Wheeling In The Years 1994 by Patrick Losty

Click on any picture for a full-size version.

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Picture 1 – February 1994 DAF SB220, Alexander Setanta, AD 25 (94-D-3025) in full Cityswift livery/branding parked outside the Walter Alexander (Belfast) bus factory at Mallusk near Belfast. It was delivered to Donnybrook Garage by May 1994 entering service in basic Cityswift livery on the route 3, Larkhill to Sandymount but devoid of Cityswift branding. The AD class comprised 70 single deck buses, and were registered AD 1 (93-D-31001), AD 2 – 40 (94-D-3002 – 94-D-3040), AD 41 – 70 (94-D-33041 – 94-D-33070).

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Picture 2 – February 1994 Donnybrook’s RA 176 on the production line at the Walter Alexander (Belfast) bus factory in February 1994. First built for Dublin Bus in 1994 the RA class commenced at RA 176 were built on a Volvo Olympian chassis with a Cummins L10-215 engine, RH 1 – RH 175 which were built between 1990 and 1993 were constructed on a Leyland Olympian chassis. Besides the different chassis, obvious visual differences between RH 175 and RA 176 were silver coloured wheel rims, square headlamps/bumper spotlamps, Volvo badging. All 1994 manufactured/registered RAs went to Donnybrook Garage, RA 176 – RA 195 (94-D-176 to 94-D-195) and were initially fleet allocated as RH 175 – RH 195 and were branded as such.

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Picture 3 – February 1994 Ryanair’s 130 seater Boeing 737-204 Advanced (EI-CJC) lines up on Dublin’s runway 28. This 1982 vintage ex. Britannia Airways aircraft (G-BJCV) was the very first Boeing 737 introduced into the Ryanair fleet and by 1995 the four remaining BAe 1-11 500’s were phased out and replaced by an all Boeing 737 fleet a feature which continues to this day. EI-CJC would later be painted into the all yellow “Hertz Rent-A-Car” All Over Advertisement (AOA) livery, a livery it kept right up to withdrawal from service in 2005.

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Picture 4 – February 1994 Ringsend’s RH 110 (91-D-10110) at the Aston Quay terminus of the route 50 to Willington in newly applied “Canon – Copier, FAX, Bubble Jet Technology” AOA livery. The front, nearside and rear were painted on a red background, the rear indicated that Canon were the official sponsors of the 1994 World Cup to be held in the USA that Summer and that Canon (Ireland) wished the Irish team every success. Notice that the Ringsend maintenance staff had repositioned the Leyland grille badge. From the 29/05/94, the route 50 to Willington became a City Imp route and was given the route number 150, the route number 50 was then used for a new service from Eden Quay to Killinarden.

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Picture 5 – February 1994 Conyngham Road’s brand new Cityswift liveried AD 5 (94-D-3005) at the Aston Quay terminus of the route 78A to Balgaddy. With the introduction of the Cityswift brand to the 78A, a six minute frequency was timetabled in.

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Picture 6 – March 1994 Conyngham Road’s brand new white liveried AD 28 (94-D-3028) on Aston Quay photographed operating the route 90 from Connolly Station to Heuston Station.

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Picture 7 – March 1994 Bus Eireann, VS 50, (81-D-1454), Volvo B57, New Zealand Motor Bodies parked in Broadstone Garage following conversion to school service specification. Circa. 330 of these 1981/1984 vintage ex. Singapore Bus Services (SBS) buses were shipped to Dublin during 1993/1994 for use on school bus services.

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Picture 8 – March 1994 During April 1994, the comedy/drama ‘A Man of No Importance’ was filmed in Dublin starring Albert Finney, Brenda Fricker, Tara Fitzgerald, Rufus Sewell. Several city locations were used during filming which was set in Dublin in 1963, including The Four Courts, the Phoenix Park, Portobello Bridge, Mount Street, Marino and Broadstone as featured in above photograph. Buses used during filming were: P 220 (ZJ 5960), R 389 (ZH 4538), R 686 (BIK 286), R 788 (OIK 984), RA 73 (OYI 838).

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Picture 9 – April 1994 As a result of Niamh Kavanagh winning the 1993 Eurovision Song Contest (Millstreet, Cork) with the song ‘In Your Eyes’, the 1994 Eurovision hosted by Cynthia Ní Mhurchú and Gerry Ryan was staged at the Point Theatre in Dublin’s docklands, the above was the official logo of the Eurovision Song Contest Dublin 1994.

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Picture 10 – April 1994 In order to avoid major traffic congestion in and around the Point Theatre during the Eurovision, a large scale public transport operation swung into action. Ticket holders for the Saturday afternoon rehearsal and the actual live evening song contest were ferried from approved parking areas at UCD, Belfield (as in photograph) to the Point by way of a fleet of Dublin Bus RH and brand new AD and P classes plus Bus Eireann DVH, PD, PL coaches.

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Picture 11 – April 1994 This photograph of Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann buses/coaches parked on North Wall Quay extension was taken during the Eurovision rehearsal on the Saturday afternoon. Notice the Irish Navy Ship ‘Le Eithne’ berthed beside the East Link Bridge. Riverdance was the interval act which afterwards went on to become and still is a huge commercial success. Ireland won the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest with the song ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Kids’ sung by Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan.

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Picture 12 – April 1994 Brand new Aer Lingus Airbus, 331 seat, A330-301, EI-DUB photographed under tow to pier B to pick up passengers bound for Paris (CDG) on one of its first commercial/proving flights from Dublin. With the introduction of the Airbus A330 to the Aer Lingus trans-Atlantic fleet, the withdrawal of the three Boeing 747-100’s commenced, first to be withdrawn was B747-130, EI-BED.

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Picture 13 – May 1994 Bartons of Maynooth, 1975 vintage MCW, Daimler Fleetline (7997 ZW) in overall red livery with Greyline Tours branding passes Summerhill’s RH 133 (92-D-133) on the route 16 to Grange Road. In later years the bus was converted into a partial open top with ownership passing to McConns/Dualway of Rathcoole

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Picture 14 – June 1994 Conyngham Road’s brand new 23 seater Mercedes Benz 709D with Eurocoach body, ME 15 (94-D-2015) photographed southbound on O’Connell Street while operating the new City Imp route 123 (previously route 24) from Marino to Drimnagh. The ME batch delivered and registered in 1994 were ME 11 to ME 30 (94-D-2011 to 94-D-37030).

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Picture 15 – June 1994 Donnybrook’s brand new AD 21 (94-D-3021) photographed southbound on the route 3 from Larkhill to Sandymount. The route 3 had just transferred from Ringsend to Donnybrook and in the process was upgraded to brand new AD class single deckers, from the previously operated 20 year old Vanhool D Atlanteans. Notice the basic Cityswift livery with no branding in evidence.

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Picture 16 – June 1994 Bus Eireann’s brand new 51 seater Volvo B10M-62, Caetano Algarve II coach, VC 11 (94-D-23654) passes through O’Connell Street on its way to Busarus. The 1994 VC delivery consisted of 20 coaches, VC 1 to VC 20 (94-D-23659 to 94-D-24971).

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Picture 17 - June 1994 Phibsboro’s KD 215 (215 OZU) southbound on the route 22 to Drimnagh followed by Summerhill’s RH 27 (90-D-1027) on the route 16 to Rathfarnham. Notice the different versions of the adverts for Stag Longneck.

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Picture 18 - June 1994 Clontarf’s KC 111 (UZG 111) loads up at the 44A terminus in Abbey Street.

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Picture 19 - June 1994 Summerhill’s brand new 35 seater AD40 (94-D-3040) in Airlink livery picking up passengers at Busarus bound for Dublin Airport. Factory delivered AD35 - AD40 and AD69 - AD70 were in Airlink livery and were equipped with baggage storage racks.

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Picture 20 – June 1994 Donnybrook’s brand new RA 177 (94-D-177) at the route 44 terminus in Hawkins Street about to set off for the very picturesque village of Enniskerry. Notice RH 45 (90-D-1045) in “First National Building Society” AOA livery parked up behind.

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Picture 21 – June 1994 Ringsend’s brand new 23 seat City Imp liveried Mercedes Benz 811D, Leicester Carriage Builders, ML 12 (94-D-1012) in Fleet Street operating the new route 150 to Willington (replaced the route 50 on 29/05/94). During 1994 a total of 15 ML class minibuses were delivered ML 1 – ML 15 (94-D-1001 to 94-D-1015).

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Picture 22 – June 1994 Donnybrook’s brand new 23 seat City Imp liveried Mercedes 709D, Eurocoach, ME19 (94-D-2019) at the route 155 terminus at Limekiln Road (replaced Ringsend operated route 55 on 29/05/94). During 1994, ME11 (94-D-2011) to ME30 (94-D-37030) were delivered.

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Picture 23 – June 1994 Donnybrook’s brand new RA185 (94-D-185) photographed in the garage before entry into service. Donnybrook received the full batch of twenty 1994 registered RAs (RA 176 – RA 195). Notice 999 on the side route number box, generally this was displayed for the delivery journey from Belfast.

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Picture 24 – June 1994 Phibsboro Garage received a ‘new’ recovery vehicle in June 1994 (87-D-33931) and is seen here in the Phoenix Park acting as back up vehicle for the Dublin Bay Rally.

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Picture 25 – June 1994 Phibsboro’s Mercedes Benz 709D, Alexander, MA 7 (93-D-8007) in “Chartbusters”, AOA livery awaits the start of the Dublin Bay Rally in the Phoenix Park. MA 7 was marked in on the route 250 (Ashtown – St Josephs Hospital, Clonsilla). Phibsboro’s freshly repainted DF 519 (519 ZD) waits behind. Other “Chartbuster” AOAs were Ringsend’s MA 13/15 (93-D-8013/15)

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Picture 26 – June 1994 Ringsend’s Mercedes Benz 709D, Alexander, MA 12 (93-D-8012) in “Tilebusters”, AOA livery parked in Fleet Street having operated the route 150 from Willington. MA 9 (93-D-8009) was also in “Tilebuster” AOA livery.

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Picture 27 – June 1994 Ringsend’s Mercedes Benz 811D, Wrights, MW 6 (90-D-5006) in Dunkin Donuts, AOA livery parked at the route 83 terminus on College Green.

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Picture 28 – June 1994 Donnybrook’s brand new RA 179 (94-D-179) in wedding livery photographed in Fleet Street having just operated the route 46A from Dun Laoghaire. Donnybrook’s RA 182 was also delivered in wedding livery.

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Picture 29 – June 1994 Donnybrook’s RH 89 (91-D-1089) in newly applied “Heinz Baked Beans” AOA livery photographed in Hawkins Street waits its departure time on the route 48A to Ballinteer.

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Picture 30 – June 1994 Donnybrook’s DF821 (821 NIK) and DF 822 (822 NIK) photographed in Broadstone had been ousted from service due to the delivery of Donnybrook’s RA 176 – RA 195 batch. DF 822 was the “1989 European Year of Information on Cancer” AOA livery bus and advert frames were not fitted when painted back into fleet livery in October 1990. DF 821 was in very original factory delivered condition as evidenced by the silver coloured trim below the upper deck/lower deck window frames, an indication that it was possibly never put though the CIE Inchicore BMS overhaul process. DF 821 & 822 were the only two Vanhools with the ‘Pay As You Enter’ illuminated sign fitted directly below the nearside windscreen, all other one person operation (OPO) converted Vanhools had the sign fitted just above the nearside headlamps.

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Picture 31 – June 1994 Bus Eireann, Limerick, DF 454 (454 ZD) ex-Summerhill in open top format parked outside Broadstone Garage.

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Picture 32 – August 1994 Galway’s GAC, Rural Bus, KR 61 (EZV 61) in revised “Coca Cola” AOA livery photographed outside Renmore Post Office during August 1994.

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Picture 33 - August 1994 Donnybrook’s RH 41 (90-D-1041) photographed on St Stephen’s Green outbound on the route 48A to Ballinteer in newly applied “Iarnrod Eireann – DART 10 year anniversary” AOA livery.

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Picture 34 – August 1994 Phibsboro’s RH 121 (91-D-10121) in newly applied “Coca Cola” AOA livery, photographed at the route 37 terminus on Abbey Street. RH 121 replaced Phibsboro’s KD 348 “Coca Cola” AOA. RH 121 was identical to Donnybrook’s “Coca Cola” AOA, RH 90, see below.

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Picture 35 – August 1994 Donnybrook’s RH 93 (91-D-1093) in newly applied “JVC Adagio” AOA livery photographed at the route 75 terminus at the Square, Tallaght

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Picture 36 – August 1994 Donnybrook’s RH 90 (91-D-1090) in newly applied “Coca Cola” AOA livery photographed at the route 75 terminus at the Square, Tallaght. This AOA was identical to Phibsboro’s RH 121.

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Picture 37 – August 1994 Conyngham Road’s DF 790 (790 BIK) and DF 805 (805 BIK) photographed in Broadstone in newly applied Driving School livery.

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Picture 38 – August 1994 Dublin Bus MCW Metroriders seen withdrawn from service in Broadstone as a result of the introduction to service of the 1994 deliveries of the ME and ML classes. In late 1994, MB1-7 and 9-15 were sold to Strathclyde Buses (now First Glasgow) and gave five years more service. Once sold to Strathclydes buses, they were driven to Larne (presumably by Dublin bus staff), and sent on the Larne-Stranraer ferry. At Stranraer, Strathclydes buses drivers collected the vehicles, and drove them to Parkhead depot, where they were to be based. As it turned out, in 1995, SB bought Kelvin Central, and so a few ended up with that operator. (Additional information on Metroriders courtesy Robert Clark)

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Picture 39 – August 1994 Ex-Dublin Bus MCW Metrorider, MB 8 (88-D-31236) seen in Bus Éireann livery parked outside the Great Southern Hotel on Eyre Square, Galway.

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Picture 40 – August 1994 Cork’s KD 186 (186 JZL) in newly applied updated “Coca Cola” AOA livery photographed on Patrick Street operating the route 8 to Bishopstown.

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Picture 41 – August 1994 Cork’s KC 161 (87-D-28390/UZG 161) in newly applied updated “AIB Bank” AOA livery photographed on Patrick Street operating the route 7.

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Picture 42 – August 1994 Dublin City Tour operated by Dualway/McConns ex-Southampton City Transport and Southend Transport, 1964 vintage AEC Routemaster, RM 2005 (64-D-805/ALM 5 B) was photographed on O’Connell Street.

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Picture 43 – August 1994 Phibsboro’s Standard D Leyland Atlantean, D 376 (376 IK) in navy/cream livery was utilised on ‘The Grand Tour”.

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Picture 44 – September 1994 Donnybrook’s RH 143 (92-D-143) in newly applied “AIB Bank” AOA livery seen operating northbound on the route 10 to the Phoenix Park. RH 143 was at the time on temporary loan to Phibsboro Garage, Phibsboro’s RH114 went to Donnybrook in return. When RH 143 returned to Donnybrook it operated on the route 18 (Sandymount – Palmerstown) thereby regularly passing the AIB Bank, Head Office in Ballsbridge.

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Picture 45 – September 1994 London Central (Camberwell Garage) operated Routemaster, RML 2515 (JJD 515 D) photographed at Oxford Circus while operating the route 12. At the time of the photograph, the original AEC engine had been replaced by a Cummins engine, the interior was re-trimmed and new fluorescent lighting installed. Around this time many other Routemasters were overhauled, their AEC engines replaced with new environmentally friendly Cummins, Iveco or Scania engines. Routemasters remained on the route 12 for another 10 years with their final demise on the route on 5 November 2004.

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Picture 46 – October 1994 Wigan, Greater Manchester based bus builder ‘Northern Counties’ sent their ‘Paladin’ demonstrator (94-D-28205) built on a Scania L113 chassis to Dublin Bus for evaluation in late 1994 and was photographed parked in Phibsboro Garage.

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Picture 47 – November 1994 Brand new Mazda engined CVE Omni, W 2 (94-D-29002) wheelchair accessible minibus photographed in Broadstone. There were five in the batch and were registered 94-D-29001 to 94-D-29005.

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Picture 48 – November 1994 Phibsboro’s P 2 (93-D-3002) seen here parked at Parnell Square East/Cavendish Row having just operated the route 40 from Finglas. The route 40 was officially upgraded to CitySwift standard the following year.

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Picture 49 – November 1994 Dualway/McConns ex-British Airways front entrance AEC, Routemaster, RMA 25 (67-D-813/NMY 653 E) photographed while on Dublin sightseeing tour duties parked outside the tourist information office on Upper O’Connell Street. It was converted to an open top the following year, 1995 and used on the Kilkenny City tour.

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Picture 50 – December 1994 Front cover of 1994 Dublin Bus timetable featuring an RH, MW and a P in the three liveries in circulation at the time plus Bus Eireann timetable featuring PD 5 photographed heading to Rosslare Harbour.

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We hope you enjoyed this look back at 1994!
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