Denning buses and coaches:a history in photos.Part 1.

[Denv12]

I have put together a variety of Denning bus and coach photos.You are welcome to add your own exterior and interior photos to this post.I have altered this topic title as I wanted to cover the history in photos.I hope you dont mind this topic being specifically Denning.I've also called it part 1,just in case there is a need to post a 2nd topic to allow for more photos.I have seen some beautiful Denning photos here and in yahoo groups,etc so please find your best and add them here.

This post covers everything from the start of Allan Denning businesses right up to prior to the Austral Denning merger.I've covered that merger in a new post.

viewtopic.php?f=44&t=76508

There's almost enough interest here for someone to write a book on the history of Denning.
Would anyone buy a book on it? To add to such a book I think it would be sensible to include the connection with the "Dennmack",the Domino Denning connection through to the Austral-Denning connection.I've posted these topics too:

viewtopic.php?f=44&t=76508

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=76730

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=76588

As for the ex Greyhound Denning AEC for restoration please go to this new link catering for it:

viewtopic.php?f=48&t=76779

[Denv12]

More Denning buses and coach photos.

[Denv12]

Here are a variety of Denning Coaches.

[Looselion]

Redline Express - Unit 115 - 1969 Denning / VK43L Viking

[Denv12]

Thats a nice Redline photo.Thanks for adding photos here.This post is for everyone to add photos to.

[Looselion]

I thought it would be kind of fitting to include this photo, being the Denning factory photo of Redline No 22, which was Alan's first ever construction of a full sized touring coach. Rex was to place immediate follow up orders, with progress payments to assist the fledgling body-builder, which resulted in another half dozen similar bodies coming on stream within the next year and many more would follow. This early consistent patronage by Redline clearly cemented the establishment of A. B. Denning and its future success.

[Denv12]

Amazing photos.Thats a unique bit of history.This photo should be in the book on Alan B Denning.
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=63594

[lunchbox]

Love the roof air scoop on the Redline Bedford. Rex Law must have been having "Flxible" dreams.........

[8 SPEED]

Does anyone know where the landseer from the bus show went and did it stay in those colours? it has to have one of the best colour schemes ever.

[Denv12]

Does anyone know where the landseer from the bus show went and did it stay in those colours? it has to have one of the best colour schemes ever.

Was that the one with the toilet downstairs near the front on the right hand side? I remember there was an article in "Truck & Bus" magazine when that coach was being used in the outback still in its livery.Dont know issue it was in.The livery was slightly altered.I think the yellow was removed.I think it dates back to 1988 ore 1989.I'm sure there was a photo of it on the calendar that came with one of the issues.

[8 SPEED]

Does anybody know who bought the bus show landseer and does anyone have a photo of it in action?

[lunchbox]

Is Austral-Denning permitted in this thread?

[Denv12]

Is Austral-Denning permitted in this thread?

I think if you started a new post specifically for Austral-Denning you might get others adding their photos and information to it.I'd like to see it.There'd be some good photos around and some good feedback likely to happen.

[lunchbox]

Well, it's an Austral - Denning...........from 1996.

[8 SPEED]

Does anybody know who bought the bus show landseer and does anyone have a photo of it in action?

Just a friendly bump does anybody know about this coach?

[E.L.Wood]

It didn't stay in that livery, what year was it at the Bus Show?

[8 SPEED]

Not sure i cannot read the sign but i would guess about 1988.

[Landseer]

1983 V.I.P. got the first Landseer (The Horse float /looked at a corner and fell over like a mono used to0 ) rear engine - front radiator,
they built some test units, Richmond Coaches got the first proto type single wheel tag
Briscoes? got the dual tag prototype

[Andrew]

Were there any other Dennings produced with this front? I have never seen another one in service, thanks.

2_18%20(942%20x%20647).jpg (141.27 KiB) Viewed 16283 times

[Denv12]

Were there any other Dennings produced with this front? I have never seen another one in service, thanks.

2_18%20(942%20x%20647).jpg

This one was a one off,it never saw mass production.It was a prototype that lead to the Landseer.Refer to the 3rd photo down,an advert for Denning.Notice the dashboard in that advert.Its the Landseer.

If anyone else has photos of this coach can you post them on this topic?

[Andrew]

I see it's definitely heading towards the Landseer no doubt about it - still got bits of the Mono too.... so it was the only one -thanks.

Does anyone have pictures of it in service following its demonstration period? Or did Denning keep it/destroy it after the Landseer was cemented in as the future product?

Landseer must have been on Denning's mind for some time before they used it on a coach - look at their street name in Acacia Ridge in that same ad....

[Guy_Arab]

Pity no Roberts Dennings who had a good collection of Dennings
Guy Arab old Roberts Driver

[Denv12]

I think they would have started with a Mono or Denair then modified to look like this.

As for the street name it would have been on someone's mind each day they went to work.Must have been their inspiration.

Palorcars in Perth would have had a majority of Dennings in their fleet prior to the Bovas.They has some beautiful Dennings in their fleet.I drove 2 of them while the coaches were used from their Glynde SA depot in 1985 and 1986.

[RJHIII]

1983 V.I.P. got the first Landseer (The Horse float /looked at a corner and fell over like a mono used to0 ) rear engine - front radiator,
they built some test units, Richmond Coaches got the first proto type single wheel tag
Briscoes? got the dual tag prototype

Bus Australia had 2 Denning Landseer prototypes fitted with Bogie drives being 2 drive axles (on springs) rather than drive and tag on air bags. They were both fitted with north-south bunks as opposed to east-west bunks behind the restroom. both ran Adelaide - Darwin and possibly Perth - Adelaide. Bus Australia mainly ran Landseer's on the Darwin run instead of the Bova which was used Perth Adelaide and the tri-angle (Adelaide - Sydney - Melbourne)

[Denv12]

1983 V.I.P. got the first Landseer (The Horse float /looked at a corner and fell over like a mono used to0 ) rear engine - front radiator,
they built some test units, Richmond Coaches got the first proto type single wheel tag
Briscoes? got the dual tag prototype

Bus Australia had 2 Denning Landseer prototypes fitted with Bogie drives being 2 drive axles (on springs) rather than drive and tag on air bags. They were both fitted with north-south bunks as opposed to east-west bunks behind the restroom. both ran Adelaide - Darwin and possibly Perth - Adelaide. Bus Australia mainly ran Landseer's on the Darwin run instead of the Bova which was used Perth Adelaide and the tri-angle (Adelaide - Sydney - Melbourne)

I remember the first Landseer.It was delivered in 1986 while it was still "Across Australia Coachlines".The story goes that Max Winkless ordered 6 but Denning had to ask other bus companies to delay their order.They took their place.All Perth based coaches were being replaced with Bova's expect for the Landseers.All Adelaide based coaches were mostly Bova's,ex Perth AAC Volgren Twin Decks.They retained their Dominos 12.2m in the AAC livery and 11.3 metre coaches in their old Quest Tours Livery until later.,