RTS Book Posted November 11, 2007 Report Share Posted November 11, 2007 I'm toying with the idea of doing a book on the history of Orion low-floor buses, which would chronicle the development of the II, VI, VII and VII NG. This is perhaps a dumb question - but I've heard PACE has/had both IIs and VIs in their fleet. I've heard/seen more on the VIs, but I've not seen much - or anything on the IIs. Am I mistaken on this, or did/do they have them? Does anyone know where they went? And does anyone know if Keeshin Charter still has an Orion II in their fleet? Appreciate any input you can give me on these. I'm thinking of making another trip to the Chicagoland area to shoot some of these if any are still around... -Evan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted November 11, 2007 Report Share Posted November 11, 2007 As far as I know, Pace didn't have Orion IIs, at least not recently. The only small buses I knew about were the Chance RTs (see this picture taken by me from Wikipedia). Also see this roster for the period before my time, which does indicate 5 about 1987, which would be long gone by now. Orion VIs are 6000-6161, and are all over the NW, SW, and W divisions, and is the predominant vehicle in the first two. Also, Keeshin O'Hare has been out of business for at least 4 years. Don't know anything about the Keeshin on South Racine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 11, 2007 Report Share Posted November 11, 2007 I'm toying with the idea of doing a book on the history of Orion low-floor buses, which would chronicle the development of the II, VI, VII and VII NG. This is perhaps a dumb question - but I've heard PACE has/had both IIs and VIs in their fleet. I've heard/seen more on the VIs, but I've not seen much - or anything on the IIs. Am I mistaken on this, or did/do they have them? Does anyone know where they went? And does anyone know if Keeshin Charter still has an Orion II in their fleet? Appreciate any input you can give me on these. I'm thinking of making another trip to the Chicagoland area to shoot some of these if any are still around... -Evan I operate buses for the suburban Pace system as a contract operator. The vehicles I operate are 1993 Orions with the larger front destination sign and 2003 35ft NABI low floors. Let me know if theres any way I can help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pace2322 Posted November 11, 2007 Report Share Posted November 11, 2007 Back in the late 80s and ealy 90s pace had 3 orion twos. There were out of west. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted November 11, 2007 Report Share Posted November 11, 2007 Back in the late 80s and ealy 90s pace had 3 orion twos. There were out of west.What was their use? Paratransit, community service (like Melrose Park), or fixed route? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pace2322 Posted November 11, 2007 Report Share Posted November 11, 2007 There were used for the Melrose Park stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted November 12, 2007 Report Share Posted November 12, 2007 There were used for the Melrose Park stuff. To Evan--if that's the case they would have been gone in 1995, when Pace got the Chance RT-52s, a couple of which went to Melrose Park. Melrose Park had a deal similar to Niles, but its community buses were pulled (Bill V. says in 2000) when it didn't generate enough ridership (in Pace talk, the village didn't pay enough fares), and was replaced with a van. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTS Book Posted December 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 To Evan--if that's the case they would have been gone in 1995, when Pace got the Chance RT-52s, a couple of which went to Melrose Park. Melrose Park had a deal similar to Niles, but its community buses were pulled (Bill V. says in 2000) when it didn't generate enough ridership (in Pace talk, the village didn't pay enough fares), and was replaced with a van. Thanks for the info, anyone. I'm certainly interested in the topic, but I don't think I'll pursue the book at this time. The RTS piece took quite a bit out of me and my writings in the automotive sector are picking up (covering Detroit and Geneva motor shows this year), so I'm not sure I can handle another book... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 Thanks for the info, anyone. I'm certainly interested in the topic, but I don't think I'll pursue the book at this time. The RTS piece took quite a bit out of me and my writings in the automotive sector are picking up (covering Detroit and Geneva motor shows this year), so I'm not sure I can handle another book... Pls let us know in this forum when the RTS book will be released, I would like to purchase a copy. Good Luck on it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIPTA42 Posted December 10, 2007 Report Share Posted December 10, 2007 The RTS book is available for preorder from Amazon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTS Book Posted December 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2007 The RTS book is available for preorder from Amazon. Although I wasn't able to get images of the 4900 series, there's still a handful of CTA-specific shots in the Series 08 chapter. Notably, I've got pictures of the first prototype being assembled down in Roswell and some early delivery shots of 4400; also a couple other photos of the wide-bodies that were kindly contributed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 12, 2007 Report Share Posted December 12, 2007 Although I wasn't able to get images of the 4900 series, there's still a handful of CTA-specific shots in the Series 08 chapter. Notably, I've got pictures of the first prototype being assembled down in Roswell and some early delivery shots of 4400; also a couple other photos of the wide-bodies that were kindly contributed. I could have helped you out with photos of an exCTA 4900 that now belongs to the Chicago Fire Dept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busfan2847 Posted December 14, 2007 Report Share Posted December 14, 2007 Back in the late 80s and ealy 90s pace had 3 orion twos. There were out of west. Both the Roster linked to above and this site http://www.angelfire.com/ca/TORONTO/builders/orion2.html show that Pace recieved 5 Orion II in May 1987. They were pace f/n 8620-8624 (s/n 5109-13) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTS Book Posted December 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2007 I could have helped you out with photos of an exCTA 4900 that now belongs to the Chicago Fire Dept. I think we had tried that at one point. Oh well; thanks for the effort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted September 11, 2009 Report Share Posted September 11, 2009 Back in the late 80s and ealy 90s pace had 3 orion twos. There were out of west. Since someone brought up the Mel Bernero Photobucket, a picture of one is here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rotjohns Posted September 11, 2009 Report Share Posted September 11, 2009 I remember those types of buses. When I went to Indiana Univ in Bloomington IN in the mid 90s, they had those exact same Orions running slower routes on Bloomington Transit. I rode those all the time, they were pretty cool to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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