London Buses Fleet Number: DT29 (Ex Roundabout, Harrier & London United)

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8.5m Dennis Dart SDL3003/173, Carlyle Dartline C25.066, B28F

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The Duple bodied Dennis Dart was the doyen of the family. The superbly modernistic body was envisaged as the sole body for the new chassis, Duple and Dennis both being part of the Hestair group of companies. Duple built the first few bodies for London Buses before being bought by Plaxton. Plaxton did not want the Dartline body and sold the design rights to Carlyle, who continued it without change as the Dartline.

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With the chassis built by Dennis and the body by Carlyle, DT29 was delivered to London Buses during the first few months of 1990 and was delivered with coach seats in London Buses livery. However a change of fortune had DT29 allocated to Selkent's low-cost operation at Orpington (OB) to operate routes R1 and R11 in June 1990, where it was fitted with bus seats before entering service. In total ROUNDABOUT had DT28-41 (all with Carlyle bodies). These wore the livery of red with grey skirt, but with white tape at cant-rail level and prominent ROUNDABOUT fleetnames. They were originally intended for routes R1 and R11, where they took over from Metroriders but could often be found on other routes. (Note DT55 also later joined the ROUNDABOUT fleet).

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In 1991 DT29 had it's original split step entrance replaced with a more modern single step and was reallocated to Fulwell Garage (FW) for use on Harrier services. It remained at Fulwell post privatisation with it's new owners London United and in 1996 transferred to the new AIRBUS Direct fleet.

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DT29 outside Bromley Garage in June 1991. Note the revised front step, Bromley blinds, OB Garage Codes and the Harrier livery!

 

The DTs with their wide undivided doorway were found ideal for London United's Heathrow Airport services, especially the direct hotel to airport service. A large number of them were converted to dual purpose seating, with large luggage racks over the front wheelarches, also receiving an air-conditioning pod on the roof. Most of the Airbus variants were given a distinctive red an yellow Airbus Direct livery. They were garaged at Heathrow West Ramp and maintained by Stamford Brook Garage. The Airbus Direct service to hotels ceased in November 1999, and the little buses went to new homes around the UK.

 

Following it's departure from London in 1998, DT29 first moved to the West Midlands where in two years it was owned by three operators, first Cityspeed, Birmingham in March 2000, Pete's Travel, West Bromwich in 2001 and Midland Rider (1006), Birmingham in June 2001. In December 2001 it was sold to Ensignbus who as a dealer sold it to Phoenix Student Travel, Maldon (5007) in March 2002, before returning to Ensignbus in February 2003. It then found service with Stratford Blue (529) and even made the Stratford-upon-Avon City Sightseeing fleet. During its time with Stratford Blue it appeared at the Cobham Bus Rally at Wisley in April 2006. In May 2007 it returned for the third time to Ensignbus who immediately sold it to County Coaches, Canterbury which later became Your Music School and latterly YMS Travel.

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YMS Travel would end up being DT29's longest owner and it was eventually painted in the fleet livery of powder blue when it also gained the name 'Dennis'. It's claim to fame whilst at YMS was its appearance as support vehicle during the 2012 Olympic Torch Rally. With age not on its side YMS took the decision to stand down 'Dennis' and it was purchased for preservation in December 2016. With so many of it's original features missing the plan is to restore DT29 to coach configuration (as it was originally delivered) but in the ROUNDABOUT livery, however this will not be a unique configuration as DT28, 30, 31 and 55 all ran in service at some point with ROUNDABOUT fitted with coach seats.

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DT29 on its first day in preservation, Canterbury, 17/12/16

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