Ex-CIÉ Leyland Atlantean D1
CIÉ Metal-Sections bodied Leyland Atlantean D1 is pictured around Dublin during a few weeks of demonstration runs during October and November 1966.
Note the complete lack of opening windows in the saloons! The initial batch of buses was built with a type of air-conditioning system, but during warm weather the interior evironment became stiflingly hot, not helped by the design of enclosed bodywork which included the engine. This led to many letters of complaint from the public being written to newspapers and to CIÉ themselves during the summer of 1967.
Some stop-gap measures were taken, including the drilling of holes in the dashboard and leaving the upstairs emergency window open! The situation even led to talk of a strike by crews before CIÉ finally retro-fitted the saloons with slide-open windows.
The type's first official passengers on Tuesday 29th November 1966 were the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Alderman Eugene Timmons and the General Manager of CIÉ, Mr. Frank Lemass aboard D4 on Route 19A.
Pictures supplied with thanks to Robert Stone