What's Left for Pace's Orion VI's 6000s?

[qwantae]

Might as well start with this thread of my favorite Active Pace fleet, Is the current delivery of Eldorados on the plan of replacing some of oldest 6000s Orion VIs (Northwest Division)? I already know that at least 2 of VIs from West Division have been retired/ shredded like couple years ago but can't remember the number of units. Sadly, the Orion VI retirement will be the end of Orions at Pace for good after 25 years.

[Busjack]

Dead up to now are 6047 (for about 10 years, brake fire), and 6040 and 6061 (front ends smashed).

Also, in your calculations you have to figure that 6156-6161 were received in 2004, so theoretically not eligible for retirement until 2016.

[jesi2282]

Not really the end of Orions at Pace, we will still have the two VII 3G Hybrid's at Highland Park.

[qwantae]

Dead up to now are 6047 (for about 10 years, brake fire), and 6040 and 6061 (front ends smashed).

Also, in your calculations you have to figure that 6156-6161 were received in 2004, so theoretically not eligible for retirement until 2016.

Well, I saw another website that made an error that 6156-6161 were delivered in 2002, not 2004.

[Busjack]

Well, I saw another website that made an error that 6156-6161 were delivered in 2002, not 2004.

That was error, not only based on personal observations, but also recent Pace budgets.

[Busjack]

Not really the end of Orions at Pace, we will still have the two VII 3G Hybrid's at Highland Park.

Surprisingly, WebWatch had both on 471 this morning, which seems like the first time in a long time.

[buslist]

Saw one EB on the Ike today, didn't catch the #.

[rotjohns]

Continuation of previous El Dorado thread; figured this was a better place for it.

Add 6145 and 6160 to the list of buses that are still out there.  No sign yet of 6156-6159, or 6161.

[BusHunter]

Might as well bring the list over here and I can update it for everyone.

(last updated 9/26/15)

6000 6003 6004 6010 6012 6016 6017 6020 6022 6024 6026 6031 6034 6036 6037 6045 6046 6111 6112 6115 6122 6123 6125 6129 6130 6141 6142 6143 6145 6150 6152 6153 6154 6160 are still in service at NW.

It is assumed SW and W have the full fleet still in service.

[Busjack]

Somehow I almost missed it, but the current for sale list is:

2401, 2426, 2427 ,2431, 2435, 2443, 2444 ,2449, 6005, 6009. 6021.6038, 6039. 6042, 6064, 6065 ,6119, 6131, 6135,* 6137, 6144, 6155**, 6677* (14 6000s)

* No engine. Some prospective bidder inquired about the engines. 1999 NABIs have Cummins ISC8, 6000s have DDS50EGR.

**The freak is gone.

Looks like Highland Park is going to have to get new junk for Ravinia next year. Is BusHunter betting on 6600s?

[BusHunter]

Somehow I almost missed it, but the current for sale list is:

2401, 2426, 2427 ,2431, 2435, 2443, 2444 ,2449, 6005, 6009. 6021.6038, 6039. 6042, 6064, 6065 ,6119, 6131, 6135,* 6137, 6144, 6155**, 6677* (14 6000s)

* No engine. Some prospective bidder inquired about the engines. 1999 NABIs have Cummins ISC8, 6000s have DDS50EGR.

**The freak is gone.

Looks like Highland Park is going to have to get new junk for Ravinia next year. Is BusHunter betting on 6600s?

Aw man!! I liked #6155 with it's cushioned seats like the nabi's. Now why did they have to go and retire it so soon? It's from the newest lot of #6000's.

[Busjack]

Aw man!! I liked #6155 with it's cushioned seats like the nabi's. Now why did they have to go and retire it so soon? It's from the newest lot of #6000's.

Actually, one short of it. Base of that order was 6145-6155, and the mysterious 6156-6161 came a couple of years later. I physically saw 6161 a week ago.

[Busjack]

Maybe as as result of the BGA stink, Pace now has a Bid Tabulations Page. Tthe one for this sale states that Adelman's bid the 2400s for $1063 each, while Summit Salvage bid the 6000s for $500 each (some for $400).

[rotjohns]

There's an usually high number of Orions running from West right now on Webwatch considering all the El Dorados and Nabis they still have.  Here's the latest:

6044, 6052, 6054, 6058, 6059, 6062, 6067, 6069, 6071.

Almost seems as if they are running them out there now to wear them out.  Completely different than what NW is doing it seems.

I also wouldn't be surprised that once South gets the CNGs, all the Nabis that went there from West end up back to West to clear out the remaining Orions.

[Busjack]

There's an usually high number of Orions running from West right now on Webwatch considering all the El Dorados and Nabis they still have.  Here's the latest:

6044, 6052, 6054, 6058, 6059, 6062, 6067, 6069, 6071.

Almost seems as if they are running them out there now to wear them out.  Completely different than what NW is doing it seems.

I also wouldn't be surprised that once South gets the CNGs, all the Nabis that went there from West end up back to West to clear out the remaining Orions.

Not that high compared to at one time they were running roughly 6040-6071. More than likely the reason is that they lost almost all of their 40 foot 2003 NABis, and I'm sure that many Orion VIs are still running there is for the reason stated in your last paragraph, as CNG deliveries should start relatively soon.

[BusHunter]

There's an usually high number of Orions running from West right now on Webwatch considering all the El Dorados and Nabis they still have.  Here's the latest:

6044, 6052, 6054, 6058, 6059, 6062, 6067, 6069, 6071.

Almost seems as if they are running them out there now to wear them out.  Completely different than what NW is doing it seems.

I also wouldn't be surprised that once South gets the CNGs, all the Nabis that went there from West end up back to West to clear out the remaining Orions.

If the Axess' bus order stops around #6500, then some south Nabis will probably end up at sw, as they have nowhere else to go after West. After that they'll probably look to send the south NABI's off to retire the #6600's. I don't know if they would go to River as that makes no sense unless they don't have enough Axess' for them. I thinking they might mostly end up at North if they have any extra 40 foot NABI's or they could always just send them south's #6600's and weed out the junk #6600's.

[Busjack]

If the Axess' bus order stops around #6500, then some south Nabis will probably end up at sw, as they have nowhere else to go after West. After that they'll probably look to send the south NABI's off to retire the #6600's. I don't know if they would go to River as that makes no sense unless they don't have enough Axess' for them. I thinking they might mostly end up at North if they have any extra 40 foot NABI's or they could always just send them south's #6600's and weed out the junk #6600's.

On this one, I'm not going to try to speculate what's in Melinda Metzger's head, other than there will be the need, in about 6 months (whenever these and the CNGs are delivered), to figure out what to do with all the Orion VIs at SW, and then somewhat further down the road* with the 35 foot buses at N.

The other thing I figure is that S's NABIs are the most beat up.

_______

*According to Google Maps, 54.1 miles via the Tri-State Tollway.

[BusHunter]

On this one, I'm not going to try to speculate what's in Melinda Metzger's head, other than there will be the need, in about 6 months (whenever these and the CNGs are delivered), to figure out what to do with all the Orion VIs at SW, and then somewhat further down the road* with the 35 foot buses at N.

The other thing I figure is that S's NABIs are the most beat up.

_______

*According to Google Maps, 54.1 miles via the Tri-State Tollway.

Well you would think River losing the Nabi's are in the cards because they would probably want all Axess' for the I-90 project. Whatever SW does get ends up mostly on the timing of the CNG delivery. If the CNG's are late in arriving and we go past #6500 in Axess deliveries, then SW will probably just get the Axess'. Probably all those #6262's that south got will end up back at West. They might get some of the original 40 foot #6162's if there's not enough. West will probably not get anymore Axess' until a possible second round when they are deep in retiring Nabi's, but I don't think retirement of the #6262's are in the 5 year plan yet, so those will probably stick around. It's probably going to come down to does north get some Axess' or not. They should but you never know, they might end up with the #6262's.

[Busjack]

Also entering into this is whether Pace eventually decides that 35 foot buses were a mistake (which its replacement of most of the original allocation with 30 foot buses seems to acknowledge) or is going to send out a solicitation for more. Like I indicated earler, I couldn't figure out why NS got rid of them. If S really needed buses in the short term, I thought it would rather have 40 foot ones.

[busfan2847]

Checked webwatch this morning. The following Orions are in service on NW routes

6008, 6024, 6026, 6031, 6046, 6112, 6115, 6117, 6118, 6123, 6125, 6129, 6132, 6145, 6146, 6150, 6151, 6154

6141 is now with SW (with 2785)

[BusHunter]

Checked webwatch this morning. The following Orions are in service on NW routes

6008, 6024, 6026, 6031, 6046, 6112, 6115, 6117, 6118, 6123, 6125, 6129, 6132, 6145, 6146, 6150, 6151, 6154

6141 is now with SW (with 2785)

only 8 orions are in service at nw right now and 3 of those are at the garage.

#6026, #6112, #6117, #6132, #6145, #6146, #6151, #6154. Alot of the higher numbered Orions are the ones in service, only one #6000 is represented.

[rotjohns]

Checked webwatch this morning. The following Orions are in service on NW routes

6008, 6024, 6026, 6031, 6046, 6112, 6115, 6117, 6118, 6123, 6125, 6129, 6132, 6145, 6146, 6150, 6151, 6154

6141 is now with SW (with 2785)

6008 is not out there in tonight's evening rush.  But 6032 and 6037 are out there so they are not gone yet.  Pretty much all the 6100s mentioned are out there now.  At this point, roughly around 20 Orions are left at NW.

[rotjohns]

Interesting to note that on the UPS route 390 right now, there are 2 30 foot Eldos running.  That route has passengers filled to the brim on the Orions and CTA 60 footers.  As a matter of fact, there are a number of Eldos on Webwatch on this morning's rush hour.  Probably need to keep an eye on SW and see how many Orions are still running and which ones have been retired.  Other than the ones already mentioned, I don't see any new Orions from NW that have been transferred to SW at this point

[jesi2282]

On December 4, 2015 at 9:06:08 AM, rotjohns said:

Interesting to note that on the UPS route 390 right now, there are 2 30 foot Eldos running.  That route has passengers filled to the brim on the Orions and CTA 60 footers.  As a matter of fact, there are a number of Eldos on Webwatch on this morning's rush hour.  Probably need to keep an eye on SW and see how many Orions are still running and which ones have been retired.  Other than the ones already mentioned, I don't see any new Orions from NW that have been transferred to SW at this point.

6157 is running on #379 this morning...

[rotjohns]

9 hours ago, jesi2282 said:

6157 is running on #379 this morning...

And digging deeper, I noticed that there are 15 Orions VIs not showing on Webwatch as of 4pm today at SW.  The following buses are missing:

6073, 6075, 6076, 6080, 6083, 6084, 6085, 6092, 6094, 6096, 6098, 6108, 6109, 6111, 6112.

I'm sure a few of them are spares at the garage now or could come out after 4pm, but otherwise unless these buses were moved somewhere else (or more UPS buses show up after I looked), it is very possible at least 1/2 of these buses may be retired.  And to Jesi's point, if 6157 was moved over there, my guess is that 6155-6161 may be coming as well.