Photo of the Week - Week 30:
Alexander ALX400-bodied Volvo B7TL, AV357, is seen operating Route 69 Rathcoole - City Centre on Orchard Lane on the 24th July 2010.
Photo of the Week this week comes from Conyngham Road territory. Conyngham Road has featured rarely as image of the week, the Luas replacement service being the only one. There was of course RV612 operating the Conyngham Road Route 51B, but Dublinbusstuff decided to venture to Clondalkin for a few pics of Conyngham Road buses in their native territory.
AV357 operated the 1010 departure from Rathcoole on Saturday 24th July. However, tailing it into Clondalkin was EV64 also on Route 69, a level of service not expected with such a low frequency route. EV64 was to be spotted only 2 hours later taking up service from Adamstown on Route 151. Unfortunately, the nippy EV was too fast for this enthusiast on both occasions.
Route 69 has a long history of serving Clondalkin. Operated by the Excelsior Bus Company it was acquired by the DUTC in 1934, being given the number 69. Clondalkin is however most associated with the 51/B/C services. The 51 is a route which dates from the 1920s. With the development of Clondakin in the late 70s, Route 51 was expanded to serve the areas of Neilstown and Bawnogue, both under the guise of Route 51. It was the early 80s before the designation came with regards to Route 51 to Neilstown and Route 51B to Bawnogue. In 1997 the 51B was relaunched as a Cityswift high frequency service, with the 78A diverted to serve Neilstown. More recently the 51B has been split into two routes, Route 51B and 51C, which have interlaced timetables. AV399 was seen operating Route 51B on the 24th July in Clondalkin Village.
Alexander ALX400-bodied Volvo B7TL, AV399, is seen operating Route 51B Grange Castle - City Centre via Bawnogue on Orchard Lane on the 24th July 2010.