Buses: Throwback Thursday

[Csalem]

This week we are returning to 2000 and the era of demonstrators. 99 D 76023 was a Volvo / Plaxton President, and was one of number of low-floor buses trialled by Dublin Bus. 1999 had seen the last step-entrance buses delivered to Dublin Bus in the form of the Volvo Olympians. An example of this bus can be seen in the background. By this point accessibility had become a much more important issue, and all future bus orders for Dublin Bus would be low-floor, Ultimately it was decided to go with Alexander bodied buses on Volvo chassis, starting with the AV class in late 2000. However in 2005 some tri-axle Enviro 500s were delivered from Alexander Dennis, and the bodies of these buses borrowed some stylings from the Plaxton President. For many years they operated from Dun Laoghaire the 46A, and other routes.
This bus went on to a long career in the UK, joining Sullivan's once its career as a demonstrator was over. It remained with Sullivan's up until at least 2017, with the registration X15 JOP.
Currently in 2020 Dublin Bus have some hybrid buses on trial, with CO2 emissions becoming the issue of the day, like accessibility was twenty years ago. 20/02/2000

Throwback Thursday (215) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr

[Csalem]

It is 1984 and KD 92 is seen on Eden Quay displaying route 65A, a route which I don't know a lot about. What I do know is that it was part of the 65 group of routes and that it ran from the City Centre to The Embankment pub, just past Tallaght on the road to Blessington. The regular 65 continued on south to serve either Blessington, Ballympre Eustace or Ballyknockan. Due to the length of these routes, in the peaks they operated minimum fares. A number of longer distance ion the routes charged these slightly higher fares in order to discourage passengers from using the routes for shorter journeys, thus allowing people going further afield an opportunity to get on the bus. The 65A was withdrawn from the Dublin Bus network in 1994, around the same time the nearby Citywest development was taking off. It was not until 2012 that the 65B was extended from Killinarden Heights to Citywest.
KD 92 was delivered new to Dublin in 1982 and operated out of Ringsend Garage. It was withdrawn and scrapped in the 1990s. 27/02/1984

Throwback Thursday (216) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr

[Csalem]

A trip back to the last century this week as we see KC 117 at Dublin Airport. This bus was one of four buses (KC 116-119) that was done up for the express service between the airport and Bus Aras, the central bus station in Dublin. Later the route was extended to Heuston Station. The buses differed from regular members of the KC class by having no middle doors and better seats They entered service on the route around 1986 and remained in service until 1999. In their last few years KC 116 and KC 117 were painted in the new Airlink livery, the brand applied to the route with the arrival of the AD class buses in 1994. KC 118 and KC 119 rejoined the normal fleet in 1994, and had a centre door fitted as well as being painted into Dublin Bus livery. In 1999 the route gained some RV double-deckers, low-floor double-deckers in 2000 (AV Class) followed by newer ones in 2009 (VG Class). To date those are the newest buses the route has received.
This week (in 2020) National Express started three new services between Dublin Airport and the city centre under the brand name Dublin Express. Aircoach have also been providing a similar service for twenty years. Dublin Airport, 06/03/1999

Throwback Thursday (217) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr

[Csalem]

This week we are going beyond Dublin to the County Kildare town of Celbridge. KD 53 is seen about to turn onto Main Street in Celbridge, from the Maynooth Road. It is operating a service on route 67 to the City Centre. This route used to terminate at the Salesian College to the west of Celbridge, towards Maynooth. Certain services continued on to Maynooth as the 67A. In 2010, under the Network Direct changes to the bus routes, both routes were combined into an extended 67 to Maynooth. 10 years on this is still the routing we have today.
KD 53 was delivered new to CIE in November 1981 and passed to Dublin Bus in 1987. It was built by Bombardier at their Shannon plant in County Clare. 15/03/1996

Throwback Thursday (218) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr

[tommie]

I know it’s not CIE, but have you any photos of St Kevin’s Bus that ran from St Stevens Green on a Friday late eve toGlendalough. Where we went on this service to Rock Climb back in the mid 60’s,would be a great memory to have

[kellier]

I know it’s not CIE, but have you any photos of St Kevin’s Bus that ran from St Stevens Green on a Friday late eve toGlendalough. Where we went on this service to Rock Climb back in the mid 60’s,would be a great memory to have

Its still running Tommie albeit with a lovely modern bus.

This link has some small photos of old Kevins bus's.

http://www.glendaloughbus.com/about-us.aspx

[Csalem]

I know it’s not CIE, but have you any photos of St Kevin’s Bus that ran from St Stevens Green on a Friday late eve toGlendalough. Where we went on this service to Rock Climb back in the mid 60’s,would be a great memory to have

I don't think my father ever photographed it, but if I come across any I will share. I don't think I have photographed the modern version either.

[kellier]

2 photos of Kevins bus. One is fairly modern and dont know what era the other one would be.

[Csalem]

With the coronavirus situation developing across the world, I like many people, have been working from home this week (and at least next week too). Home is Balbriggan, and chance would have it that it is the turn of a Balbriggan photograph this week.
RH 131 is seen loading up at the 33 terminus in Balbriggan with a working back to Dublin. Unusually, this is the 16:15 departure which goes via Portrane. One outbound bus from Dublin also went via Portrane in the mornings. The usual 33 route was to go straight on from Swords to Lusk, Rush, Skerries and Balbriggan. The deviation vie Donabate and Portrane started in 1966 when a new secondary school opened in Rush and it was a way for Donabate students to get there and back. Traditionally students going to Skerries or Balbriggan from Donabate would get the train. In 2002 the afternoon trip via Portrane on the 33 was cancelled, and a private school bus filled the gap. In 2003 the morning trip from Dublin was shortened to Skerries. In 2018 when Go-Ahead Ireland took over the 33A, the Portrane 33 was renumbered 33E and was operated by Phibsborough Garage. In January 2020 the 33E switched back to Summerhill Garage.
The original 33 terminus was on the other side of the road (where the photographer is standing). In the early 2000s it relocated from where the bus is in the photo to further south along this road, opposite Ss Peter and Paul Church. All three stops are also Bus Eireann stops on route 101 between Dublin and Drogheda.
RH 131 was delivered new to Dublin Bus in February 1992. It was withdrawn in 2005 and joined the Dualway open-top tour fleet in 2006. It was withdrawn after 2013.
19/03/1992

Throwback Thursday (219) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr

[Csalem]

This week we go back to 1998 and the era of many brands within Dublin Bus. City Swift was introduced in 1993 based on the concept of providing frequent services on core routes. The first route to go over was the 39 between the City Centre and Clonsilla. Overtime the concept was rolled out to routes 13/A, 25A, 40, 41/B/C, 46A, 51B, 77, 78A and the 27. The 27 changed-over in May 1996 and RA 273 was part of the batch of buses delivered to Clontarf for the service. It is seen parked on Talbot Street near the 27 terminus prior to departing with a working to Coolock. The City Swift concept only lasted just over a decade, but the 27 route is still with us. In 2011 under Network Direct, it was merged with another ex-City Swift route (the 77) to become a cross-city route from Clare Hall to Jobstown. It stopped serving Talbot Street at that time, moving instead to the quays.
RA 273 remained with Dublin Bus until 2008, when it was sold to Dualway's and joined their open-top tour fleet. By 2016 it was withdrawn. 26/03/1998

Throwback Thursday (220) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr

[Csalem]

It is 1984 and KC 14 is seen at the 80 terminus on Ormond Quay. This route can trace its history back to the DUTC and even before that. The route ran from the city centre to Clonsilla via Castleknock and Luttrellstown. As the 39 provided a more direct route to Clonsilla, Luttrellstown was often used as the destination on the bus. In 1984 the route was run out of Conyngham Road Garage and ran Monday to Saturday. The route was withdrawn in 1993 when CitySwift started on route 39. By then the 80 was departing from Middle Abbey Street along with the other Navan Road routes. The routing of the 80 has mostly been replaced by a combination of the 37 and 239.
KC 14 was delivered new to Dublin in October 1983.
The building beside the bus was for years the Zanzibar and then Bondi Beach night clubs. With a prime location beside the Ha'penny Bridge, it is now being turned into a hotel. 01/04/1984

Throwback Thursday (221) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr

[cogito]

It is 1984 and KC 14 is seen at the 80 terminus on Ormond Quay. This route can trace its history back to the DUTC and even before that. The route ran from the city centre to Clonsilla via Castleknock and Luttrellstown. As the 39 provided a more direct route to Clonsilla, Luttrellstown was often used as the destination on the bus...

The Luttrellstown terminus would have been across the road from Clonsilla railway station ?

[Csalem]

The Luttrellstown terminus would have been across the road from Clonsilla railway station ?

Yes. Same terminus the 39 used when it went to CitySwift - the entrance to St. Mary's Church.

[Csalem]

It is 1996 and AD 53 is seen in Dun Laoghaire on the decidedly non-City Swift route 45A. Route 45 started between the City Centre and Bray (going via Blackrock) in 1927 and lasted until 2012. The 45A started running between Dun Laoghaire and Bray (via Sallynoggin and Shankill) in 1942 and still with us today. For many years it terminated at Ballywaltrim, but in 2015 it swapped terminii with the 145 and moved to Kilmacanogue. In 2018 Go-Ahead Ireland took over operation of the route. One notable feature of the route was one departure a day in each direction that went via Shanganagh Cliffs in Shankill, That still continues under Go-Ahead Ireland but is now designated route 45B.
AD 53 was delivered new to Dublin Bus in 1994. They were Alexander bodies on DAF chassis and operated throughout the city, mainly on CitySwift routes. Some were also bought for Airlink and route 90 Stationlink. Although it is in CitySwift livery, AD 53 is unbranded as Donnybrook only had one CitySwift route (the 46A) and that was unsuitable for single-deckers. Hence these buses appeared on a variety of other routes, such as the 45A. In 1999 it and AD 54 were placed onto the icon Shuttle to Leopardstown but it only lasted until late-2000. AD 53 ended its career in standard Dublin Bus livery. Withdrawals of the ADs from Dublin Bus started in 2004 and finished in 2005, with most ending up on Bus Eireann school services.
It is worth noting the footbridge in the background. This was the main entrance / exit to the station and platforms in Dun Laoghaire. A man used to stand on the bridge to check tickets. Now a more substantial structure straddles the railway. 09/04/1996

Throwback Thursday (222) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr

[Csalem]

This week we are back in Dun Laoghaire, this time to see KC 87 on the 111 in 1990.
At this time the 111 was only four years old. It was one of a number of routes designed to connect in with the new electric DART train service. These DART feeder services included the the 88 in Howth, the 102 in Sutton, the 101 in Harmonstown, the 103 in Killester, the 90 at Connolly, the 52 at Sydney Parade, the 113 and 114 in Blackrock and the 111 in Killiney. The 111 connected Dun Laoghaire with Loughlinstown Park going via Sallynoggin. Over the years the route saw its frequency cut-back as the DART feeder concept slowly faded away. By 2009 it was a peak-hours only service, Monday to Friday. However, in 2015 a reorganisation of the Dun Laoghaire network took place, and the 111 went through a remarkable transformation. The 111 was rerouted to run from Brides Glen Luas stop to Dalkey, via Loughlinstown, Sallynoggin and Dun Laoghaire, as well as regaining an all-day timetable. Until 2018, the new timetable was Monday-Saturday, but when Go-Ahead Ireland took over the route, it became a seven-day operation.
KC 87 was delivered new to Dublin in 1983.
Finally, this area around Dun Laoghaire station has changed a lot over the last thirty years, with the buildings in the background replaced by an apartment and office block, the bus stops and shelters and have also been replaced, and most of the buses that park here now are operated by Go-Ahead Ireland. The 46A is the only Dublin Bus route to stop here.
Dun Laoghaire, 17/04/2020

Throwback Thursday (223) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr