Here follows a synopsis of the GNR AEC Regent double deckers. As can be seen, there were five distinct and visually different types of bus.
1) 6x Prewar 62-67, never acquired by CIE.
2) 4x Early postwar 285-288, 7'6" wide, with five bay bodywork.
3) 10x New postwar chassis 289-298, 8' wide five bay bodywork.
4) 10x Park Royal designed 433-442, 7'6" wide four bay bodywork.
5) 9x Larger 299-307, 27'6" long 8' wide, with five bay bodywork.
While 433-439 were completed by Park Royal in London, identical 440-442 were finished by GNR at Dundalk. All others were finished by GNR at Dundalk. One British built bus, 438, survives in preservation at Howth. Here are the details...
* * * * *
1937 62-63 AEC Regent I O661 7.7 litre
1938 64-67 AEC Regent I O661 7.7 litre
Bodied by GNR (Dundalk) on Park Royal frames H30/26R five bay 26' long x 7'6" wide. Scrapped between 1948 and 1956 before the amalgamation with CIE.
1946 285-288 AEC Regent II O661 7.7 litre
Bodied by GNR (Dundalk) on Park Royal frames H30/26R five bay 26' long x 7'6" wide. Mechanically similar to prewar chassis. All later rebuilt with platform doors. Acquired by CIE 1958. Withdrawn in 1962.
1948 289-298 AEC Regent III 961 9.6 litre
Bodied by GNR (Dundalk) on Park Royal frames H30/26R five bay 26' long x 8' wide. New postwar chassis built to the wider 8' allowance. 293/5/7 later rebuilt with platform doors. Acquired by CIE 1958. Withdrawn in 1967.
1948 433-439 AEC Regent III 961 9.6 litre
Bodied by Park Royal (London) H30/26R four bay 26' long x 7'6" wide. British built buses distinguishable by narrower 7'6" width and four bay bodywork. All later rebuilt with platform doors. Acquired by CIE 1958. Withdrawn between 1964 and 1967.
1953 440-442 AEC Regent III 961 9.6 litre
Bodied by GNR (Dundalk) on Park Royal frames H30/26RD four bay 26' long x 7'6" wide. Dundalk built buses identical to British built 433-439. Platform doors from new. Acquired by CIE 1958. Withdrawn between 1966 and 1967.
1953 299-307 AEC Regent III 961 9.6 litre
Bodied by GNR (Dundalk) on Park Royal frames H36/30RD five bay 27'6" long x 8' wide. Much larger than any of the previous GNR Regents at 27'6" long and the full 8' wide, allowing for greater seating capacity, and with platform doors from new. 300/305 scrapped in 1955. All others acquired by CIE 1958. Withdrawn between 1967 and 1970.
* * * * *
1956 280-284 Leyland Titan TD5 ex-DUTC R111/142/150/152/154
The last double deckers to come into the GNR fleet were six ex-DUTC Leyland Titans, five of which were renumbered as above, and ex-R109, which was acquired for spares only. Ex-R154 was deroofed in an accident, and was rebuilt with the top deck from scrapped R18, becoming the only DUTC Titan TD5 to carry the early style of squared upright rear dome. All were acquired by CIE in 1958, and ex-R111 ran in service as an ex-DUTC bus in GNR blue and cream with an eau-de-nil flying snail emblem on it's skirt panels. All were withdrawn quickly by CIE.
From my records. I hope the above is found to be correct and in order. Perhaps GNR302 can confirm or add other items of interest.
1) 6x Prewar 62-67, never acquired by CIE.
2) 4x Early postwar 285-288, 7'6" wide, with five bay bodywork.
3) 10x New postwar chassis 289-298, 8' wide five bay bodywork.
4) 10x Park Royal designed 433-442, 7'6" wide four bay bodywork.
5) 9x Larger 299-307, 27'6" long 8' wide, with five bay bodywork.
While 433-439 were completed by Park Royal in London, identical 440-442 were finished by GNR at Dundalk. All others were finished by GNR at Dundalk. One British built bus, 438, survives in preservation at Howth. Here are the details...
* * * * *
1937 62-63 AEC Regent I O661 7.7 litre
1938 64-67 AEC Regent I O661 7.7 litre
Bodied by GNR (Dundalk) on Park Royal frames H30/26R five bay 26' long x 7'6" wide. Scrapped between 1948 and 1956 before the amalgamation with CIE.
1946 285-288 AEC Regent II O661 7.7 litre
Bodied by GNR (Dundalk) on Park Royal frames H30/26R five bay 26' long x 7'6" wide. Mechanically similar to prewar chassis. All later rebuilt with platform doors. Acquired by CIE 1958. Withdrawn in 1962.
1948 289-298 AEC Regent III 961 9.6 litre
Bodied by GNR (Dundalk) on Park Royal frames H30/26R five bay 26' long x 8' wide. New postwar chassis built to the wider 8' allowance. 293/5/7 later rebuilt with platform doors. Acquired by CIE 1958. Withdrawn in 1967.
1948 433-439 AEC Regent III 961 9.6 litre
Bodied by Park Royal (London) H30/26R four bay 26' long x 7'6" wide. British built buses distinguishable by narrower 7'6" width and four bay bodywork. All later rebuilt with platform doors. Acquired by CIE 1958. Withdrawn between 1964 and 1967.
1953 440-442 AEC Regent III 961 9.6 litre
Bodied by GNR (Dundalk) on Park Royal frames H30/26RD four bay 26' long x 7'6" wide. Dundalk built buses identical to British built 433-439. Platform doors from new. Acquired by CIE 1958. Withdrawn between 1966 and 1967.
1953 299-307 AEC Regent III 961 9.6 litre
Bodied by GNR (Dundalk) on Park Royal frames H36/30RD five bay 27'6" long x 8' wide. Much larger than any of the previous GNR Regents at 27'6" long and the full 8' wide, allowing for greater seating capacity, and with platform doors from new. 300/305 scrapped in 1955. All others acquired by CIE 1958. Withdrawn between 1967 and 1970.
* * * * *
1956 280-284 Leyland Titan TD5 ex-DUTC R111/142/150/152/154
The last double deckers to come into the GNR fleet were six ex-DUTC Leyland Titans, five of which were renumbered as above, and ex-R109, which was acquired for spares only. Ex-R154 was deroofed in an accident, and was rebuilt with the top deck from scrapped R18, becoming the only DUTC Titan TD5 to carry the early style of squared upright rear dome. All were acquired by CIE in 1958, and ex-R111 ran in service as an ex-DUTC bus in GNR blue and cream with an eau-de-nil flying snail emblem on it's skirt panels. All were withdrawn quickly by CIE.
From my records. I hope the above is found to be correct and in order. Perhaps GNR302 can confirm or add other items of interest.
