The Bombardiers Are Coming Soon.

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JANUARY.

A sunny frosty Saturday 13 January, 2001 was the ‘Final Farewell Run’ day of the Dublin Bus KD and KC classes. Donnybrook’s, Bombardier, KD 353 (GSI 353) was photographed loading up with enthusiasts at Dublin Bus Head Office on O’Connell Street. Dublin Bus Driving School green liveried ex. Clontarf, KD 114 (114 JZL) and GAC, KC 100 (UZG 100) also participated such was the demand for seats. The buses headed northbound in convoy to the route 11 terminus (Wadelai Park, Glasnevin), then southbound commencing the route 8 from Eden Quay to Dalkey and finishing up in Donnybrook Garage where Dublin Bus had very kindly laid on tea, soup and sandwiches for all participants.

Dublin Bus, PR Manager, Joe Collins to the left of KD 114 (114 JZL), Michael McDonnell and John Browne in front of KC 100 (UZG 100) and KD 353 (GSI 353) lead the buses into Donnybrook for the final time while an RTE News TV crew filmed this most historic event. A large number of the 202 strong KC single deck fleet lived on to serve in the Bus Eireann school bus fleet while the KD double deckers were withdrawn for scrap.

Demolition commenced in January 2001 of the former Pelican House Headquarters on Mespil Road, Dublin 4.

MARCH.

Ex. CIE/Bus Eireann Leyland Leopard, MG 210 (210 IK) was purchased for preservation in 2001 and is seen here just after repaint into Expressway red/orange livery.

Donnybrook’s Leyland Olympian, RH 86 (91-D-1086) in red/white driving school livery parked beside Phibsboro’s fleet liveried Leyland Olympian, RH 1 (90-D-1001). Eight years earlier, in 1993, RH 86 was painted into the overall black ‘Moss Technology’ AOA livery and in 1997 it was painted into experimental two tone green livery with orange flash, please see WITY 1993 and WITY 1997 for pictures.

Conyngham Road’s Leyland Olympian, RH 65 (91-D-1065) in red/white driving school livery. Ten years earlier, in August 1991, RH 65 was painted into the very short lived ‘Harp Larger’ AOA livery and by June 1992 it was painted into the white ‘wedding bus’ livery.

Dublin Bus, Broadstone brand new Volvo, Wright Fusion, articulated bus, AW 1 (00-D-65001). There were twenty in the batch, AW 1 (00-D-65001) to AW 20 (00-D-65020) all delivered in fleet navy/cream livery, now all based in Harristown Garage (January 2009)

APRIL.

The very first, Aer Lingus, 159 seat, Airbus A320-214, EI-CVA, was delivered 10 months earlier in June 2000 lines up for take off from Dublin’s runway 28.

Aer Arann, 1990 vintage, 50 seat, ATR 42-300, EI-CBK, was delivered to the airline 3 months earlier in January 2001 lines up for take off from Dublin’s runway 28.

Bus Eireann, demonstrator, Volvo, ELC, Vyking, DD 2, (01-D-46502) photographed in Broadstone. Following on from the trial, Bus Eireann went on to order 6 new build Vykings to their own specifications for delivery in 2002, and were fleet allocated DD 11 (02-D-3439) to DD 16 (02-D-3449). A further order for 17 of the type were delivered in 2004, DD 17 (04-D-2728) to DD 33 (04-C-12281).

Brand new, Bus Eireann, Volvo, Caetano, Enigma, VC 203 (01-D-60275) with Portugese number plates (TB-27-14) was photographed in Broadstone. 15 brand new VC’s were leased during 2001, VC 201 (01-D-60715) to VC 215 (01-D-69365).

Bus Eireann, demonstrator, Volvo, ELC, Vyking, DD 3, (01-D-46496) photographed in Broadstone.

Parked together in the newly opened Dublin Bus Broadstone Garage were Volvo Olympian, Alexander, RV 630 (99-D-630) in white wedding livery, RV 469 (99-D-469) in Cityswift livery and RV 532 (99-D-532) in navy/cream livery.

The ‘Dublin Bus Driving School’ fleet was enhanced in year 2000/2001 with 1990 – 1992 vintage former city service Leyland Olympian buses, from left to right ex. Summerhill, RH 20,

(90-D-1020), ex. Conyngham Road, RH 67, (91-D-1067), Ex. Donnybrook RH 85/88, (91-D-1085 & 91-D-1088), ex. Summerhill, RH 141, (92-D-141).

Ex. Summerhill, Leyland Atlantean, AN68, D 635 (635 ZO) was converted to an open top for City Tours and in 2001 was transferred to tree cutting duties. 

Ex. Summerhill, Bombardier, KD 241, (241 OZU) was one of the last Bombardiers to be withdrawn from service in December 2000 and is seen here some four months later in Broadstone.

AUGUST.

Donnybrook’s Leyland Olympian, RH 151 (92-D-151) photographed with Trinity College in the background outbound on the route 7 to Loughlinstown Park.

Aircoach operated Jonckheere Mistral 50 (99-D-74488) photographed in College Street.

Donnybrook’s Volvo Olympian, RV 443 (98-D-20443) photographed on College Street outbound on the route 45 to the seaside town of Bray, Co. Wicklow.

Donnybrook’s Volvo, ALX400, AV 79 (00-D-40079) photographed on College Street operating the cross city route 11 from Wadelai Park, Glasnevin on the north-side to Kilmacud on the south-side.

An Post issued a First Day Cover (FDC) to commemorate the 100th anniversary (1901 – 2001) of the foundation of the Royal Irish Automobile Club (RIAC).

Ex. Summerhill, Leyland Olympian, RH 22 (90-D-1022) was converted into open top configuration for use on the Dublin City Tour and was photographed with Trinity College in the background.

Open top ‘Irish City’ operated Dublin City Tour bus (81-D-1989) photographed passing the residence of the Provost of Trinity College.

Ex. Nottingham Leyland Atlantean, AN68, open top ‘Guide Friday’ operated Dublin City Tour bus (75-KE-527) photographed parked beside the wall of Trinity College.

Donnybrook’s Volvo Olympian, RV 576 (99-D-576) photographed on College Street outbound on the route 5 to the Sandyford Industrial Estate.

Conyngham Road’s Volvo Olympian, RV 480 (99-D-480) photographed on Aston Quay having just arrived at the city terminus of the route 78A from Balgaddy.

Dublin’s famous half penny bridge was closed for restoration during 2001, a new temporary pedestrian bridge was constructed just east of the original bridge for the duration of the work. The bridge restoration using original sections where possible was completed by December 2001.

Conyngham Road’s Volvo Olympian, RV 519 (99-D-519) photographed on Aston Quay operating the Inter-station ‘Railink’ route 90 (Heuston – Tara – Connolly), in almost full wrap AOA for Guinness. RV 519 was one of four (RV 517 to RV 520) delivered new from the factory in 1999 in unique ‘Railink’ livery, the ‘Railink’ livery can be seen on the frontal area.

Conyngham Road’s Volvo Olympian, RA 308 (96-D-308) photographed on Aston Quay having just operated the route 78A from Balgaddy. RA 308 was part of the RA 299 – RA 314 delivered new to Conyngham Road Garage in 1996, all in then current Dublin Bus green livery.

Donnybrook’s Volvo Olympian, RV 327 (97-D-327) photographed outside the Gas Company on D’olier Street sporting a newly applied full wrap AOA for ‘Lotto’.  Two years earlier, in 1999, RV 327 received an AOA for ‘TV3’ television channel. Donnybrook’s RV 326 and RV 327 were the only two RVs delivered new from the factory in Dublin Bus green livery

Rear offside view of Donnybrook’s Volvo Olympian, RV 327 (97-D-327) photographed outside the Gas Company on D’olier Street sporting a newly applied full wrap AOA for ‘Lotto’.

Donnybrook’s Volvo, ALX400, AV 174 (00-D-70174) in CitySwift livery operating the route 2 to Sandymount photographed southbound on O’Connell Street.

Summerhill’s Leyland, Olympian, RH 23 (90-D-1023) in navy/cream livery operating the route 16A Santry to Rathfarnham photographed outside Clerys, O’Connell Street. Notice the advert frames on the front panels, these were unique to RH 23. After withdrawal from service in summer 2002, RH 23 was converted into the Dublin Bus open top tree cutting vehicle, a duty it still carries out (January 2009).

Broadstone’s Volvo, ALX400, AV 164 (00-D-70164) in CitySwift livery operating the route 19A photographed soutbound on O’Connell Street.

Donnybrook’s Volvo, ALX400, AV 82 (00-D-40082) in navy/cream livery operating northbound on the route 11 to Wadelai Park, Glasnevin photographed outside Clarks shoeshop, O’Connell Street. Notice the chrome finished front wheel trim, Donnybrook were at the time replacing the factory fitted plastic trims with chrome examples, the plastic trims were then fitted to their large fleet of AD and RA class buses.

Donnybrook’s Leyland, Olympian, RH 149 (92-D-149) in navy/cream livery operating the route 7 from Loughlinstown Park photographed outside Pennys/Easons, O’Connell Street.

Summerhill’s Volvo, ALX400, AV 122 (00-D-70122) in ‘Airlink’ livery operating the route 747 from Dublin Airport to Busarus (Central Bus Station).

Broadstone’s Wright Crusader, Volvo B6BLE, WV 38 (00-D-70038) in ‘CityImp’ livery operating the route 123 from Drimnagh to Marino.

Keflavik, Iceland based Air Atlanta, 1982 vintage, 360 seat, Lockheed L-1011, Tristar, TF-ABT lines up on Dublin’s runway 28.

Aer Lingus, brand new 279 seat Airbus A330-202, EI-DAA departs off Dublin’s runway 28 the aircraft was delivered new to the airline 4 months previously in April 2001.

Brussels, Belgium based, Sabena, Airbus A319-112, OO-SSI lines up for take off from Dublin’s runway 28. The airline ceased flying 4 months later in November 2001.

NOVEMBER.

This 4 November 2001 photograph shows a Luas tram which was placed on Merrion Square West (opposite The National Art Gallery) as part of a publicity event in the lead up to the introduction of the Luas tram system on 1 July 2004 (Sandyford to St Stephens Green – Green Line).

Summerhill’s Volvo Olympian, RV 505 (99-D-505) in full CitySwift livery photographed at the route 13 terminus on Merrion Square South.

Bus Eireann, DAF, MB 230, Plaxton, PDS 2 (90-D-11002) photographed in Broadstone shortly after transfer to the Bus Eireann school bus fleet. 

Bus Eireann, Volvo B10M, Plaxton Paragon, VP 340 (00-D-94510) photographed in Broadstone, this was the only Paragon model bought by Bus Eireann. The bus is now used (January 2009) as a school safety awareness bus with ‘Belt Up Safely’ branding.

Brand new Volvo, ALX400, AV 209 (01-D-10209) in ‘CitySwift’ livery photographed in Broadstone.

Brand new Volvo, ALX400, AV 200, 203, 209 (01-D-10200/3/9) in ‘CitySwift’ livery photographed in Broadstone.

Phibsboro’s DAF SB 220, Plaxton Verde ‘P’ class were operated in three different liveries as illustrated in this November 2001 photograph, P 37 (93-D-3037) in navy/cream livery,

P 14 (93-D-3014) in factory delivered Cityswift livery and P 25 (93-D-3025) in City Imp livery.