Text and Photos by Marcus Danchuk
On Saturday September 22nd 2018, the last remaining Orion VII bus in Oakville Transit’s fleet was chartered, as a farewell trip for this series of buses, while touring Oakville and portions of Mississauga as well. After this charter, the bus would remain in service for quite some time, before finally being retired in late October 2019.
Oakville Transit Orion VII 2018 Charter Image Archive
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The charter would pick up attendees at Oakville GO Station as Oakville Transit 4101 arrives.
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Following a brief photo stop and picking up everyone at Oakville GO, the first stop would be in front of the old Orion plant in Mississauga.
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4101 poses on Kingsway Drive, near Winston Churchill as a 12 Winston Park bus
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The next photo stop on Glenashton Drive would see Oakville Transit 9108 pass 4101, while in service on route 20 Northridge.
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While at this point, the charter was winding down, a surprise stop at the Oakville Transit Garage where we would be met by New Flyer D40LF 5105. However, the surprises would not stop there....
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The Uptown Core Terminal stop would see 4101 meet with Oakville Transit 1608, while displaying signage for the 24 South Common route.
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On River Glen Blvd, while 4101 poses as a 190 River Oaks Express bus, Oakville Transit 9106 would pass by, in service on 19 River Oaks.
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The rest stop of the day would be made at the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital, while 4101 displayed signage for route 3 Third Line.
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Following the brief rest stop, it was off to Kingsridge and Third Line, where 4101 would once again display 3 Third Line signage.
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The next stop was on Westoak Trails Blvd, where 4101 would pose as a 13 Westoak Trails bus.
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Other Oakville Transit buses were seen at Bronte GO Station, while 4101 pulls up a destination sign for the 4 Speers-Cornwall route.
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Stopping at the Trafalgar/407 GO carpool terminal, 4101 would pose as a 1 Trafalgar bus.
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Ex-TTC Orion I 8375 is also seen arriving at the Oakville Garage.
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Privately owned buses would also make an appearance at this stop too, as ex-Grand River Transit Orion VI 534 would arrive shortly after 4101 arrived.
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A meeting between generations of Orion buses. Ex-TTC Orion I 8375, Ex-Grand River Transit Orion VI 534 and Oakville Transit Orion VII 4101 creating the opportunity for a unique photo.
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The last stop of the day before returning to Oakville GO would be made on Dunn Street while posing as a 14 Lakeshore West bus.
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