Wheeling In The Years 2002 by Patrick Losty

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Picture 1 – January 2002 Brand new Bus Eireann, Scania K94, Irizar Inter-Century, SR 14, (02-D-5049) photographed in Broadstone shortly after entry into service. Twenty five brand new SR’s were delivered/purchased during 2002, SR 4 (02-D-5047) to SR 28 (02-D-5073), joining three delivered in 2001, SR 1 (01-D-86926) to SR 3 (01-D-86931).

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Picture 2 – January 2002 Brand new Bus Eireann, Volvo, East Lancs., DD 12, (02-D-3441) photographed in Broadstone shortly after entry into service. Six brand new DD’s were delivered/purchased during 2002, DD 11 (02-D-3439) to DD 16 (02-D-3449). Two 2001 registered East Lancs. demonstrators were fleet allocated DD 2 (01-D-46502) and DD 3 (01-D-46496).

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Picture 3 – January 2002 Brand new and unregistered Bus Eireann, Cummins engined, Dennis, Plaxton Pointer (10.7m), DPC 28, (02-C-16548) photographed in Broadstone shortly after delivery. Eleven brand new DPC’s were delivered/purchased during 2002, DPC 22 (02-D-62203) to DPC 32 (02-C-20217), joining twenty one delivered in 2000, DPC 1 (00-D-84187) to DPC 21 (00-D-91442).

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Picture 4 – January 2002 Brand new and unregistered Bus Eireann, Cummins engined, Dennis, Plaxton Pointer (8.8m), DPC 101, (02-D-18250) photographed in Broadstone shortly after delivery. Eleven brand new 8.8m length DPC’s were delivered/purchased during 2002, DPC 101 (02-D-18250) to DPC 111 (02-D-18262).

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Picture 5 – January 2002 Phibsboro’s Volvo, ALX400, AV 224, (01-D-10224) was delivered new from the factory in white wedding bus livery.

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Picture 6 – January 2002 Brand new Cityswift liveried Volvo, ALX400, AV 216, (01-D-10216) photographed parked in Broadstone.

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Picture 7 – January 2002 Ringsend’s Leyland Olympian, RH 7 (90-D-1007) in red/white driving school livery.

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Picture 8 – January 2002 London Stansted based, Go Fly, 148 seat, Boeing 737-36N, G-IGOP, lines up for take off from Dublin’s runway 28, Go was founded in 1998 and was a subsidiary of British Airways Plc.

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Picture 9 – January 2002 An Post issued a First Day Cover (FDC) to commemorate Irish Coinage (1928 – 2002) and the withdrawal of the National Currency and the changeover to the Euro currency to Ireland on 1 January 2002.

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Picture 10 – March 2002 Dublin Bus, Broadstone, ex. Clontarf/Phibsboro, Leyland Olympian, RH 159 (93-D-10159) in revised ‘Esso Tiger Miles’, All Over Advertisement Livery (AOA).

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Picture 11 – April 2002 CitySwift liveried Volvo, ALX400, AV 1 (00-D-40001) sporting a clean set of wheel rims photographed before the start of ’65 years of Dublin Buses 1937 – 2002’ rally held on 1 April 2002.

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Picture 12 – April 2002 Ex. CIE, Leyland PD3 Titan, 1959 vintage, RA 30 (CYI 665) photographed outside the Custom House before the start of ’65 years of Dublin Buses 1937 – 2002’ rally held on 1 April 2002.

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Picture 13 – April 2002 Ex. Dublin Bus, Ringsend/Donnybrook, Leyland AN68 Atlantean, Vanhool McArdle, D 741 (741 ZO) Dublin City Tour open top photographed outside the Custom House before the start of ’65 years of Dublin Buses 1937 – 2002’ rally held on 1 April 2002.

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Picture 14 – April 2002 Ex. Dublin Bus, Donnybrook, Bombardier, KD 156, (156 JZL) in Driving School red/white livery photographed outside the Custom House before the start of ’65 years of Dublin Buses 1937 – 2002’ rally held on 1 April 2002. Eleven years previously, in 1991, KD 156 was painted into the ‘KP Skips’, AOA livery. (Please refer to WITY 1991).

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Picture 15 – April 2002 Ex. CIE, Leyland Leopard, 9.1m (30 foot), C 160, (EZH 160) in tan livery photographed on Custom House Quay before the start of ’65 years of Dublin Buses 1937 – 2002’ rally held on 1 April 2002. Built new in 1966 at the CIE works on Spa Road, Inchicore, it was delivered new in a cherry red/ivory livery. The adjoining picture shows it in its end of service appearance in the much less attractive tan livery with most of its original visually appealing fibre glass moulded grille/headlight sections replaced with simplified aluminium sections.

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Picture 16 – April 2002 Ex. CIE/Dublin Bus, Leyland AN68 Atlantean, Van Hool McArdle, DF 839, (839 NIK) in Dublin Bus green livery photographed on Custom House Quay before the start of ’65 years of Dublin Buses 1937 – 2002’ rally held on 1 April 2002. A total of 238 examples were built, the first, D 603 (603 ZO) was built by Vanhool in Belgium and 237 at the CIE works on Spa Road, Inchicore, D 604 (604 ZO) to D 840 (840 NIK). The class were originally delivered with Leyland engines, many of which were replaced with 11.6 litre DAF engines during their service lives and were thus reclassified as DF.

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Picture 17 – April 2002 National Transport Museum, Howth, ex. DUTC/CIE, Leyland TD4 Titan, R 1, (ZC 714) was 65 years old and the star vehicle when it participated in the ’65 years of Dublin Buses 1937 – 2002’ rally held on 1 April 2002. Built new in 1937 for the Dublin United Tramway Company (DUTC) at Spa Road, Inchicore, on 20/12/37, it entered service on the route 50 to Crumlin.

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Picture 18 – April 2002 Rear offside view of the National Transport Museum, Howth, ex. DUTE/CIE, Leyland TD4 Titan, R 1, (ZC 714) parked on Custom House Quay before the start of ’65 years of Dublin Buses 1937 – 2002’ rally held on 1 April 2002. Notice the three Garda motorcycle outriders that provided a most efficient and speedy escort of the rally vehicles to Bray, Co. Wicklow.

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Picture 19 – April 2002 Phibsboro’s Leyland Olympian, Alexander, RH 1, (90-D-1001) photographed on Georges Quay awaiting the start of ’65 years of Dublin Buses 1937 – 2002’ rally held on 1 April 2002.

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Picture 20 – April 2002 1964 vintage Leyland, PD3 Special, R 913, (NZE 622) photographed on Bray Seafront during the ’65 years of Dublin Buses 1937 – 2002’ rally held on 1 April 2002. There were 26 PD3 Specials, R901 – R 926 (NZE 610 – NZE 635) built at Dundalk Engineering works with a combination of obsolete/refurbished OPS3 Leyland Tiger components and new Park Royal body frames with St. Helen style front ends.

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Picture 21 – April 2002 Donnybrook’s Volvo Olympian, Alexander, RA 177, (94-D-177) photographed in an all-over Nitelink wrap on Bray Seafront during the ’65 years of Dublin Buses 1937 – 2002’ rally held on the 1 April 2002.

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Picture 22 – June 2002 12 year old Leyland Olympian, Alexander withdrawn from Dublin Bus service await sale, from left to right, Summerhill’s RH 30 (90-D-1030) in Cityswift livery, ex. Ringsend RH 11 (90-D1011), Donnybrook’s RH 48, 45, 42, 41 (90-D-1048/45/42/41).

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Picture 23 – June 2002 12 year old Leyland Olympian, Alexander withdrawn from Dublin Bus service await sale, from left to right, Donnybrook’s RH 44 (90-D-1044), Ringsend RH 17 (90-D-1017), Clontarf RH 53 (90-D-1053), Ringsend RH 18 (90-D-1018).

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Picture 24 – June 2002 In 2002 Ringsend’s Leyland Olympian, Alexander, RH 6, (90-D-1006) was painted from Driving School red/white livery into the then core navy/cream livery still in the role as a Driving School vehicle.

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Picture 25 – July 2002 Galway’s Mercedes Citaro, MC 14 (00-D-91433) parked in the garage between duties. 20 MCs were delivered to Bus Eireann in year 2000, MC 1 (00-D-79721) to MC 20 (00-D-98898). MC 1 to MC 12 were allocated when new to Limerick and MC 13 – MC 20 to Galway.

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Picture 26 – July 2002 Rear/offside view of Galway’s Mercedes Citaro, MC 19 (00-D-98895) parked in the garage.

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Picture 27 – July 2002 Galway’s DAF SB120, Wright Cadet, DWR 14 (01-D-4794) parked in the garage between duties. 20 DWRs were delivered to Bus Eireann in year 2001, DWR 1 (01-D-4738) to DWR 20 (01-D-4804).

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Picture 28 – July 2002 Galway’s pristine condition Shannon built GAC, School Bus, DAF powered KR/KS 62, (EZV 62) parked in the garage. FFG Hamburg built prototype KR 1 (1 YZU) arrived in Ireland in 1983, GAC Shannon built KR 2 (EZV 2) to KR 225 (87-D-2225) were delivered to CIE/Bus Eireann over the three years 1985 to 1987. A demonstrator (C 529 XEF) sent to Darlington, UK for evaluation was returned to GAC following the trial period was taken into the Bus Eireann fleet and given the fleet reference KR 226 (85-D-178). Another prototype (Bombardier Rural Bus) KS 2 (2 YZU) powered by a Cummins 5.9 litre engine was also taken into the Bus Eireann fleet.

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Picture 29 – July 2002 Galway based VS 216 (82-D-2523) was part of a 330 strong batch of 1981/1984 vintage Volvo B57, dual door New Zealand Motor Body ex. SBS (Singapore Bus Service) city buses that were purchased during 1993/1994 for schools work. The middle door was blocked up and heaters were fitted prior to entering schools service.

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Picture 30 – July 2002 Galway based Cummins powered Vanhool Acron Hi line Coach, CVH/CVS 31 (SI 2031) had been converted to schools use at the time of the photograph in 2002. CVH 31 was part of a thirty five strong batch of brand new Vanhool, Belgium built tour coaches which were registered CVH 1 (SI 2001) to CVH 35 (SI 2035), all were in CIE Tours International livery.

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Picture 31 – July 2002 Phibsboro’s Leyland, Olympian, Alexander, RH 3 (90-D-1003) was converted to open top and is seen here outside Trinity College operating the Dublin city tour. RH 3 was delivered new in 1990 to Phibsboro Garage in green fleet livery but was quickly painted into white ‘wedding bus’ livery, a livery it retained until August 1998 when it and the other Phibsboro wedding liveried RH 39 (90-D-1039) were ousted from wedding duties by the delivery of brand new wedding liveried RV 410/411 (98-D-20410/411).

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Picture 32 – July 2002 Donnybrook’s pristine condition Volvo Olympian, RV 421 (98-D-20421) operating the route 45 to Oldcourt, Bray, Co.Wicklow photographed with Trinity College in the background. RV 421 was one of the RV 412 (98-D-20412) to RV 421 (98-D-20421) batch delivered to Donnybrook, all in navy/cream livery.

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Picture 33 – July 2002 Aircoach’s Caetano (00-D-95915) photographed in College Street.

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Picture 34 – July 2002 Ringsend’s perfect condition RA 230 (95-D-230) photographed at the route 15 terminus on College Green. RA 230 was delivered new in 1995 to Ringsend Garage in white wedding livery complementing Ringsend’s then existing wedding liveried RH 9 (90-D-1009).

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Picture 35 – July 2002 Donnybrook’s pristine condition Volvo Olympian, Alexander, RV 440 (98-D-20440) at the route 48A terminus in Hawkins Street. RV 440 was one of the RV 436 (98-D-20436) to RV 445 (98-D-20445) batch delivered new to Donnybrook in 1998, all in navy/cream livery.

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Picture 36 – July 2002 Front/offside view of Conyngham Road’s Volvo Olympian, Alexander, RV 518 (99-D-518) photographed on Aston Quay operating the Inter-station ‘Railink’ route 90 (Heuston – Tara – Connolly), in updated All Over Advertisement (AOA) livery 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 basic ‘Railink’ livery without original route information can be seen on the frontal area.

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Picture 37 – July 2002 Rear/offside view of 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 updated All Over Advertisement (AOA) livery for Guinness. The route 90 passes the World famous Guinness brewery on its way to/from Heuston Station.

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Picture 38 – July 2002 Phibsboro’s Volvo, Olympian, Alexander, RA 219 (95-D-219) in the then new Dublin City Tour livery and RH 2 (90-D-1002) parked in front in the previous city tour livery. RA 219 was delivered new in 1995 to Phibsboro in CitySwift livery, RH 2 was delivered new in 1990 to Phibsboro in EC Presidency - Ireland (January 1990 – June 1990) overall dark blue livery.

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Picture 39 – July 2002 Summerhill’s spotless condition Volvo, ALX400, Alexander, AV 228 (01-D-10228) in white ‘Wedding Bus’ livery photographed in Marlborough Street waiting its departure time on the route 20B to Beaumont.

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Picture 40 – July 2002 Clontarf’s perfect condition Leyland Olympian, Alexander, RH 157 (93-D-10157) in navy/cream livery photographed near the route 130 terminus on Abbey Street. RH 157 was part of the RH 154 (93-D-10154) to RH 167 (93-D-10167) delivered new in 1993 to Clontarf Garage, all in green fleet livery except RH 154 which was in white ‘wedding bus’ livery.

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Picture 41 – July 2002 Clontarf’s Volvo Olympian, Alexander, RA 266 (96-D-266) in CitySwift livery ‘Malahide Road 27 Flyer’ route branding livery photographed parked on Marlborough Street. RA 266 was part of the RA 264 (96-D-264) to RA 277 (96-D-277) delivered new in 1996 to Clontarf Garage, all in Cityswift livery. RA 266 was shortly afterwards painted into the navy/cream fleet livery as per picture of RA 270 below.

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Picture 42 – July 2002 Clontarf’s pristine condition Volvo Olympian, Alexander, RA 270 (96-D-270) in newly applied navy/cream livery photographed near the route 130 terminus on Abbey Street. RA 270 was part of the RA 264 (96-D-264) to RA 277 (96-D-277) delivered new in 1996 to Clontarf Garage, all in Cityswift livery. RA 270 had just been painted into the navy/cream fleet livery from previous CitySwift ‘Malahide Road 27 Flyer’ livery as evidenced by quality Customer Service branding still affixed to lower deck window.

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Picture 43 – July 2002 Ex Donnybrook, ‘SPAR’ AOA, Leyland Olympian, Alexander, RH 84 (91-D-1084) in Driving School livery photographed parked in Abbey Street. RH 84 was the part of the RH 84 (91-D-1084) to RH 93 (91-D-1093) batch delivered new to Donnybrook Garage in 1991, all in green fleet livery.

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Picture 44 – July 2002 Clontarf’s Volvo Olympian, Alexander, RV 405 (98-D-20405) photographed in Abbey Street awaiting its departure time for the route 29A to Newgrove Cross. RV 405 was part of the RV 400 (98-D-20400) to RV 407 (98-D-20407) delivered new in 1999 to Clontarf Garage, all in navy/cream livery.

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Picture 45 – July 2002 The foundations were being poured for ‘The Spire’ as captured in this 24 July 2002 photograph.

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Picture 46 – July 2002 Broadstone’s ex. Clontarf Volvo Olympian, Alexander, RV 602 (99-D-602) photographed in O’Connell Street operating the northbound section of the route 123 to Marino. RV 602 was part of the RV 602 (99-D-602) to RV 604 (99-D-604) batch delivered new in 1999 to Clontarf Garage, all in CitySwift livery.

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Picture 47 – July 2002 Irish City Tours-operated open top Dublin City Tour bus (83-D-4204) parked outside Easons on O’Connell Street.

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Picture 48 – July 2002 Summerhill’s Volvo Olympian, Alexander, RV 383 (97-D-383) with ‘Fingal Flyer’ route 41 branding photographed on O’Connell Street operating the northbound section of the route 16 to Santry. RV 383 was part of the RV 354 (97-D-354) to RV 389 (99-D-20389) batch delivered new in 1997/98 to Summerhill Garage, all in CitySwift livery.

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Picture 49 – August 2002 Ryanair, 1980 vintage, ex. Lufthansa, 130 seat, Boeing 737-230, EI-CNT, appeared during the summer of 2002 as a ‘logojet’ for ‘Vodafone’, the ‘Vodafone’ livery replaced the ‘The Sun’ tabloid newspaper livery.

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Picture 50 – November 2002 Bus Eireann Cork brand new Volvo B7L, Wright, VWL 135, (02-C-25706) was an exhibit at the Bus and Coach Show at RDS, Simmonscourt in November 2002. VWL 135 was one of 12 VWLs registered to Bus Eireann, Cork in 2002, VWL 124 (02-C-1831), VWL 126 (02-C-1832) to VWL 136 (02-C-25707).

We hope you enjoyed this look back at 2002!
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This edition of Wheeling In The Years is dedicated to the memory of Paddy Kiernan