Yuku free message boards

There were 51 KE class built at Shannon, based on the original KE1 prototype which came from FFG in 1979. They were a fully integral design, of a similar construction to the KD class double deckers, but with a higher floor line. They were mechanically similar to the KDs too, with the GM two stroke engine and Allison 4 speed transmission. KE1 was identifiable by it's rounded roof profile, KE2 to 52 had the familiar squared roof profile.

There were two FFG prototypes for the KR/KS class, both identical bodywork, but intended as a rural and school version of the same bus. These buses were rather different in construction from the earlier KE class, having a seperate chassis frame as part of their construction, giving a more durable product. Although similar at first glance to the KE class, the KR was shorter, and lower built, with an in line DAF engine as opposed to the transverse GM engine in the KE. KS2 was delivered with a Mercedes engine. There followed 224 KR class buses built at Shannon, plus one extra similar bus built as a demonstrator for United of Darlington, which eventually returned to Bus Éireann as KR226. KS2 later became KR227.