Tec-Ireland - Ex-Dublin Bus VanHool decker DF839

DF839 was built by VanHool Spa road Inchicore in 1977, one of 238 built (DF840 being the last built making 839 the second last). It entered service in Conyngham Road Garage in 1979 after being in storage. Interestingly its registration plate (839 NIK) was a 1975 plate booked by CIE before the bus was built.

Dublin Bus AN68s and the Standard D before them had Leyland .680 engines with pneumatic gearboxes however many were re-engined with more reliable DAF units. Most ran with pneumatic gearboxes however some received 2-Speed Voith Automatic gearboxes. It was an ideal system for Stop-Go traffic and was liked by drivers. 839 has this system.

DF839 was seen regularly on the 51, 51B, 78A and 79 routes while at Conyngham road. DF839 was painted into two tone green in 1987 after the break up of the CIE companies into the three companies, Bus Eireann, Iarnrod Eireann and Dublin Bus. It then transferred to Phibsboro garage in 1990 until it was transferred again to Summerhill garage in 1995. DF839 was withdrawn in December 1995 and was bought for preservation by a number of enthusiasts who restored it.

It travelled across the water to the UK in September 1997 and attended Showbus. On its 10 day tour, it visited Birmingham, Liverpool and London.

In recent years DF839 did a Road Run in the guise of a Donnybrook AN68 after a change of ownership.
It attended the Terenure Rallies, The official opening of Harristown Garage and CIE60th. After some mechanical issues were addressed, 839 took to the road again in 2008 and attended the Irish Transport Trust Rally in April.

"Preserving the past, in the present, for the future"

For more info visit : http://tec-ireland.fotopic.net/

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• DF839
• bus
• an68
• ex-dublin
• cie
• daf
• voith
• TEC
• Transport
• Enthusiasts
• Club
• irish
• old
• vintage
• showbus
• buses

[TheDavidpayne]

looks great !! any videos of the KD class ??

[tecmovie]

@TheDavidpayne

Yes, go through my videos and see KD 358, Buses in DunLaoghaire also has KD's

[HORNEBEEDUBLO]

Does anyone remember if the DF class buses which retained Leyland Pneumocyclic gearboxes sounded much different to standard O.680 powered Atlanteans?

I've seen DAF re-engined Leopards and to me they didn't sound different to the standard O.680 powered Leopard.

I have also seen DAF repowered National MK1s and they sounded much like a O.680 powered National 2. From what I gather, the DAF 1160 engine is based on the Leyland O.680.

[tecmovie]

On most of the DAF buses, the fan created a distinct noise or whine. Preserved DF415 is a classic example of this.

If you watch the Phibsboro Garage Part 2 video at 1.00 you'll see and hear DF838 being started, this is the classic DAF sound.

[jack253]

do you have a D class

[tecmovie]

Yes, any information can be got from our website listed with the video information.

[cambria49]

Fantastic, brings back good memories of a run in her in 2005!!

[castlebar67]

ah well bus driver was i for 35 years that seems like an old metroliner here in the uk i didnt know van hool made buses more scania old leylands volvo man etc. bless

[tyu198]

@robertclark1000

summer in dublin by bagetelle featured the 46a right ?

[kazimann]

Which song was that?

[robertclark1000]

The 46A was even featured in a pop song years ago!

[dazfarrell]

Officially the 46A is the busiest route in Europe

[jack253]

To be honest what is so famous about the 46A route.

[RingsendKD]

The black and gold atlanteans were ex-nottingham. the black and gold looked nice.