Great to be able to "talk" about GNR buses with people who remember them so well. My late father was a conductor/courier with the GNR and latterly with CIE. I would like to add just a few comments on this subject. AR437 ended its days in use as a tree lopper, I saw it passing through Donnybrook village with the top deck loaded with branches probably about 1964. It looked very well and only had a few nearside roof panels removed, a very basic conversion. Does anybody know if it was it based in DB for these duties?
I photographed both AR306 and 307 in Drogheda towards the end of their days, both were in a deplorable condition. I could never understand how any garage management could allow buses on the road in such a state. The same situation was evident in Cork at that time.
Then, I think in 1969 (will check my photo album for dates) AR306 appeared with a gleaming fresh coat of paint done locally and what a transformation! Again, the camera captured the event.
Michael Corcoran has recorded that some ARs went to Cork to fill a few gaps and were liked so much the staff didn't want to return them. Has anybody any further details on this?
Finally for the moment, I remember the GNR "R"s very well. One of them appeared with a GNR style twin-window rear emergency door. I also remember some of them (if not all eventually) had their bumpers removed, as GNR double deckers never had bumpers. 284, which received the top deck of R18 (?), after a low bridge accident, was repainted at Dundalk without the usual lining out.
I intend to refer to GNR buses later in my "Diary" all going well!