Ireland's Operating Bus Museum

MIDLETON RAILWAY STATION PROGRESS

April 14, 2008. Midleton Railway Station is coming on and we feklt the following three shots might be of interest of progress.

The Station Area being refurbished.

The Station Building being refurbished.

Looking towards Cork from the station crossing.

CULTRA 2008 RALLY - ULSTERBUS LEYLAND GARDNER TIGER 2629 GOING - YOU COME TOO!

April 12, 2008. The most important event of the year in Ireland for buses and coaches is the 2008 Bus & Coach Rally to be held as always at the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum, Cultra near Holywood, Co. Down. on Saturday 26th April, 2008.

The museum will have Leyland Tiger 2629 as its entrant continuing what now seems to be a tradition of taking its latest Ulsterbus vehicle to the rally before it continues on to Cork. She will be in absolutely mint condition thanks to Pat Moss, John Montgomery and Frank Clegg of Ulsterbus. Without their help and assistance Cultra would not be the premier event that it is.

The Rally will commence at 09.30. During the course of the morning there will be a series of driving tests. Judging of vehicles will also take place prior to a timed road regularity run around parts of Belfast and North Down. This run will be in the region of 40 miles and details of the route together with maps will be distributed to the drivers on the morning of the Rally. On arrival back at Cultra the vehicles will be on display to the public until approximately 17.00.

In the afternoon a number of vintage vehicles will operate short journeys to give visitors and enthusiasts the opportunity to sample vehicles no longer in normal public use. This will be complimented by a Parade Ring which will focus on a little of the history of some of the vehicles attending the day’s events.

A range of cups and trophies will be presented to winning entrants, the presentation of which will take place at the conclusion of the Rally. A “Finishers Award” will be presented at the conclusion of the Rally to all entrants who attend the day’s events.

As this is the only bus & coach rally in Ireland, the Trust strives to make it an interesting and memorable event for both the professional and enthusiast alike. We invite everybody withg any interest in buses to go to this event this year. Ulsterbus and Wright are the main sponsors and do a magnificent job of support and it is important that we the preservationists show our support for their efforts in turn.

ANNOUNCING PRESERVATION OF LEYLAND TIGERS 1143 & 2629

April 11, 2008. As part of our Tiger preservation program we are happy to announce the acquisition of TL 11 engined Ulsterbus Tiger 1143 and Gardner engined Citybus Tiger 2629. The choice of 1143 is thanks to our friends in Northern Ireland who have highly recommended her and we look forward to her arrival. Delivery to the depot will be shortly and as usual photos will be on the site.

ANNOUNCING PRESERVATION OF A LEYLAND TIGER VAN HOOL

April 10, 2008.As part of our Tiger preservation program we are happy to announce the acquisition of a Van Hool Tiger. Delivery will be shortly and as usual photos will be on the site.

FUTURE COLLECTION POLICY - WE WANT YOUR IDEAS

April 10, 2008.The above acquisitions bring our total Northern Ireland bus fleet to 28 consisting of 1 Bedford, 11 Bristol RE,1 Ford, 8 Leopards, 6 Tigers and one Van Hool. Of these it is expected that twenty five will be in full 100% operational condition with one RE and 2 Leopards providing parts. I don't think that at this stage anyone would argue with our claim to be Irelands largest museum and probably the largest in Europe if not in the world.

We are particularly proud of our Northern Ireland Bus Fleet and we are so grateful for everyone up there who has made the collection possible. At times I do not think that readers appreciate the amount of work that has gone into getting the museum to its present stage and just even the work in collecting one vehicle is immense. When you have two and three vehicles a week arriving our people really work hard to make sure they arrive safely and are looked after. A fleet of 350 is larger than 90% of the bus operators in these islands!

For example in total we have 19 Atlanteans, 38 Leopards, 17 Nationals and 26 Tigers to give a small sample of our 350 strong fleet. Add in Olympians, Lions, Lynxes, Swifts and PD 3's and we, arguably have the largest collection of preserved Leylands in the world.

We cannot wait to get up our new maintenance shed and have our own paint facility so we can start returning many of them to their original liveries.

The question is where do we go from here? We would like your comments and suggestions and be assured every comment is carefully considered.

Our own thinking is to aim for 40 to 50 Tigers, 10 to 20 Olympians, 20 Lynx, and round out the Atlantean fleet to 20, the Leopard fleet to 50 and the National Fleet to 50. Leyland are extinct so if we do not acquire them now they can never be replaced. What do you think?

NEW OFFICE DUE FOR COMPLETION NEXT WEEK.

Our 40' x 12' addition to our office will hopefully be ready for occupation next week giving us a total of 1,000 square feet of office which will do for the moment. This includes canteen, toilets and we also have sleeping accomodation for four.

WANT TO VISIT US? YOU ARE WELCOME!

We welcome visitors to the museum. For security reasons all visits have to be by arrangement for the present. This will change from May 1, 2008 and the museum will be open normal business hours as well as Saturdays and Sundays. All you have to do is telephone myself on +353-(0)87-240-555-0 or send an e-mail to busmuseum@hotmail.com and let us know when you want to come and we will make sure there is someone there to show you around.

If you are flying in, we can normally meet you at the airport and take you to the museum and drop you back. Likewise if arriving by train or bus. As long as we have notice we will do anything to make sure visit as enjoyable as possible as we are delighted to have people come and visit us.

We have one additional offer I do not think anyone else can match. If you can drive, we will be happy to allow you to drive whatever vehicles we have operational when you arrive. But again, let us know in advance and if you have a choice of vehicle also let us know this and we will see if we can have one ready for you. So come and visit. You will be welcome.

CITYBUS LEYLAND TIGER 2624 ARRIVES
2624 has arrived safely at the depot. This is a superb specimen fo a Gardner engined Tiger and in perfect condition. She made the long journey from Belfast to Cork without a hitch driven by Barney Yourell. She joins 2620 in equally good condition so we now have the "Citybus Twins".

Exiting the Dublin to Cork motorway at Glanmire turnoff. You can see her gleaming.

Approaching the depot.

Barney Yourell with 2624 on the lane.

Rear View.

Inscription on side.

Inside immaculate.

Drivers Area.

2624 in from Dublin, Nefkens in from old office and our other arrival, a Ford Granada Scorpio.

WHILE WE ARE AT THE ABOVE THE NEFKENS 1179 IS BEING USED TO MOVE OFFICE AND OTHER EQUIPMENT FROM OUR OLD OFFICES AND FOLLOWING IS A PHOTOGRAPH OF HER FULL OF OUR NEW MAINTENANCE RACKS - 36 IN ALL.
Bus Full!

Webmaster motoring along in the Nefkens. Different style dash.

DUPLE DOMINANT 3 (a la Greyhound) LEOPARD 83 TS 530 ARRIVES
Thanks to the generosity of Willie Condon in Araglin, County Cork we collected today a wonderful Leyland PSU5C/4R Leopard with Duple Dominant 3 body with Greyhound style windows slanting forward. Stephen Lynch and myself went for her and I drove her back. John Quirke and Roy Kearney then met us for the end of the journey and Roy triumphantly drove her into the depot.

She is extremely welcome as the other similar bodied Duple which we have is pretty well wrecked and this means we can use the other as parts for this one which is in A1 condition.

Don Love very kindly supplied part of her history which is as follows and I hope he does not mind me quoting him:

Truly a fantastic arrival! A little history, this vehicle is a Duple Dominant 3. It was new to Rennies of Dunfermline as SSG321Y (chassis no 8031239, body no 235/5430) on 7th Feb1983, and traded in against a new Volvo B10M/ Van Hool Astral twin-deck on the 16th December 1983.

It was new as C46Ft and used for its brief stay with Rennies on motorway services for naval personnel, running between Rosyth andPlymouth and Portsmouth dockyard facilities - at the time one of very few services of such distances not operated by National Express, etc. It was bought as a stop-gap until the Volvo's were ready as there was a longer leadtime for them. I understand it was a stock vehicle, as sister SSG322Y differs in several ways, eg no roofbox.

The seats in your Leopard were swapped with another Rennies one, this time PWB658X, a Dominant 4 bodied Leopard. Those from PWB were not as tall, thus making it difficult to see out of the high-set windows on SSG - I see they are still fitted yet! Its next owner was Peter Sheffield, Cleethorpes who reregistered it PS 2045. When this undertaking was bought by Grimsby Cleethorpes, the vehicle was reregistered OJL822Y and numbered 177. Grimsby Cleethorpes was itself taken over by Stagecoach, who used the vehicle in service and as a trainer. It operated with Stagecoach Peter Sheffield fleetnames in Stagecoachcandy-stripes livery which is still evidently carries.

This makes the number of former Rennies vehicles in active preservation now 7, which also include AEC Bridgemaster 217AJF; Leyland Titan 528CTF; BristolVR LFJ862W; Leyland National RUF37R; AEC Reliance JPA125K; Volvo B57 XSA5Y all of which have served the company at some point in the past.

Our thanks to David for supplying the above and it is worth noting we also have a Peter Sheffield Tiger also in Stagecoach livery. We are really delighted to have this vehicle as they are rather unique and not many have passed in to preservation. We would welcome her subsequent history between Stagecoach and Condon Coaches of Araglin. Did they buy her direct?

She looked well.

The other side.

Interior.

Drivers Area.

John and Roy at the depot on arrival.

2624 HANDED OVER

As always Translink have come up trumps and this latest machine is a superb addition to the museum. It is a Leyland Tiger Citybus 2624 and on March 27, 2008 was handed over at Milewater Road, Belfast. She will be driven to Cork within the next few days. Our sincere thanks to Pat Moss, Frank Clegg and Ulsterbus who appreciate our transport heritage.

In the yard before handing over.

Side and Rear View. Absolutely immaculate and like new.

Interior.

AIRCOACH A LAW UNTO THEMSELVES

March 27, 2008. Aircoach have scant regard for the law, typical of foreigners come to Ireland. Here is 03D 31562 which was clocked on the computer at 65 m.p.h. doing the Dublin Airport to Belfast service clocked south of Dundalk. The speed limit was 50 m.p.h. This is very unfair to our own state operator Bus Eireann and practically everyone else who have to keep to the limit and is unfair competition. This bus was doing over 60 m.p.h. for over twenty miles on which I had the computer on it. The Managing Director of Aircoach will is offered a free opportunity to give his explanation as well as what he proposes doing about it on this website, not that I think he will bother. He will probably say that he is waiting for the tribunal report!

TWO GREAT WEEKENDS - AND A WEEK BETWEEN

Stephen Payne has been down all week and was aided and abetted by Aaron Donoghue. A fantastic amount of work was done and the following pictures give a flavour.

We got the entire mile of the drive back into shape and it is now in good nick. Stephen has laid the foundation for the new office which awaits its base. We put new keys in the ERF tow wagon and got her started. We will work on replacing the clutch this week and giving her a coat of paint. We moved many of the buses from the top yard to the bottom and the space is now clear for the new maintenance shed.

On the building area, the sand was delivered for the concrete and the gravel and concrete blocks come this week.

Nefkens 1179 went to Cork and did a trip to the airport for passenger collection and then went to Grianan House and is now loaded with the steel for the remainder of the twenty four 8' x 3' storage racks donated to us. The main temporary office is now finished except for a coat of paint. So all in all we are making great progress. The following photos were taken during the week and give a flavour of the work.

Stephen placing the new office foundation.

Lukasz and his brother David laying the base for concrete in front of the current offices.

Stephen Lynch has been known to work occasionally and is seen here washing 1179 with our new power washer.

Stephen Payne likewise.

On her way to Cork at the Knockraha turnoff.

The master drove her to Cork.

Leaving Cork Airport.

D711 being moved from her temporary storage area.

Aaron at the wheel, Stephen masterminding the move.

83 WW 194 looks well on her run.

74 KE 530 was out for a run and looks resplendent.

A general view after the clearance on top.

Another View.

Stephen and Karl with the Lothian towtruck.

WHY HSE CANNOT COUNT

The following sign was noted in the Cork University Hospital and perhaps goes a long way to explaining why the HSE does its mathematics different to the rest of us.

THE LATEST RE KR FLEET
March 14th. 2008. Some of you have been wondering what has happened over the court case and the following is an update.

At a sitting of the High Court on Thursday Bus Eireann very generously offered to set aside twelve KR's pending either discussions or a court order. Joe Neiland and Samantha Matthews came not the court and they did this off their own bat and it is very much appreciated by the museum. Hopefully peace will now break out.

I realise that in the heat of trying to save the KR's for posterity I was a little unfair to them and particularly Samantha and perhaps it was both ways but certainly I would like to apologise to Samantha and Joe as looking back on things I was perhaps over the top. Samantha is a great girl who has really helped the museum in the past and the decisioon to scrap the KR fleet was not hers but unfortunately she was in the firing line from me.

Thanks to the generous offer from Bus Eireann perhaps we can now all work together and ensure that our Irish bus heritage is preserved. It is also likely now that DF 454 and DF 795 will also both be preserved.

I am not able to comment further at this stage as there are still some delicate negotiations to be undergone but I do appreciate the generous offer to the court by Joe Neiland and Samantha Matthews and presumably Tim Hayes. Now that peace seems to have broken out I am sure we can all work together for the future.
OUR BOMBARDIER RESTORATION PROGRAMME.
March 14th. 2008. Our Bombardier fleet restoration proceeds apace with the latest machine ready for starting being KC 147. She took air today and is now ready for starting. All she needs is two windscreens and she is back 100%. P.S. Please Joe, could we have an extra KR to give her a new front? We will keep you posted.

The following is the situation on each:

KC 35 - Running and complete but has one cracked windscreen.
KC 129 - Was stolen and crashed and will be rebuilt shortly. Needs KR front.
KC 134 - Scrap.
KC 147 - Ready to run. Needs 2 KR windscreens to complete.
KC 152 - Running.
KC 153 - Running.
KC 155 - Scrap.
KC 157 - Running. Next for repaint.
KC 159 - Running.
KC 160 - Was running but had parts stolen. Will get them from 162.
KC 162 - Probably to provide parts for others.
KC 169 - Was running but had parts stolen. Will get them from 162.
KC 170 - Destroyed in Bus Eireann depot. Writeoff.
KD 156 - Operational.
KD 184 - Mechanically running. Needs major work on body.
KR 9 - Running but gearbox is cracked and needs replacement.
KR 11 - Needs engine work. Otherwise complete.
KR 181 - Scrap.
KR 185 - Scrap.

In brief, we expect to have 9 operational KC, two operational KD and if Bus Eireann allow, ten operational KR.

So we are doing well and I would think we are the leader in Bombardier restoration. Why Bus Eireann would think we would not restore the KR's is beyond us. Once we get our 8 bus maintenance shed we will be able to do even more miracles.

THIS WEEKEND AT MUSEUM.
March 14, 2008. Stephen and Karl are down with Aaron following over the weekend. They installed our new hot water detergent washer which will be a tremendous asset. It was sourced by Stephen. Other work to be done is to get ready the base and foundations for the new office. The drive in will be done starting Tuesday morning at 8 a.m. and this will be a great improvedment as it is currently riddled with potholes. It is a mile long and needs a lot of maintenance.

OUR M PROGRAMME AND MD 82 STARTS AGAIN.
March 14, 2008. Stephen Payne devoted some time to MD 82 with the result that she now has joined the list of running M cars. With regard to other M's the following is a brief rundown.

M 8 - Needs attention to front and new gearbox mounting. Running fine.
MD 35 - Needs an engine and gearbox which will come from MD 117. Otherwise perfect.
MD 42 - Running fine. Next for repaint.
MG 56 - Running Fine. Needs 2 windscreens.
MG 76 - Running fine. Needs body attention.
MD 80 - Untouched but mechanically complete.
MD 82 - Running this week. Complete.
MD 91 - Scrap.
MG 106 - Scrap.
MD 117 - Scrap.
MD 132 - Awaiting rebuilding.
MD 182 - Needs driveshaft.
MD 192 - Needs major work but will probably be restored.
MG 212 - Badly damaged in accident. Writeoff.

Basically we plan to have 9 M's operational, 1 straight M with Leyland 680 engine, 6 MD and two MG with one M on decision.

So we are making good progress on the M fleet. I still think an M is one of the nicest to drive and I love driving them. I had CSF 166W out today for a drive around Cork City as I had not driven her anywhere before and she felt like an M which I suppose she is to a point. The large driving wheel and ponderous steering are very characteristic.
NEW ARRIVAL SCOTTISH FIFE LEYLAND LEOPARD CSF 166W.
March 10th. 2008. Thanks to Ross Aitken and Kenny Baird our latest acquisition arrived in Cork today having travelled overnight from Edinburgh. She was new to Scottish Fife and is a sister ship to our CSF 158W. So we now have another pair of twins.

We really appreciate the effort Ross and Kenny put into getting her ready and doing the entire delivery trip themselves which included an extra four hour cruise of Belfast Harbour as the ship could not dock in the storm.

Ross and Kenny at Grianan House after arriving.

Rear and side view.

Michael let loose with it.

Ross at the wheel

Inside immaculate.

Drivers Area.

MORE PHOTOS OF DAMAGE TO TIGER 83 C 2836.
March 9th. 2008. The following gives an extent of the damage to our superb Tiger - that was - 83 C 2836 after the wheel bearings were stolen. Our Tiger thieves also took a side panel. It is only Tigers we who have suffered theft and we ask anyone out there who might have any information as to who is respsonsible to please let us know. Why anyone would do this to us I cannot imagine.

As she came in!

The damage after the wheel fell off.

Inside of the wheel.

KD 184 ROARS AGAIN AND SO DO MANY OTHERS
March 1, 2008. We have had another outstanding working weekend with Stephen Payne and Stephen Lynch spearheading the attack on a few reluctant machines.

What has to be another outstanding achievement is the way Stephen Payne persuaded KD 184 to start and her roar was heard all over the depot. She is still a long way from recovery as Bus Eireann totally vandalised her while at Capwell even though we bought a complete machine. Still, it is a start.

Another machine which started and drove down to the lower yard was VS 178. We are slowly moving all the machines down from the middle yard to the lower yard to make room for the new maintenance shed.

We have had a further amazing episode in our Tiger problems in that we went to move down Tiger 83 C 2836 and barely moved her when the front wheel started falling off. The bearing and nut had been stolen. We found two more front wheel bearings missing from another Tiger. So far we have had stolen: 1 radiator, 1 Clutch master cylinder, 3 wheel bearings, one rear door. two sets of rear lamps and one rear window. Some Tiger operator seems to think we are his source of spare parts.

What is very strange is that we had scrap Tigers from which they could easily have taken the parts from but one almost could be forgiuven for thinking that the purpose was to put out of action as many of our vehicles as possible. It is heartbreaking after all the work we put into making them good to find that we now have thirty two buses which were perfect when they arrived and are now in an unserviceable state. And it seems it is only Tigers. Does anyone know who still runs Tigers in our neck of the woods?

To make matters worse the Gardai now believe that the stealing of KC 129 and its crashing was deliberate to wreck the vehicle and not an accident. This means someone out there is determined to wreak havoc on the museum, a rather frightening prospect, as they may well strike again. Our total damage bill to date is well in excess of €60,000 which is crippling for a museum like ours. And in addition we have had to spend a further €50,000 on new fences, CCTV and security. What sort of a country are we living in?

ANOTHER VENTURER
We have been donated a third Bedford Venturer also with Plaxton 3200 body. We plan to collect it next week and the usual photos will follow. We know nothing about it other than it was operated by P.K. Travel, we think, and it has body or chassis number from the plate of 105372. Anyone able to help?

This will give us three Venturers, all in excellent condition and all in within a very short period of time.

BEWARE, BEWARE! OUR TRAINS ARE SOMETIMES HEAVY - OFFICIAL
February 28, 2008. One wonders what goes on in the brains of the PR Department of Irish Rail as the following excerpt from the Irish Rail website illustrates and I quote :

Customers are advised that because of the All-Ireland Club Finals in Croke Park on St. Patrick’s Day, Monday the 17th March 2008 (Nemo Rangers, Cork-v-St. Vincent’s Dublin @ 15.45hrs) – trains to Dublin Heuston from the Cork District will be heavy.

The mind boggles!

LATEST ARRIVAL BEDFORD PLAXTON PARAMOUNT 3200 VENTURER 87 MH 3454.
February 27th. 2008. Thanks to David Rusell of Val Russell Coaches our latest acquisition was collected yesterday February 26th. It is a handsome Bedford Venturers and a sister ship of RIB 4407 so we now have twins.

The following photos were taken by Stephen Payne when he and Barney Yourell collected her.

Pretty handsome Looking

Rear View

Inside

Drivers Area

FINALLY A REPLY FROM CORK AIRPORT MANAGEMENT
February 20,2008. I finally today got a reply from the management. Seamus Beausang, the commercial manager answered.

He admitted the website was incorrect and at least I have the satisfaction that they finally changed their website so they do listen to me and do something when pushed but it should not be necessary to do that to get results.

As regards the car parking charges he says that "all rates are calculated from time of entry". In the same breath he says "We provide free parking to users of our car parks for up to 15 minutes". Now in my book there is a clear unequivocal statement "The first fifteen minutes are free." To my simplistic mind if you stay 70 minutes and the first fifteen are free then you are charged for 55 minutes. Mr. Beausang must not have gone to Pres like me as we seems to have a different interpretation. I leave it to readers to make up their own minds. I am currently minded to go to Court to get their interpretation on it as I am not going to get anywhere otherwise. I would welcome comments on the discussion board.

MORE NUTCASES AT CORK AIRPORT AND MORE RIPPER OFFERS!
February 17,2008. If you think Pat Keohane and his merry men are the only people ripping people off at the Cork Airport allow me to introduce you to another bunch who don't give a damn about the customers either. This is the Cork International Airport Hotel.

I had the misfortune to go to dinner there and the following was my letter to the General Manager who I understand is Mr. Aidan Fahy. He does not answer his mail either! And they obviously do not want Cork local business. I shall keep readers informed of the response if I ever get one.

February 8, 2008

Manager,
Cork International Airport Hotel,
Cork Airport,
Cork

Dear Sir:

Recently I and two other friends decided to try out your airport hotel for food.

Despite the fact that the restaurant was empty we were told at 6.20p.m. that we would have to wait until 6.30 to be seated, much less served. Apparently you do not serve that kind of food until 6.30 p.m. Now for an airport hotel where you could expect people all day, I cannot see why evening meals should not start before 6.30 p.m. and would ten minutes have made all that difference? You might have sold us a drink in the ten minutes.

Anyhow we waited and sat down and quite frankly the menu is certainly not geared to the tastes of Cork people. I accept you may have some unique clientele in mind when deciding the menu but to me it is sadly lacking.

Be that as it may, we waited and decided to have dinner. I specifically asked the waiter would the vegetables be cooked and was assured he would tell the cook that they were to be cooked. Nevertheless they came as hard as rocks. Apparently we were informed that your chef is a prima donna who decided how his product is cooked and tough luck if the customer wants otherwise. I demonstrated how tough they were by banging the knife against them and they did not flinch, much less sever. I think it was as much as the waitresses’ life was worth to tell the chef how we wanted the vegetables cooked.

I asked for baked potatoes and was told the hotel did not do baked potatoes and either you took what was exactly on the menu or forget it. May I suggest that if a customer has money and you have food then you should try and do a deal? Restaurants are supposed to humour customers. Anyhow why are baked potatoes so impossible?

It’s no wonder the place was empty and you must be losing your shirt in the restaurant. I won’t even dare mention that when I suggested I might prefer two eggs and tomato I was sternly told that was definitely not on the menu. It’s not that the chef was busy, as there were only seven people max in the hotel. My offering to show the chef how to fry an egg, if as appeared, he did not know how, did little to improve the atmosphere. It was explained to me how he was French and French chefs definitely do not cook eggs for dinner!

As the dessert menu was difficult, I asked was it possible to have a half serving of ice cream and received same. However he charged the full price of, I believe €9. He said he had no control over the price, ice cream was €9 and it did not matter if I only wanted one scoop and he had no discretion. I accept his right to do this but I won’t be caught a second time, I can assure you.

All in all it was an expensive meal at over €100 for three and our basic wishes were ignored. I am in the business a long time and unless someone tells you, then, one often never knows so do not treat this as a complaint but rather a desire to assist. But there is no way I would go back with that attitude. You need to take a very hard look at your menus and what your clientele might desire. I accept your right to serve anything you like and at any price you like but in my professional view you are on a hiding to nothing with your current approach.

I accept you might not like to have Irish peasants like me coming to eat at your grand establishment and that you only want the high flyers but in my experience, if you try that, you lose your shirt as sure as day follows night. Your competition in the Radisson is almost as bad so you have an unique opportunity to clean up, if you give people what they want. If you do reply to me, please tell me for my own satisfaction if you personally decided the menu because if you did not then it is time you did. If you are Irish, I cannot honestly believe you would eat vegetables at home the way they were cooked.

I am sorry to sound so negative but I am sure you would like honest appraisals and if you can convince me that the number of people eating in your restaurant is making you money then I give up and humbly defer to your superior judgement. When I was young I used to look at people like you and say what wonderful geniuses you were as you must know something I did not. Now, approaching senility, I say what bloody fools you are! And I work all over the world, even now, so I just might still know something.

If you want to call me my mobile is 087-240-555-0. I hope the above is of assistance.

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Michael Grimes

LIKE A BUS EIREANN DEPOT.
February 17,2008. I took the following very interesting photo today at the depot and it was just by chance the vehicles were in the positions shown. I wonder if any Bus Eireann depot ever had the mix in its yard. I think the only two candidates would be Cork or Broadstone, Cork with E 106 and Broadstone with E 14. Any comments? Left to right CVH 19, MD 35, KR 9, E 106, EVH 8,VS 180,KC 147.

ANOTHER GREAT WORKING WEEKEND - KR9 RUNS AGAIN.
February 17, 2008. Stephen Payne pulled off another miracle this weekend when working with Aaron O'Donoghue he rebuilt the engine of KR9 and got her running for the first time in years. She is totally complete and should be a good machine. She is photographed below heading for the wash bay and after that and a cleanout inside and some other mechanical work she should be as good as new. This is our first KR running.

We really need some parts for her though from some withdrawn KR's and just hope that Bus Eireann will allow us to have the parts.

KR 9 running for the first time en route to the wash bay.

KR 9 shortly after delivery to the depot.

KR 9 inside.

KR 9 drivers area.

STILL MORE SURPRISES! CORK AIRPORT BUNCH OF GANGSTERS AFRAID TO REPLY TO ME.

February 16, 2008. Still no reply from anyone at Cork Airport. It illustrates to perfection the total contempt Patrick Keoghane and his management staff have to anybody daring to criticise them. They just ignore it. Not even the politeness to acknowledge the letter. He lives in total splendid isolation in the old terminal like a mediaeval monarch from where he does not have to deal with common riff-raff like me.

If I do not get a reply by Tuesday morning he can expect copies of this correspondence all over th airport so that the entire staff can see what sort of person is managing them. He had better dust off his plans for implenting the ban on me! That is really going to be fun. Which sucker is he going to appoint to do his dirty work for him and physically assault me, grab me by the neck and carry me screaming, kicking to the airport entrance to dump me on the ground? And boy will that sucker be famous the next day when I go to the High Court against him! I am really looking forward to it. Or how about a High Court Injunction? I challenge him and I bet he runs off with his tail between his legs! So lets see what the next step in this thrilling saga will be. I will keep you posted here.

SURPRISE! SURPRISE! CORK AIRPORT BUNCH OF GANGSTERS CONTINUE TO SCREW PUBLIC.

February 14, 2008. If you read further down this page you will see my letter to Cork Airport dated February 7. It was sent to the Manager and Duty Officer and as of today February 14 I have not even had an acknowledgement. Pat Keohane feels it would be beneath him to reply so he has delegated the task to Seamus Beausang one of his managers. Seamus is the guy who has helped achieve the amrketing triump in handling the business at Cork Airport so well that not alone have Czech Airlines and Malev pulled out, Centralwings have just now also pulled out and Aer Arann are downgrading and considering totally pulling out of the Cork to Dublin service - You heard the latter here first!

Now in my simplistic book if you have a Sales Manager whose sales keep going down then you fire him before he does anymore damage. The management team at Cork Airport are so totally incompetent that business keeps dropping. But then if they cannot even bring themselves to acknowledge a legitimate complaint you could not expect them to do anything else properly either. I would remind readers that Pate Keohane has banned me from the airport, never officially informed me and never withdrawn the ban. You should not make rules like banning Michael Grimes without thinking the consequences out first, if you have any sense!

But back to my letter. A number of meetings have been held and a number of people have recommended ignoring me, most agree that they should continue to screw the punter and continue with the ripoff and only legalise it and a few have suggested that I should be replied to. It remains to be seen who wins out. I await the decision with interest! To help concentrate their minds I am going to consider (I have to say that word for legal reasons and you can judge what I mean by consider!)putting up posters all over the airport as well as giving leaflets to passengers saying Pat Keohane never replies to his mail and how he and his merry bunch of gangsters - the airport board - rip off passengers!! Now what is he going to do about that?

It simply beggars belief that all 20,000 staff at Cork Airport, all its management and all of the Dublin Airport Authority staff find it impossible to correct a blatant error on their website in seven days. What are they all doing all day?

Now I have news for them and it is not a request but an order and is as follows: Either the website is corrected and either the ripoff is terminated by 5 p.m. today Thursday February 14th. or they are likely to be faced with the consequences of me distributing leaflets to all the passengers at the airport and they will not like the ensuing publicity. It equally beggars belief that the so called management cannot even find the time to reply to my letter and they had better do something fast if they want to avoid me taking my horns and tail out of my office drawer! It is no way to run anything, much less Cork Airport.

And as I am at it why have they not gone public and told the people fo Cork of the loss of Centralwings and Aer Arann to Dublin? They are gutless, spineless, incompetent cowards!

CORK AIRPORT AT IT AGAIN SCREWING THE CUSTOMER.
February 7, 2008. Pat Keohane and his merry gangsters - The Cork Airport Authority Board - upped their parking charges recently. I got screwed. Attached is the letter sent to them.

More interesting is the following taken from their website:

Short-term parking

Short-term parking is available adjacent to the Terminal Building in the Multi-Storey Car Park. Follow the signposts for Short-term parking. Each car space is individually numbered and each floor colour coded. Please make note of where you parked your car. Baggage trolleys are available on each floor of the multi-storey car park.

Short-term parking charges (including 21% VAT) price effective 7 January 2008:

First 15 minutes free
Up to 1 hour € 2.30
Up to 2 hours € 4.60
Up to 3 hours €6.90
Up to 4 hours € 9.20
Up to 6 hours € 11.00
Up to 12 hours € 13.00
Up to 24 hours € 16.00
Each additional 24 hours or part thereof € 16.00

Again at the airport it says up to seven hours €11.00. Not that it is anything new but it seems that a bunch of morons manage the airport. Just for the record I spoke to the parking people at the airport who confirmed that up to seven hours was €11.00.

I will update readers on the reply - if any!

February 7, 2008

Duty Manager,
Dublin Airport Authority,
Cork Airport
Cork

Dear Sir:

Re : Parking Charges at Cork Airport

I beg to refer to the copy of the parking docket for my vehicle on February 1, 2008.

Your advertising clearly states “FIRST FIFTEEN MINUTES FREE”.

I stayed seven hours and ten minutes but was charged for nine hours. Clearly if the first fifteen minutes was free then I should have been charged for seven hours. That is fraud, deceit and theft.

Not alone do I want a refund but I want an advertisement placed in the newspapers apologising for screwing your customers but also stating you will refund all other victims who were too timid to complain.

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Michael Grimes
Victim

WORKING WEEKEND PHOTOS

E 106
It was fabulous to see this veteran back and running around. Stephen Payne unaided rebuilt the engine and it now purrs. The body needs a fair share of work but it is a first step by having her driving.

Unwashed but driving.

Inside.

Driving Area. Very simple. Needs cleaning after seventeen years.

Marcy busy washing the outside. She did a superb job.

Maggie busy cleaning it out.

Stephen with his latest pride and joy.

Parked with RIB 4407 and 86 C 16273. Drivers Stephen Lynch and Karl Roche in picture also.

Returning to depot.

RIB4407

She really looks well.

PIB3673

On her way to Cork for fuelling.

Near Kinsale Road Roundabout

83 C 1899

Front View after coming out of three years hibernation. On her way to the wash.

The Other Side

Rear View

86 C 16273

Coming Down the Lane, approaching the depot.

Entering the Depot. Looks well and drives well.

LEYLAND LYNX FISHWICK 30 - 86 C 4606

Frontal View

Inside

Dr1vers Area

Her fleet number.

Karl Roche at the wheel. In the background is the Tiger from whom the rear window was stolen. And they were not just walking by. They came well equipped!

90 MH 4542

Coming to Life after a few years.

Inside.

Drievrs Area.

Rear View.

GENERAL SCENES AT KNOCKRAHA

Some general views taken at the depot over the weekend.

And finally webmaster and Lukasz fixing the roof of the new office.

A GREAT WORKING WEEKEND.
February 10, 2008. We have had one of the most fabulous working weekends this weekend and got a fantastic amount done.

The highlight was the return to life of E 106 which is now driving around happily once more. Stephen Payne got her going all by himself. He had his work cutout on the engine and had to do almost a rebuild. We think it is over ten years since she last ran. We are now working on the body and are considering her for Mogeely.

Stephen Payne was joined by Stephen Lynch and Karl Roche commenced the clearing of the site for the eight bus bay maintenance shed. He persuaded our lovely Bova 83 C 1899 and Dubrava 90 MH 4542 to start and drive down to the bottom. Lynx Fishwick 30 also was started and went for a run. When 2531 goes next week there will be enough space to start. We also cleared space for the new office. I and Lukasz wired the second new portacabin and everything is working in it now. That was a major step forward. We also put in wiring for the National Store Bus.

Amongst other things Bedford RIB 4407 was taken for lengthy runs. PIB 3673 went up to the city and back for a run and Leyland Tiger 88 C 16273 was running around as well. Stephens experience is paying off and he has worked miracles starting vehicles that would defy me.

On the down side some bastard came in a day after our lovely new Volvo Van Hool drove in and stole the master panel off it literally tearing it out and causing major damage. We were getting her ready to go for MOT. I cannot understand why people want to do this. This was a beautiful vehicle so kindly donated by Donal O'Callaghan of Ovens Coaches and in comes someone and prevents her being used. Our new camera system was commissioned the following day so now maybe it will stop the theft. It makes one want to cry. So much stuff has been stolen that it is not true. The guys who removed the rear window on our lovely Tiger were not just wandering by and had to have equipment to get it out and came well prepared.

We have loads of photos of the weekend and E 106 and will put the up shortly.

A BUSY WEEKEND AT THE DEPOT
January 26, 2008. We had a fabulous weekend with the arrival of four new buses within twenty four hours. Photos follow. There were seven of us working and much was achieved. Ross Aitken and Kenny Baird were kind enough to come all the way from Edinburgh and they did fabulous work including putting all the fence back together. Stephen Payne was down and also Stephen Lynch and two other new staff members Lukasz and Maggie.

Delivery Crew. Left to right. Michael Grimes, Stephen Lynch, Stephen Payne, Ross Aitken and Kenny Baird.

Lukasz and Maggie with all three. They really looked well, the buses I mean!

Neatly parked.

E 106 RUNS AGAIN.
January 26, 2008. Stephen Payne has been busy working on E 106 and she ran once again for the first time in some while. This follows his great re-engining job on the Titan. This is great news. We still need to do much work on her and will keep you posted. Pictures will follow in due course. She will get a repaint shortly.

SOME PHOTOS TAKEN LAST WEEKEND AT THE DEPOT DURING BUS MOVING
January 8, 2008. As noted earlier a lot of work was done last weekend and the following gives a flavour. If anyone wants to come and help they will be welcome as there is loads of work to do. The next suitable time for anyone is January 24 - 27. Drop an e-mail to busmuseum@htomail.com. If you come from the UK we will collect you at airport or bus or train station.

Brighton 12 looks well.

Talking of deckers we drove NTC 135Y, our Olympian around and here is a nice photo of herself and R 913 sitting in the sun.

Another View.

A nice shot of her taken at Cork Airport after she arrived in Cork.

As noted earlier KC 129 was stolen and crashed. Here is the result. Horrible and why anyone would do it we cannot imagine.

We plan to scrap KC 162 and use its front as it is pretty good apart from one panel and the job of making up a new front from scratch would be about impossible.

This is a rear view. The engine is missing essential parts and all her electrics are pretty well removed so she really is more useful as a donor.

We brought M 80 from the top yard to the bottom and she needs some bodywork but seems to be 100% mechanically although she has not been started for years.

We also brought SS 782 down. She had a seized brake problem so we lifted her. I drove her to Abbeyleix depot from Waterford so after an oil change she should be fine.

ATC 672V is on the button and here is a nice shot..

LEYLAND LYNX K625 YVN
January 7, 2008. When I posted the photos of this girl last week we suspected she was not what she looked. Well, we have discovered she really is K625YVN even though she carries the plates of 628. We also have 628 already.

So to correct the record we are now showing her but she is 625. She is running superbly and just needs a coat of paint.

OTHER BUS MOVEMENTS - SS 782 - DAIMLER 6889 - KC 129 - KC 162 - R 913 - NTC 135Y - ATV 672T - LS6.
January 4, 2008. I am worn out at this stage from putting in the above and will add the photos of these tomorrow.

THE HISTORY OF R 913
December 28, 2007.

R 913 is a very interesting, not to mention unique, vehicle and as far as I know – correct me please if I am wrong – there is only one other of its type in existence which is with our good friends at the Transport Museum in Howth. She is officially a Leyland Titan PD3A/1A Special with a Leyland O400 engine and it can be argued that she is not an R at all but a P class Tiger single decker with a double deck Park Royal body stuck on her in 1964. She entered service in 1965 and was retired in 1981 and was a very reliable machine. Interestingly, Cyril Mc Intyre classifies her as a PD3A/6. She was on delivery H41/33R.

The reason for this proposition is that she has many basic P mechanicals. The P class OPS3 Tigers was becoming surplus, CIE were desperately short of double deckers and they decided to use the mechanicals, engines, gearboxes, axles, etc. from various P’s to put together a chassis which with new Park Royal bodies would become the R 900 class. She has Leyland Titan OPD3A side frames and is 30 feet long. The body was supplied by Park Royal and built by Commercial Road Frames of Dundalk. Other unique features were a sliding cab door and a three part destination display.

26 of them were built with registrations NZE 610-635 and they were total museum pieces the day they went in the road in that they had vacuum brakes, crash gearbox and diabolical steering. The original P was built in 1948 and she was assembled in 1951 so how old is she? Further details from anyone reading this about her and where she worked would be most welcome.

She was a total pig to drive and the lack of power steering made her one of the heaviest buses to drive anywhere so she spent her life on the flat routes around Clontarf working from that depot on the flat routes around there.

Vacuum brakes – R 913 still has them - meant you had about one chance of stopping so you had to get it right or else! She also had a crash gearbox which one could describe as entertaining. The body though was elegant for its day and she still has an elegance to her interior. She is certainly a very unique vehicle.

She was the first bus the museum ever got. The museum owes the late Eamonn Mc Arthur an incalculable debt as it was sourced from him and we will also remember what wonderful work he did for preservation every time we look at her. We are considering a special plaque in his memory.

HISTORY OF SS 788.
December 29, 2007. SS 788 was part of a batch of 30 school buses built to their own design by Van Hool Mc Ardle, Dundalk. To say the front is unusual is putting it mildly but what apparently happened is that two teams designed the left and right hand sides of the bus, never spoke to each other, and the result is clear for all to see. Either side would make an attractive bus but not together. They were numbered from SS 771 to SS 800 and carried registrations TYI 771 to TYI 800.

The chassis are Bedford SB5 with a Bedford 330 engine and they were 43 seaters. They also had a destination box. Our pair SS 782 and SS 788 came to us from Waterford Garage about 2001. They were pretty appalling things to drive. Waterford looked after them and they are in excellent mechanical condiTion. Does anyone know what others of the 30 are preserved?

A FANTASTIC CHRISTMAS PRESENT.
December 28, 2007. Stephen Payne had a fantastic surprise for me today at the depot. Two buses back from the dead.

The first was R 913 which you may remember we towed into Ballyraggett depot on the way from Dublin to Cork when she developed a suspected engine problem. We then towed her to Cork for her own safety and now she is restored to health. A paint job comes next.

For the past few weeks Stephen has been working on her. To my amazement she was up and running like the super mnachine she is and we took her for run to the top yard and the following photos ensued.

The second bus was SS 788 which had not run since I drove her from Waterford to Abbeyleix depot. Again Stephens charms worked wonders. We washed her and took photos when we took her for a run. Apart from one front panel which needs replacing, she is super.

Coming up the lane.

The Ghost looked really super.

Coming out of the lane.

She looks well.

Front view of the pair parked side by side.

Rear View.

Exercising their legs - or is it wheels? - around the block.

FIVE NEW BUSES.
December 27, 2007. We have five new buses and I will try and get the photos up tomorrow.

AMAZING SCENES IN PARAGUAY.

December 22, 2007. One of the most amazing parts of the trip was to visit Paraguay State Railways where the sole motive power was four 1910 North British Locomotive wood burning steam engines, all in everyday service. Talk of a time warp! The following gives a flavour pending posting full photographs.

No. 59 in the shed raising steam.

No. 101 taking its train out.

It could be the U.K. in 1920. No. 104 away with its train.

No. 101 shunting as it has done in the same place for almost 100 years.

I AM BACK.
December 20, 2007. I have finally returned from my day job in South America after an absolutely fabulous trip.

There is a stack of work on the site to be done and I have no idea how long it will take. I have started a new home page - the one you are looking at - for 2008 and all of last years have gone to a tab on the menu entitled "2007 News".

In short while I was away we had two disasters in which one valuable machine was destroyed totally and another, KC 129, stolen through locked gates and despite having starter relay removed and no batteries, she was deliberately crashed head on away from the depot. Whoever did it knew exactly what they were at. It is terrible that this sort of thing can happen and anyone who has any idea as to who might have did it please contact me in strictest confidence on 087-240-555-0. There is over €10,000 of damage but even worse is the getting of parts.

On the good news side is the arrival of many new machines and full details will be posted when I get time. So hang on and I will get the site updated over Christmas. I have also 10,000 photos of the railways of Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile, Brazil and Argentina.

STEPHEN PAYNE NEW CHIEF ENGINEER FOR THE MUSEUM.
July 23, 2007. Stephen Payne has been appointed Chief Engineer for the museum, which has been vacant since Padraig Williamson went to the U.K. Stephen is vastly skilled and has already done fantastic work with the museum. We welcome him and are so glad he has accepted.