Dublin Bus

macroman

The one's DB are selling (1997, 1998, 1999 Volvo Olympians) would fetch around £30,000 a piece in the UK. But that will probably drop as London Transport have recently retired a load of more desirable low-floor buses.

As for end of life vehicles (not fit for service), most get purchased for restoration or conversion for scrap value. Any buses I've bought were brimmed to the neck with diesel, had nearly new tyres and came with loads of spare parts (from private operators).

Saab Ed

macroman wrote: »

Any buses I've bought were brimmed to the neck with diesel, had nearly new tyres and came with loads of spare parts (from private operators).

Just out of interest why do you buy buses and how many have you bought over the years?

Gary ITR

Does anybody know what were the last buses assembled in Spa Road?

PanhardPL

The last buses to be assembled at Spa Road were done by VanHool/McArdle with all orders going to CIE.

Saab Ed

PanhardPL wrote: »

The last buses to be assembled at Spa Road were done by VanHool/McArdle with all orders going to CIE.

Was the first Volvo Ailsa prototype not made at Spa road?

PanhardPL

Yes the Ailsa was built at SPA Road and a number were exported to the UK. CIE bought VanHool/McArdle bodied double deckers and all were on Leyland chassis.

maidhc

BrianD3 wrote: »

It has been described as a scrapyard waiting to happen. With the "museum" consisting of hundreds of buses stored outside and various states of (dis)repair, it is easy to see where this idea comes from. The owner of the museum is also a well known eccentric who has had numerous run ins with various parties - the County Council, Cork Airport, Readymix, the ESB, Bus Eireann and possibly with other bus preservation enthusiasts too..

How do I not know about this place? I can almost make out my house in photos from the website!!!!

I know of the individual who runs it, although I always thought he lived at the other side of the city!

Gary ITR

PanhardPL wrote: »

Yes the Ailsa was built at SPA Road and a number were exported to the UK. CIE bought VanHool/McArdle bodied double deckers and all were on Leyland chassis.

My Grandfather worked in Spa Road right up until it closed. He died not long after. I remember going in there as a child to see him at work. It was a fairly big place. All apartments now


I feel old now and I'm only bloody 25!

macroman

Saab Ed wrote: »

Just out of interest why do you buy buses and how many have you bought over the years?

I'm involved in a few preservation groups and have bought six buses & coaches myself over past 3 years, but have bought quite a few on the behalf of others who wouldn't know what to look for when buying a bus (or fire engine :rolleyes:).

Onkle wrote:

Does anybody know what were the last buses assembled in Spa Road?

I think it was a batch of Ford coaches based on the R114 chassis. Pig ugly things, built for export but a few remained in Ireland. I know of one being used as a greenhouse :rolleyes:

maidhc wrote:

How do I not know about this place? I can almost make out my house in photos from the website!!!!

I know of the individual who runs it, although I always thought he lived at the other side of the city!

I'm involved with the museum in Cork, have been since 2006. We get heavily criticised for "having everything parked in a field" but to be honest, it's better then having them scrapped. It costs approximately €70k a year to keep the place motoring, and with the amount of vehicles on site we can't keep everything perfect, but we try to keep things running and in good order. We have good intentions, but get criticised by "armchair generals" - people who slate us for saving the buses, but have no involvement in preservation themselves (and of course those who are in preservation). But I'm sure the opinion will change in a few years when parts become unobtainable from sources other than ourselves!

atlantean

Blue Punto wrote: »

Saab Ed wrote: »

Jaysus they're KR class GAC's. I thought they were all gone. .

A KR drove into the industrial estate where I work today — only got a glimpse as it drove past — sounded to be running fine!

macroman

atlantean wrote: »

A KR drove into the industrial estate where I work today — only got a glimpse as it drove past — sounded to be running fine!

You don't work in Kilcoole or near there do you?

atlantean

macroman wrote: »

You don't work in Kilcoole or near there do you?

How many other Industrial Estates did KR9 visit today?

macroman

atlantean wrote: »

How many other Industrial Estates did KR9 visit today?

God knows. It's hard to find a good breakfast roll

atlantean

macroman wrote: »

God knows. It's hard to find a good breakfast roll

You said it!

The last time I saw that bus up close it was green - just after its conversion for the 87's that never happened!

Blue Punto

WOW I forgot all about this thread
Took a few pics this morniing so I thought id post them

Might try to get a few of Dualways current fleet in the city durring the week after the terrible fire they had last week.

Thoughts too all those it effected and tothe McConn family



Looks like it is being used for spares


Another ex Bus Eirann machine



Feel free to post your pics old or new its all buses

Bigus

Saw an immaculate Route master in Rathfarnham last week , no markings on it

Max_Damage

I put one (GAC KC38) into Carmageddon 2 about 2 years ago:



Can be downloaded here for anyone who still plays the game.

carchaeologist

I know its nor Dublin bus, but heres not much left of CVH4 in this shot with all the panels removed. Is there many of these left now? There was 35 originally, reg'd from SI 2001-SI 2035

carchaeologist

This is CVH1 in Lough Swilly livery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUlN1wNOgE8

Looking a small bit green, a panel at the back missing and yes the air bags havent inflated due to new ones being ordered, alas CVH1 is moving again after 4 years of lying idle in Derry. She was towed to Wicklow on Monday where she is under the watchful eye of Christy Power, who assisted in a much needed gearbox attention. She is now running happily, apart from a small gearbox feeder pipe that will be replaced tomorrow.

CVH1 was one of a batch of 35 delivered to CIE in 1986 as touring coaches, some having been sold on for further use and thankfully a few survive, though this being number 1 of the first High liner coaches (apart from the WVH which were rebodied) to bring CIE into a new age of luxury travel.

She will be examined over the next few weeks and will probably go on the road as 'Caroline the Cummins' replacing Ulsterbus 598 (Roxie) which will be retired in October 2009.

macroman

carchaeologist wrote: »

This is CVH1 in Lough Swilly livery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUlN1wNOgE8

We towed that down from Derry with a suspected blown gearbox, which turned out to be ropey selector relays and some minor bits and pieces. Just reminded me to run it up, hasn't been started in a few months

On a side not these two are undergoing restoration at the momeny. We'll start stripping them out next weekend - KR9 is going in CIE colours, & KR11 in Dublin Bus colours

Gary ITR

Are they in Dublin? If so could I have a poke sometime?

carchaeologist

Excellent stuff there Macroman. Good to see it. Is there a plan for CVH1 still?

VolvoMan

Does anyone know whether any double decker Bombardier's were preserved?

Gary ITR

Onkle wrote: »

Are they in Dublin? If so could I have a poke sometime?

I'm actually going to rephrase that.....

Would you mind if I had a look sometime?

carchaeologist

Onkle wrote: »

I'm actually going to rephrase that.....

Would you mind if I had a look sometime?

I was gonna say but it was too easy a target!:D
Surely there's a name for that kinda thing....

macroman

carchaeologist wrote: »

Excellent stuff there Macroman. Good to see it. Is there a plan for CVH1 still?

It's on the long finger at the moment, but one of the lads intends on restoring it back into Expressway spec. They don't float my boat unfortunately.

VolvoMan wrote: »

Does anyone know whether any double decker Bombardier's were preserved?

A few of them were saved - KD59, KD70, KD156, KD184, KD199, KD221, KD236, KD353 I can confirm are survivors.

Onkle wrote: »

Are they in Dublin? If so could I have a poke sometime?

They're undergoing restoration at the moment, once they're done we're planning a spin around Dublin in them, if you're interested I can let you know closer to the day. Last years run turned a few heads

mickdw

I dont know anything about buses but I remember those SI regd coaches were pretty cool when I was younger

Stained Class

Great thread lads!

I remember the Bombardiers & Atlanteans before them very well.

I also vaguely remember the 'Routemaster' style busses before them too.

Folk tell me that the type of vibration they transmitted through their seats induced a condition known as 'Diesel Dick'.:eek:

Not sure if this is true though....

mickdw

macroman wrote: »

On a side not these two are undergoing restoration at the momeny. We'll start stripping them out next weekend - KR9 is going in CIE colours, & KR11 in Dublin Bus colours

There is a youtube video showing EZV 9 out on a test run after having an overhaul in 2009 for a film. Do you know the history there and why has it now got to a state requiring further work?

burnsey1987

mickdw wrote: »

There is a youtube video showing EZV 9 out on a test run after having an overhaul in 2009 for a film. Do you know the history there and why has it now got to a state requiring further work?

KR9 is now scrapped to the best of my knowledge. I won't go naming private individuals on a public forum but was posted on another site by an experienced enthusiast and preservationist.

Blue Punto

BUMP

Ghost Tour Fleet by niallsaviation, on Flickr

Kennethob

Where is this and are they still there

burnsey1987

Kennethob wrote: »

Where is this and are they still there

DF450 was in Summerhill garage as far as I know but has been handed over for preservation since that photo was taken.

I am not sure what the story is with RH31

boardsuser1

macroman wrote: »

It's on the long finger at the moment, but one of the lads intends on restoring it back into Expressway spec. They don't float my boat unfortunately.

A few of them were saved - KD59, KD70, KD156, KD184, KD199, KD221, KD236, KD353 I can confirm are survivors.

They're undergoing restoration at the moment, once they're done we're planning a spin around Dublin in them, if you're interested I can let you know closer to the day. Last years run turned a few heads

KD156 will be crushed I reckon, it is being held prisoner in Louth Commercials I believe since 2003 due to outstanding debt. It isn't even worth noting KD184. It exists to this day, that is about all. It would need north of €100k just to get somewhere with it.

burnsey1987

KC161 wrote: »

KD156 will be crushed I reckon, it is being held prisoner in Louth Commercials I believe since 2003 due to outstanding debt. It isn't even worth noting KD184. It exists to this day, that is about all. It would need north of €100k just to get somewhere with it.

KD156 is still in Louth Commercials??? I thought that messy situation was sorted out eventually and it was moved elsewhere? (Or am I thinking of a different KD altogether?) As for 184, yes I've seen some recent photos of it. Apparently most of the rot is still largely confined to the front windscreen area, but you're probably right. I hope a very dedicated preservationist with huge cash reserves and fantastic engineering capability steps in but I won't hold my breath...

TallGlass

Dose that old bus run still happen?

boardsuser1

burnsey1987 wrote: »

KD156 is still in Louth Commercials??? I thought that messy situation was sorted out eventually and it was moved elsewhere? (Or am I thinking of a different KD altogether?) As for 184, yes I've seen some recent photos of it. Apparently most of the rot is still largely confined to the front windscreen area, but you're probably right. I hope a very dedicated preservationist with huge cash reserves and fantastic engineering capability steps in but I won't hold my breath...

To the best of my knowledge KD156 is still there.

KD184 is beyond saving. I was inside it 18 months ago and the upper deck was very weak. It will collapse yet.

boardsuser1

TallGlass wrote: »

Dose that old bus run still happen?

The Dublin Port Rally?

rathfarnhamlad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/102171729#Comment_102171729

According to Google satellite imagery, KD156 disappeared from Louth Commercials sometime around May 2019. See below photos for comparison:

April 2019:

June 2019:

I'm assuming it was scrapped. Unless anyone on here knows something different?