Wheeling In The Years 1992 by Patrick Losty

Click on any picture for a full-size version.

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Picture 1 – January 1992 18th January 1992 - Phibsboro’s RH 120 (91-D-10120) photographed on O’Connell Street northbound on the route 10 to Phoenix Park in newly applied All Over Advertisement (AOA) for Dublin Bus “Travel Ten/Travel Wide”pre paid bus tickets. ‘Travel Ten’ was featured on the off side and ‘Travel Wide’ on the near side. ‘Travel Ten’ was a 10 journey ticket and e.g. for journeys of over 13 stages, the ticket price was IR£9.50 compared to cash fare price of IR£11.00. Various ‘Travel Wide’ tickets were available, e.g. a Family Day IR£5, Adult Day IR£2.80, Student Weekly IR£8.50, Adult Monthly IR£46. In all cases the tickets offered holders savings over cash fares and quicker boarding by use of right side of front door and quick access to the ticket validator.

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Picture 2 – February 1992 Conyngham Road’s KD 53 (53 JZL) at the Abbey Street terminus of the route 26 waiting for its departure time to Palmerstown. The advert ‘Hop on the Bus Gus’ promoted the Dublin Bus ‘Travel Wide’ pre-paid bus tickets.

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Picture 3 – February 1992 Phibsboro’s RH 5 (90-D-1005) with the very first super rear advertisement. This was hand painted and was for ‘CAN - Commuter Advertising Network - Colorback Advertising Opportunities’. Donnybrook based KD 28 (28 JZL) was at the time painted in a full AOA for CAN.

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Picture 4 – February 1992 Donnybrook’s KD 235 (235 OZU) parked on Eden Quay about to set off on the route 45 to Oldcourt, Bray in newly applied ‘Heineken’ AOA.

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Picture 5 – February 1992 Summerhill’s brand new RH 130 (92-D-130) on two person operated route 41B to Rolestown. During 1992, Summerhill Garage received batch RH 126 – RH 142 (92-D-126 to 92-D-142).

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Picture 6 – February 1992 Broadstone based KE 1 (1 HZD) parked outside Easons, O’Connell Street. KE 1 was built by FFG, Hamburg, Germany and was delivered to CIE in 1979.

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Picture 7 – March 1992 Conyngham Road’s KC 14 (ZSI 14) at the Abbey Street terminus of route 80 to Luttrelstown, which had only 8 departures daily (each way) with no Sunday service.

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Picture 8 – March 1992 Donnybrook’s Dublin Sightseeing D 378 (88-D-988/378 IK) ex. 1988 Millennium AOA, ex. Radion AOA, parked outside the Gresham Hotel, O’Connell Street in newly applied scenes from Dublin livery.

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Picture 9 – March 1992 Summerhill’s brand new RH 134 (92-D-134) photographed southbound on the route 16 from Santry to Grange Road, Rathfarnham in newly applied half AOA for 98FM Radio. Other half AOA’s for 98FM were: RH 42, 43, 44 (Donnybrook), RH 63 (Clontarf), RH 66 & 83 (Conyngham Road), RH 98 (Ringsend), RH 124, 125 (Phibsboro). Summerhill’s RH 134 was the first green liveried factory delivered RH bus with no advert frames fitted, this become the norm up to Ringsend’s RH 168 (93-D-10168), with the exception of Clontarf’s wedding liveried RH 154. A new design frame was fitted from RH 169 onwards, this new square edged frame kept the advertisement inserts safely secured to the bus sides.

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Picture 10 – March 1992 Ringsends DF 662 (662 ZO), ex Clontarf, Donnybrook, seen inbound at Rathmines operating the route 83 to D’Olier Street. The following week double deckers were replaced with cheerfully painted Mercedes Wright bodied ‘MW’ class minibuses in red/yellow livery, the City Imp was born! Notice the advert on the bus shelter giving advance notice of the new improved service.

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Picture 11 – April 1992 Ringsend’s 29 seater Mercedes 811D, Wright bodied, MW 8 (90-D-5008) in its first week in service on the route 83, College Green to Kimmage. The route 83 was the first ‘City Imp’ branded Dublin Bus route. The batch MW 1 to MW 10 were painted into the new livery with the exception of Phibsboro based MW 5 which remained in green/cream Nipper/Local Link livery configured with 16 seat VIP interior complete with curtains..

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Picture 12 – April 1992 Phibsboro’s KC 91 (UZG 91) in trial livery for the yet to be delivered 40 strong DAF SB220, Plaxton Verde ‘P’ class. The near side of KC 91 was in plain gloss white. P1 (92-D-20001) was delivered to Phibsboro in September 1992 in a similar but less dramatic livery to KC 91, see picture below.

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Picture 13 – May 1992 Donnybrook’s brand new RH 144 (92-D-144) outside Donnybrook Church operating the route 46A to Dun Laoghaire. During 1992, Donnybrook Garage received batch RH 143 – RH 153 (92-D-143 to 92-D-153). Notice the lack of advert frames and the Hella spot lamp covers still in place. Included in this batch, RH 147 was delivered in white wedding livery.

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Picture 14 – June 1992 Donnybrook’s D378 was the lead vehicle in the June 1992 Dublin Bay Rally in newly applied Dublin scenes livery. Other vehicles participating in the rally were: D 44, 376, 415, 720, 840, KD 169, RH 65, 120 & brand new RH 146, MW 3 in new City Imp livery, brand new PD 45, preserved E 14, R 389, 913, RA 73, 106, various fire engines, vintage cars and many participant vehicles from Northern Ireland.

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Picture 15 – June 1992 Gary Manahan’s preserved DF 415 (415 ZD). DF 415 was based in Donnybrook for all of its service life until it became the Ringsend Driving School bus receiving the red/white school livery. It was acquired for preservation in April 1992 painted into overall tan livery in time for the June 1992 Dublin Bay Rally, a McDonald’s advert was applied to the offside and an Aer Lingus advert to the nearside and Picnic advert to the front dome area.

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Picture 16 – June 1992 Donnybrook’s KD 169 (169 JZL) passing the Bank of Ireland on College Green/Westmoreland Street in newly applied ‘Evening Herald’ AOA on a short working of the route 13 from Palmerston Park to Parnell Square.

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Picture 17 - July 1992 Phibsboro’s KD 203 (203 OZU) northbound on O’Connell Street in newly applied ‘Evening Herald’ AOA working the route 19 from Bulfin Road to Cedarwood Road, Glasnevin. Notice ‘Batman Returns’ was showing in the Carlton at the time.

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Picture 18 - July 1992 Ringsend’s KD 250 (250 OZU) southbound on O’Connell Street in newly applied ‘Leopardstown Races’ AOA working the route 3 from Larkhill to Sandymount. This AOA was identical to Donnybrook’s KD 25, see below.

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Picture 19 - July 1992 A cavalcade of RHs transited O’Connell Street on their way to the Point Depot on this July 1992 day. All the buses had Irish language advertisements for Superquinn on the offside, Coca Cola on the nearside and Castrol Oil on the rear. The participating buses seen on the day were RH 45 and 47 (Donnybrook), RH 64 (Clontarf), RH 69 (Conyngham Road), RH 117, 122 (Phibsboro), RH 131, 133, 137 (Summerhill). All the buses were immaculately presented with wheel rims washed for the occasion. The advert inserts were uniquely secured by fasteners to ensure all advert sections stayed in place for the duration of the campaign.

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Picture 20 – July 1992 Bus Eireann 53 seater Leyland Tiger, Alexander bodied, TE 17 (88-D-19017) in factory delivered Expressway livery collecting passengers at Busarus bound for Killarney. TE 17 was one of 20 delivered in 1988 (88-D-19001 – 88-D-19020), a further 20 were delivered in 1989, TE 21 – TE 40 (89-D-21521 to 89-D-21540). The TE Expressway livery was replaced by the very successful Bus Eireann red stripes livery around this time.

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Picture 21 – July 1992 Donnybrook’s KD 234 (234 OZU) in newly applied ‘Canon Fax’ AOA working the route 45, Eden Quay to Bray.

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Picture 22 – July 1992 Bus Eireann, Leyland Tiger, Plaxton Paramount 3500, PL 52 (84-D-707) collecting passengers at Busarus bound for Portumna via Birr. PL 51 (84-D-706) branded for Dublin – Rosslare Harbour Express can be seen loading up behind. PL 53 (84-D-708) was destroyed in a fire in 1991. There were only three ex.UK 1984 vintage coaches in this batch, PL 51 – PL 53.

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Picture 23 – July 1992 Brand new Bus Eireann, Plaxton Paramount 3500 on DAF MB230 chassis, PD 56 (92-D-10056), photographed about to depart Busarus for Galway. PD 56 was part of a 20 strong batch delivered to Bus Eireann in 1992 bringing the total fleet of PDs up to 60 coaches. 20 PDs per year were delivered over the three year period 1990 to 1992.

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Picture 24 – July 1992 Bus Eireann, General Motors powered, MG 46 (46 IK) in Expressway livery loads up at Busarus with passengers destined for Limerick. MG 46 was 21 years at time of photograph and went on to serve as a school bus becoming MGS 46 until withdrawn.

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Picture 25 – July 1992 GAC, KR 170 (PZV 170) loads up passengers at Busarus destined for Dungarvan while KR 42 (EZV 42) is bound for Ballina.

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Picture 26 – July 1992 Bus Eireann, Leyland Tiger, Plaxton Paramount 3200, PL 64 (91-D-33964). The batch comprised of six coaches, PL 61 to PL 66 (91-D-33961 to 91-D-33966) and were delivered in dealer white livery. All were Plaxton Paramount 3500 III except PL 64 which was a 3200 III. They were painted into the Bus Eireann red stripes livery by year end 1992. Notice the Russian manufactured Lada Riva parked behind, the Riva model was based on a Fiat 124 design from the 1960’s.

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Picture 27 – July 1992 Phibsboro’s RH 4 (90-D-1004) freshly repainted from ‘Harp’ AOA livery into fleet green livery operating the 39B from Abbey Street to Sheepmoor, Blanchardstown. Notice lack of advert frames. In mid 1992, the six Harp Larger AOAs were painted into either white wedding livery or fleet green livery, RH 9 (Ringsend), RH 24 (Summerhill), RH 65 (Conyngham Road) were painted into wedding white livery. RH 4 (Phibsboro), RH 40 (Donnybrook), RH 64 (Clontarf) were painted into fleet green livery

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Picture 28 – August 1992 Clontarf’s KD 109 (109 JZL) at the route 44A terminus on Seapark Drive, Clontarf. Notice the Batchelors Beans ‘Proud Bean Irish’ advert on the side, at around this time Donnybrook’s KD 159 (159 JZL) Batchelors Baked Beans, AOA was painted back into fleet green livery.

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Picture 29 – August 1992 Limerick’s KD 194 (194 JZL) on loan to Waterford Garage photographed while operating the Waterford City – Tramore summer service.

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Picture 30 – August 1992 Donnybrook’s KD 25 (25 JZL) operating the route 8, Eden Quay to Dalkey in newly applied ‘Leopardstown Races’ AOA. This AOA was identical to Ringsend’s KD 250, see above.

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Picture 31 – August 1992 Ringsend’s RH 108 (91-D-10108) at the route 65 Ballyknockan, Co Wicklow terminus, about to operate the 19:10 departure back to the city centre. The bus is facing towards the Blessington lakes/reservoir.

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Picture 32 – August 1992 Donnybrook’s open top D 360 (360 IK), Limerick’s D 454 (454 ZD), Cork’s D 707 (707 ZO) and Donnybrook’s D 378 (88-D-988/378 IK) in order of appearance travel in convoy along D’olier Street carrying medal winners of the 1992 Summer Olympic which was staged in Barcelona, Spain. Michael Carruth won a gold medal in boxing, mens welter weight, Wayne McCullough won a silver in boxing, mens bantam weight. The buses and their guests travelled through the city centre to a civic reception at the Mansion House, Dawson Street.

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Pictures 33 – February/April 1992 On 25 February 1992, An Post issued a First Day Cover (FDC) marking the 1992 Summer Olympic Games staged in Barcelona, Spain with FDC, stamps and design by Colin Harrison. Another FDC issued on 15 April 1992, marking the 500th anniversary (1492 – 1992) of the European discovery of the Americas. The two stamps featured the three discovery vessels, Santa Maria, Nina and Pinta. The stamps and FDC were designed by Stephen Conlon.

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Picture 34 – August 1992 Conyngham Road’s DF 797 (797 BIK) operating the route 79, Aston Quay to Ballyfermot. Notice the Lotto advertisement ‘thinkwhatalotalittlelottocandoforyou’on the side and the Virgin megastore and Usit student travel shop in the background.

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Picture 35 – August 1992 Donnybrook’s DF603 (603 ZO) being painted into city tour green/cream livery, notice the newly installed sliding windows. This was the first Dublin based Vanhool D Atlantean to be transferred to the tour fleet. The active tour fleet at the time comprised D 413, 450, 464, 469, 576. The tours on offer were: Dublin City Tour, South Dublin Coastal Tour, North Dublin Coastal Tour, Dublin Heritage Trail.

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Picture 36 – August 1992 This August 1992 pictures captures four FM 104 Nissan Patrol vans in convoy on Westmoreland Street. These vehicles tended to travel the city streets in convoy for maximum publicity. The registration numbers of the vans had the numbers 104 as their last three digits, e.g. 91-D-15 104, followed by 91-D-17 104 as can be seen in the photograph. Notice the FM 104 advert on the side of the Conyngham Road KD.

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Picture 37 – August 1992 Ballina bound Bus Eireann, PD 39 (91-D-10039) waits outside London’s Victoria Coach Station while AEC Routemaster, RM 1894 (ALD 894 B) passes by on the route 19.

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Picture 38 – August 1992 London Victoria Coach Station bound Bus Eireann PD 38 (91-D-10038) loads up with passengers at Galway Railway Station.

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Picture 39 – August 1992 Cork’s Rolls Royce powered KD 191 (191 JZL) ex-Limerick on the route 8 to Bishopstown.

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Picture 40 – August 1992 Corks Vanhool D Atlantean D 729 (729 ZO) waits its departure time on the route 8 to Bishopstown. The red/white Bus Eireann suited the lines of the Vanhool very well.

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Picture 41 – August 1992 Cork’s KD 184 (184 JZL) operating the route 7 to Ballyvolane in newly applied ‘Murphys Irish Stout’ AOA livery.

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Picture 42 – August 1992 Cork’s KC 126 (UZG 126) operating the route 2 to Mahon in ‘Tile Style’ AOA livery, an AOA livery it received exactly three years previously in August 1989.

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Picture 43 – August 1992 Galway’s KC 103 (UZG 103) photographed on Eyre Square scrolled up for the nearby seaside resort of Salthill.

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Picture 44 – August 1992 Leyland Leopard, Vanhool bodied LVS 34 (AZD 164) and LVS 36 (AZD 166) parked together in Dundalk Garage in August 1992 configured for school duties with city bus style seats. These coaches were originally assembled in 1962 by CIE as the ET class on a Leyland Leopard chassis with David Ogle designed body. By 1969 the Ogle bodies were scrapped, the Leopard chassis overhauled and dispatched to Vanhool in Belgium where they were re-bodied with the Vanhool coachwork as featured in the picture. LVS 34 was originally LVH 34/ET 1 and LVS 36 was LVH 36/ET 3

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Picture 45 – September 1992 Donnybrook’s KD 353 (GSI 353) operating the route 14A, Burgh Quay to Meadow Grove, Churchtown in newly applied revised ‘Coca Cola’ AOA. The previous version was all red with ‘You Can’t Beat the Feeling’ script .The revised text read ‘Enjoy Ice Cold Coke’ with an ice cube background. Phibsboro’s KD 345 (GSI 345) was revised at the same time, see below.

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Picture 46 – September 1992 Donnybrook’s RH 45 (90-D-1045) at the route 8 Dalkey terminus in newly applied ‘First National Building Society’ AOA.

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Picture 47 – September 1992 September 1992 - Phibsboro’s very first Plaxton Verde on DAF SB220 chassis P1 (92-D-20001) just after delivery. The CitySwift livery as applied to P1 was different to the livery adopted for P2 – P40. The P class were the first Dublin Bus vehicles with tinted glass in the passenger area. Notice the front and rear wheel trims.

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Picture 48 – September 1992 Broadstone’s Leyland Tiger, Duple Laser bodied DL 4 (85-LK-122) ex UK (B 163 WRN) parked outside Busarus. There were a total of four DLs, DL1 (85-LK-104), DL2 (85-LK-105), DL3 (85-LK-121) and DL 4 (85-LK-122). Over time all four DLs were painted into the Bus Eireann red stripes livery.

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Picture 49 – September 1992 Donnybrook’s brand new RH 153 (92-D-153) picking up passengers on Nassau Street while operating the route 46A to Dun Laoghaire. RH 153 was the last RH of the 28 strong batch (RH 126 – 153) delivered during 1992.

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Picture 50 – December 1992 Phibsboro’s KD 345 (GSI 345) parked in the garage in newly applied revised ‘Coca Cola’ AOA. The previous version was all red with ‘You Can’t Beat the Feeling’ script .The revised text read ‘Enjoy Ice Cold Coke’ with an ice cube background.

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Picture 51 – December 1992 Conyngham Road replaced their trusty 1950 vintage Leyland Tiger P 193 (ZJ 5933) with ‘new’ 1980 vintage (80-LH-17) Bedford, Recovery Vehicle.

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Picture 52 – December 1992 Dublin Bus timetable valid from April 1992. The cover featured Travel Ten/Travel prepaid bus tickets as seen on RH 120 AOA. Also featured in picture are scanned images of actual bus tickets issued on 12 Sept 1992 for Conyngham Road operated route 37 from City Centre to Castleknock, fare £ 0.95p. The back of the tickets promoted the Travel Ten/Travel Wide bus tickets.

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We hope you enjoyed this look back at 1992!
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