Wheeling In The Years 2004 by Patrick Losty

Click on any picture for a full-size version.

*   *   *  

Picture 1 – February 2004 Donnybrook’s Volvo Olympian, Alexander, RA 187 (94-D-187) in newly applied All Over Advertisement (AOA) for ‘AXA Insurance’.

*   *   *  

Picture 2 – February 2004 Donnybrook’s Volvo B7LDD, Alexander ALX 400, AV 91 (00-D-40091) in ‘Coastal Tours’ green/cream livery. AV 91 and AV 92 (also in this livery) were utilised on such tours as the ‘South Coast Tour’ from Dublin City south along the coast via Dun Laoghaire, into Co. Wicklow to Bray and Greystones returning to Dublin via the ‘Glen of the Downs’, Enniskerry. Another tour was The‘Coast & Castle Tour’ which routed northward from Dublin city to Malahide returning via the fishing village of Howth. AV 91 and AV 92 received the new revised tour livery by summer 2004.

*   *   *  

Picture 3 – February 2004 Donnybrook’s Volvo Olympian, Alexander, RV 556 (99-D-556) in newly applied All Over Advertisement (AOA) for ‘Eircom 11811’ directory enquiry service.

*   *   *  

Picture 4 – February 2004 Brand new Bus Eireann, Volvo B7L, East Lancs, DD 18 (04-D-2733) parked in Broadstone. Seventeen brand new DDs were delivered to Bus Eireann in 2004, DD 17 (04-D-2728) to DD 30 (04-D-2797) in Bus Eireann livery and DD 31 (04-C-12277) to DD 33 (04-C-12281) in ‘Cork City Council Black Ash Park & Ride’ green livery. These year-2004 deliveries joined the six DDs delivered in 2002, DD 11 (02-D-3439) to DD 16 (02-D-3445).

*   *   *  

Picture 5 – February 2004 Brand new unregistered Bus Eireann, Volvo B7L, East Lancs, DD 33 (04-C-12281) parked in Broadstone. DD 31 (04-C-12277) to DD 33 (04-C-12281) were delivered in green ‘Cork City Council Black Ash Park and Ride’ livery.

*   *   *  

Picture 6 – February 2004 Bus Eireann, Scania L94/Irizar Century, SC 48, (04-D-26401) was delivered in revised Bus Eireann livery and LED destination displays. SC 48 was one of 45 brand new SC’s bought by Bus Eireann in 2004, SC 28 (04-D-24969) to SC 72 (04-D-55597) joining the 27 new SCs delivered during 2001.

*   *   *  

Picture 7 – February 2004 Bus Eireann, Scania L94/Irizar Century, SC 41, (04-D-29893) was delivered in coach configuration and CIE Tours International livery with middle nearside door and without the front LED destination display. SC 41 was one of 45 brand new SC’s bought by Bus Eireann in 2004, SC 28 (04-D-24969) to SC 72 (04-D-55597).

*   *   *  

Picture 8 – February 2004 Brand new Dublin Bus, Volvo B7LDD, ALX 400, Alexander, AV 375 (04-D-20375) and AV 374 (04-D-20374) shortly after delivery.

*   *   *  

Picture 9 – April 2004 Dublin Bus, Volvo B6BLE, Wright, WV 7, (99-D-60007) in City Imp livery and WV 50 (01-D-10050) in the new fleet navy/yellow livery photographed in Ringsend Garage. The City Imp and CitySwift brand liveries were fast disappearing to the new fleet wide navy/yellow livery.

*   *   *  

Picture 10 – April 2004 Dublin Bus, DAF SB220, Alexander Setanta, AD 51 (94-D-33051) in new fleet navy/yellow livery and AD 56 (94-D-33056) in previous fleet navy/cream livery photographed in Donnybrook Garage.

*   *   *  

Picture 11 – April 2004 Dublin Bus, Phibsboro, Mercedes O814, Eurocoach, MV 82, (98-D-1082) in City Imp livery and ex. Conyngham Road, DAF SB220, Alexander Setanta, AD 8 (94-D-3008) and AD 9 (94-D-3009) in CitySwift livery photographed shortly after withdrawal from service. AD 8 & AD 9 were converted to school bus configuration and livery and allocated to the Bus Eireann, Waterford school fleet.

*   *   *  

Picture 12 – May 2004 Ex-Dublin Bus Phibsboro, DAF, Plaxton Verde, P 3 (93-D-3003) photographed shortly after conversion to Bus Eireann school bus configuration and livery, P 1 to P4 were later allocated to the Waterford based school bus fleet. All 40 P’s were transferred to the Bus Eireann school fleet.

*   *   *  

Picture 13 – May 2004 Brand new Dublin Bus, Volvo B7LDD, ALX 400, Alexander, AV 372 (04-D-20372) and AV 380 (04-D-20380) photographed in Broadstone shortly after delivery.

*   *   *  

Picture 14 – May 2004 Dublin Bus, Donnybrook, Volvo B7LDD, ALX 400, Alexander, AV 147 (01-D-70147) received an AOA for ‘Ireland EU Presidency - 1 Jan 2004 to 30 June 2004’. Donnybrook’s AV 148 to AV 151 also received this AOA livery. Ireland took over the presidency on 1 January 2004 from Italy and after six months on 30 June 2004 Ireland handed the presidency to the Netherlands. The 2004 Irish Presidency of the EU was the sixth occasion since Ireland joined the EEC in 1973.

*   *   *  

Picture 15 – July 2004 The brand new ‘Luas’ 10km ‘green line’, ‘St.Stephen’s Green to Sandyford’ was opened to the public at 3pm on Wednesday 30 June 2004. This picture taken the following day on Thursday 1 July 2004 shows brand new 40m, Alstom, Citadis trams 4012 & 4008 at the St. Stephens Green terminus are the centre of attention with long queues of people waiting to board the trams for the free trip to Sandyford.

*   *   *  

Picture 16 – July 2004 This Thursday 1 July 2004 photograph shows the great public interest on the second day of operations on the Luas ‘green line’. The 40m, Alstom, Citadis trams manufactured at La Rochelle, France run on the international standard rail gauge of 1435mm have a capacity for 358 passengers and two wheelchairs and operate on a 750V DC overhead power supply

*   *   *  

Picture 17 – July 2004 An Post issued a First Day Cover (FDC) to commemorate Dublin’s new ‘Luas’ tram system on the green line ‘St. Stephen’s Green to Sandyford’ which opened to the public at 3pm on 30 June 2004. Another FDC issued during 2004 was to commemorate the staging of the ‘Summer Olympic Games’ in Athens, Greece at 36 venues around the Greek capital between 13 August and 29 August 2004.

*   *   *  

Picture 18 – July 2004 Bus Eireann, Broadstone’s ex-Shearings 53 seater Leyland Tiger, Plaxton Paramount 3200, PLS 70 (90-D-42050). A total of 58 PLs were acquired 2nd hand from Shearings between 1992 and 1995, the complete batch were fleet allocated the range PL 67 (90-D-42047) to PL 124 (91-D-37712). By 2004 most of the batch had transferred to the school fleet becoming fleet allocated PLS.

*   *   *  

Picture 19 – July 2004 Brand new Dublin Bus, Donnybrook, Volvo B7LDD, Alexander ALX400, AV 398 (04-D-20398) photographed shortly after entry into service. AV 398 was the last AV delivered/registered in 2004 and was part of the 36 bus batch registered in 2004, AV 363 (04-D-30363) to AV 398 (04-D-30398).

*   *   *  

Picture 20 – July 2004 Dublin Bus, Broadstone, Volvo B7LA, Wright Fusion, articulated bus, AW 6 (00-D-65006) in the new navy/yellow fleet livery with unique application of livery to the frontal area. There were twenty AWs in the batch, AW 1 (00-D-65001) to AW 20 (00-D-65020) all delivered in fleet navy/cream livery.

*   *   *  

Picture 21 – August 2004 Bus Eireann, DAF MB230, Plaxton Paramount 3500, PD 50 (92-D-10050), photographed in Waterford. PD 50 was part of a 20 strong batch delivered new 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. By 2004 some like PD 50 had transferred to the school bus fleet.

*   *   *  

Picture 22 – August 2004 Ex-Dublin Bus, Leyland Atlantean, DF 454 (454 ZD) was withdrawn from service at Summerhill Garage during 1990 transferring to Bus Eireann in 1991 where it was converted into open top format and was photographed parked in Waterford Garage in August 2004.

*   *   *  

Picture 23 – August 2004 Ex-Dublin Bus, Summerhill, DAF, Alexander Setanta, AD 37 (94-D-3037) was delivered new in 1994 in Airlink livery. It was withdrawn from Dublin Bus service in 2004 transferring to the Bus Eireann school bus fleet and was photographed shortly after arriving in Waterford garage in August 2004.

*   *   *  

Picture 24 – August 2004 Bus Eireann, school bus GAC, KCS 175 (LZS 175) and KS 117 (EZV 117) were photographed in Waterford garage in August 2004. KCS 175 had been withdrawn from school bus duties as a result of entry into service of 1994 vintage ex. Dublin Bus, DAF, Alexander Setanta, ‘AD’ class buses.

*   *   *  

Picture 25 – August 2004 Bus Eireann, Volvo B12M, Sunsundegui Sideral, VG 9, (04-D-59755) was delivered in revised Bus Eireann livery complete with LED destination displays and was photographed shortly after entry into service parked in Waterford Garage. 20 brand new VGs were bought by Bus Eireann in 2004, VG 1 (04-D-59743) to VG 20 (04-D-60837).

*   *   *  

Picture 26 – August 2004 Bus Eireann, Volvo B12M, Sunsundegui Sideral, VG 5, (04-D-59749) was delivered in ‘Eurolines’ livery complete with LED destination displays and was photographed shortly after entry into service parked in Broadstone.

*   *   *  

Picture 27 – November 2004 Ex-‘Cardiff Bus’ 1991 vintage Leyland Lynx (J 265 UDW) was bought by Bus Eireann for conversion into school bus specification/livery, it became LS 183, (91-D-48414).

*   *   *  

Picture 28 – November 2004 Ryanair’s brand new 189 seat, Boeing 737-8AS, EI-DCL in Boeing Dreamliner livery was only a month delivered when photographed in November 2004 lined up on Dublin’s runway 28. DCL was the 58th brand new Boeing 737-8AS delivered to Ryanair. The Dreamliner livery is generally awarded to loyal Boeing customers.

*   *   *  

Picture 29 – November 2004 The ‘Jeanie Johnston’ berthed on the river Liffey at North Wall Quay, Dublin. The 45m, 510 ton 3 masted barque built in Blennerville Co. Kerry replicated the original Jeanie Johnston of 1847. The replica ship completed in 2002 was built to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Famine and in 2003 sailed from Fenit, Co. Kerry to the USA and Canada stopping at over 20 ports in 5 countries en-route.

*   *   *  

Picture 30 – November 2004 Summerhill’s pristine condition Volvo B7LDD, Alexander ALX400, AV 125 (00-D-70125) in ‘Airlink’ livery on the route 748 complete with appropriately coloured yellow Airlink bus stop photographed at Heuston Station. The Airlink route 748 is a 30 minute frequency service from Dublin Airport to Heuston Station, the Airlink route 747 is a 10 minute frequency service from Dublin Airport to Busarus (Central Bus Station). AV 125 was one of 15 dual door, bonded glass ALX400’s delivered new to Summerhill in blue/yellow ‘Airlink’ livery, AV 116 (00-D-70116) to AV 130 (00-D-70130).

*   *   *  

Picture 31 – November 2004 Conyngham Road’s Volvo Olympian, Alexander, RA 226 (96-D-226) in CitySwift livery photographed on Aston Quay about to set off on the route 78A to the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre in west Dublin.

*   *   *  

Picture 32 – November 2004 Clontarf’s Volvo B7LDD, Alexander ALX400, AV 242 (02-D-10242) in ‘CitySwift’ livery photographed at Busarus operating the route 27 to Clare Hall, Malahide Road. On 05/02/09 AV 242 while operating the route 42A outbound was accidentally de-roofed after striking a North Strand kerbside tree.

*   *   *  

Picture 33 – November 2004 Bus Eireann, Volvo B12M, Sunsundegui Sideral, VG 14, (04-D-60817) was only a few months in service when photographed in Busarus.

*   *   *  

Picture 34 – November 2004 Translink, Ulsterbus, Goldliner, Scania Irizar, 1706 (TCZ 1706) departs Busarus on the route 274 to Derry.

*   *   *  

Picture 35 – November 2004 The second Luas tram line to become operational in 2004 was the 15km ‘red line’, ‘Connolly Station to Tallaght’ which was opened to the public on Sunday 26 September 2004. This picture taken less than two months later on 19 November 2004 shows brand new 30m ‘3026’, Alstom, Citadis tram outbound from Connolly to Tallaght with Gandon’s Custom House and SIPTU, Trade Union, Liberty Hall forming the backdrop.

*   *   *  

Picture 36 – November 2004 Donnybrook’s Volvo Olympian, Alexander, RV 586 (99-D-586) in navy/cream fleet livery photographed on Upper O’Connell Street at the first stop of the route 7 to Cherrywood on Dublin’s southside.

*   *   *  

Picture 37 – November 2004 Dublin Bus, Summerhill, Volvo B6BLE, Wright, Crusader, WV 34, (00-D-70034) in red/yellow ‘City Imp’ livery photographed southbound on the route 123 to Drimnagh. With the opening of new Harristown garage in October 2004, the route 123 moved from Broadstone Garage to Summerhill Garage.

*   *   *  

Picture 38 – November 2004 Gray Line/Guide Friday ex-Dublin Bus, Ringsend, Leyland Olympian, Alexander, RH 98 (91-D-1098) was converted to open top configuration and utilised on the Dublin City sightseeing tour.

*   *   *  

Picture 39 – November 2004 Donnybrook’s Volvo B7LDD, Alexander ALX400, AV 256 (02-D-10256) in ‘Dublin Bus Nitelink’ AOA livery photographed southbound on O’Connell Street operating the route 11A to Mather Road North, Mount Merrion.

*   *   *  

Picture 40 – November 2004 Donnybrook’s Volvo Olympian, Alexander, RV 329 (97-D-329) in newly applied All Over Advertisement (AOA) livery for ‘Vodafone’. Harristown ex-Phibsboro Volvo Olympian, RV 607 (99-D-607) received an identical ‘Vodafone’ AOA.

*   *   *  

Picture 41 – November 2004 Aircoach’s Setra 415D, (04-D-22845) southbound on O’Connell Street nearing the end of its journey from Dublin Airport. Aircoach was formed in 1999 by former Bus Eireann employee, John O’Sullivan. UK based FirstGroup bought out control of the company over the period 2003 to 2005 for circa €16.5m.

*   *   *  

Picture 42 – November 2004 Phibsboro’s, Leyland Olympian, Alexander, RH 116 (91-D-10116) photographed southbound on O’Connell Street while operating the route 121 Cabra to Drimnagh. Notice the ‘Vodafone’ advertisement, this was an extract of the ‘Vodafone’ All Over Advertisement (AOA) livery as applied to Donnybrook’s RV 329 and Harristown’s RV 607 (99-D-607). RH 116 was an AOA for ‘7Up’ during the years 1999 to 2003.

*   *   *  

Picture 43 – November 2004 Summerhill’s Volvo Olympian, Alexander, RV 379 (97-D-379) operating the route 16 from Santry to Kingston, Ballinteer. Notice the ‘Quality Customer Service’ branding on lower saloon window, this was applied when in CitySwift livery. Notice too the round ‘RH’ style fog lights in the bumpers. The advert indicates that U2’s new album ‘How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb’ was due for release on 19 November 2004.

*   *   *  

Picture 44 – November 2004 The cherished Dublin landmark ‘Bewley’s Oriental Cafe’ Grafton Street was opened by Ernest Bewley in November 1927 and closed almost 80 years later in November 2004 together with the Westmoreland Street branch to much public outcry. Grafton Street reopened in May 2005 after refurbishment but the Westmoreland Street branch remained closed.

*   *   *  

Picture 45 – December 2004 Bus Eireann bought thirty-four 1997 to 1999 vintage ex-Go North East Cummins powered Optare Excels for the school fleet, OP 1 (97-D-67771) to OP 34 (99-D-85543). All arrived from the UK in Bus Eireann school bus red/white livery. R 834 NRG (GNE Fleet Ref. 8134) became OP 10 (97-D-67780) based in Ballina.

*   *   *  

Picture 46 – December 2004 Dublin Bus, Donnybrook, Volvo B6BLE, Wright, Crusader, WV 14, (99-D-60014) photographed at route 92 terminus on St. Stephens Green North, note the route 92 main route points were highlighted on the roof dome. The route 92 joins the two Luas lines, the green line at St. Stephens Green with the red line at Heuston Station. The route was taken over by Conyngham Road based buses shortly afterwards with the St. Stephens Green terminus moving to the less congested Wilton Place beside the scenic Grand Canal.

*   *   *  

Picture 47 – December 2004 The Dublin Bus Harristown depot opened its doors on 31 October 2004. This 12 December 2004 shot captures Aer Lingus Airbus A330-300 depart off Dublin Airport runway 28 headed for the USA while RV 357 (97-D-357) and a line up of AW-class Wrights 'bendies' look on.

*   *   *  

Picture 48 – December 2004 Dublin Bus, Harristown, Volvo Olympian, Alexander, RV 474 (99-D-474) in CitySwift livery, RV 479 (99-D-479) in navy/cream livery and RV 529 (99-D-529) in the new navy/yellow livery. Notice the Euro stickers on the nearside lower windscreen, these ‘Euro’ buses were earmarked for use on specific tasks, e.g. peak am and pm duties supplementing the normal timetable departures or Xpresso/universal duties.

*   *   *  

Picture 49 – December 2004 Izmir, Turkey built BMC (British Motor Corporation), Falcon midibus, (04-D-34635) operated by UrBus was photographed along side Dublin Airport’s runway 28 with Alitalia’s, MD 82, I-DACT on approach to 28. UrBus runs a (18 departures each direction, 7 days a week) return bus service from Castleknock to Swords via Dublin Airport. The company was formed in May 2004 by coach tour operator, ‘Eirebus’ utilising four brand new BMC low floor buses, (04-D-34633/5/6/9).

*   *   *  

Picture 50 – December 2004 EUJet, Fokker 100, EI-DFZ was photographed on 18 December 2004 lined up on Dublin’s runway 28. Shannon based EUJet launched its scheduled service operation from Planestation Group PLC owned Manston Airport, Kent, UK to Dublin on 01 September, 2004 with Fokker 100, EI-DFZ. Other destinations offered from Manston were Amsterdam, Gerona, Nice and Copenhagen. Seven months after this 18 December 2004 picture, all EUJet flights were suspended on 26 July 2005.

We hope you enjoyed this look back at 2004!
Click here for more editions of 'Wheeling In The Years'.

HOME PAGE