A look back at Dublin bus routes 17, 18 and 75 (by Shane Conway)

Last updated on 19 August 2024

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Phase 5B of the ongoing revamp and re-organisation of bus routes in the Dublin area concentrated on services in the southern suburbs. Routes 17, 18, 75, 76 and 175 were all withdrawn from 25th November and replaced with new routes from the following day. This page takes a pictorial look at some of the buses which have served 17, 18 and 75 over the years, mostly from my own photo collection.

Route 17 commenced in 1970 and linked Blackrock with Dolphins Barn. Prior to 1955 or so, 17 was allocated to a former tram service from Whitehall to Rathfarnham, alongside the 16 which paralleled it for most of the route. That 17 became the 16A, leaving the number vacant for several years. Initially the second 17 was worked by U class Royal Tigers, which soon gave way to C class Leopards. From 1983 new KC class GAC citybuses took over and remained on the route for many years. Occasionally double deckers would be drafted in for certain journeys; it is known that both RA class Leyland Titans and D class Atlanteans made appearances.

Dublin Bus DF822 was seen at Blackrock station on August 15th 1991, a rare sighting of a decker on the route.

More usually, the 17 was worked by single deckers, such as Dublin Bus KC66, seen in the same place and on the same day as DF822 above.

Route 18 dates back to tramway days and originally linked Sandymount with Kenilworth Park. Since buses took over the route in 1940, it has been extended a number of times at the western end, firstly to Larkfield Gardens in 1952, and eventually reaching the present terminus in Palmerstown, which it shares with route 26. Along its length it intersected with several of the routes running to the city centre. For most of its history it has been double deck worked, however single decks have been used in the Dublin Bus era.

From 1961 it was worked by early postwar R class Titans, including R273 seen here freshly repainted in CIE green with Leeson Street bridge in the background.

In 1991 Dublin Bus KD273 was photographed at the 18 terminus at Sandymount Green. It was one of several KDs which carried allover advert liveries.

In 1995 Dublin Bus AD51, in CitySwift livery, was captured on film on a westbound 18 on Waterloo Road. At this stage route 10 also served this road, as well as routes 4 and 9 in the past.

Route 75 commenced running in 1991, linking the then new Square Shopping Centre in Tallaght with the port town of Dun Laoghaire. Initially it was worked by several KD300 series buses all in advertising liveries, before giving way to new Leyland Olympians in Dublin Bus green. An earlier route 75 operated from 1936 to 1939 between the City Centre and Kimmage Road West.

Seen in Dun Laoghaire on 4th May 1991, KD355 was an allover advert for the Eason bookshop and newsagent chain.

On the same day, KD361 advertising B and I Line approaches Nutgrove Shopping Centre on an eastbound journey.

Just three weeks after the KD photos, brand new Olympians RH90 to 93 had taken over the 75. Here we see RH93 at the Tallaght end of the route.

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