1985-1988 : Orion Ikarus

[STO_1601]

2 hours ago, Shane said:

I don’t remember exactly which ones but I believe the last few were taken off the road 2002 December or January 2021, Or very shortly after. 

I remember in the end there was only a handful on the final days. They were not retired in large numbers or all at once but little by little. 

what I do remember is the final one on the road retired due to the fuel pump dying. 

Do you mean January 2003?

[Shane]

Yes. 2003. 

[TLantos]

About 50 of the originals (model 280) are still operating daily in Budapest.

https://www.bkv.hu/hu/magunkrol/jarmuveink/ikarus_280

[Ikarus8737]

I am a former OC Transpo operator. I drove most of the remaining Ikaruses from 2000-early 2003. I can tell you that the last 2 on the road were 8763 and (unbelievably) 8604 which was one of the most rusty and poorly tuned (slow) Ikaruses in the fleet at that point. Of all the models of buses that I drove (until 2011) when I moved on to other positions, the Ikaruses were my favorite, even though they had a lot of faults. The worst ones were horrible but the best ones were a blast to drive (when they were well tuned). My favorites were 8501, 8517, 8528, 8607, 8627, 8654, 8729, 8737, 8747, 8869. Obviously, I had a Cummins preference but the DD's were fun too if they were well tuned. 

[Shane]

Welcome to the site @Ikarus8737. I too loved the Ikarus buses. 

My favorites were the DD series, especially for the unique sounds the engines made. Excessive, overdone, overly dramatic are words I think of.

There are a few sounds posted on the first post of which 8869 is featured.

[STO_1601]

19 hours ago, Ikarus8737 said:

I am a former OC Transpo operator. I drove most of the remaining Ikaruses from 2000-early 2003. I can tell you that the last 2 on the road were 8763 and (unbelievably) 8604 which was one of the most rusty and poorly tuned (slow) Ikaruses in the fleet at that point. Of all the models of buses that I drove (until 2011) when I moved on to other positions, the Ikaruses were my favorite, even though they had a lot of faults. The worst ones were horrible but the best ones were a blast to drive (when they were well tuned). My favorites were 8501, 8517, 8528, 8607, 8627, 8654, 8729, 8737, 8747, 8869. Obviously, I had a Cummins preference but the DD's were fun too if they were well tuned. 

Do you know if any of the 4-door (88XX) Ikarus' survived into early 2003? What was the last 4-door Ikarus in service?

[Ralph Raccoon]

A list of those retired at least as far back as 1998:

8502, 8505-8510, 8512, 8514-8516, 8518-8527, 8530-8533, 8601-8602, 8610, 8612, 8618-8620, 8624, 8626, 8629-8630, 8634, 8636, 8639, 8641, 8643-8644, 8647-8649, 8651, 8724-8726, 8728, 8733-8734, 8738, 8744, 8748-8749, 8751, 8754, 8756, 8762, 8841, 8844, 8850, 8853, 8863, 8865 and 8870.

If any of those were retired in previous years, it will be useful information, because it is possible some were retired in 1996 and 1997. 

[STO_1601]

This song best describes the Orion-Ikaruses! They were crazy buses.