Connie - 1993 BIA Orion 01.502

Here is a montage of video clips of 400 running around Orange County, NY.
Song: What You Waitin' For (Reel People Instrumental Mix)
Artist: Tony Momrelle
(I Do Not Own The Rights To This Music)

[@davidlilly3564]

Cool bus. I really love it. Please keep on move in.

[@zz449944]

Orion I buses were great. They looked good, they sounded good, they were great to drive.
When TCAT (Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit) was formed from 3 separate transit operators, they began operations with 21 Orion I buses in service and a few others as parts buses, build dates 1983 thru 1992. Almost all of those Orion I buses OUTLIVED their Replacements. The last ones remaining had been in service for 25 years and by that time contained parts from all of the other previous buses.
For example, # 565 was built in 1985 , Purchased for $1 from Utica Transit Authority and served until 2006.
And # 914 was built in 1991, was finally retired in 2016.
If anyone at the time had known how reliable and repairable those Orion I buses would be, it would have made sense for TCAT to buy up more Orion I buses from other operators rather than having spent money to buy brand new junk buses. One big advantage that TCAT had was starting out with more than 21 Orion I's which gave them a good supply of parts and components that they were able to refurbish and rebuild in-house making it possible to swap engines and drivetrains and even body panels, doors, seats, etc and keep as many buses in service as possible. It also probably helped that Orion Bus Industries had their USA base of operations in Oriskany, NY only 100 miles away.

[@freddiejames2083]

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