Ikarus Bus

Icarus is a Hungarian manufacturer of buses and trolley buses in Budapest Mátyásföld and Székesfehérvár. He was one of the largest bus manufacturer in the world during the 1980s. In cooperation with Western manufacturers also emerged types of vehicles for the rest of the world market.

History

The company was founded in 1895 and Icarus was primarily known for his coaches and city buses, which played a significant role in the Eastern bloc - time. Especially the buses of the 200 series were (thanks CMEA specialization) produced in enormous quantities and meant that Icarus was the largest bus manufacturer in the world temporarily with an annual production of 15,000 buses. Over 30,000 buses were delivered to 1990 alone into the GDR. In many successor states of the USSR are the buses, partly as trolley buses in use. At the time of the Soviet bloc Ikarus buses were assembled in Cuba, Mozambique, Angola and Iran from CKD kits.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Ikarus delivered also in larger numbers the basis for trolleybuses, which were also exported to the Soviet Union, East Germany, Bulgaria and Romania. The delivery of the electrical equipment was carried out by the Budapest company full (including type TK101 with 150 kilowatts) or by the BBC (type 4ELO 2052K 169- kilowatt ). Furthermore, the early 1990s were 13 articulated buses of the type 280 rebuilt in Poland O buses. They were given the series designation 280E and perverse in Gdynia (nine), Lublin (four) and Slupsk ( a ).

Ikarus from 1999 to 2006 Member of the Irisbus group. Following the bankruptcy left on 11 December 2007 and the last bus the workshops. What remains is a body and vehicle parts factory.

The company " Ikarusbus " the proposed new bus types E127, V134 (each Midibus ) and V187 ( articulated ) presented in the autumn of 2010. Meanwhile, there are also prototypes of it. Together with long-time partner Raba 2010, the new bus models were presented according to Euro 5 emissions standard and wireless Internet Budapest. Icarus himself valued 2010 that are about 100,000 Ikarus buses in operation worldwide.

Vehicles and types

After the Second World War, the then usual built on ladder frame buses were built with positioned above the front axle motors ( Icarus 30, 31, 60, 305, 306, 601, 602, 620 and 630), other series have been equipped with rear-wheel drive ( Icarus 55, 66, 303, 304, 555 ). At the same buses with self-supporting structures ( Tr3.5, Icarus 31) have already been built. The early 1950s constructed rear engine types Icarus 55 and 66 fell outside on particularly by the large rear. The first versions of these types were equipped with a pneumatically actuated clutch and electrically pre-selectable gear, but had stability problems, especially in the loaded from heavy-duty diesel engine tail. These were dissolved until 1960, and the buses were successfully produced up to the 1970s.

Until the mid- 1960s, bigger buses were needed for the big city traffic. The diesel engines previously used Csepel were too weak for such a large capacity buses. By Rába concluded with the German MAN license agreement could be used from 1965 onwards powerful engines in the new series 556, and the first fully prepared at Ikarus articulated bus type 180. These two series with underfloor engine found with the types 260 and 280 of the 200 series of very successful successor, which were supplied in large numbers in the former Eastern bloc countries in the framework of CMEA Agreement.

In the Hamburg area Ikarus buses were 1973-1986 also be observed here, however, in the designed according to the German guidelines VÖV standard bus - I version. The transport company Hamburg- Holstein (TBR ) received from 1973 to 1976 several series of rear-engined bus type Ikarus 190 (total 154 cars) and used them on their lines in the southeast of Hamburg (district Bergedorf ) and Holstein (especially in Neumünster Norderstedt ). Again, a Raba - MAN engine was used. Later, this type was also delivered to Kuwait.

The buses manufactured from the 1970s to the 1990s in more than 200,000 units of the 200 series are divided into:

• 211: 8.5 -meter Midibus with components of the Vehicle Industry Association (IFA )
• 250/255/256: Coaches in different versions
• 260: 11 -meter articulated bus with underfloor engine for the city and intercity transport
• 261: right-hand drive variant of type 260
• 263: 12-meter articulated bus with underfloor engine for the city and suburban traffic
• 266: 11 -meter articulated bus for city and highway from 1979 to 1982
• 280: 16.5 -meter articulated bus with underfloor engine for the city and intercity transport
• 281: right-hand drive variant of type 280
• 283/284: articulated pusher rear engine in the style of 280

These models were each different sub- options, different numbers and types of doors and trolleybus variants. Furthermore, there were still some prototypes and models in very small numbers as well as superstructures on chassis from other manufacturers. The Ikarus buses made ​​possible due to the high numbers in the transport companies an almost single type of use and efficient maintenance. Especially the underfloor engine types 556/260 were known for their good acceleration. Were unfavorable in part, the poor availability of original spare parts and the vehicle tank independent auxiliary heating systems, their capacity in winter often not enough for a full days use.

1991 came in large numbers Ikarus city buses of types 260 and 280 in the Turkish city of Istanbul, where they are partially used with environmentally friendly gas drive.

In the 1980s, modern city buses are designed with a rear engine and a lower floor height: Ikarus 415 ( 11.4 -meter articulated bus, first as a 410 NE called ) and 435 ( 17.9 -meter articulated bus ). In the 1990s, were also presented at Icarus low-floor buses: Ikarus 412 ( 12-meter articulated bus ), 417 ( articulated ) and 405 ( Midibus ). 1994, attempted to enter through the Wuppertal location with such buses in Germany back foot. So 405 ( Midibus ) and 417 ( articulated ) were used from 1995 in Wuppertal Icarus, which was then scored in their special " continuous heating ". Another Ikarus 417 was used from 1996 at the Potsdamer Havelbus transport company. However, it was not to sell more buses in Germany. Both Havelbus as well as the Wuppertal Stadtwerke the Icarus low-floor buses in 2005 excreted from the service.

Partnerships with other manufacturers

In the 1980s, parts of sets of Icarus types 256, 260 and 280 as well as the types of buses were delivered 256 and 280 to Cuba. There they were assembled by the manufacturer Giron.

1991, 28x - he delivered assemblies to Thailand and there probably for type 285 (but referred to as Type 283 ) are assembled.

Whereabouts of the car in Germany

The last still used in regular service Ikarus Ikarus 280.03 was the CCG in Zittau, which completed its last mission trip on August 31, 2010. The 55 series vehicles (travel and intercity ) and 66 ( urban and bus ) can be experienced nowadays mainly in traditional meetings. Copies of the front engine types 601 and 31/311, however, are almost completely gone.

Of the eight Ikarus 250, which until 1989 were the Central Committee of the SED in the period of 1984 mainly for hunting trips and transfer services available to the vehicle with registration ABI ZK 89 is still at the cousin tourism in Zoerbig ( district Salzfurtkapelle ) for special trips in use. The bus, which was made the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the GDR, Erich Mielke, is characterized by the special equipment with 16 comfortable swivel chairs. In the area reserved for Erich Honecker chair a thermometer is integrated. The ride was reproduced by means of external camera to video equipment.

Gallery

Icarus 630 ( chassis with bodywork )

Rear-engine type Ikarus 55

Icarus 66 and suburban

Ikarus 66 in Bad Schandau ( 1988)

Articulated Ikarus 180 in 1970 in East Berlin

Midibus Ikarus 405 ( Budapest)

Ikarus 556 in Baghdad ( 1973)

200 series

Hungarian Ikarus 250

Hungarian Ikarus 256

Romanian Ikarus 260

Greek Icarus, still in use in 2007 as a feeder for commuters at rush hour

Ikarus 263 of the Regional Public Transportation Westsachsen

Ikarus articulated bus type 280.03 of the Berlin Transport Services

Ikarus 280 in Berlin- painting of the VEB Berlin Transport

Ikarus 280T trolleybus from Eberswalde

Ikarus 280T trolleybus at Weimar

Ikarus buses in the model

The company L. Mr. KG, a manufacturer of model trains and model vehicles, developed in the 1960s, models of the types Icarus 31, 311, 55 and 66 in scale 1:87 ( H0 nominal size ). The models 31, 311, and 55 were initially sold under its own name, from 1967/68 under the brand Espewe. The developed model of Icarus 66 at Lord appeared already Espewe. During the Icarus 55 was already suspended at the end of the '60s, there was the 31/311 to the mid-70s, the 66 to the late 70s, now under " Plasticart ". Under the later name " model vehicles " experienced the Ikarus types 31/311 late 80s surprisingly a new edition.

In 1979 Espewe brought under the brand minicar a model of Ikarus 260 on the market, the window is already flush used and a suspension possessed. The above mentioned models can be found today at Modelltec branded SES in the production program. Models of the Icarus 556 and 180 on the same scale offered by Beka model.