Dennis Dragon Bus | Bus File

To promote air-conditioned bus service, a batch of 30 Dennis Dragon 9.9m air-con. buses was first introduced by KMB in 1993 and completed their Duple Metsec bodyworks locally. They shared same mechanical specification as their 11m variant, Cummins engine with Voith fully automatic transmission and powerful enough to drive the Nippon Denso air conditioning unit. After gradually registered since Aug., 1993, this batch of Baby Dragon were first deployed on urban routes like 2, 16 and 234X, cross-harbour routes 107, 108 and followed by route 92 serving Sai Kung and Eastern Harbour Tunnel route 606 for testing their performance. According to the operation experience, Baby Dragon not only can carry more passengers than single-decker buses but also a good maneuverability when working on narrow road. To go one step further, the Baby Dragon can upgrade the service standard of routes with high demand restricted by narrow road conditions by providing a higher capacity and air-conditioned service.

As the decommissioning of Leyland Victory Mk 2 and Dennis Jubilant, KMB introduced a total of 155 Baby Dragon powered by Euro 1 emission standard Cummins engine with two batches between 1995 and 1996 and soon strengthened the air-conditioned service network. As the first 30 samples, they were completed their Duple Metsec bodyworks locally and a newly designed Nippon Denso air conditioning unit was introduced. 3+2 seating arrangement still can be found in the second batch of Dennis Baby Dragon (ADS31-145) which was the last model in the fleet with such configuration. This batch of Baby Dragon was started to serve passengers from Feb., to Jul., 1996 and not only replaced the Victorys and Jubilants, but also took the place of Mitsubishi MK and Dennis Dart serving routes on 3B,15, 24K, 64K, 80M, 91, 282, 284 and 299 and resulted in a better service standard. The third batch Baby Dragon (ADS146-185) were commissioned between Dec., 1996 and Feb., 1997 and 2+2 seating arrangement with coach seats were introduced to provide a much comfortable journey. Routes used to serve by two-axle double deckers like 15A. 81M, 86A and 113 introduced air conditioned service with this batch of Baby Dragon as their relatively low carrying capacity. The Baby Dragon on route 113 also indicated air conditioned service was available on all cross-harbour routes. In addition, route 73K, 78K and 79K linking the boundaries and Sheung Shui were converted into full air conditioned operation by the third generation Baby Dragon in mid. of 1997.

In 1997, KMB placed an order for it fourth batch, also the last batch of 50 Baby Dragons (ADS186-235). It should be mentioned that after the Dominator had ceased production in 1996, a specific production line was set up to cater the demand from Hong Kong which this batch of the Baby Dragon was included. All these Baby Dragons were completed their bodyworks by Goodview in Zengcheng, Guangzhou and entered service since the early 1999 and soon take up the role of Dennis Jubilant played on routes 5C, 11C, 11K and 21 serving Eastern Kowloon as well as to introduce air conditioned bus to these services. Some of the batch was delivered to Tin Shui Wai new town for the operation of new service 264M until they were replaced by the brand new Volvo Olympian 11m. The fourth generation Baby Dragon was powered by a Cummins Euro 2 engine and featured with a lower handrail at the upper-deck windscreen and seat belts were also fitted on seats with hazard to enhance the safety of passengers. After the delivery of this batch of Baby Dragon, no more step-entranced bus was purchased and super low floor bus to be the standard of KMB.

Among the first generation Baby Dragon, some were fitted additional vent at both upper front and end but later was sealed. In Apr. 04, an unique compartment improvement works was carried out on ADS26 (FU1694), the original silver and green colored handrails were replaced by yellow colored one. Starting from 2000, as the commissioned of Dennis Trident 10.6m and increased in demand together with road improvements, some routes operated by Baby Dragon were then deployed with other bus model with higher carrying capacity or super low floor bus. The Baby Dragon then mainly either as reserve at different depot or serving routes with low demand or roads with limitation like 7B, 8, 10, 16M, 17, 18, 28, 31M, 34, 45, 54, 70, 77K and 81K etc. As requested by Transport Department, routes 63X, 72, 72A, 73A, 74A, 261 and 289K were deployed with buses fitted with seat belts and as their low patronage, fourth generation Baby Dragon was assigned on these routes.

ADS94 (GT7822) was the first Baby Dragon retired from KMB after involved in a accident in Sep. 2008 causing serious damage on chassis and delicensed in the following month. Another immature withdrawn Baby Dragon was ADS174 (HB691) which beyond repair during a serious accident in Nov., 2009 and written off in Mar., 2010. After 18 years of service, the first batch of Baby Dragon started to withdraw from service and ADS25(FU1098) was the first of the batch to be withdrawn in the end of Jan., 2011. The remaining first generation Baby Dragons were gradually withdrawn from service since mid. of 2011 with the last of the batch, ADS30(FV7835) retired after last day service on route 299 on 29, Nov., 2011. Since mid. of Feb., 2014, the second generation Baby Dragon commissioned in 1996 started to quit from revenue service. As mentioned in previous paragraph, this batch of Baby Dragon was the last type 3+2 seating arrangement in KMB, a farewell ceremony was held on 25 Jun., 2014 and the last three of the batch (ADS 143 - 145) were assigned on farewell departures on route 80M from Kowloon Tong to Sui Wo Court before their withdrawal on the following day. In the end of Dec., 2014, KMB started to dispose the third generation Baby Dragon which entered service since the end of 1996 and all of the batch were decommissioned by the end of Feb ., 2015.

The fourth generation Baby Dragon stayed in KMB fleet for two more years and gradually replaced by the brand new buses since Jan., 2017. During the later stage of their service, those stationed at Tuen Mun depot and Kowloon Bay depot (except ADS223/JC3752 which damaged in a traffic accident) were transferred to Lai Chi Kok depot. The last of the fleet, ADS235(JD4215) was retired after it final departure on route 8 heading to Kowloon Station departed from Star Ferry at 8 pm, 6 Jul., 2017 and marked the end of step-entranced bus serving in KMB. Both ADS143 (GV1553) and ADS235 were preserved as members of classic fleet which represent the history of the last 3+2 seatings and step-entranced bus in KMB respectively.