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PACE & Orion IIs/ VIs?


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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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  • 4 weeks later...

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...

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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!

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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.

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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.

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  • 1 year later...

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