The Classic Irish Buses website
Bartons Transport, Maynooth
Page last updated on 4th December 2023
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Founded in the early 1960s, Barton's Transport of Maynooth in Co. Kildare has grown to become one of Ireland's leading coach operators. For many years the firm relied on imported coaches and buses from the U.K., but in more recent times have bought mostly new vehicles. This page takes a look back to 1988 when I paid a visit to their then new premises in Maynooth, having moved there from an older smaller depot in the town centre. Present on that day was their first new coach, a Plaxton Paramount bodied DAF SB2300, along with several Fords and one Bristol LH. For more information on the company's history and services, please visit their website. My thanks to Pat Barton for allowing me access to his premises on that long ago day.
222 EID was new to Linkline, London NW10 in April 1979 as DNK 406T. Prior to Barton, it had been owned by Sillan Tours of Shercock in County Cavan. It was originally part of a dealer registered varied batch of coaches which went to a variety of operators in the U.K.
New to Stanton of Stoke on Trent as MFA 29V, 80 KE 8 was briefly owned by a shortlived Galway operator, having been both sold to him and bought back from him, by Bartons. I can't recall if it was before or after my visit that these transactions occurred.
1050 ZW was one of three identical Plaxton Supreme bodied Ford R1114s acquired by Bartons from Smith, Alcester, this one being originally registered JKV 429V.
New in May 1984, 2600 ZW was Bartons first Plaxton Paramount and first rear engined vehicle. And possibly the first Paramount sold in Ireland too. According to Bus Lists on the web, only seven new PSVs in the British Isles have had 2600 in their reg numbers, all of different makes.
Despite the 1984 registration, this ECW bodied Bristol LH dates from June 1977 and was new as Bristol Omnibus 393 (OFB 966R). It had two Ulster based owners before arriving with Bartons in February 1987.
An older Paramount in the fleet was this 1983 example on a Ford R1115 chassis, new to Copeland, Meir as CVT 888Y. Acquired from Capital of Castleblayney, it was later sold on to McGowan Coaches in Drumshanbo, its final owner.
A rarity in general was this ECW bodied Ford R1014, new to Hants and Dorset as RRU 590N in September 1974. Just 50 of this combination were built, all in 1974, the order being split evenly between Alder Valley and Hants and Dorset.
Finally, another Ford R1014 service bus, this time new to Oxford-South Midland as NWL 656M in November 1973. There were 25 in the batch, and this is the only one known to have come to Ireland.
Classic Irish buses Classic Manx buses Email COMPLETE SITE MENU Links Morris Oxford car site Henry's Coastal Tours Classic U. K. buses website