4P3607 Posted February 14, 2014 Share #1 Posted February 14, 2014 From 1998 until today, February 13, 2014, the Orion V CNG buses roamed our streets, starting from Queens, and eventually spreading to Brooklyn and the Bronx. They first started out at Triboro coach (now LaGuardia depot), Command (now Spring Creek depot) and Queens Surface (now College Point depot). After the private lines merged and became MTA Bus, these buses started to spread elsewhere into Brooklyn and the Bronx at the Jackie Gleason and West Farms depots. In the past year, these buses only operated out the College point depot. These buses wouldn't have retired as late if Hurricane Sandy didn't come through, since they were used on the shuttle. For the past few months, only five buses remained. About two weeks ago, one got retired and then the other three retired as well, leaving 9905 standing. As of today, 9905 made it's last trip on the 6:42 PM Q66 out of Queens Plaza and ended in Flushing around 7:30 PM. The bus is OOS in College Point depot. As a tribute, here are ten of my best photos I got of these buses. An upcoming tribute video will be posted as well. 9902 on the Q25 heading to Jamaica at Flushing-Main Street / Roosevelt Avenue 7227 on the Q38 heading to Otis & 60th Avenues at Woodhaven Blvd & Queens Blvd / Queens Center Mall 7220 on the Q38 heading to Otis / 60 Avenues at Junction Blvd & 57 Avenue 7220 on the Q38 heading to Otis / 60 Avenues at Queens Blvd & 63rd Drive 9857 on the Q65 and 639 on the Q20A at Main Street & 39 Avenue heading to Jamaica 9978 on the Q38 heading to 108 Street-62nd Drive at Metropolitan Avenue and Fresh Pond Road (I was on 9918 when shooting this heading in the other direction to Otis / 60 Aves) 9920, 9897 and 923 waiting to go on the shuttle in Far Rockaway near 22 Street 9920, 9897 and 9875 discharging on the shuttle at Howard Beach 9871 on the Q25 at the last stop (5 Ave-McNeil Park) OOS 9889 on the Q19 heading to Flushing Somewhere in Jackson heights (85 St?) on Astoria Blvd (Just realized Vinnie is driving) This is the end of an Era as there are no more Ex-Private bus lines buses running in Service. These buses brought delight to many busfans. A ride on one of these, especially on a long route such as the Q53, would be one to remember. Hope you enjoy the photos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-CT1660- Posted February 14, 2014 Share #2 Posted February 14, 2014 This is the end of an Era as there are no more Ex-Private bus lines buses running in Service. You forgot that the ex-NYBS MCI's are still in service... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewFlyer 230 Posted February 14, 2014 Share #3 Posted February 14, 2014 I saw 9905 in service yesterday they are suppose to use the Orion's until the tank expires or they have problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4P3607 Posted February 14, 2014 Author Share #4 Posted February 14, 2014 You forgot that the ex-NYBS MCI's are still in service... Alright. LOCAL buses. Will fix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbo19 Posted February 14, 2014 Share #5 Posted February 14, 2014 Awesome set! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lennyj17 Posted February 14, 2014 Share #6 Posted February 14, 2014 9905 was originally what PBL?? Interesting to see what PBL had the last local coach standing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trife86 Posted February 14, 2014 Share #7 Posted February 14, 2014 Why are these so interesting to most people. I drive the orion 5 diesel regularly and from my understanding is the CNG is even slower and is more fuel hungry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigreg79 Posted February 14, 2014 Share #8 Posted February 14, 2014 At first I didn't like those BUSES when queens surface but they grew on me as time went on rip to the Orion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aemoreira81 Posted February 14, 2014 Share #9 Posted February 14, 2014 Why are these so interesting to most people. I drive the orion 5 diesel regularly and from my understanding is the CNG is even slower and is more fuel hungry These were the last local connections to the private lines. There are six ex-PBL buses still in service, but those are the ex-NYBS D4500s from 2002. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-CT1660- Posted February 14, 2014 Share #10 Posted February 14, 2014 9905 was originally what PBL?? Interesting to see what PBL had the last local coach standing. Queens Surface. by the way, they're gonna run those buses till' they quit working' or until their tanks expire in a few months... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mta B43 Posted February 14, 2014 Share #11 Posted February 14, 2014 Yea I'm sure 9905 will operate again, as for the other 3, probably. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cait Sith Posted February 14, 2014 Share #12 Posted February 14, 2014 As of today, 9905 made it's last trip on the 6:42 PM Q66 out of Queens Plaza and ended in Flushing around 7:30 PM. The bus is OOS in College Point depot. Erm, that bus is in service, like right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHV9218 Posted February 14, 2014 Share #13 Posted February 14, 2014 Co-sign. Who the hell started this rumor? 9905 pulled out at 6:53 AM this morning on the Q66, run 626. Save the funeral procession, guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lennyj17 Posted February 14, 2014 Share #14 Posted February 14, 2014 Queens Surface. Yea - I was wondering what its original unit number was. and 9905 was originally an Express-seater coach wasn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SevenEleven Posted February 14, 2014 Share #15 Posted February 14, 2014 Yea - I was wondering what its original unit number was. and 9905 was originally an Express-seater coach wasn't it? It was 473, non-suburban. http://www.ttmg.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=The_MTA_Bus_Renumbering_(8568-8581,_9700-9999) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cait Sith Posted February 14, 2014 Share #16 Posted February 14, 2014 Yea - I was wondering what its original unit number was. and 9905 was originally an Express-seater coach wasn't it? You might be thinking of 9995, which was an express seater. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-CT1660- Posted February 15, 2014 Share #17 Posted February 15, 2014 9849 and 9905 are both on the ready line. 9836 and 9899 are both on the OOS line, as for 9889, someone mentioned it went up to zerega. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4P3607 Posted February 16, 2014 Author Share #18 Posted February 16, 2014 What?? I was told twice that they were done... If my info was false, sorry about that. That's what I and a few others truly believed. Mods can remove the false info (but not the pics) if they want. Either way, these buses are on the verge of being gone, so it's not like they're still plentiful and I'm completely wrong. To be honest, I'm happy my info is false. We get to ride these buses a few more times! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missabassie Posted February 16, 2014 Share #19 Posted February 16, 2014 There's too much foaming over these damn things... just let em konk out already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-CT1660- Posted February 22, 2014 Share #20 Posted February 22, 2014 9899 returned to the ready line after a while... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill from Maspeth Posted February 22, 2014 Share #21 Posted February 22, 2014 The last day of these are likely not known. Every rush hour depots scramble to make full service. If these are needed to accomplish that, they are used, if they are not needed they are not used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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