Need to move a bus from Dublin to Tralee - Help!

SimonMaher

Hello there,

So, Im doing some reorganising with my buses (moving one, buying one which keeps the collection at 2!) and I have a gent who would like to buy my old Guide Friday open-top Atlantean. Trouble is, he is in Tralee. It would drive down (slowly) but the preference is either to have her towed or otherwise transported down. Distance is about 190 miles door to door.

Obviously its a double decker bus 30ft long and 14 ft tall so its not going to fit on a normal transporter so its either heavy tow or low loader. Anyone have any ideas on how much that might cost or alternatively any mechanic with trade plates who might like to drive her down?

All help appreciated as always,

Simon

Big Nasty

Hey Simon,

You're really looking at a recovery company that cater for large vehicles. No idea of the cost but it ain't gonna be cheap. You could be looking at €500+ I would imagine.

Try these guys for a start.

Off topic but you're missed from the airwaves - you still involved with Phantom?

SimonMaher

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Hey Simon,

You're really looking at a recovery company that cater for large vehicles. No idea of the cost but it ain't gonna be cheap. You could be looking at €500+ I would imagine.

Try these guys for a start.

Off topic but you're missed from the airwaves - you still involved with Phantom?

Hi MCMLXXV,

Thanks for that. Im going to contact some of the recovery companies tomorrow and see what they say. Worst case scenario, as I said she can be driven down but that would be a long day .

Sadly no, Im not involved in Phantom at all any more. Not my decision at all I might add!

Cheers,
Simon

colatube

I'd love to drive this down for you...

But cannot fathom how insurance would work. I work for Dublin Bus and unfortunitly not privately.

Unless you could figure something out?!

Big Nasty

colatube wrote: »

I'd love to drive this down for you...

But cannot fathom how insurance would work. I work for Dublin Bus and unfortunitly not privately.

Unless you could figure something out?!

If the bus is insured you could be added temporarily as a named driver?

Ali Babba

Any one with motor traders insurance, a trade plate and the proper licence would be able to drive it for you.

SimonMaher

Ali Babba wrote: »

Any one with motor traders insurance, a trade plate and the proper licence would be able to drive it for you.

Good point Ali, just a matter of finding someone with all those qualifications who fancies a trip to Tralee

Rang around a couple of the towing/recovery companies and nobody is coming in at less than €1000 euro which is more than the price of the bus!

Will keep trying - might be back to you Colatube too!

Simon

micko38

Try John Flynn from Carlow. I used him recently. Fantastic service 0599143519

SimonMaher

Just as an update to the above: The bus made it under its own steam to Tralee on Friday evening having set off from Dublin about 7 hours earlier. Did a steady 45mph all the way down and performed faultlessly. Its amazing, the bus looks like a heap but runs like a dream!

Simon

carchaeologist

Any pics of said bus? What's going to happen to it down here, I can't imagine much call for open top deckers down these parts, maybe in Killarney, but not Tralee.

VolvoMan

Amazing.

The fact that, as you say, the bus drove down to Kerry just fine makes you wonder why they were all scrapped after withdrawal. Surely they could've been sold on like the buses of today are?

Big Nasty

Well done Simon!

You're missed off the airwaves too dude!

SimonMaher

Will get a couple of shots of her up in the next couple of days. Stupid fotopic closing means I have to re-host my photos.

She is going to be used as part of a surf shop in Tralee. Chap has the shop and wants an unusual place to display his wares by the sea! A great use for her and she will get a nice paint job too which makes me happy.

Her original (1981) engine was removed in 2002 while she was on tour duty for Dualway and replaced with the engine from an older Atlantean (1978) that was being sent for scrap. The sweetest souding Leyland engine I have ever heard.

Simon

Max_Damage

^ Weren't most of them replaced with DAF engines during their time with Dublin Bus?

SimonMaher

Max_Damage wrote: »

^ Weren't most of them replaced with DAF engines during their time with Dublin Bus?

The one I sold on was an old Guide Friday Atlantean - they were operated by Dualway in Rathcoole and all kept their Leyland engines. The one I have kept is an old CIE Atlantean, many of which did indeed have their old Leyland engines replaced by DAF 1160's which were a massive improvement at the time in terms of reliability. My old Atlantean though is one of those that kept its Leyland 680 which has seen many better days. If anyone is handy with old bus engines and would fancy doing some repairs to her engine in Kilternan, please let me know!

Simon