Wheeling In The Years 1990 by Patrick Losty

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Picture 1 – March 1990 This nearside picture shot of KD365 (GSI 365) at the Belfield flyover in March 1990 just days before it went into service in its new Mars Bar All Over Advertisement (AOA) livery, to celebrate the up and coming Summer Italia 1990 World Cup. Advert inserts “Work, Rest and Play’ Italia 90, M&Ms” were inserted shortly afterwards. KD365 was painted back into fleet green livery by July 1991.

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Picture 2 – March 1990 This picture taken in Donnybrook Garage in March 1990 shows D360 (360 IK) with ‘West-Link’ advertisement inserts ‘Over the Liffey in a Jiffey’, the new ‘West-Link’ toll bridge connecting the M50 over the river Liffey at the Strawberry Beds had at the time just been opened to through traffic. As the years rolled by, Ireland's economy boomed, resulting in a massive increase in the ownership of private cars. The tagline of "Over The Liffey In A Jiffey" was quickly rendered obsolete as the toll-bridge claimed its place in public notoriety as one of the most congested stretches of motorway in the country.

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Picture 3 – March 1990 Donnybrooks KC168 (UZG 168) ex. Cork, in the process of being painted from Dulux AOA into fleet green livery. KC168 had transferred from Cork to Donnybrook in October 1988 in full Dulux AOA livery.

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Picture 4 – March 1990 The very first wedding liveried Dublin Bus vehicle was Donnybrook’s KD366 (YSI 366) photographed here with driver especially dressed for the occasion on one of its first wedding private hires. So successful was the concept that Phibsboro’s newly delivered fleet green liveried RH3 was painted into wedding livery in May 1990. Later on in the year, newly built RH39 for Phibsboro and RH41 for Donnybrook were delivered direct from the factory in wedding livery and were adorned with a full set of wheel trims.

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Picture 5 – April 1990 This picture was taken in Phibsboro Garage shortly after RH1 and 2 were delivered from Alexanders of Belfast. Notice the incorrect registration numbers 90-D-10001, 90-D-10002, these registrations were quickly changed to 90-D-1001 for RH1 and 90-D-1002 for RH2 before official launch date 20/05/90. The small sized downstairs back window was fitted to the first 18 RHs produced for Dublin Bus, (RH1-18), but a full size window was first seen on Summerhill’s RH19 and this became the standard fitment right up to RV640.

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Picture 6 – April 1990 Leyland Tiger, Plaxton Paramount PL51 (84-D-706, ex-Maidstone & District) was one of the first Bus Éireann buses to be painted into the highly acclaimed red stripes livery, seen here in Broadstone in April 1990 about to depart for Busarus to pick up passengers for Rosslare.

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Picture 7 – April 1990 Donnybrook’s D725 (725 ZO) (ex-Cork and ex-Dulux AOA) with Phoenix Park Races advertisement. Sadly the racecourse was later sold for housing and in recent years has had high density apartment blocks built at the Ashtown end of the site. Giveaways as to D725’s former Cork identity were the communication aerial positioned to the offside of the roof, and the lack of upstairs front windscreen handrails as illustrated on DF774 parked to the right. Notice the small cream coloured “Ireland EC Presidency, Jan–June 1990” sticker on the downstairs window over the rear wheel arch. These stickers were applied to most of the fleet for the duration of the Ireland’s six month EC Presidency.

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Picture 8 – April 1990 Brand new RH5 (90-D-1005) attended the Carrickfergus & Bangor ITT Rally in April 1990; parked alongside were R827 and R788. RH5 returned to the Alexander factory in Mallusk, Belfast after the finish of the rally and was delivered to Phibsboro Garage in time for the official RH launch in May 1990.

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Picture 9 – April 1990 A brand new Bus Eireann, Plaxton Paramount 3500 on DAF MB23O chassis, PD7 (90-D-11007) attended the Carrickfergus & Bangor ITT Rally in April 1990. PD7 was part of a 20 strong batch delivered to Bus Eireann in 1990 and were painted in the red stripes livery which suited them very well. A further 20 were delivered in 1991 (PD21-40), with the final 20, (PD41–60) in 1992.

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Picture 10 – April 1990 Donnybrook’s D360 (360 IK) promoting the film ‘My Left Foot’ starring ‘best actor’ Oscar winner Daniel Day Lewis and ‘best supporting actress’ Oscar winner Brenda Fricker.

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Picture 11 – April 1990 Donnybrook’s KD28 (28 JZL) in AOA for CAN (Commuter Advertising Network). It was painted back into fleet green livery by late 1992. It had the misfortune to lose its roof in a low bridge accident in January 1993 coincidentally at around this time Summerhill’s KD84 and KD285 were badly damaged in a malicious fire, so the basic roof structure of KD84 was donated to KD28 which was then returned to service.

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Picture 12 – April 1990 This April 1990 picture of B+I ship ‘MV Munster’ moored at the East-Link toll Bridge undergoing engine runs as evidenced by wave movement at stern. Following the acquisition of the B+I Line by the Irish Continental Group in early 1992, the MV Munster was replaced on the Rosslare-Pembroke route by the super ferry “Isle of Innishfree”. In 1995 the B+I Line name was dropped in favour of Irish Ferries. Notice the musical ‘Cats’ was at the time performing at Harry Crosbie’s Point Theatre.

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Picture 13 – April 1990 Donnybrook’s KD361 (GSI 361) was painted into ‘B+I Flexifare to Britain’ AOA in April 1990. It was painted back into green fleet livery by August 1992.

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Picture 14 – April 1990 Ryanair’s 46 seater, ATR-42-300, EI-BXR, ‘Spirit of Waterford’, lines up on Dublin’s new runway 28, (runway 10/28 was officially opened 10 months previously on 21/06/89). In April 1990, Ryanair had one other GPA leased ATR-42 (EI-BXS). Also on active fleet were (104 seater) BAC 1-11 500’s (4) and Rombac 1-11, 500’s (2) leased from the Romanian airline Tarom. Two A320-211’s were to be leased from GPA during 1990 but were never taken up.

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Picture 15 – April 1990 Ryanair, 104 seater, BAC 1-11, 500, EI-BVI on runway 28 at Dublin. The aircraft was named ‘Spirit of Connaught’ and was leased from the Romanian airline, Tarom.

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Picture 16 – April 1990 April 1990 - Aer Lingus Commuter, 50 seater, Fokker 50, EI-FKB lines up on Dublin’s runway 28, EI-FKC awaits its turn. EI-FKB was delivered new to the airline during 1988, EI-FKC was delivered from the factory only two months previously in February 1990. The total Aer Lingus Commuter, Fokker 50 fleet comprised 6 units, EI-FKA to FKF delivered between 1987 and 1991.

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Picture 17 - April 1990 This April 1990 picture of Donnybrook’s D378 (88-D-988/378 IK) in its new AOA for Radion washing powder. Sadly the Millennium AOA had to be sacrificed for this AOA. It did however lead a few weeks later to another Radion AOA, this time for Donnybrook’s DF816 (816 NIK). A month later, in May 1990, D378 was painted out of the Radion AOA into plain gloss white livery and was fitted with advert frames to be tasked on Dublin City Sightseeing Tours.

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Pictures 18 & 19 – May 1990 The official launch of the RH bus type into Dublin Bus service took place on Sunday, 20 May 1990 outside the Gresham Hotel/Savoy Cinema, O’Connell Street, Dublin. Minister for Transport, Seamus Brennan cut the official tape looked on by John Hynes, Dublin Bus Managing Director and other VIPs. There were six RHs at the launch, Phibsboro’s RH1–5 (90-D-1001 to 90-D-1005) and Ringsend’s RH6 (90-D-1006). Phibsboro’s RH2 was in factory delivered EC Presidency, January–June 1990, navy coloured AOA livery. Notice ‘Pretty Woman’ film starring Julia Roberts was showing in the Savoy at the time.

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Picture 20 – May 1990 The RH official launch was taking place outside the Savoy when Donnybrook’s KD159 (159 JZL) in its new AOA for Batchelors Beans was seen northbound on the 11 to Wadelai Park.

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Picture 21 – May 1990 Just minutes after the RH official launch had ended, Donnybrook’s DF816 (816 NIK) in its new AOA for Radion washing powder appeared southbound on O’Connell Street.

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Picture 22 – May 1990 A most rare visitor to Dublin Airport in May 1990 (perhaps related to Ireland’s Presidency of the EC) was Ilyushin 18D, DDR-STO operated by Interflug, the national airline of the German Democratic Republic, GDR. The GDR only existed for another 6 months after this photograph was taken. The 28 mile Berlin Wall and frontier between East and West Germany which had stood for 28 years was breached on the 9 November 1989 and the reunification of Germany was formally concluded with the accession of the GDR to the Federal Republic of Germany on 3 October 1990, a date which is now marked as a national holiday in Germany.

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Picture 23 – May 1990 South Yorkshire Transport (SYT) Leyland articulated bendy bus, (C 101 HDT) arrived in Phibsboro Garage during May 1990 for trials. Ten years would elapse before Dublin Bus signed up for twenty Wright Fusion articulated bendys (AW class) delivered in year 2000.

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Picture 24 – May 1990 A wheelchair accessible demonstrator Omni minibus with Mazda engine registration G 366 GAJ was photographed in Phibsboro Garage in June 1990. It was painted into the then LocaLink/Nipper livery. The trial lead to a further five minibuses (W1-5) joining the Dublin Bus fleet in 1994; these were the first low floor wheelchair accessible buses for Dublin Bus.

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Picture 25 – May 1990 Limerick’s KD196 (196 JZL) seen parked outside the Shannon Airport control tower in May 1990 while operating the Limerick City – Shannon Airport service. The Bus Eireann red/white livery suited the lines of the KD bus very well. Notice the via scroll box is painted over and the old style ticket machine. The Bombardier/GAC bus factory was sited in the Shannon Industrial Estate, a very short distance from Shannon Airport.

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Picture 26 – June 1990 Donnybrook’s KD364 (GSI 364) in the very imaginative ‘West Coast Cooler’ AOA. The idea was to portray a KD in West Coast Cooler AOA livery overtaking a standard green KD, notice the dummy ‘Pay as you enter’ sign, traffic indicator, push button door opener located to the rear of the middle door. A second dummy route number box was later fitted to complete the effect.

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Picture 27 – June 1990 Ringsend’s brand new RH10 (90-D-1010) over the pits prior to entering service on the 15s. During 1990, Ringsend received RH6–18 (90-D-1006 – 90-D-1018). RH18 was delivered from the factory in basic ‘Fast Fit Exhaust’ AOA livery, see picture below. RH10 is now (2008) an Oxford City open top sightseeing tour bus.

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Picture 28 – June 1990 Phibsboro’s RH1 (90-D-1001) awaits the start of the Dublin Bay Rally at Chesterfield Avenue, Phoenix Park in June 1990. The small Irish tricolour flag attached to mirror bracket of RH1 and MW10 below is to show support for Ireland’s participation in the World Cup, Italia 1990. The Yoplait ‘Route for Fruit’ advert was particularly catchy and there were many Yoplait bus advert campaigns over this period with this catchphrase. Notice the EC Presidency sticker on the window above rear wheel arch. Donnybrook’s KD1 is behind RH1 and Phibsboro’s RH3 is ahead in newly applied wedding livery. RH1 is now (2008) working for Go North East in Stanley an hour or so south of Newcastle/Gateshead, UK.

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Picture 29 – June 1990 MW10 (90-D-5010) in LocaLink livery awaits the start of the Dublin Bay Rally in June 1990. The MW 1-10 batch were later painted into City Imp red/yellow livery for use on the Ringsend operated high frequency City Imp route 83, (College Green – Kimmage).

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Picture 30 – June 1990 Phibsboro’s KD203 (203 OZU) in PMPA Telecover AOA taking part in the Dublin Bay Rally in June 1990. This was a replacement for the PMPA Telecover AOA as applied to Phibsboro’s KD348 (First KD AOA). KD348’s PMPA AOA was replaced with a Lee Cooper AOA.

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Picture 31 – June 1990 Phibsboro’s KD124 complete with full set of wheel trims and unique “Dublin Heritage Trail Sightseeing Tour” advert inserts was tasked on this Dublin tour with similarly adorned open top D576 (see picture below). The Dublin Heritage Trail consisted of 10 specially located heritage trail bus stops, an all-day valid ticket price was £5, and summer departure times were 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00.

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Picture 32 – July 1990 Donnybrook’s KD273 (273 OZU) in Eurobus AOA livery. This was inspired by drawings and paintings from prize winning school, Assumption Senior Girls School, Walkinstown, Dublin.

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Pictures 33 & 34 – July 1990 Donnybrook’s KD32 (32 JZL) parked in the yard on a wet July day in newly applied PMPA Telecover AOA, this bus replaced the PMPA AOA on DF617. Notice KC27 (AZG 27) parked alongside, with its uniquely registered AZG prefix. All the rest in the batch KC3-52 were prefixed with ZSI registration letters. On the same day, DF617 (617 ZO) was seen in the process of being painted from PMPA AOA into fleet green livery. The white PMPA livery was still visible around the upper deck windows and along the line of the yet to be applied orange stripe on lower side.

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Picture 35 – August 1990 Phibsboro’s KD348 (GSI 348) northbound on the 10 passes KD139 (139 JZL) on the 39B (notice its experimental front route number display). KD348 was painted into Lee Cooper AOA a month earlier in July 1990. This bus carried an AOA for PMPA (see also this AOA applied to Phibsboro’s KD203 above). The Lee Cooper AOA lasted until September 1991 and was replaced by a new AOA for Telecom Eireann Call Card, an AOA that lasted until March 1994 when it was painted back into fleet green livery.

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Picture 36 – August 1990 Ringsend’s new RH15 (90-D-1015) on the 15B; notice the ‘Pay Driver’ notice affixed to the windscreen, as the 15s at the time were being gradually converted to One Person Operation. The Leyland grille badge was fitted to all RHs when new, alas the garage automatic bus washers tended to pick away at the badges over time. In anticipation of this, before or shortly after entry into service, Ringsend maintenance staff moved the badge into the less vulnerable top slot of the grille away from the brush bristles and thus maintained an almost full set of front and rear Leyland badges on their RH fleet right up to withdrawal date.

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Picture 37 – August 1990 Ringsend’s brand new RH18 (90-D-1018) in ‘Fast Fit Exhaust’ AOA livery at the 15 terminus on College Green. Notice the conductor; at the time the 15s were gradually being converted to One Person Operation. RH18 was the last of its type with a small sized lower deck rear window.

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Picture 38 – August 1990 Phibsboro’s new RH3 (90-D-1003) in Wedding livery southbound on the 10 on O’Connell Street in August 1990. RH3 was delivered new to Phibsboro in fleet green livery but within weeks was painted into the white wedding livery. At the time RH3 and Donnybrook’s KD366 were the only wedding liveried buses, RHs39 and 41 were delivered in wedding livery later on in the year. Notice the blue via scroll slightly showing, this was for use on the Cityspeed, 39X route.

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Picture 39 – August 1990 Phibsboro’s newly converted open top D576 (576 ZU ex-Cork) passing the Bank of Ireland, College Green/Westmoreland Street. This was the first City Tour bus in the then new green/cream tour livery. Also on the tour fleet at the time were, white liveried D360, D378, cream coloured D413, 7Up AOA D450 (all open tops) and closed deck fleet green liveried KD2 and KD124.

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Picture 40 – August 1990 Donnybrook’s D 360 (360 IK) on College Green in August 1990 configured for the Dublin City Tour.

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Picture 41 – August 1990 Summerhill’s brand new RH20 (90-D-1020) marked in on the 41 to Glassmore laying over between duties in Marlborough Street in August 1990. During the year, Summerhill Garage received RH19-30 (90-D-1019 to 90-D-1030) for use on the 41s. RH19 was the first of its type fitted with full size lower deck rear window.

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Picture 42 – August 1990 Phibsboro’s RH2 (90-D-1002) in EC Presidency AOA livery parked in Marlborough Street, on loan at the time to Summerhill Garage. The ‘EC Presidency January–June 1990’ text had been removed by the time of photo.

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Picture 43 – August 1990 Dundalk’s 1985 registered KR163 (PZV 163) in Coca Cola AOA livery - the same format as applied to the KD Coca Cola AOA’s.

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Picture 44 – August 1990 M23 in standard red/white livery loads up for the long 165 mile trip to Cork while M167 in expressway livery boards passengers for the shorter trip to Longford. The Ms were the backbone of the Bus Éireann fleet at the time. Additionally there were 40 TEs delivered new in the years 1988/89, the 52 strong KE fleet, 15 EVH, 35 CVH plus the 220 KRs. During 1990, the PD class came into service with 20 arriving on fleet by year end followed by 20 more in 1991 and a further 20 in 1992.

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Picture 45 – August 1990 Copenhagen based Sterling Airways, 1969 vintage, 109 seater, Aerospatiale SE210 Caravelle 10B3, registered OY-STH prepares for take off from Dublin’s runway 28 on a fine August afternoon.

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Picture 46 – September 1990 Donnybrook’s DF785 (785 BIK) in the process of being painted from Denny AOA into fleet green livery, while at the same time it received a new front axle. It is joined on the pits by DF725 (ex. Cork, Dulux AOA) and ex Ringsend D734.

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Picture 47 – September 1990 Coventry based Air Atlantique, 1958 vintage, MDC Douglas DC-6A/B registered G-SIXC in freighter configuration warms up the oil in its four Pratt and Whitney R-2800-CB 16s in readiness for take off from Dublin’s runway 28 on a fine September day.

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Picture 48 – September 1990 An unexpected visitor for Dublin Airport on this fine September 1990 day was New York based TransWorld, 1970 vintage, Boeing 747-131, registered N53110. It was 20 years old at time of photograph and was the 63rd 747 off the production line.

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Picture 49 – September 1990 Phibsboro’s KD346 (GSI 346) southbound on the Ballymun Road while operating route 19A from McKee Road to Rialto in Manhattan Peanuts and Popcorn AOA. KD346 was painted to the same design as Donnybrook’s Manhattan Peanuts and Popcorn AOA on DF780 (780 BIK).

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Picture 50 – September 1990 Donnybrook’s KD160 (160 JZL), all artwork just completed for “Bad Bob's Late Night Bar and Restaurant” AOA. Notice a portion of a via-scroll hanging from a roof beam; the garage staff had painted the green, white and orange of the Irish Tricolour on its reverse in support of the country's soccer World Cup campaign.

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Picture 51 – September 1990 Construction of phase one of The Irish Financial Services Centre (IFSC) nears completion during September 1990.

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Picture 52 – September 1990 This September 1990 picture shows London RML2462 (JJD 462 D) on the 15s leading three other Routemasters from Regent Street onto Piccadilly Circus. Original AEC engined Routemasters were plentiful in London at the time and following re-engineering and overhaul during the 1990s, they were to last for another 15 years. Their final farewell came on Friday, 9 December, 2005 at 15:07 when the last official Routemaster, RM 2217 on route 159 arrived in Brixton Garage. RM54 (LDS 279 A) also on the 159 passed Brixton Garage at 14:57 on its way to Streatham Station, so it may well have been the last ‘unofficial’ Routemaster to operate in regular service in London.

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Picture 53 – October 1990 This October 1990 shows London's RML2271 (CUV 271 C) northbound on the route 13 from the Aldwych to Golders Green Station about to cross through Piccadilly Circus to Regent Street. Routemasters lasted on the 13s for another 15 years until Friday, 21 October, 2005 when they were replaced by the Scania, SLE class.

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Picture 54 – October 1990 This October 1990 picture shows the “Cancer Awareness Year 1989” AOA on DF822 (822 NIK) being prepared for repaint into green fleet livery. The AOA first entered service in June 1989.

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Picture 55 – October 1990 Phibsboro’s KD206 (206 OZU) with ‘Natural Gas Welcomes Back The Sky At Night”. This was as a result of the successful ban on the burning of smokey coals in open fires combined with the roll out and availability of natural gas, thus smog which was frequent in urban areas became a thing of the past and the star-filled night sky became a clearer spectacle. Notice the 98FM advert on the Standard D Atlantean in the background - the advert dimensions were meant for placing on boards and then placed within ad frames so when affixed/stuck to sides of non frame equipped Ds they looked very small and out of scale to advertising space available.

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Picture 56 – October 1990 East Midlands based Air Bridge, 1962 vintage, BAe (Vickers) Merchantman 953C registered G-APET in freighter configuration its four Rolls Royce Tynes purring away as it enters Dublin’s runway 28 in readiness for takeoff on a fine October day. Aer Lingus Boeing 747-130, EI-BED can be seen in the background in basic Lan Chile livery.

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Picture 57 – November 1990 Phibsboro’s brand new RH32 (90-D-1032) southbound on the 10 with an advert for the Fianna Fáil presidential candidate, Brian Lenihan. The advert proclaimed “Brian Lenihan - The People's President”, but, on mature recollection, the Labour Party candidate Mary Robinson won the Presidential election. Notice the “Hella” spot lamp covers still in place such is the newness of the bus.

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Picture 58 – November 1990 Phibsboro’s brand new RH36 (90-D-1036) pictured while on loan to Conyngham Road Garage. Two other brand new RHs, 37 and 38 also went on loan to Conyngham Road for driver familiarisation and stayed there until the commencement of deliveries of their own batch RH65–83 from February 1991 onwards. Notice KC120 (UZG 120) parked beside RH36 with Dart branding; this bus was marked in on the inter-station route 90, Heuston–Connolly.

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Picture 59 – November 1990 Phibsboro’s brand new RH34 (90-D-1034) southbound on the 10 with advert for “98FM - Dublin’s Switched”. Notice the forward section of advert board is missing, this was commonplace in the early days of advert frames/inserts; redesigned advert frames were introduced over the following months. Once again notice the “Hella” spot lamp covers still in situ.

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Picture 60 – November 1990 Donnybrook’s brand new RH49 (90-D-1049) about to depart on its first service journey. Donnybrook received RH40–50 in late 1990 and most if not all of the batch were marked in on the two person operated (TPO) route 48A to Ballinteer. Included in this batch was RH41 which was delivered from the factory in white wedding livery complete with wheel trims.

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Picture 61 – December 1990 Phibsboro based Driving School ex Summerhill Leyland Atlantean Standard D’s, D471 and D465. The Standard D such as D471 and D465 stayed in use as trainers up until mid 1992 when they were replaced by Vanhool D’s.

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Picture 62 – December 1990 Phibsboro’s new RH31 (90-D-1031) with 39X Cityspeed destination scrolls. Notice the white coloured ex-Cork D573 (573 ZU) in the background. The lower windows were panelled over in readiness for conversion into a mobile studio but the project was never carried through to completion. Other Cityspeed routes at the time were 7X, 25X, 32X, 41X, 50X, 66X, 67X and 69X.

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Picture 63 – December 1990 This December 1990 picture shows the demise of “Johnson & Johnson” AOA as KD362 (GSI 362) is being prepared for repainting into “Smarties” AOA livery. The Johnson & Johnson AOA had first entered service in July 1989.

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Picture 64 – December 1990 Clontarf’s brand new RH51 (90-D-1051) on the 31 to Howth in December 1990. Clontarf received the batch RH51-59 which were registered 90-D-1051 to 90-D-1059 and RH60–64 which were registered 91-D-1060 to 91-D-1064.

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Picture 65 – December 1990 Photographed on dull December day were ex-Driving School C58 (EZH 58) and ex. Summerhill Standard D Atlanteans D470 (470 ZD) and D452 (452 ZD) await their appointment with the scrap man. These Ds were ousted from service due to the entry into service of RH19 – RH30 at Summerhill. Notice the small sized ‘Panasonic’ advert fitted to D470 (ad frame sized) and the correct size for a Standard D Atlantean ‘MacDonalds’ advert on D452

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Picture 66 – December 1990 Seen in O’Connell Street on Christmas Eve 1990 was Phibsboro’s MW1 (90-D-5001) in LocaLink/Nipper livery. The notices on the side indicated ‘Free Nipper Bus’, O’Connell Street – St Stephens Green – O’Connell Street. Notice ‘Home Alone’ and ‘Flatliners’ were showing in the Savoy at the time.

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Picture 67 – December 1990 Christmas at Dublin Airport terminal where in addition to the usual Christmas trees and decorations were special 50th anniversary decorations, 1940 -1990. The first scheduled flight from Collinstown (Dublin Airport) took off on 19th January 1940 bound for Liverpool.

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Picture 68 – December 1990 The Donnybrook fleet having a well deserved day off on Christmas Day 1990. Quite an array of bus types was on show, KC, KD, Standard D, Vanhool D and one RH. There are four AOAs, KD159 (Batchelors), DF780 (Manhattan), KD 353 (Coca Cola), KD 160 (Bad Bobs).

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We hope you enjoyed this look back at 1990!
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