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Wulfrunian Operator Reveals Service Experiences
Page 62
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ANUMBER of interesting operational features of the Guy Wulfrunian double-decker were revealed last week at a meeting between the operators, the West Riding Automobile Co., Ltd., Wakefield, and the manufacturers of the vehicle, Guy Motors, Ltd.
The West Riding company have been operating 12 Wulfrunians in regular service for two months, and the total will eventtially be increased to 51, including the prototype. It was stated that by virtue of the unusual characteristics of the suspension it would be possible to eliminate roll. In practice, roll tendency is, however, necessary to give the driver an indication of cornering forces; in the absence of roll he might misjudge the speed of the vehicle on curves. The system is, therefore, designed to permit limited roll in the interest of driver control.
Appreciable Spring Deflection
In service, the suspension reacts to changes of load of about 196 lb., and there is appreciable deflection of the springs when a passenger boards the bus. As explained by Mr. H. Watson, deputy managing director of West Riding, this can give passengers a false impression with regard to the roll stability of the vehicle. A suggestion that passengers would become sickness prone was refuted by Mr. Watson.
Passenger reaction had, he claimed, been entirely favourable to all operational features of the bus apart from engine noise, the effect of which was increased by the absence of the normal chassis and road noises and body. rattles. Steps are being taken to insulate engine noise withbut adding materially to weight, cost or bulk.
A simple form of •insulation had been applied to the demonstration vehicle, and on the evidence of a member of The Commercial Motor staff who travelled several miles in the bus, the noise of the derated Gardner 6LX engine was normal.
Seating Capacities . , The 12 Wulfrunians in service are variously equipped with 72-, 75and 78-seater bodies supplied by Charles H. Roe, Ltd., the demonstration vehicle being a 75-seater with 32 seats in the lower saloon and 43 seats in the upper saloon. By arrangement with the trade unions, five standing passengers are carried during specified periods.
Fuel consumption records show that the Wulfrunians have a lower consumption than the 50-seater vehicles they replace. Operating on congested routes, the buses return a consumption of 9-9.5 m.p.g., averages varying between 7 m.p.g. and 13 m.p.g. according to traffic and loading conditions. On private-hire trips with relatively light loads, a consumption has been obtained of 15 m.p.g.
Step height of the front entrance is c24 14+ in., and with the vehicle wheels close to the kerb, the step-to-kerb distance is 10 in,
The moquette-covered seats have a width which is 21 in. greater than the minimum prescribed by regulation, whilst the seat depth is 1,-; in. greater than has previously been applied to the seats of double-deckers. The backs of the seats are lined with resin-bonded glassfibre scratch-proof material. An allplastics roof section is employed, and later models will be equipped with double-skinned domes.
Other bodywork details include the use AIRLINE THREAT TO COACH SERVICES
rUNARD EAGLE, the new inde%-, pendent air subsidiary run by 37-year-old Mr. Harold Bamberg and .backed by the millions of the Cunard Line, wants to take advantage of the recent Civil Aviation Act and operate regular passenger routes.
But Western S.M.T. are claiming that scheduled private enterprise passenger flights between Glasgow and London would be injurious to their coach bookings.
A spokesman said: "We rim a perfectly adequate road coach service. In summer we have at any time 13 coaches going each way. Our service is the longest express coach service in the country. Private enterprise flights might take our business."
The position will be decided by the Air Transport Licensing Board in May.
"TOO MANY SHORT-TERM LICENCES"
A CHEPSTOW haulier, Mr. D. J. .1-1 Stephens, who failed to comply with the conditions of his short-term B licence, was fined £15 at Chepstow last week. When seen by a -traffic examiner he said he thought he had been unfairly treated as many others were also failing to comply with their licences. "He thought that too many short-term licences had been issued," said the examiner.
of a Cave-Brown-Cave heating and venti lating system. This is supplied wit: engine coolant water and is contralto by a thermostat in the upper saloon t. provide an air temperature of 64°-68* F when required.
Two radiators are located at the fron of the upper saloon to which cold ai is supplied according to requirements, th high level of the radiators giving freedon from fumes created by other traffic There are two outlets in the upper saloo: and one in the lower saloon, the latte being fitted in a panel behind the driver P. A B.
FIVE A LICENCES FOR SPECIAL As
WHEN McCann and Mackay, o YV Glasgow, asked Mr. W. F. Quin, th Scottish Licensing Authority, for five licences in place of five special As. invoh ing 18-cwt. units, Mr. Quin told th court: "There is nothing sinister her( no intention to enter the long-distanc bulk trade."
For the company, Mr. D. T. Bain sai the main interest was in providing sma: units for emergency repair and main tem= work on lifts and so on.
Mr. R. Mackenzie, for the applicant! said that such small units were in ver short supply and amended the applicatio to cover "General goods within 25 mile to the extent of 65 per cent., balance t a radius of 60 miles."
Mr. Quin limited the grant largely t machinery and ship stores.
ROAD RESEARCH ON SHOW THIS year, the Road Researc L Laboratory is holding its " Ope Days" on May 3 and 4. The Scottis branch, at Thorntonhall, near Glasgm will be open to visitors on June 7 and The work of the materials an construction division and the tropic; section will be shown at Harmondswort: Middlesex. This year, for the first tint the traffic and safety division will be c show at the new research track ; Crowthorne, Berkshire.