Off The Beaten Track

Csalem · 05-10-2013 8:21pm #1

Hi all,

Hope you don't mind me setting up a thread for updates to my enthusiast website, Off The Beaten Track. It contains a photographic record of the routes of Dublin Bus as I travel on them. After spending years photographing trains, I switched over to buses earlier this way, and am discovering parts of the city I had never visited before.

The latest update to Off The Beaten Track is continuing a theme from the previous update and features the 15B. I first travelled on this route two years ago and got an RV. Today it was a GT, a true sign of progress in the fleet of Dublin Bus.

The update can be found here:
http://offthebeatentrack.webs.com/route-15b

But some pictures to whet your appetite.

RH 110 on College Street, 24/07/1994 :

Scan RH 110 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

RV 549 on College Street, 07/11/2012:

RV 549 College Street 07 11 12 (800x533) by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

GT 101 on College Street, 05/10/2013:

GT 101 College Street 05/10/13 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

And one final shot of the route on Stocking Lane showing the view possible from it, with AX 472:

AX 472 Stocking Lane 05/10/13 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

Csalem · 12-10-2013 2:51pm

Hard to believe it was this Saturday last year that the RV Farewell Run took place with RV 584 and RV 586 (along with RV 475). Even less hard to believe is that it has taken me a year to put the pictures up!

Have created a special collection for the day on Off The Beaten Tracks and it can be found here:
http://offthebeatentrack.webs.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=15157167

Two pictures from the day at Blackrock and at Ardlea Road:

RV Farewell Run 13/10/12 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

Csalem · 18-10-2013 11:34pm

The latest update to Off The Beaten Track covers the 128 (well sort of!) and 140 and can be found here:
http://offthebeatentrack.webs.com/routes-128-and-140

Two pictures taken in Palmertson Park just over three years apart. AV 341 on the 128, 18/12/10:

AV 341 Dartry 18/12/10 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

AX 505 on the 140, 09/10/13:

AX 505 Dartry 09/10/13 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

Not a lot has changed except the route numbering and a bus shelter has appeared.

One final shot from the 140 collection shows AX 507 on the 140 on Upper Rathmines Road, 09/10/13:

AX 507 Rathmines 09/10/13 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

Csalem · 26-10-2013 9:33am

After spending a lot of time in the Rathmines area covering the 15A, 15B and 140 I decided to go the northside for the most recent update to Off The Beaten Track and it covers the 33B:
http://offthebeatentrack.webs.com/routes-33b-and-33d

Some pictures though from Donabate over the last 30 years:
KD 80 in the railway station with a 33B to Portrane, 06/08/1983:

Scan KD 80 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

The remains of KD 317 in the yard at Donabate, 16/08/1984:

Scan KD 317 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

AX 516 crossing the railway bridge at Donabate, 25/10/13:

AX 516 Donabate 25/10/13 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

And a final shot from Portrane of AX 623 at the 33B terminus on Burrow Road, 25/10/13:

AX 623 Portrane 25/10/13 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

Csalem · 29-11-2013 5:26pm

Hi all,
The latest, and probably last update for 2013, is now online at Off The Beaten Track and covers the route 150. I travelled on the route on Saturday 23rd November 2013, which was the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who, so seemed the most appropriate route to cover that day. Pictures from my travels on the day can be found at the link below, and that page has a link to some more historical shots of the 150 as well as the 50:
http://offthebeatentrack.webs.com/route-150

However, some pictures to whet your appetite.

D 602 on Aston Quay with a 50, 03/02/1983:

Scan D 602 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

MA 9 on Fleet Street with a 150, 13/08/1995:

Scan MA 9 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

RV 604 on Fleet Street with a 150, 10/10/2012:

RV 604 Fleet Street 10/10/12 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

GT 101 on Fleet Street with a 150, 23/11/2013:

GT 101 Fleet Street 23/11/13 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

And finally, GT 103 seen in the Liberties outside the portico of the old Coombe Hospital, 27/11/2013:

GT 103 The Coombe 27/11/13 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

As I said earlier in the thread, this will probably be the last update for 2013 as the days are too dark and it is getting too busy in the run up to Christmas. But I hope to return in 2014 and thank you for sticking with me through the year!

Csalem · 12-12-2013 10:58pm

Hi all,
In my last update for Off The Beaten Track I said there would be a break from the updates until 2014, but that only covered the coverage of the bus routes. This break has given me time to develop an idea I first had for the site a few months back, and tonight the first page of this new development goes live. In tandem with covering bus routes I will be covering locations around the city as well. Each location will have a page dedicated to it on the website, and that page will contain links to the pages that cover the bus routes that serve that location. The page will also contain a map as well as a short video recorded at that location on a particular day.

The first page to go live is Rathmines, since I have already covered routes 14, 15A, 15B, 18 and 140. In 2014 I certainly plan on doing the 15, 83 and 142. The page on Off The Beaten Track can be found here:
http://offthebeatentrack.webs.com/rathmines

And the video on that page (recorded on 11/12/13) can also be found here on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmsN-luPFt4

I hope you enjoy this latest addition to the website.

dfx- · 13-12-2013 2:27pm

No matter how many times I look, the flashing LED displays are weird/captivating.

Csalem · 13-12-2013 4:45pm

^Yeah it was quite surreal when I was filming because with my own eyes the destinations were fine but when I looked at the camera screen there was this fading in/out.

dfx- · 13-12-2013 8:51pm

It does make sense when you hear a photographer's frustration that they need to take several shots of the same bus in quick succession to catch the display.

But still when I saw the VG on the 83 at the start I was trying to think is there something wrong with it:)

Csalem · 26-12-2013 7:24pm

Slightly late but just want to wish everyone a Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year for 2014

Happy Christmas 2013 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

And thanks again for everyone who visited Off The Beaten Track in 2013. This year I managed to cover the following routes:
1 (old and new), 2, 3, 4, 4A, 9, 10, 11 (old and new), 11B, 14 (old and new), 14A, 15A, 15B, 16 (old and new), 16A, 17, 17A, 18, 19, 19A 20B, 33B, 47, 48A, 61, 68A, 90, 92, 128, 130, 140, 150, 161, 239, and 747, all of which can be found here:
http://offthebeatentrack.webs.com/routes-2

Hopefully in 2014 I will be able to add more to the list.

Csalem · 20-01-2014 12:04pm

Hi all,
As we are in a quiet period at the moment I thought maybe I would plug some older features I did before I started posting here, and where better to begin than with the 1!

This route was launched in May 2012 and runs from Santry to Sandymount via the City Centre. On the southside it replaces the old 2 and 3 as far as Sandymount. On the northside it replaces the 3 as far as Whitehall and then replaces the 16 as far as Shanard Road in Santry. It also partially replaces the old 1 which used to run from Parnell Square to Pigeon House, but only about 3 times a day during the week. The new 1 is about every twenty minutes!

The 3 always had a special place in my heart as it terminated close to my grandmother's house. Also when I started to attend UCD I would often get the 3 from college to Sydney Parade Station or all the way into town. It was always a very pleasant journey. I was sad to see it go and on the last day I travelled on the last 3 from Sandymount to Larkhill.

Some pictures taken in Parnell Square over the last 31 years, thiough only the last three are by me. I was born just over a year after the first picture!

D 175 with a 3 to Sandymount Tower, 30/08/1982:

Scan D 175 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

AX 472 with a 2 to Sandymount, 25/06/2011:

AX 472 Parnell Square 25 06 11 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

AX 494 on the last day of the 3, 12/05/2012:

P1090771 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

GT 75 with a 1 to Sandymount, 04/04/2013:

P1010716 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

More pictures from my travels can be found here:
http://offthebeatentrack.webs.com/routes-1-2-and-3

Csalem · 31-01-2014 4:00pm

For the latest look back I have decided to pick the number 10, one of the more famous routes in Dublin, and one I have another connection to through UCD. The last day of the 10 was the 30th October 2010 and I was out on the final day to record the route. I also have some older pictures in the update too:

http://offthebeatentrack.webs.com/route-10

VG 3 and AW 10 are seen on the last day in Belfield:

VG 3 & AW 10 Belfield 30 10 10 (3) by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

Going through some other shots of the 10 I have, I found some relevant shots, including:
AV 368 on Dawson Street on a snowy day with a 10 to Phoenix Park:

AV 368 Dawson Street 05 02 09 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

D 519 on O'Connell Street on the 30th March 1993:

Scan: D 519 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

RH 120 on O'Connell Street on 14th March 1992:

Scan: RH 120 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

And RH 31, the current 'Molly 2' on O'Connell Street on 15th September 1990:

Scan: RH 31 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

Some more older shots of the 10 can be found here:
http://offthebeatentrack.webs.com/route-10-overview

Enjoy!

micraX · 31-01-2014 5:55pm

Dublin bus have many AW's? They the same as bus eireanns AM's?

Csalem · 01-02-2014 3:49pm

The AW was the bendi-bus build by Wrights while the AM is a midi-bus built by Alexander Dennis.

AW 14 on Leinster Street 01/12/10:

AW 14 Leinster Street 01 12 10 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

AM 6 in Balbriggan, 30/08/11:

AM 6, Balbriggan, 30/08/11 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

Dublin Bus had 20 AWs though they had a bit of troubled history with the company as it took a few years to find a route suitable for them. They spent a lot of time on the 10 before transferring to Harristown where they were put on the 4 and 4A and is where they ended their days. DB then sold them off and I believe the majority were scrapped though some did find employment in the UK.

micraX · 02-02-2014 9:17pm

Ah right I didn't know it was bendy, yeah the drivers used to go slow over ramps with the first 2 axles then speed up and bust the sumps, yeah sure they built a bendy house in harristown and got rid of them, forward thinking at its best. Haha they where replaced with the first VT's I think. Yeah I know them AM's well. Horrible little things.

Csalem · 03-02-2014 5:36pm

What I remember about the AWs on the 10 was that people very quickly learned where the button was to open the second door. It used to be a nightmare trying to get from the back of the bus to exit at the front door in the City Centre at rush-hour. But soon people discovered what the little black button over the second door did and problem was sorted!

Devilman40k · 07-02-2014 10:30am

Csalem wrote: »

The AW was the bendi-bus build by Wrights while the AM is a midi-bus built by Alexander Dennis.

Dublin Bus had 20 AWs though they had a bit of troubled history with the company as it took a few years to find a route suitable for them. They spent a lot of time on the 10 before transferring to Harristown where they were put on the 4 and 4A and is where they ended their days. DB then sold them off and I believe the majority were scrapped though some did find employment in the UK.

I remember the being on the AW on the 56A route when they had to navigate the Ardee Street/Coombe (Pimlico) turns, before St Lukes Ave was opened ....that was always fun

Csalem · 07-02-2014 10:55am

For this week's look-back I am returning to last March when I did a trip on the 130. This route was created in 1996 through the merging of the old 30 to Dollymount and 44A to Mount Prospect Avenue. 130 now goes from Abbey Street to Castle Avenue via Mount Prospect Avenue. When the route started it was part of the City Imp network but as it became too popular the minibuses were eventually replaced with the standard double-deckers.

My coverage of the 130 can be found here:
http://offthebeatentrack.webs.com/route-130

And some older shots here:
http://offthebeatentrack.webs.com/route-130-overview

My trip last year allowed me to do this montage of shots from Mount Prospect Avenue spread over 30 years.

D 614 with a 44A on 5th July 1983:

Scan: D 614 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

ME 52 with a 130 on 4th June 1996:

Scan: ME 52 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

KD 16 with a 44A on 4th June 1996:

Scan KD 16 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

AV 37 with a 130 on 20th March 2013:

P1010450 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

cdebru · 12-02-2014 11:17am

Was the 44a not replaced with the 130 on the 17th of march 1996?
Just curious how there is a 44a in June 96 ?

Csalem · 12-02-2014 12:16pm

cdebru wrote: »

Was the 44a not replaced with the 130 on the 17th of march 1996?
Just curious how there is a 44a in June 96 ?

I think there was some event on that day to commemorate buses in Clontarf and the KD was brought along dressed as the 44A.

dfx- · 14-02-2014 1:23am

Devilman40k wrote: »

I remember the being on the AW on the 56A route when they had to navigate the Ardee Street/Coombe (Pimlico) turns, before St Lukes Ave was opened ....that was always fun

and it not being able to make the turn in Fettercairn if there was a 76 parked at its terminus sending the AW all the way around into Brookfield and Jobstown to look for a roundabout to turn around..:pac:

Csalem · 20-02-2014 11:27am

My final look-back to a trip I did last year is to the 61 and 161. The latter route is sort of where the idea for the website came from. A few years ago I saw a mention of the 161 and up to that point I never knew such a route existed. It became my goal then to travel on that route and it only took about four years for me to do it but was worth it in the end! It is nice pleasant route running from Dundrum to Rockbrook via Whitechurch. On the day I travelled on the 161 I also travelled on the 61, which is a newer routing with little connection to the old 61. The current route operates from City Centre to Whitechurch via Dundrum with some departures extended to/from Rockbrook.

The update to Off The Beaten Track can be found here:
http://offthebeatentrack.webs.com/routes-61-and-161

D 271 on Townsend Street with a 61 to Churchtown. 25/01/1985:

Scan D 271 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

The new, low-floor, 61 was less than 3 weeks old before an RV strayed onto it. It was such a new route the number was not programmed onto the display and 161 was used for the evening departure to Rockbrook. 24/08/2011:

RV 596 Townsend Street 24 08 11 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

AV 390 laying-over in Townsend Street before starting from D'Olier Street with a 61 to Rockbrook. 09/08/2013:

AV 390 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

And finally, AV 86 passing The Merry Ploughboy in Rockbrook with a 161. 16/08/2013:

AV 86 Rockbrook 16/08/13 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

Next week I hope to start the 'live' updates to the website for 2014.

Devilman40k · 20-02-2014 12:13pm

dfx- wrote: »

and it not being able to make the turn in Fettercairn if there was a 76 parked at its terminus sending the AW all the way around into Brookfield and Jobstown to look for a roundabout to turn around..:pac:

That happened the first time I seen an AW on that route !.....was wondering wtf was going on and would I have to make a run to the Springfield stop to try and get it :pac:

Csalem · 23-02-2014 9:46pm

Hi all,
As the days are getting longer and the light getting better (in theory), I have resumed updating my website Off The Beaten Track. And what better way to start the new year than with a trip on the 44 from Larkhill to Enniskerry.
Pictures from my travels can be found here:
http://offthebeatentrack.webs.com/route-44

But to show the changes on the route over the last 29 years, I have this selection of pictures below.

KD 153, Enniskerry, 18/02/1985:

Scan KD 153 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

KD 268, Enniskerry, 17/11/1987:

Scan KD 268 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

RH 84, Enniskerry, 08/05/1991:

Scan RH 84 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

RV 568, Enniskerry, 07/04/2012:

RV 568 Enniskerry 07/04/12 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

AX 643, Enniskerry, 23/02/2014:

AX 643 Enniskerry 23/02/14 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

Some more historical pictures can be found on the Overview page here:
http://offthebeatentrack.webs.com/route-44-overview

dfx- · 24-02-2014 2:15pm

Would the 17 not challenge the 44 for last mainly RV operated route?

Csalem · 24-02-2014 3:44pm

Yeah, I was sort of referring to Donnybrook routes to City Centre. Sorry, should have been clearer.

Csalem · 11-03-2014 10:21pm

Evening all,

The latest update to Off The Beaten Track covers the 123 and can be found here:
http://offthebeatentrack.webs.com/route-123

Two pictures from Drimnagh.
The first shows RA 138 at the 23 terminus on the Drimnagh Road on the 27th March 1982:

Scan RA 138 by Csalem's Lot, on Flickr

The second picture shows EV 22 on nearby Errigal Road on the 123 on the 11th March 2014:

EV 22 Errigal Road 11/03/14 by Csalem's Lot, on Flickr

Some more older shots of the 123, as well as the 23 and 24, can be found on the Overview page:
http://offthebeatentrack.webs.com/route-123-overview

Csalem · 19-03-2014 10:04pm

The latest update to Off The Beaten Track covers the 122 from Drimnagh Road to Ashington and can be found here:
http://offthebeatentrack.webs.com/route-122

Some pictures to whet your appetite.

D 561 on a 22 to the City Centre on O'Connell Street, 15/07/1982:

Scan D 561 by Csalem's Lot, on Flickr

D 539 on a 22A to Broombridge on O'Connell Street, 11/07/1987:

Scan D 539 by Csalem's Lot, on Flickr

AV 50 on O'Connell Street with a 122 to Ashington, 19/03/2014:

AV 50 O'Connell Street 19/03/14 by Csalem's Lot, on Flickr

Some more older pictures of the route can be found on the Overview page:
http://offthebeatentrack.webs.com/route-122-overview

dfx- · 22-03-2014 2:17am

The 122 offered great variation to an enthusiast when there was a mixed fleet with ADs (?), RAs, RVs, RHs

Csalem · 22-03-2014 11:49am

dfx- wrote: »

The 122 offered great variation to an enthusiast when there was a mixed fleet with ADs (?), RAs, RVs, RHs

Indeed and not only did it have the ADs towards the end of their careers but also the Ps which were painted in City Imp livery.

Csalem · 24-03-2014 6:49pm

The latest update to Off The Beaten Track covers the route 120 and can be found here:
http://offthebeatentrack.webs.com/route-120

MA 1, Cathal Brugha Street, 27/11/1994:

MA 1 Cathal Brugha Street 27/11/1994 by Csalem's Lot, on Flickr

RV 456, Parnell Street, 06/10/2008:

RV 456 Parnell Street 06/10/08 by Csalem's Lot, on Flickr

AV 430, Parnell Street, 24/03/2014:

AV 430 Parnell Street 24/03/14 by Csalem's Lot, on Flickr

The overview page has some more older shots of the 120, as well as the 121:
http://offthebeatentrack.webs.com/route-120-121-overview

Off The Beaten Track

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