Sunliner Express / Boomerang Day Tours History

[dominodc122]

Thought I better place these on this thread as a bit of history:-
At Boggabilla Shell Roadhouse in 1989 - returning from a Melbourne Express run on the Newell Highway (Interstate 39)

Sunliner #222 - Driver - Chris Lind - 01.jpg (102.61 KiB) Viewed 27952 times

Sunliner #222 - 01.jpg (90.74 KiB) Viewed 27938 times

Kings Cross 1988 Custom bodied Volvo B10M (lacked power when required Scania Hyliner Version was my favourite in class - plenty of power! )

Sunliner - Boomerang #154 - Driver Chris Lind -01.jpg (123.92 KiB) Viewed 27952 times

At Kings Cross 1988 - Charter Brisbane /Sydney/Brisbane return.

Sunliner Neoplan in Kings Cross 1988 - 1.jpg (56.78 KiB) Viewed 29113 times

[coachscania]

The Denning in question was a Sunliner owned vehicle, painted in Sunliner colours. It was used as a feeder to the mainline services to Sydney and Melbourne. Only passengers who were travelling further on interstate services could use this connecting service. Sunliner couldn't carry fare paying passengers between Sunshine Coast and Brisbane unless they were travelling further. Greyhound and Deluxe were doing similiar runs. Sunshine Coast Coaches weren't doing the InteCity runs to Brisbane when Sunliner was around, (Sunliner folded in 1991) this service was operated by Skennars in those days. Not sure of the Sunliner fleet number, but the Denning would of been ex VIP, and the last I heard, it was owned by a charter operator in Horsham, Victoria. Chris do you remember John Pearson, he was one of the Boomerang Managers, I have been told he now works at Brisbane Buslines, he did operate his own coach company in Bundaberg for a few years (Executive Coachlines)

Exactly right CJT and yes I do remember John Pearson - but as with all things with time, faces become blurred - would be great to catch up with some of these guys and get updated photo's - here I am with my latest acquisition and hobby to restore to original and also an image of her in the day ( I can't believe I finally ended up driving a DOG - albeit an Ex one
With me now in NZ

18052012(005).jpg

John Pearson is currently driving for Premier Motor Service out of Rockhampton

[dominodc122]

Thanks to CJT for this image...anyone know the unit#??

Sunliners Qld 1st Scania.jpg (47.66 KiB) Viewed 29063 times

[dominodc122]

Some more of our old girls...as they were new (Many thanks Peter Jillett (Ex Sunliner driver) for the images) I drove one of these Brisbane/Melbourne/Brisbane on charter (very nice!! )

sunliner hyliner.jpg (67.42 KiB) Viewed 29044 times

We called these a"Scania SuperDecker" (one of my favourite drives ) I drove #217 on many occasions

sunliner highdeck.jpg (78.58 KiB) Viewed 29044 times

[CJT]

All we need now is some photos of the Dennings and the Scanias with Austral Tourmaster bodies and the single deck PMC's and we'll just about have the complete variety of coaches Sunliner operated. Anyone else have any photos of Sunliner units.? Chris did you get my emails ?

[dominodc122]

Sure did Craig - many thanks

[Boss]

Hi Chris, The guy standing on the left is Alex (cant remember his last name)Unknown female - Jenny is standing next to Phil.

[Boss]

Also in the Boomerang pic Pat Paige is behind the wheel of 154 (604PSO) (Volvo Hyliner)

[Boss]

Jason (Boss) at Whites Rd Depot 1989 with 207

[Boss]

Hi Folks, Pics that Chris has posted I can assume some bus numbers, The Scania PMC Sydney is possibly 201(1 of 6) - Scania Custom Coach Hyliner is either 210 or 211 (Only 2 Built) and Scania PMC Adelaide is 217. When i started at Boomerang - Sunliner 207 (576 PGG) and 208 (VIP15) where on the Sunshine Coast Feeders. This was later replaced by a ex Chalmers (In there livery) Den Air (Was on Federal Plates till getting busted by QT FOR NOT GOING INTERSTATE) and became 290 BCP which now belong to Phil Dunn (Dunns Tours Belmont) Hope to post some pics when i scan them. Jason

[dominodc122]

Cheers Jason - this is awesome getting the fleet "back together" as it were

[dominodc122]

Sunliner Express advertising poster from 1988:

06062012(007).jpg (54.5 KiB) Viewed 28903 times

[Boss]

Sunliner 234 brand new at 1989 Bus Show Sydney- before it burnt down after a accident in Nambucca Heads later that year!!

[dominodc122]

And for those enthusiasts with an eye for detail you will note the flexible air line attachments running from above the wheel arches to the center of the wheel hub on unit # 234, for automated air inflation of the tyres ( correct me if I'm wrong here Jason, but wasn't it a computerised sensing system for terrain selection (offroad versus sealed??)

[David10]

From memory the proprietors of Sunliner Express were also involved in the ownership of Bayside Bus Lines in Brisbane and Peninsula Bus Lines on the NSW Central Coast. Recall that Landmark Tours from Melbourne were also involved.

Chalmers Coaches operated TV100 Denning Denair on the Sunliner Day Tours program in Sydney. It was later replaced by TV204 an ex VIP Scania K112TR / Neoplan.

[dominodc122]

Thanks for that David10 - some good insight into a great company and great people!

[Alfy]

Chris
Please post the earlier info that was posted regarding the sunliner day tour ops in sydney !
TV100 was the denning and was simply kept as a spare when the neoplan was utilised for the day tours in syd.

Sunliner owned and operated a bus company - East Killara - Lindfield that was the old Chalmers Depot at Gordon, also used as a express depot for changeovers and some maintenance work when needed in Syd.

A third vehicle was the old Chalmers tourmaster in chalmers stripes in the fleet along with a scania 5 speed CAG gearbox 57 seater single axle custom coach bodied semi-coach that ended up at southtrans in syd south.

The day tour operations focused on the blue mountains tour and offloaded the other day tours to the other operators in the syd market.

Cheers mate !
as I was one of the sydney day tour drivers before moving over to Clipper tours and touring Australia with them.

[dominodc122]

Alfy - are you talking about the brochure on the previous page for Sydney Day Tours??

[Alfy]

The brochure posted by CJT is the old sydney day tour brochure and the Denair looks like it may be TV 100

[dominodc122]

Sent CJT a PM and requested full brochure - cheers

Chris

[dominodc122]

Another of our "ex girls" - anyone know what sunliner unit number she was??

IMG_0050.jpg (160.45 KiB) Viewed 28660 times

[Boss]

Sunliner 209 Denning Denair (720-OOA) at Manly Depot 1988

[dominodc122]

THERE'S MY OLD GIRL!!! - Do you know where she ended up Jason??? (Cheers for the photo Mate -Awesome !!! )

[dominodc122]

89K113EXTWEB.jpg (62.73 KiB) Viewed 28544 times

UPDATE:- This Ex Sunliner Express unit has come up for sale - Can anyone provide recognition and whereabouts please - is she the Ex- Oz Experience unit? Cheers

[dominodc122]

Another of our girls -Ex Sunliner Express Manly Qld based Unit#225 (I did many Melbourne runs with this unit and she never missed a beat )

CommodoreTV1258-011109BourkeRdAlexandria.JPG (226.56 KiB) Viewed 27954 times