47, 98, 105 and 161. These buses are also recieving bike racks and it looks like they will probably be done by June 19th.
(Update: September 10, 2005): Buses 9223, 9232 and 9246 were retired in June and 9222 was retired in July.
The Orion 7s
The Orion VII is the first, and so far only bus model that TTC has purchased in the new millennium. Built with a stainless steel frame, low-floor front, and high floor back, the Orion VII addresses many of the TTC’s recent complaints about its bus purchases, including poor quality construction and metals that cause premature corrosion, passenger capacity, accessibility, and emissions, as the stainless steel won’t corrode like earlier carbon steel frames have, the bus is fully accessible, includes Luminator Horizon LED destination signs for greater visibility, has more seats and floor space than other low-floor buses on the market and in the TTC’s fleet, and employs a clean burning diesel engine, eliminating the need to invest in alternative fuels and technologies.
Originally ordered in 2002 as a 220 unit, two year order for delivery in 2003 (7400-99) and 2004 (7500-7619), with an option for an additional 250 vehicles in 2005, which the TTC picked up in 2003 (7620-7881; an additional 12 vehicles were added in 2005, likely as compensation for Orion not delivering the 2003 and 2004 orders on time), TTC has since placed another order with Orion for 330 more VIIs for delivery in 2006 and 2007; 180 will be diesel (80 (7900-7979) to be delivered in 2006 and 100 (8000-8099) to be delivered in 2007), and the remaining 150 will be diesel-electric hybrids to be delivered in 2006. The Orion VIIs currently operate on all routes at Eglinton division, a majority of routes at Arrow Rd division, and are in the process of being added to the roster at Birchmount division, where new accessible services will operate later this year. With these orders, the Orion VIIs will be the most represented model in the TTC’s fleet, replacing the GM New Look in this regard.
Of the Orions…
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An Orion 1 painted in the Maroon and Cream livery. The Orions are new enough that one painted in the old colours looks rather odd indeed. Photo donated from the collection of Brad O’Brien. |
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Orion V 6707 and Orion Articualted 6411 depart the Scarborough Town Centre station. Photo donated from the collection of Brad O’Brien. |
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Orion V 6704 operates on the Ontario Place shuttle during a special event. Photo donated from the collection of Brad O’Brien |
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Orion 5 Lift 7019 seen here at the Arrow Road Garage. |
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Orion 6 9246 on display during a bus roadeo at the Arrow Road Garage. |
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Orion II Community Bus on display at the 1998 Bus Roadeo. |
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An OrionVI on display at the 1998 Bus Rodeo |
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A rear view of Orion VII vehicle 7470. Photo by Greg Northcott. |
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Orion VII vehicle 7860 heads southbound on Yonge Street, just south of Eglinton, as part of the 5 Avenue Road route. Photo by Greg Northcott. |
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Orion VII vehicle 7865 heads west on Eglinton towards Yonge. Photo by Greg Northcott. |
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CNG Orion V vehicle 9420 displays its new bike rack at Dufferin Loop. Photo by Greg Northcott. |
References
- Bus World Encyclopedia of Buses, Stauss Publications, Woodland Hills (California), 1988.
- Diesel City Bus, Toronto Transit Commission, Toronto (Ontario), 1991.
Thanks to Mike Vainchtein for his updates and corrections to this web page
