Photo of the Week - Week 29:
Alexander R-bodied Volvo Olympian, RA257, is seen on a private hire for MacDiarmada Coaches turning onto Custom House Quay on the 24th July 2010.
Photo of the Week this week also comes from the city centre, again something interesting has been stumbled upon in the city. Don't worry, some more suburban pictures will grace these pages in the coming weeks. Like other weeks Image of the Week has become Images of the Week with two photos enclosed.
MacDiarmada Coaches of Kill Co. Kildare have acquired ex-Dublin Bus RA257 from Dualway. The livery as can be seen from the photo above is quite similar to the Dublin Bus livery, and 257 looks very smart too. RA257 entered service with Dublin Bus in March 1996 on Route 46A in CitySwift livery, over a year before Route 46A was designated as a CitySwift service. RA257 is distinctive with its rooftop lights, the only other Olympians this author remembers having these were RA196 and RV326.
It was sold on to Dualway in Rathcoole in early 2008 who used it as a private hire vehicle. Very recently it has been acquired by MacDiarmada Coaches. This company may be more famous to Dublin Bus enthusiasts as the company who ran the shuttle bus service between Blessington and Ballymore Eustace in May 2005. This was due to a diversionary route around Russborough House caused by roadworks on the N81 unsuitable for a double-decker.
In other news there was a strange allocation to the 46A yesterday with the VTs out and about, not so much strange for a Monday-Friday but very strange for a Saturday. Donnybrook strictly tuck their VTs up for the weekend due to the cost of running these monsters and problems with tyre-wear. However yesterday was an exception, possibly due to capacity problems that could be encountered due to the match. The last time I remember VT1-20 out on a Saturday Westlife and JedWard were playing in Croke Park. That says a lot about the clientele on the 46A...
Enviro 500 bodied Volvo B9TL, VT9, seen out and about on a Saturday on D'olier Street operating Route 46A to Dún Laoghaire Station on the 24th July 2010.