(Sound) TTC 1987-88 Orion III (Musical ZF)

I hope y'all remembered this bus from the '80s, it's the TTC Orion III.

Toronto Transit Commission 6360-6419, 6530-6559 were Orion 03.501 buses built and delivered between 1987 and 1989. This series of buses was purchased alongside 9530-9564, Orion II buses used on Wheel-Trans.[1] The Orion III was a joint venture between Ikarus of Hungary and Orion Bus Industries of Mississauga, ON. Ikarus provided the frames of the vehicles, and Orion installed the mechanical systems and other components such as windows and interior.

Cracks and corrosion developed in the frames rather quickly due to poor workmanship, materials, and rust proofing. Thus the buses were pulled off the roads en mass several times during their careers. After the first discovery of frame issues in 1995, the TTC placed an order with Orion for 135 Orion V 40 foot long buses, enough to replace the entire fleet of 90 articulated vehicles. These Orion V buses were numbered 7000-7134.

While all of the buses were retired by September 2000, 19 buses were rebuilt and put back into service a year later due to a bus shortage and increasing ridership. The final 19 were retired for good by June 2003. Other units were sold to OC Transpo, where they were rebuilt and lasted until 2003.

May this bus RIP :'(


Engine: Detroit Diesel 6L71TA
Transmission: ZF 5HP590

Note: Audio not mine, is from this link and it's recorded by Allen Dicion (I think): http://www.transithub.net/sounds.htm