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Provincial Past
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06-01-2020 9:15pm#1It is 2020 and time to start something new. Back in 2016 I started Throwback Thursday. Every week it looks back on the bus services of the past in and around Dublin. It covers the Dublin City Services of CIE, Dublin Bus and more recently Go-Ahead Ireland. Provincial Past is going to look instead at what were the Provincial Services of CIE, which later became Bus Eireann. This new feature won't be weekly like Throwback Thursday (at least initially) but I will aim for twice a month at least. It also won't contain as detailed descriptions as Throwback Thursday as my knowledge of the bus services around the country is not as good. But hopefully these old pictures from outside Dublin will be of as much interest as those from within Dublin.
We start with D 436 parked with Parnell Place bus station in Cork. This bus was delivered new to Cork in 1972 and was withdrawn in 1984. The bus is seen in its original livery of navy blue and cream. 04/01/1983
Provincial Past (1) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr 15
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For Provincial Past (2) we are going back to M 1. This was the first of 213 Leyland Leopard's delivered to CIE between 1971 and 1973. M 1 was delivered to Broadstone Garage when new, transferred to Bus Eireann upon that company's creation in 1987 and was withdrawn in 1999, spending the last few years on school duties. It is seen parked in yard at Drogheda Station with a cross-border Enterprise train beside it in the station. 17/01/1998
Provincial Past (2) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr 0 -
M 12 (MG 12) is seen parked in the yard in Longford in 1987. It is only a week before Bus Eireann starts operation of the provincial buses in Ireland (with Dublin Bus operating city services in the capital and Irish Rail taking over the railway services). The bus is dressed for the Expressway service between Dublin and Ballina via Mullingar and Longford. Currently in 2020 this is route 22. Expressway itself predates Bus Eireann by a number of years, started by CIE in 1975.
M 12 was new to CIE in 1971. In 1978 it was re-engined by General Motors in 1978 (becoming an MG) and was withdrawn by Bus Eireann in 1991. 27/01/1987
Provincial Past (3) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr 0 -
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Not the highest quality photograph in my collection, but still an interesting one from 38 years ago. PL 21 is seen in the yard at Waterford. Over the decades the provincial fleet has been home to at least three different types of coaches which have held the PL class designation. PL 21 is from the first incarnation. It was delivered new to CIE in 1969 and was withdrawn in mid-1985. The second variation was delivered new to CIE in 1984 and the third came in 1991. All were variations on the Plaxton / Leyland combination.
This location in Waterford in unrecognisable now, with the area having been developed into a proper bus station and car park. 03/02/1982
Provincial Past (4) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr 0 -
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For this Provincial Past we are in Limerick city in 1985. KC 180 is seen on one of the city routes, the number 8 to Limerick Regional Hospital. In 2013 this became the University Hospital Limerick and is currently served by city routes 301, 304 and 304A. The KC class did not just operate in Dublin but throughout Ireland in towns and cities. The fleet had 202 members and were delivered between 1983 to 1985, with KC 1 being one of the prototypes delivered in 1981. Limerick 08/02/1985
Provincial Past (5) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr 2 -
This week week we are going to the only location that will appear in Provincial Past and Throwback Thursday (for now...) - Balbriggan. The town is located in north County Dublin and is connected to Dublin city by both Dublin Bus (with the 33) and Bus Eireann (currently the 101). Both of these routes can trace their history back to the bus services provided by the Great Northern Railway of Ireland. The 33 runs from Balbriggan to Dublin via Skerries, Rush, Lusk and Swords. The 101 connects Drogheda to Dublin going via Balbriggan and Swords. In the past certain departures on the route included Dundalk. This was also the main road between Dublin and Belfast.
KR 18 is seen loading up outside the cinema in Balbriggan as it operates a service to Dundalk. The KR class was one of four types of buses delivered to CIE from Bombardier. They were primarily designed for rural routes, with only one door at the front. KR 18 was delivered in 1985 and spent all of its career working out of Dundalk and Drogheda garages. The bus was in service until around 2004, working as a school bus in later years. This picture was taken just over three weeks after the formation of Bus Eireann, too soon to replace the CIE logos. 28 02 1987
Provincial Past (6) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr 0 -
School Bus SS 28 is seen parked at Ennis railway station in March 1989. In 1967 the Irish Government introduced free secondary education to every child in Ireland, Following on from this CIE was given responsibility of transporting school children to both primary and secondary schools. This operation was mainly a rural one and 800 buses were ordered for the system. This was probably the largest order of single-decker buses in Ireland. SS 1, a Bedford bus, was delivered in November 1967. The first bus was built by CIE in the Spa Works, but due to the construction of the Atlantean double-deckers at the same time, the remainder of the first 100 buses were built by three builders in Dundalk. The SS Class came in three lengths and remained in service until around 1998, passing to Bus Eireann ownership in 1987. For these three decades it would be difficult not to go down any road in rural Ireland and come across one.
SS 28 was delivered new in March 1968 and was withdrawn in June 1993. Ennis 04/03/1989
Provincial Past (7) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickrz 0 -
CVH 4 was one of fifty buses delivered new to CIE from 1986. The fleet was split into two, with 35 CVH coaches and 15 EVH coaches. The CVH had Cummins engines with Van Hool Acron bodies while the EVH had Alizee bodies. Unusually, these buses were leased rather than bought outright, though by 1989 the relatively new Bus Eireann had bought them. The buses remained in service past 2000, mainly as school buses, though they could turn up on certain normal routes too from time to time. Some of the buses also went on to a second career in Donegal with the operator Lough Swilly. As Bus Eireann was created in February 1987, these were the last buses procured by CIE. CVH 4 was based in Waterford, where it is seen between duties on the Limerick to Waterford route. 09/03/1991
Provincial Past (8) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr 0 -
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A short trip to the past this week as we visit DWR 001 in 2008. The bus was delivered new in 2001 to Bus EIreann, and the class totalled 20 buses. They had Daf chassis with a Wrights body and were for rural services (hence the DWR class name). Members of the class operated around the country and were among some of the early examples of low-floor buses operated by Bus Eireann. The buses were withdrawn around 2009.
DWR is seen on route 173, the Drogheda town bus service. There are actually two routes (one northside and one southside) but both are number 173. Both routes serve this stop on West Street in Drogheda. 26/03/2008
Provincial Past (9) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr 0 -
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All the DWRs were withdrawn in 2009 except for DWR 10 in Stranorlar and DWR 16 in Limerick which went in 2010. The AMs replaced the DWRs.
My bad!A short trip to the past this week as we visit DWR 001 in 2008. The bus was delivered new in 2001 to Bus Éireann...
Guess who read 2001 as 2008 in the second sentence.
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This week's bus is C 66 in a 1985 Ennis (County Clare). This was one of 260 C Class buses operated throughout Ireland. 143 were delivered in 1965 and 117 in 1966. C 66 was delivered new to Broadstone in 1965 before moving to Cork (1967), Dublin (1969) and Limerick (1971). It was withdrawn in September 1985.
The destination on the bus is for Shannon Airport, while the ad on the side is advertising duty-free shopping at Shannon Airport. The first duty-free shop in the world opened there in 1947.
One final thing to note is the phone-box in the background, once a common site across Ireland like the C Class, but alas also no more. 02/04/1985
Provincial Past (10) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr 0 -
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Bus Eireann KD 195 is seen arriving into Shannon Airport with a service from Limerick. This was one of 365 double-deckers built here for CIE, along with the KC, KE and KR single-deckers. The KDs operated around Ireland in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway (with seasonal use in Waterford). KD 195 ended its days in Cork and by 1997 was in a scrap yard. 10/04/1990
Provincial Past (11) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr 1 -
E 152 is seen outside the Abbey Hotel in Donegal Town in 1984. This was one of 170 Leyland Leopards delivered to CIE between 1961 and 1964. E 152 arrived in October 1964 and remained in passenger service until October 1985. It then relocated to Galway where it joined the driver training fleet in August 1985. It passed to Bus Eireann in 1987, before finally being preserved in 2001. Although it was a training bus for Bus Eireann, it was known to appear on public services at certain times, such as the Galway races.
Note the CIE bus stop attached to the building, above the archway. 14/04/1984
Provincial Past (12) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr 0 -
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E 152 is seen outside the Abbey Hotel in Donegal Town in 1984. This was one of 170 Leyland Leopards delivered to CIE between 1961 and 1964. E 152 arrived in October 1964 and remained in passenger service until October 1985. It then relocated to Galway where it joined the driver training fleet in August 1985. It passed to Bus Eireann in 1987, before finally being preserved in 2001. Although it was a training bus for Bus Eireann, it was known to appear on public services at certain times, such as the Galway races.
Note the CIE bus stop attached to the building, above the archway. 14/04/1984Provincial Past (12) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr
Would this have been on long distance routes from Galway to Donegal? Can't image it being too comfortable !0 -
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This week we are going back to 1992 to see MG 194 in Wicklow town. The bus is in Expressway livery and is dressed for a service to Dublin. This was delivered new to CIE in 1972 as M 194. It was then re-engined to General Motors spec in 1979, becoming MG 194. In 1987 it received the front-end of M 104, and in late 1992 became a school bus (MGS 194). It was finally withdrawn in 1999. 25/04/1992
Provincial Past (13) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr 0 -
KR 222 is seen in Dundalk bus station in 1998. This was one of 227 KR-types delivered to CIE between 1983 and 1987. 225 were ordered by CIE, while two other demonstrators built by GAC were added into the fleet later. However, while the remaining buses from KR 203 on were being built, GAC Ireland went into liquidation. This delayed the construction of these buses, with them being delivered in late-1986 and 1987. This meant some of them, like KR 222, received the new style number-plates. If all had gone to plan, KR 226 would have carried the registration "XZV 222". It also means some of these buses entered service with Bus Eireann rather than with CIE. 27/04/1998
Provincial Past (14) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr 0 -
For this Provincial Past we are heading to the west of Ireland, to Galway in 1985. KD 325 is seen loading up in Eyre Square as it operates a service on route 3 to Castle Park. KD 324 and KD 325 were delivered new to Galway in 1983. By 1988 both had transferred to Cork, and KD 325 was withdrawn by 1997. It would be thirty years after this photo was taken before Galway received new double-deckers again. 04/05/1985
Provincial Past (15) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr 2 -
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KR 158 is seen waiting for departure time in Belturbet in 1993, before departing for Cavan. The bus was delivered new to CIE in 1985 and passed to Bus Eireann in 1987. At the time the bus was assigned to Dundalk depot but that garage encompasses the smaller depots at Cavan, Drogheda and Monaghan. KR 158 survived into the early-2000s as a school bus before finally being withdrawn.
In 2020 only Bus Eireann route between Cavan and Monaghan is Expressway route 30. 12/05/1993
Provincial Past (16) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr 1 -
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For this contribution to Provincial Past we are back in Cork. D 727 is seen leaving the bus station while working a service on route 8 to Bishopstown. This bus was delivered new to Cork in 1975 and was withdrawn by Bus Eireann in 1993. The 8 is still running in 2020 as the 208, between Lotabeg and Curraheen. 19/05/1987
Provincial Past (17) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr 2 -
For this Provincial Past we are going back to Limerick in 1996 and the unique VNC 1. The bus was a demonstrator that initially went to Dublin. The bus was a Northern Counties Paladin on a Volvo B10M chassis. Arriving in 1993, it was initially trialled with Dublin Bus before moving to Bus Eireann in Limerick. It was withdrawn in the early-2000s. 23/05/1996
Provincial Past (18) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr 0 -
KR 158 is seen waiting for departure time in Belturbet in 1993, before departing for Cavan. The bus was delivered new to CIE in 1985 and passed to Bus Eireann in 1987. At the time the bus was assigned to Dundalk depot but that garage encompasses the smaller depots at Cavan, Drogheda and Monaghan. KR 158 survived into the early-2000s as a school bus before finally being withdrawn.
In 2020 only Bus Eireann route between Cavan and Monaghan is Expressway route 30. 12/05/1993Provincial Past (16) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr
Particularly enjoyed that photo as remember travelling on that route. If I'm not mistaken the bus would likely have been working the Tuesday-only Bawnboy - Ballyconnell - Cavan service. It left Cavan at 09.00 and departed Bawnboy around 09.50 to return to Cavan. It ended up being numbered route 178 in 1995. Nowadays Leydons provide a local service (route 930) Cavan - Swanlinbar - Enniskillen.
PS Looking up the date I see it was a Wednesday so it couldn't have been the Bawnboy - am assuming it was the 08.00~ish Belturbet - Cavan schooldays service.0 -
EVH 7 is seen at Kilkenny railway station in 1986. This bus was one of 15 VanHool Alizees delivered to CIE in 1986. It is painted in Expressway livery but carries the Supabus brand too, which was used on the cross-channel bus services to the United Kingdom. Some passengers are seen transferring to another Expressway service to bring them to their ultimate destination. EVH 7 ended its career in the early-2000s on school services in west Cork. 07/06/1986
Provincial Past (19) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr 0 -
For this edition of Provincial Past we re going back to 1990 and one of those unusual once-a-week services operated by Bus Eireann. KR 160 is seen in Balbriggan, turning off Chapel Street into Drogheda Street. It is on the Saturday-only 15:45 from Drogheda to Drogheda via Duleek, Ardcath, Garristown, Naul and Balbriggan. There was an opposite direction working in the morning from Drogheda at 10:45. The route can trace its origins back to the GNR(I) and was the weekly "shoppers" bus for the people in those rural villages. The route no longer operates but Local Link route 195 from Ashobourne to Balbriggan serves Garristown and the Naul seven days a week.
KR 160 was delivered new in 1985 and was still operating out of Dundalk garage in the early-2000s. 09/06/1990
Provincial Past (20) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr 0 -
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We go from KR 160 last week to KC 160 this week. This bus was delivered new to Cork in 1985 (and received the registration "UZG 160" but remained in store, and untaxed, until 1989. When it entered service it received a new registration of "89 D 10662". It is seen painted in a special Aer Lingus livery for the shuttle service to Cork Airport, branded as Air Coach (not to be confused with the private operator that started in Dublin in the late 1990s). KC 160 remained in service until around 2001 when it transferred to schools. It subsequently entered preservation, though its current status is unknown. KD 178 is in the background. 16/06/1990
Provincial Past (21) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr 1 -
This week for Provincial Past we are doing a crossover with Throwback Thursday. For that we had KR 11 during its short spell with Dublin Bus. For this we have KR 11 before it went to Dublin Bus. It is seen in Limerick in 1987. The bus had been delivered new to Limerick in 1985 and moved to Dublin in late-1987/early-1988. It returned to Limerick by the end of 1988, but came back with a full width destination, like on the KC-Class (such as on KC 188 in the background). Here KR 11 is seen with its original destination before modification. The bus is also in a hybrid CIE / Bus Eireann livery, the latter having only come into existence in February 1987. KR 11 ended its days as a school bus in Cork, and was in a scrapyard by 2006.
Current Limerick bus route 303 serves Carew Park and Glenagross. 06/05/1987
Provincial Past (22) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr 1 -
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For this Provincial Past we are going to the north of country to County Donegal in 1985. C 166 is seen in Stranorlar Depot. This was built on the site of the old railway station. It opened as a standard gauge railway in 1863 but was narrow gauge by 1894. The County Donegal Railway closed in 1960 and the tracks were removed. C 166 was delivered new to CIE in 1966. It spent time in Ballina, Galway and Donnybrook (Dublin) before moving to Stranorlar in 1984. It was withdrawn in 1991. 01/07/1985
Provincial Past (23) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr 0 -
For this Provincial Past we are heading north-west to Westport. KR 210 is seen in Westport Station with a working to Dooagh on Achill Island in 1996. Technically the bus was based in Ballina depot, but in 1996 it replaced M 127 as the Achill bus, and was out-stationed there. The bus was delivered new in January 1987 and by the early 2000s was based in Kerry on schools duty.
Achill is served by route 440 from Westport in 2020. 10/07/1996
Provincial Past (24) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr 0 -
1998 sees KR 77 in Galway with a service to Salthill. The bus was delivered new in July 1985 and became a school bus in the early-2000s. The bus is in an all-over ad for SuperValu supermarket located in Eyre Square Shopping Centre. 16/07/1998
Provincial Past (25) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr
The 2018 version of that photo:
VWL 172 Galway 27/10/18 by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr 1 -
1988 sees KE 9 in Parnell Place bus station in Cork. This was one of fifty-two inter city coaches built for CIE by Bombardier in Shannon. KE 9 is on one of the more long distance inter-city journeys, as it waits to depart for London in the United Kingdom. These services were branded Supabus which was replaced later by Eurolines. In more recent times, the Eurolines service from Cork has been operated by Bernard Kavanagh and National Express. 23/07/1988
KE 9 was delivered new in 1981 and seems to have spent all its life in Cork.
Provincial Past (26) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr 0 -
You’d be partially deaf on arrival to London travelling on a KE!1988 sees KE 9 in Parnell Place bus station in Cork. This was one of fifty-two inter city coaches built for CIE by Bombardier in Shannon. KE 9 is on one of the more long distance inter-city journeys, as it waits to depart for London in the United Kingdom. These services were branded Supabus which was replaced later by Eurolines. In more recent times, the Eurolines service from Cork has been operated by Bernard Kavanagh and National Express. 23/07/1988
KE 9 was delivered new in 1981 and seems to have spent all its life in Cork.Provincial Past (26) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr0 -
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1987 sees D 480 in service in Galway. This was the only member of the class to receive the "Bombardier" city two-tone green livery that was initially applied to members of the KC and KD classes. The bus was repainted around 1985. A variation (with an orange stripe) later became the Dublin Bus livery.
D 480 was delivered new to Galway in 1973. Bus Eireann assumed responsibility for it from CIE in February 1987 (hence the decals on it). It later moved to Dublin in late-1987 to join the Dublin Bus driver training school, where it received a special red/white livery. 30/07/1987
Provincial Past (27) by Cathal O'Brien, on Flickr 0 -
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