The Bombardiers Are Coming Soon.

Welcome To Patrick Losty's

JANUARY.


Phibsboro garage - the four double deck types active in Dublin Bus service at the start of 1995 line up for the camera. From left to right - Leyland  Atlantean, DF519 (519-ZD), Leyland Atlantean AN68, Vanhool, DF839 (839-NIK), Bombardier, KD347 (GSI-347), Leyland Olympian Alexander, RH37 (90-D-1037). During 1995, the Leyland Atlantean and Leyland Atlantean AN68, Vanhool classes were fully withdrawn from regular service (except for examples on Dublin City Tours/driving School) and a start would be made on the withdrawl of the Bombardier KD class.


Donnybrook's Leyland Olympian, RH40 (90-D-1040) in newly applied 'Swatch' AOA livery photographed at the route 11 terminus at Bird Avenue, Clonskea. RH40 was the Donnybrook 'Harp Larger' AOA livery bus during 1991/1992.


Donnybrook's DF784 (784-BIK) photographed operating the last Donnybrook, Leyland Atlantean, AN68 Vanhool service on Saturday, 21 January 1995 seen here being driven by Des Willis at the 46B terminus at Kilmacud.

FEBRUARY.


Bus Eireann,Bedford SB5, Marshall Campagna, ex.U.K. Ministry of Defence (MoD), BM105 (78-D-892) photographed in Broadstone garage. There were a total of 105 BMs taken into the schools fleet.


Bus Eireann's, Bombardier, KE51 (51- KZL), photographed outside Galway railway station. There were 52 KEs in total, KE1 (1-HZD), KE2 (2-VZJ) to KE50 (50-VZJ),KE51 (51-KZL), KE52 (52-RZO).


Galway's, GAC, KR71 (EZV-71) in 'Irish Kidney Association - Organ Donor Card' AOA livery photographed parked outside Galway railway station. This AOA was very similar to Phibsboro's RH4 (90-D-1004), please see WITY 1993.

MARCH.


This was the first RA Volvo Olympian delivered in 1995, Ringsend's RA196 (95-D-196) was photographed on College Green. Ringsend received the batch RA196 (95-D-196) to RA215 (95-D-215). Notice the roof marker lights, these were also fitted to the rear dome and note also the RH fleet branding which would later be changed to RA196.


Ringsend's ML7 (94-D-1007) in partial' The Square Towncentre Tallaght' AOA livery photographed in Ringsend Garage.

APRIL.


Summerhill's D695 (695-ZO) on the route 16A to Rathfarnham followed by Phibsboro's KD221 (221-OZU) heading for Drimnagh passes Ringsend's brand new RA209 (95-D-209) on College Green.


Conyngham Road's KD115 (115-JZL) loads up with passengers at the 68A terminus on Aston Quay.


Phibsboro's RH121 (91-D-10121) in 'Coca-Cola' AOA livery passes by Donnybrook's RH40 (90-D-1040) in 'Swatch' AOA livery. RH40 was at the time on loan to Phibsboro while green liveried RH4 went in return on loan to Donnybrook.


Donnybrook's AD62 (94-D-33062) in basic CitySwift livery photographed on Rathmines Road operating the route 14 to Braemor Road, Churchtown.


Ringsend's brand new RA214 (95-D-214) loads up with passengers at the route 15B terminus on College Green.


Donnybrook's brand new 29 seat, Mercedes 811D, Leicester Carriage Builders, ML22 (95-D5022) at the route 155 terminus on College Green. There were 15 MLs delivered during 1995, ML21 (95-D-5021) to ML35 (95-D-5035).


Donnybrook's RH147 (92-D-147) in experimental navy/grey fleet livery photographed on Eden Quay operating the route 45 to Oldcourt.


Ringsend's ex.Donnybrooks DF765(765-BIK), DF764 (764-BIK), DF773 (773-BIK) in Broadstone having being ousted from service by the delivery of RA196 - RA215 batch to Ringsend. When based in Donnybrook, DF764 was painted into the very eye-catching 'Shell Super Multigrade Oil'' AOA livery and was painted into the then fleet tan livery in December 1986.


Ringsend's ex.Donnybrook, DF785 (785-BIK), photographed operating the last Ringsend, Leyland Atlantean, AN68, Vanhool service on Saturday 22 April 1995 seen here being driven by Tony Cooney at the 15B terminus on College Green. When based at Donnybrook, DF785 was painted into the 'Denny' AOA livery in 1988 and was painted back into fleet green livery in September 1990.


Phibsboro's RH122 (91-D-10122) operating the route 10 to the Phoenix Park in newly applied 'Corel Draw' AOA livery.


Clontarf's KD3 (3-JZL) photographed in Marlborough Street having just operated the route 27B from Castletimon.


Gary Manahan's R788 (OIK 984) parked outside the Savoy Cinema on O'Connell Street to celebrate the first screening of the film 'A Man Of No Importance' a film R788 starred.

JUNE.


Summerhill based Mazda engined CVE Omni, W4, (94-D-29004), wheelchair accessible minibus photographed on O'Connell Street operating route 222. There were 5 Ws in total and were registered 94-D-29001 to 94-D- 29005.


Bus Eireann, 53 seat,Volvo B10M-62, Caetano Algarve II,VC22 (95-D-26636), only two VC's were registered to the Bus Eireann fleet during 1995, VC21-22.

JULY.


Phibsboro's RA219 (95-D-219) in fully CitySwift livery operating the route 37 to Abbey Street (contarary to what the destination blind indicates), seen inbound at Blackhall Place. Phibsboro received the batch RA216 (95-D-216) to RA219 (95-D-219) and these buses were the first factory delivered RAs in CitySwift livery. RA216 had the front and rear dome marker lights like Ringsend's RA196.


Phibsboro's Mercedes 709D, Eurocoach, ME28 (94-D-37028) photographed at McKelvey Avenue, terminus of the new City Imp route 134 from Abbey Street. The City Imp route 134 replaced the route 34.


Conyngham road's brand new RA227 (95-D-227) in partial Cityswift livery photographed in Abbey street operating route 66 to Maynooth. Conyngham road received the batch RA225 (95-D-225) to RA229 (95-D-229), RA225-RA227 were delivered in CitySwift livery and RA228 - RA229 were in white wedding livery.


Ringsend's brand new RA234 (95-D-234) photographed at the route 77 terminus on Eden Quay. Ringsend received the batch RA230 (95-D-230) to RA234 (95-D-234), all in green livery except RA230 which was delivered in white wedding livery. In February 2000 while operating route 65, RA234 was destroyed by fire on the outskirts of the picturesque Co. Wicklow village of Blessington.

AUGUST.


Phibsboro's RH123 (91-D-10123), photographed at the route 37 terminus in Carpenterstown in the newly applied 'Heinz Tomato Ketchup' AOA livery.


Cork's KD184 (184-JZL) photographed at Capwell garage, Cork in newly applied 'Heinz Tomato Ketchup' AOA livery.


Stena Sealink Line 'Stena Cambria' arriving at Dun Loaghaire, Built in Harland & Wolff, Queens Island, Belfast in 1980 as the 'St.Anselm' for Sealink's Dover - Calais route, the 1,400 passenger, 300+ cars, 129 metre ship was transferred to the Holyhead - Dun Laoghaire route as the 'Stena Cambria' in February 1991.


Bus Eireann's Leyland Leopard 1971 vintage MG56 (56-IK) photographed at Cork bus station about to set off for Tralee Via Killarney. The MG prefix indicated that its original Leyland engine was replaced by a General Motors engine.


Summerhill's brand new RA248 (95-D-248) photographed southbound on O'Connell street operating route 16A to Rathfarnham. Summerhill received the batch RA242 (95-D-242) - RA255 (95-D-255), all in green livery except RA242 which was delivered in white wedding livery.


Summerhill's former 'Aer Lingus' AOA livery/Airlink KC119 (UZG-119) photographed northbound on the route 16A. In late 1989 the KC116-119 batch had been converted to single door layout and fitted with coach style seating for the Busarus - Dublin Airport Express Service. During 1994 the arrival of DAF SB220, Alexander Setanta, Airlink liveried AD35-40, AD69-70 lead to KC116-KC119 being returned to fleet green and regular city services.


Donnybrook's RH90 (91-D-1090), operating route 11 northbound on O'Connell street in newly applied 'Fastrack 1974-1995, 21 years'' AOA livery. RH90 was originaly delivered with clear glass windows in the passenger areas but was later retrofitted with tinted glass as can be seen in the photograph above. Clontarf's RH154 (93-D-10154) was the first RH with factory fitted tinted glass.


Donnybrook's RH49 (90-D-1049) in newly applied 'Heinz Weight Watchers' AOA livery photographed in Hawkins Street awaiting for its time to collect passengers at the route 48A terminus.


Conyngham Road's RA228 (95-D-228) in white wedding livery photographed outside 'Our lady Help Of Christians Church', Navan Road, waiting to ferry wedding guests from the church to the wedding reception. Conyngham road received batch RA225 (95-D-225) - RA229 (95-D-229), all in CitySwift livery except RA228 as illustrated above and RA229 were delivered in white wedding livery.


Ringsend's Leyland Atlantean, AN68, Vanhool, DF749 (749 ZO) in open top configuration with KD style one piece upper deck windscreen photographed on Nassau Street operating the Dublin Heritage Tour.


Donnybrook's RA222 (95-D-222) in basic CitySwift livery operating the route 14A to Churchtown, photographed on Nassau Street. Donnybrook received the batch RA220 (95-D-10220) - RA224 (95-D-224), all were in basic CitySwift livery.


Donnybrook's RA237 (95-D-237) operating the route 46A to Dun Laoghaire photographed on Nassau Street. Donnybrook received the batch RA235 (95-D-10235) - RA241 (95-D-241), all were delivered in fleet green livery.


Ringsend's Scania 92M towcar (87-D-33836) photographed on O'Connell Street towing a well stripped KD36 (36-JZL) to Broadstone for onward scrapping. Ringsend Garage was the first garage to withdraw the Bombardier, KD type from service, and KD36 was one of the first KDs to be withdrawn. In the final quarter of 1995 Donnybrook started to withdrawn for scrap it's earliest KDs including prototype Hamburg built KD1.


Aer Lingus Commuter, 110 seater, 1990 vintage BAe 146-300, EI-CLI and two others (CLG ansd CLH) were introduced to the Aer Lingus Commuter fleet during 1995. Canadian airline 'Royal' a 351 seat, 1974 vintage Lockheed Tristar 100, C-FTNK waits its turn to line up on runway 28.

SEPTEMBER.


Donnybrook's RH46 (90-D-1046) in a newly applied 'Heineken Rhythm Guide' AOA livery.


Bus Eireann, Fiat Ducato, Parfitt, wheelchair lift equipped FS1 (95-D-35256), photographed in Broadstone. There were a total of  three FS mini-buses on fleet, Broadstone based FS1and FS2 and FS3 which were allocated to Cork and Limerick.


Summerhill's brand new RA247 (95-D-247) photographed in the garage during a heavy downpour of rain. Notice the Olympian branding on the engine door, this was generally erased during first repaint.


The Neil Jordan written/directed 'Michael Collins' film set in 1916-1920's Ireland was shot during 1995. The film starred Liam Neeson as 'Michael Collins' and Julia Roberts as 'Kitty Kiernan', others starring in this nominate for 2 Oscars film were Aidan Quinn, Alan Rickman, Steven Rea. In September 1995 one of the film sets at Grangegorman, (located off the North Circular Road, Dublin) was opened to the public. A replica O'Connell Street featuring burnt out G.P.O. (general post office) had been constructed complete with replica DUTC trams, tram number 257 on the route 8 to Dalkey, tram 262 on the route 15 to terenure as illustrated in the photograph above. Elsewhere on the site were superb replicas of the Mansion House, Boyers North Earl Street and The Tivioli Theatre.


Australian national airline Qantas, 1989 vintage. 406 seat, Boeing 747-438, VH-OJB ' City Of Sydney' in the very colourful ' Wunala Dreaming' livery came to Dublin on a special one day visit promoting the Qantas daily service available from London Heathrow to Australia. Members of the public with pre-arranged permits were bussed out to the jumbo accessing the cabin via the rear door then ascending to the flight deck/cockpit and exiting via the front door.

OCTOBER.


The great Dublin ironmaster, Richard Turner's Curvilinear range of Glasshouses (1843-1869) were faithfully restored in time for the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin becentenary(200 years) celebration in 1995. An post issued a First Day Cover (FDC) to mark the occasion,see below.


During 1995, An Post (Irish Post Office) issued a First Day Cover (FDC) ' Transport In Ireland Series, Narrow Gauge Railways' with FDC, stamps and design by Charles Rycraft. The stamps featured narrow gauge railways lines: West Clare Railway, Co.Donegal Railway, Corrk and Muskerry Railways, Cavan and Leitrim Railway. Also during 1995, An Post issued a First Day Cover (FDC) for the 200th anniversary of the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, 1795-1995, the stamps and FDC were designed by Frances Poskitt.


Guide Friday, Leyland Atlantean AN68, East Lancs, ex. City of Nottingham (74-KE-509) open top Dublin Sightseeing bus. Notice that 'Species' and 'Braveheart' were showing in the Savoy at the time.

DECEMBER.


Brand new, Bus Eirean, Volvo B10M-62, Plaxton Premiere 350, VP6 (95-D-41606) photographed in Broadstone. VP1 (05-D-41601) TO VP10 (95-D-41606) were registered in 1995 and were on short term lease to Bus Eireann. Some of the 10 strong batch were delivered with a panelled over rear window.


Front cover of the 1995 Dublin Bus Timetable featuring a photograph taken by Jonathan McDonnell of Ringsend's brand new RA203 (95-D-203). Also appearing on the cover was Gary Manahan's R788 (OIK 984) phot graphed with mock number plate (ZL 6939)/ fleet plate (R520) as the bus had just features in the film 'The Lonely Passion Of Judith Hearne' starring Maggie Smith and Bob Hoskins.


Wheeling In The Years Index