Dennis Falcon
Encyclopedia
The Dennis Falcon was a rear-engined bus chassis built by Dennis Specialist Vehicles
between 1981 and 1993. It was mostly built as a single-deck bus, although some express coaches and a small number of double-deckers were also produced. The total number built was 139, plus one development chassis.
with the longitudinally-mounted Gardner engine driving forward above the Dennis-built portal rear axle to a Voith gearbox and reversing unit which then took drive rearward into the driving-head of the axle. The later Falcon HC had a more orthodox continuous driveline, resembling that of the Seddon Pennine RU
, the C (for continuous drive) denoted the Voith transmission close-coupled to the Gardner engine with a short propeller shaft taking drive into a straight Kirkstall spiral-bevel double-reduction rear axle. For these types the frame was raised aft of the rear axle to provide clearance for the under-slung engine.
The Falcon V, with Daimler-Benz V6 engines in the double decks and Perkins V8 engines in the coaches, was even closer in frame-concept to the Dominator.
bought Dennis Falcon single-deckers between 1981 and 1993:
Leicester bought the first Falcon in 1981, with Duple Dominant Bus bodywork, and added six more between 1983-1984. Despite selling these to Thamesdown Transport
in 1987, Leicester later purchased sixteen more Falcons between 1991-1993, including the last Falcon built.
Hartlepool Borough Transport bought twelve dual door examples. Six with Wadham Stringer bodies in 1983 and the other six with Northern Counties bodies in 1985. They remained operational into the days of Stagecoach Hartlepool buses.
National Bus Company subsidiary Alder Valley
added one Dennis Falcon HC to its fleet in 1983, with Wadham Stringer bodywork of semi-coach specification.
In 1990 and 1993, three British Bus Group subsidiaries purchased Falcon single-deck buses:
(5), Yorkshire Traction
(2), National Travel (West) (2) and West Yorkshire RCC (1). But they proved unreliable and did not last very long in National Express service.
Kowloon Motor Bus
purchased 20 coaches based on the Falcon HC chassis in 1985-1986 for airport
express services in Hong Kong. They had air conditioned bodywork by Duple Metsec
. The last of them was withdrawn in 2001.
in 1982 as part of their evaluation of the various new generation double-deckers then available. High noise levels were one criticism made against them. The final three, with Northern Counties bodywork, went to Greater Manchester Transport
in 1984.
. It also had a double-deck derivative the Dennis Arrow.
Dennis Specialist Vehicles
Dennis Specialist Vehicles is a major British coachbuilder and manufacturer of specialised commercial vehicles based in Guildford, England...
between 1981 and 1993. It was mostly built as a single-deck bus, although some express coaches and a small number of double-deckers were also produced. The total number built was 139, plus one development chassis.
Design
The Falcon was closely derived from the Dominator, all components to mid wheelbase were identical, the original horizontal-engined Falcon H had a layout recalling that of the Bristol REBristol RE
The Bristol RE was a rear-engined single-deck bus chassis built by Bristol Commercial Vehicles from 1962 until 1982. It is widely considered the most successful of the first generation of rear-engined single-deckers....
with the longitudinally-mounted Gardner engine driving forward above the Dennis-built portal rear axle to a Voith gearbox and reversing unit which then took drive rearward into the driving-head of the axle. The later Falcon HC had a more orthodox continuous driveline, resembling that of the Seddon Pennine RU
Seddon Pennine RU
The Seddon Pennine RU was a rear-engined single-decker bus built by Seddon Diesel Vehicles/Seddon Atkinson between 1969 and 1974.-History overview of Seddon/Seddon Atkinson bus production:...
, the C (for continuous drive) denoted the Voith transmission close-coupled to the Gardner engine with a short propeller shaft taking drive into a straight Kirkstall spiral-bevel double-reduction rear axle. For these types the frame was raised aft of the rear axle to provide clearance for the under-slung engine.
The Falcon V, with Daimler-Benz V6 engines in the double decks and Perkins V8 engines in the coaches, was even closer in frame-concept to the Dominator.
Single deck buses
Single deck buses were based on the Falcon H and HC chassis. Six English municipal operatorsMunicipal bus companies
A municipal bus company is an operator of bus services owned by the local government authority. This article lists all current municipal bus companies in the United Kingdom....
bought Dennis Falcon single-deckers between 1981 and 1993:
| Operator | Bodywork | Number of Vehicles | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ipswich Buses Ipswich Buses Ipswich Buses Ltd is a bus company that operates in Ipswich, Suffolk, UK and has been doing so for over 100 years. Its depot is situated in Constantine Road, near Ipswich Town's football ground... |
East Lancs (18), Northern Counties (7) | 25 | 1983-1989 |
| Leicester Citybus | Duple Duple Coachbuilders Duple was best known as a British manufacturer of coach and bus bodywork from 1919 until 1989.-History:Duple Bodies & Motors Ltd was formed in 1919 by Herbert White in Hornsey, London... (7), East Lancs (9), Northern Counties (7) |
23 | 1981-1993 |
| Hartlepool | Wadham Stringer (6), Northern Counties (6) | 12 | 1983-1985 |
| Chesterfield Transport | East Lancs (4), Marshall Marshall Bus Marshall Bus was a British bus manufacturer between 1992 and 2002. The company's most popular product was the Marshall Capital, which was a single-decker bus body built between 1997 and 2003... (5) |
9 | 1983-1984 |
| Grimsby-Cleethorpes | Wadham Stringer | 4 | 1983 |
| Hyndburn | East Lancs | 2 | 1984-1985 |
Leicester bought the first Falcon in 1981, with Duple Dominant Bus bodywork, and added six more between 1983-1984. Despite selling these to Thamesdown Transport
Thamesdown Transport
Thamesdown Transport is a bus operator serving the town of Swindon and the surrounding area in the Borough of Swindon and county of Wiltshire. The company is owned by Thamesdown Transport Ltd and Swindon Borough Council holds almost all of the shares...
in 1987, Leicester later purchased sixteen more Falcons between 1991-1993, including the last Falcon built.
Hartlepool Borough Transport bought twelve dual door examples. Six with Wadham Stringer bodies in 1983 and the other six with Northern Counties bodies in 1985. They remained operational into the days of Stagecoach Hartlepool buses.
National Bus Company subsidiary Alder Valley
Alder Valley
The Thames Valley and Aldershot Omnibus Company, trading as Alder Valley, was a former bus operator in England.-The NBC era:The Thames Valley and Aldershot Omnibus Company was formed by the merger of two National Bus Company subsidiaries, Aldershot and District Traction and Thames Valley Traction...
added one Dennis Falcon HC to its fleet in 1983, with Wadham Stringer bodywork of semi-coach specification.
In 1990 and 1993, three British Bus Group subsidiaries purchased Falcon single-deck buses:
| Company | Bodywork | Number of Vehicles | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| London & Country | East Lancs | 10 | 1990 |
| North Western North Western Road Car Company (1986) The North Western Road Car Company Ltd was a former bus operator based in Liverpool, England. The company operated between 1986 and 1998.- History :... |
East Lancs | 8 | 1990 |
| Midland Red North | East Lancs | 9 | 1992-1993 |
Coaches
In 1982, the National Bus Company bought 10 express coaches with Duple Goldliner IV bodywork to National Express Rapide specification. These were based on the Falcon V chassis. They were split between Western NationalWestern National
Western National was a bus operating company in South West England from 1929 to the 1990s.-Early history:Western National Omnibus Company Ltd started in 1929 as a joint venture between the Great Western Railway and the National Omnibus & Transport Company...
(5), Yorkshire Traction
Yorkshire Traction
Yorkshire Traction was a bus operator in South Yorkshire. Between 1986 and 2005 it was a key part of the Traction Group. In December 2005 it was sold to the Stagecoach Group.-History:...
(2), National Travel (West) (2) and West Yorkshire RCC (1). But they proved unreliable and did not last very long in National Express service.
Kowloon Motor Bus
Kowloon Motor Bus
The Kowloon Motor Bus Company Limited , a company of the Transport International Holdings Limited, is the largest franchised bus operators in Hong Kong, and one of the largest privately owned public bus operators in the world...
purchased 20 coaches based on the Falcon HC chassis in 1985-1986 for airport
Kai Tak Airport
Kai Tak Airport was the international airport of Hong Kong from 1925 until 1998. It was officially known as the Hong Kong International Airport from 1954 to 6 July 1998, when it was closed and replaced by the new Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok, 30 km to the west...
express services in Hong Kong. They had air conditioned bodywork by Duple Metsec
Duple Metsec
Duple Metsec is a former bus bodywork builder based in West Midlands of the United Kingdom, which usually supplied body kits for assembly overseas....
. The last of them was withdrawn in 2001.
Double-deckers
Only six Falcon V double-deckers were built. The first was used as a demonstrator. Two examples with East Lancs bodywork went to Nottingham City TransportNottingham City Transport
Nottingham City Transport is the major bus operator of the English city of Nottingham, running a comprehensive network of services in the Greater Nottingham area, with some services continuing to Southwell, Loughborough, and East Midlands Airport. There are over 80 routes across the City, giving...
in 1982 as part of their evaluation of the various new generation double-deckers then available. High noise levels were one criticism made against them. The final three, with Northern Counties bodywork, went to Greater Manchester Transport
Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive
Transport for Greater Manchester is the public body responsible for co-ordinating public transport services throughout Greater Manchester, in North West England. The organisation traces its origins to the Transport Act 1968, when the SELNEC Passenger Transport Executive was established to...
in 1984.
Successor
The Falcon was replaced by the Dennis LanceDennis Lance
The Dennis Lance is a single-decker bus built by Dennis between 1991 and 2000, replacing the Dennis Falcon. Its low-floor variant, the Dennis Lance SLF, was built between 1993 and 1996...
. It also had a double-deck derivative the Dennis Arrow.