Ireland's Operating Bus Museum

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IRELANDS OPERATING BUS MUSEUM

200+ MUSEUM BUSES - TRAINS - AIRPLANES - BOATS
BUSES AROUND THE WORLD ARTICLES

PERU RAILWAYS - PERURAIL - FCCA - YAURICOCHA - CERRO DE PASCO - ENAFER
CUSCO AND SANTA ANA RAILWAY - HUANCAYO AND HUANCAVELICA RAILWAY
FERROCARRILL ECUATORIANA - E.N.F.E. - GUAYAQUIL & QUITO - ECUADOR RAILWAYS MOROCCAN RAILWAYS - HARZER-SCHMALSPUR-BAHNEN
CZECH RAILWAYS - SLOVAK RAILWAYS - ROMANIAN RAILWAYS
IRISH RAILWAYS - FFESTINIOG RAILWAY - GREAT ORME TRAMWAY

CHALKS OCEAN AIRWAYS - ISLAND HELICOPTERS - CZECH AIRLINES
SWANSEA CORK FERRIES - DEELIS TURF POWER STATION

IRISH SCAMS AND OFFICIAL INCOMPETENCE
DUBLIN AIRPORT AUTHORITY - ESB - CORK AIRPORT - BARRY MC SWEENEY

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THE NEW ARRIVALS PAGE.

This Page covers, hopefully, new arrivals at the depot. It is updated as more buses arrive.
FORD PLAXTON 85 WH 93 ARRIVES AT DEPOT.
July 22, 2007. This definitely must rank as one of the more bizarre episodes in the history of museum. We collected the bus and all was fine for three miles when fuel problems developed. From her sitting for so long dirt and silt prevented her feeding off the tank. After five or six restarts and short distances she stopped again so we got a hose and gave her direct feed. She then started sounding sick so we had to abandon her.

Stephen Payne and myself back on Sunday we went back and discovered we could get her to idle but she would stop anytime we tried to drive her any distance. We then hit on the bizarre solution of letting the Omega pull her the 78 miles to Cork which in did in amazing fashion cruising at times at 60 m.p.h. As long as she had air for the brakes this worked fine. But it presented a very bizarre sight having the Omega cruising at 60 being closely followed by a bus which probably never did 60 in its life! An interesting by product was that fuel consumption in the Omega dropped to 8 miles per gallon but then the Omega designers probably never thought of a twelve ton trailer in their design! You can imagine the expression on the faces of anyone we passed! We got her safely to the depot and she drove in with some style - and smoke - and she is safely there now. Our thanks to Francis Dempsey for having sourced this vehicle which is a Plaxton Paramount Ford, being one of the last ever built.

If any one knows her history please let us know. Her registration is 85 WH 93 and her body number is Plaxton 85.11 FT P2C.001. Andy Baldwin has given a wonderful insight into this vehicle. New as B638 KVO to Tansley (Derbyshire) she was originally right hand drive having being built for export to Denmark! Does anyone know who converted her back or where she went after Tansley?

Pat Shannon handing vehicle over to Barney Yourell!

Barney Yourell at wheel ready to go!

This is ridiculous. Omega pulled 85 WH 93 from The Ragg to Cork! Here seen at Skeheenarinky getting fuel.

Entering Yard!

Rear View!

Interior!

Drivers Area!

RATHER MANGY TIGER ARRIVES AT DEPOT.
July 16, 2007. A rather mangy Tiger on its deathbed has arrived at the depot. Once the fleet prime vehicle of Nightingale of Exmouth when delivered in 1987, it is now a sad and rather forlorn wreck. However it does have very valuable parts for us, as Duple parts are like gold, especially the glass, hence its acquisition. Its last owner was Mannings of Charleville and it was delivered new as E178 WDV. We do have a sister ship, hence the reason for spares.

A few little bits missing from the front.

The Inside has seen better days.

A few valuable switches and various other spares, includign instruments still to be got in the drivers area.

The body plate 8690/0384. Can anyone give us her history between Exmouth and Mannings?

DODGE 87 LS 1516 ARRIVES AT DEPOT
June 7, 2007. Another new acquisition, a Wadham Stringer Dodge, an interesting vehicle has arrived at the depot. Can anyone help on her history?

Side View.

Rear View.

Drivers Area.

Front.

Body Plate. Can anyone help on her history?

Her last owners plate.

Leaving LP Walsh's yard with our towtruck leading.

Approaching the depot. Stephen Payne was driver of towtruck.

ANOTHER NEW ARRIVAL - A LEOPARD TOWTRUCK
June 9, 2007. One of our latest - and most useful arrivals - is an ex-Lothian towtruck which was sourced in Northern Ireland where it has been for a number of years.

Our thanks to John Quirke who sourced this machine and who in addition collected it and delivered it was well as doing her up. She really looks superb.Thanks John.

John Quirke with the vehicle.

Stephen Payne and Aaron O'Donohue ready for work.

Side and Rear

Inside.

Drivers Area.

Beautiful Rims.

THE DUPLE DOMINANT TWINS - MCH351W ARRIVES AT DEPOT TO JOIN SISTER UEY441T
May 30, 2007. The buses are really coming fast these days! Todays arrival was Bedford Duple Dominant MCH351W which now joins her sister UEY 441T and makes another set of twins. This is another vehicle sourced by Francis Dempsey and once again we say thanks. He really has provided us with an amazing collection.

We would appreciate any details on their history and operators and both machines are in superb condition. We think are right saying that UEY 441T was originally, Maidstone District.

One wonders, though, at how fast a Bedford with 53 passengers could travel up an Irish hill! Underpowered, I am sure, would be a mild description! Another thing which interests me personally, and some readers perhaps can throw light on, is how many of these "utility" Bedfords were sold as they are pretty awful machines. Following is a complete set of photos of both machines.

MCH351W at Esso Station near Kill with Barney Yourell who delivered it.

MCH351W Coming along the motorway near Cork.

MCH351W Coming out of Toll booth at Fermoy.

MCH351W Barney Yourell on arrival at the depot with the machine having safely delivered it.

MCH351W Parked at the depot on arrival.

MCH351W Rear View.

MCH351W Inside Looking Back.

MCH351W Inside Looking Forward.

MCH351W Drivers Area.

MCH351W Owners Plate

Plate in drivers area. Does this help identify her?

UEY 441T at the depot.

UEY 441T on arrival at the depot.

Interior looking back.

Interior looking forward.

Dashboard.

Owners Plate.

Number over drivers window.

PLAXTON DAF 79 KE 545 ARRIVES
May 29, 2007. This machine was delivered to the depot on May 26, 2007.

It's a funny thing but in this business one never knows what one has - even though one is alleged to be a so-called expert and this machine proves the point. Thanks to Andy Baldwin we know now that she is FTO 538V which was new to Barton of Chilwell. In 1996 it was sold to Barton, Maynooth and at some stage went to Clare or Limerick. Anyone know its latter history?

However, Simon Lang has now come on the discussion board with further information which makes me oner if I am going senile as I am now trying to figure out why I thought she was a DAF. I must have had some reason but it escapes me. Anyhow Simon confirms that she is indeed a Leyland Leopard PSU3E/4R as given away both by the cab and the body number. It was new as Barton, Chilwell number 538 in 9/1979 and has the Supreme IV Express body which qualified it for the bus grant. Bartons of Maynooth had a habit of removing the lower lamps on Supreme IV's and this one is no exception.

I could not get at the engine yesterday but it definitely sounds like a 680 so I will do a thorough check when next at the depot and confirm. She fits our collection superbly in that our other Plaxton DAF 81 KK 162 was very badly vandalised and had were windows almost entirely broken. As she also had a bad engine she will be scrapped to provide parts to bring this one up to full standard in the brake department. Barney Yourell as usual did the honours of delivering her from Limerick and she was donated by the museums good friend John O'Donoghue. Thanks John.

Coming along the motorway near Cork.

RearView.

Coming up the lane to the depot.

Inside could do with some rubbish removal.

Dash.

Only evidence of previous identity, the number 53. Can anyone help?.

The Plaxton Body Plate No. 79 11LX626. Whose was she?.

FURTHER ON THE BLUE LYNX 628.
May 29, 2007. This machine arrived at the depot May 25. She was donated by Roy Kearney. She is minus the engine and gearbox but we needed her as, believe it or not, somebody came into the depot and stole the door off our other Lynx!

The glass is excellent and she will be a source of parts for our future fleet of thirty Lynxes! Thanks to Malcolm we know now that she is K628 YVN and was never registered in Ireland. She started life as Clevaland Transit 28 and susbsequently became 628. We do not know where she was 628 but she then became Stagecoach 29628. She then went to South Gloucestershire via a dealer. She is Lynx LX 2129.

We now have further information. I spoke to Roy and there is an interesting story on her coming to Ireland. Roy apparently bought some five Lynxes - or is it Lynx? - and one of them had a total engine failure on the way back to Ireland. On contacting the dealer - I do not know who - he was given 628 to make up for the blown engine one. However the blown engine machine was in far better body condition so he took the engine from 628 and put it into the other which is apparently trotting happily around County Cork somewhere, having been sold on as I understand it. When I find out what she was I will post it. The gearbox from 628 was put in another Lynx. As noted above we particularly need the door for our good Lynx. Last question. Anyone know who the dealers involved were and the dates?

Front.

Rear.

Side.

Dash.

Inside.

628. Who is she?

29628.

A NEW ROYAL TIGER 84 D 6758 ARRIVES
May 22, 2007. Thanks to our good friend John O'Donoghue in Limerick a most welcome addition to the museum arrived today driven as usual by Barney Yourell. It was a Duple Leyland Royal Tiger 84 D 6758.

Having sat for some two years she had a lot of green mould and looks like she needs a good wash - which she will get. The surprise was that she was one of the best vehicles we have driven for some time and is mechanically 100%. Her body of course, being Duple is pretty corroded - hence her withdrawal. But for the museum she is super.

We know nothing if her history. Can anyone help please?

Approaching Cork at Glanmire.

Rear and Side View.

Barney as usual at the wheel.

Inside.

Small problem for webmaster getting in!.

The Badge. Anyone know what is missing?

83 C 17
May 20, 2007. We promised photos of another recent Tiger addition and these follow. This is 83 C 17 a standard Tiger and in superb condition. Anyone know her history?

Frontal view. She looks well.

Inside.

LOSS OF LEYLAND TIGER IID 888.
April 25,2007. We very much regret to announce the loss of a beautiful Leyland Leopard IID 888 which has been totally destroyed by fire whilst parked in the north side of Cork City. The sad event happened while the driver went to eat and apparently the bus was attacked by locals and was set on fire. It appears that you cannot leave anything anywhere around Cork anymore even for a couple of hours.

The following are the photographs of this excellent machine taken when she came to us and after she had been repainted. We may be able to salvage the engine, gearbox and axle but that is about it.

As she arrived!

Front View!

Rear View!

Drivers Area!

Inside Looking Back!

Inside Looking Forward!

Resplendent in her new coat of paint!

The workers with the new paint job just on!

D 711 ARRIVES BACK IN ITS HOME PORT

29 NOVEMBER 2005. Leyland Atlantean D 711 arrived in Cork at 5 a.m. this morning shrouded from top to bottom and looking like a ghost appearing out of the night.

She is in a bad way as while 100% mechanically the body is in such a bad way as it will have to be totally rebuilt. We have a full set of glass for it so while it is not impossible it is going to be a lot of work indeed. If it was not for her history she would not be worth doing as she will need a complete rebuild and right now we have neither the money nor the facilities for what is needed.

For those not familiar with the vehicle she was delivered new to Cork and served in Cork all her life mainly on the No. 11 route. We think she is the only surviving D of the Cork fleet but stand to be corrected. Anyhow, she is safely back in Cork and who knows what the future holds for her. We should be able to get her driving quickly. The fortunate thing is that the body is 1 inch box girder and that is not too difficult to replicate but unlike, say an M, she was built of junk steel which corroded at the slightest invitation and sure did in her case. She needs all new panelling as well and it is a major rebuild or probably more accurately a new first build!

LEYLAND ATLANTEAN BRIGHTON 12 ARRIVES CORK

26 NOVEMBER 2005. Open Top Leyland 680 engined Leyland Atlantean Brighton 12 TYJ 12S (78 KE 566) has arrived in Cork.

WEST MIDLANDS DAIMLER FLEETLINE 6889 ARRIVS

25 NOVEMBER 2005. West Midlands Gardner engined Daimler Fleetline arrived in Cork Friday.(78 D 1015). This excellent machine is one of our three Fleetlines, the others being West Midlands 6965 and Derby 47.

BM 72 ARRIVES CORK

23 NOVEMBER 2005. Marshall Bodied Ex Ministry of Defence Bedford SB5 Bus Eireann Schoolbus BM 72 arrived at the depot in Cork from Dublin at 4 a.m. this morning.

Our BM fleet is now as follows. BM 72, 84, 86 and 100 all in perfect condition and on the button. BM 63 and BM 42 are to make one vehicle between them in that BM 63 has a good body and BM 42 is driving with good mechanicals but a rotten body. This is a pretty good representation of that class of vehicles.

Frontal View

Interior

Drivers Area

RIL 9168 ARRIVES

22 NOVEMBER 2005. Leyland National 1 RIL 9168 arrived at the depot in Cork from Dublin at 5 a.m. this morning. This is one of our better Nationals.

Frontal View

Side and Rear View

Inside looking back.

Inside looking forward.

Drivers Area.

LA 37 ARRIVES

21 NOVEMBER 2005. LA 37 arrived at the depot in Cork from Dublin at 5 a.m. this morning. We feel it is better to bring them down during the night. This was Ulsterbus Leopard 1968 before being sold to Bus Eireann as part of the LA class. She is 680 engined. She has had a lot of work done to her bodywork and after a little more will be ready for painting. As can be seen she has now been sanded down. It has not been decided what livery but at the moment we are inclined to put LA 13 in Bus Eireann livery and LA 37 in Ulsterbus. Any views?

Her ghostly image as she peered out of the darkness on arrival at the depot.

At the depot in Dublin after some sanding..

Her rear before work.

Inside.

Drivers Area

NEWS IN BRIEF

20 NOVEMBER 2005. The following machines have arrived in the yard. A full description with photos of each will follow shortly. Sorry for the delay in the photos but they will be in shortly.

1. Leyland National Mk 1 - LS2 - after with Aer Lingus.

This is the oldest surviving Leyland National 1 ex London Transport and has been promised to Mike Nash for the Cobham Museum. Bringing it to Cork makes it safer and alongside the ferry and it is expected to drive to London. Mike, I think, has given up on ever seeing it but it is being kept safe and sound for him.

En Route holding everybody up with her slow speed.

Another View.

Rear View.

Internal View.

2. Ford 1114 Plaxton Supreme 82 D 2091

This is a Plaxton Surpreme bodied Ford 1114 but is minus its engine and gearbox and has been obtained for spares mainly the glass to go on our DAF that was vandalised. It has come from Mannings of Croom but we have no previous history. Can anyone help?

The lack of an engine might be considered a drawback by some!

3. Plaxton Leyland Leopard 81 D 997.

This is also for spares again for the glass. It once had a Leyland 680 engine.

Glass in good condition.

4. Manning Driving School Bus Volvo B10.
Duple slant windowed Goldliner 82 DL 1355.

This is a rather unusual not to mention rare vehicle and was obtained for spares with a particular object in mind in that we expect shortly to get a running model of this same vehicle. Its glass is totally intact and Goldliners are a very rare animal indeed so any spare glass is indeed welcome.

A strange and rare machine indeed.

5. Van Hool CVH style.

This is one of those GOK vehicles (God Only Knows) and as soon as we figure out what sort of a chassis and engine it once had we will let you know. It is for spares for our very large Van Hool Fleet. It is a CVH style machine and the front windscreens are invaluable. We are very concerned to ensure that both the CVH and EVH machines are preserved in operating condition so we are getting in the spares now while we can.

6. Leyland Leopard PSU3/4R - Bus Eireann M 8. This is an original Leyland 680 Engined CIE Metsec bodied Leopard.It is one of our fifteen vehicles of the M class. It will be kept in full operating condition and is totally complete.

Front View.

Another View.

Interior.

Drivers Area.

A VALUABLE NEW ARRIVAL 84 C 4414

14 NOVEMBER 2005. This should give some valuable ammunition to those who think the museum is becoming a scrapyard. Just look at this machine which is without doubt one of the most valuable we have received. Our sincere thanks to Stephen Butler, John Quirke and Roy Kearney.

We have no idea whatsoever of this vehicles history. Can anyone out there help please?

Oh, Yes, I forgot as to why she was valuable. Well, you see Stephen very kindly filled her with glass. Yes, glass. When he heard what happened our twenty windows and windscreens he put together a collection which will enable us to replace most of the damaged ones. It is without doubt one of the finest presents we have had. And even better came complete with a bus for free! And after that she still is loaded with glass for the future which is even more valuable. If you look at my comments on both the discussion board and this page you will see why we rate spare glass very highly. We are still sickened by the vandalism and did not know what to do. It is fantastic the way people have rallied around to help us.

Front View

Rear View of a very elegant body

TWO ARRIVALS AT CORK DEPOT - FIRST LEYLAND LEOPARD CSF 158W

28 OCTOBER 2005.The first arrival is one which we had been keeping in Dublin a Scottish Alexander bodied, 680 engined, Leyland Leopard CSF 158W. This machine was sourced by the museums good friend Ross Aitken who drove it to Dublin from Edinburgh. It is in superb condition and runs well.We would appreciate details of her history as they are very sketchy from our point of view.

Parked safely in the depot in Cork.

This is on the side. Anyone know its history?

Inside looking back.

Inside looking forward.

Drivers Cab.

SECOND A VANHOOL 82 TN 266

28 OCTOBER 2005. The second arrival was Van Hool 82 TN 266. Naturally some are going to look at it and ask again are we made taking a vehicle like this but it is a very valuable source of spares. If we were to get a CVH class then the windscreen would act as a valuable spare and the seats are immaculate. We have not looked in the engine department yet to see even if there is an engine. If anyone knows anything of her history please let us know.

The side has had a little argument but this does not matter. The glass is perfect.

As are the seats.

This is the drivers department.

VERTICAL REAR ENGINED LEOPARD 81 C 1414 -
FURTHER VERY INTERESTING INFORMATION RECEIVED

Stephen Allcroft has very kindly done some research for us and come up with the history of this unique vehicle. Now can anyone supply the Irish History? Stephen tells us the following:

From: Stephen Allcroft

I've checked out what it says in fleet news in Buses for 1981 the other day whilst at the Mitchell Library, Glasgow.

It's all in the Fleet News Columns, as there was a plethora of other new models being launched for general sale, not least the Tiger and the B10M , and a lot of laws relating to bus & coach operation were changing.

In May 1981 (p226) it's announced as the only new delivery, and that it will be built by Independent Coaches.

In June (p274) it's described as being made from 'a 10m Chassis lengthened to 11m', having 'a turbocharged 680 engine' [either that should be a 690 engine or a 680 modified to 690 spec, the L11 and TL11 came later]'mounted vertically at rear, power-assisted steering, GB357 splitter gearbox' [??] 'and Low -profile tyres.

In August 1981 (p296) its described as registered PWY31W and having a Plaxton C53F body.

The Mike Fenton piece was late 1990s or early 2000s and I don't have it in my collection at present.

Bus Lists on the web list the following details

PWY31W Independent ICL008/81 Pn 8111LCR001S C53F 5/1981 Independent,Horsforth

Stephen Allcroft

I am going to check the engine now - she is currently backed too close to the fence to get at it. This is a most amazing machine and I think is a L11 although I am not sure I would know a 690 if I saw one, as I never have. I defintitely think it is a real gem of a bus.

We have not run it yet for fear of causing damage until the shop checks it over but we are assured it is in good nick. Does anyone know anything of her Irish history? We think she was with Mc Carthys of Bandon and then ended up with Murrays of Dromina but simply do not know. Our thanks to Murrays of Dromina for this machine.

The front with Viewmaster windscreens.

The seating is immaculate

As is the driving position

The engine compartment with an in-line engine probably a 680 with a turbo stuck on it. Note the radiator position.