The Bombardiers Are Coming Soon.

JANUARY.

Phibsboro's Leyland Olympian RH 125 (91-D-10125) its 'Carlsberg' AOA (All Over Advertisement) stripped revealed an almost intact hand painted 'Kiwi Fruit' AOA livery had still existed underneath. RH 125 was to become the new 'Heinz Tomato Ketchup' AOA bus replacing Phibsboro's RH 123 (91-D-10123).

Phibsboro's DAF SB220, Plaxton Verde, P 25 (93-D-3025) was painted into the new fleet blue/cream livery and was photographed parked beside Cityswift liveried P 21 (93-D-3021).

The new Toyota Yaris had one of its first Irish public debuts at the Dublin, St Patrick's Day Parade on 17 March 1999.

Phibsboro's brand new Volvo Olympian, RV 540 (99-D-540) parked in the garage sporting 'route 10' and 'Quality Customer Service' branding. Phibsboro received the five bus batch RV 536 (99-D-536) to RV 540 (99-D-540), all in blue/cream livery except RV 538 which was in white wedding livery.

Phibsboro's ex. Clontarf, Leyland Olympian, RH 163 (93-D-10163) was the last Phibsboro RH by June 1999 still in the old fleet green livery probably due to the fact that it had a Coca Cola super rear advertisement applied at the time.

Phibsboro's ex. Summerhill, Volvo Olympian, RA 248 (95-D-248) in 'TV3 News' AOA livery. Ballymount based TV3 was launched at 17:30 on 20/09/98 and was the first independent television channel in Ireland entirely funded by revenue sourced from advertising and not funded by the TV licence fee or the Irish taxpayer.

Rear/nearside view of Phibsboro's ex. Summerhill, Volvo Olympian, RA 248 (95-D-248) in 'TV3 News' AOA livery, the rear featuring the two news anchors, Grainne Seoige and Alan Cantwell.

Phibsboro's Leyland Olympian RH 116 (91-D-10116) in newly applied '7Up' AOA livery. Donnybrook's RH 85 (91-D-1085) had an identical 7Up AOA applied but with all passenger windows covered by advert.

Bus Eireann, Galway, 1962 vintage, Leyland Royal Tiger Worldmaster, Vanhools, WVH 13 (HZD 593) and WVH 22 (HZD 596) photographed withdrawn in Broadstone having given 37 years service.

Brand new, unregistered, Bus Eireann, Volvo B6BLE, Wright Crusader, VWL 10 (99-C-18899) photographed in Broadstone shortly after delivery. A total of ten VWLs were delivered to Cork during 1999, VWL 2 (99-D-37615) to VWL 11 (99-C-18900), joining 1997 registered VWL 1 (97-C-4515).

Rear/nearside photograph of brand new, Bus Eireann, Volvo B6BL, Wright Crusader, VWL 9 (99-C-18898) photographed in Broadstone shortly after delivery.

Ryanair's, 130 seat, 1983 vintage ex. Britannia, Boeing 737-204, EI-CJD was painted as a logojet for 'Eircell Ready To Go' mobile phones and was photographed having lined up for takeoff from Dublin's runway 28.

Ryanair's, 130 seat, 1983 vintage ex. Britannia, Boeing 737-204, EI-CJC was painted as a logojet for 'Hertz Rent a Car', a livery it retained right up to withdrawal from service in 2005.

Phibsboro's Leyland Olympian RH 125 (91-D-10125) photographed in newly applied 'Heinz Tomato Ketchup' AOA livery. RH 125 replaced RH 123 as Phibsboro's 'Heinz Tomato Ketchup' bus, RH 123 was then painted into the then new cream/blue livery.

RH125 had previously carried a half AOA (back/offside) for 98FM radio, then 'Kiwi Fruit', followed by 'Carlsberg Lager' and in July 1999 'Heinz Tomato Ketchup'. Notice the newly installed /updated yellow destination scrolls.

Iarnrod Eireann, Timoney Fire Tender - (XSI 57) was photographed in the Inchicore Railway works on the Open Day in July.

Iarnrod Eireann, 2700 Class Railcar number 2751 was photographed in the Inchicore Railway works on the Open Day in July 1999. This railcar was part of a fleet of 27 railcars ordered by Iarnrod Eireann, but the last two railcars ordered had a drivers cab at either end. Numbered 2751 and 2753 they were intended for lighter branches such as Ballybrophy – Limerick via Nenagh & Manualla Junction - Ballina, but ended up being used on the Kildare Commuter, both eventually moving to Limerick in 2004 (Thanks to Tim Butler for text above).

Iarnrod Eireann, '201' Class locomotive number 216 was photographed in the Inchicore Railway works on the Open Day in July 1999. This locomotive was built at the General Motors plant in London, Ontario, Canada in 1994/95 and arrived in Ireland, part of a fleet of 34 locomotives, 32 for Iarnrod Eireann (201 - 207 & 210 - 234) and 2 for Northern Ireland Railways (NIR) (208 - 209). At 3,200 hp, they are the most powerful diesel locomotives ever to operate in Ireland and all were named after rivers of Ireland, 216 was named 'River Dodder'. (Thanks to Tim for text above).

Preservered ex. CIE, 'C' class locomotive number '231' was photographed in the Inchicore Railway works on the Open Day in July 1999. Built and delivered to CIE in 1957, she was part of a batch of 34 locomotives built by Metro-Vickers. Technically similar to the 'A' class, they were equipped with puny 550hp engines and were among the first to be re-engined with General Motors power units in 1969/1970. From mid 1970's, the class was mainly used on push pull suburban duties in Dublin and secondary services, but the arrival of the Mark III fleet and DART in 1984 - 1986 rendered the fleet surplus, C 231 herself stored in July 1983 was passed to the Irish Traction Group by November 1992 for preservation. (Thanks to Tim for text above).

Preservered ex. CIE 'A' class locomotive number A3, was photographed in the Inchicore Railway works on the Open Day in July 1999. This locomotive was delivered to CIE in 1955 from Metro Vickers, Manchester, part of a massive CIE dieselisation order to replace steam. The 'A' class grew to 60 locomotives all of which were re-engined with General Motors power units in 1969 - 1972. A3 later became 003 working out of Limerick and survived until the class were withdrawn in 1995.

A 3 and A 39 are the only two 'A' class locomotives that survive to this day and are cared for by the Irish Traction Group. (Thanks to Tim for text above).