Lancastrians in service
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East Lancs announce diversification policy
THE FIRST result of a policy of diversification at East Lancashire Coachbuilders is the appearance of two luxury "Lancastrian" coaches for Halton District Council transport department.
East Lancs joint managing director Arthur Danson told CM that he was anticipating continuing difficulties in obtaining double-deck chassis from Leyland. At present East Lancs output was largely double-deck bus bodies and a chassis shortage would hit the company hard. Because of this the Blackburn-based company had tried its hand at building the luxury coaches, and was involved with Foden and Northern Counties in developing Foden's new double-deck bus chassis (news of which was revealed exclusively in CM, February 7). A prototype was planned to be on the Toad later this year.
At present no more coach bodies were in the pipeline, he said, and East Lancs planned to concentrate on the double deck market for the time being.
The Lancastrian 49-seat coach bodies are on Leopard urn chassis, and went into service on private-hire work last week. The intention is that after two years they will be returned to the builders where 55 bus seats for stage-carriage work will be fitted. The coach seats will then be retrimmed for use on future coaches. The Lancastrian complies with the standard laid down by the DoE for bus grants.
The heating system is of special interest and uses three KL650 Mk 2 twin-motor heaters, one under the driver's seat and two under the rear seat, all drawing fresh air from the atmosphere. Four axial fans are mounted in the roof space to force air through the parcel racks from front to rear. Side window demisting and vents for passenger adjustment are fitted.
Following the builder's normal practice, the body is framed with steel members, and the wheel-arch pans are of stainless steel. Standard features of the body include an extra-large rear luggage compartment of 3.2cum (115cuft), Radiomobile radio and public address system (concealed behind a lockable panel), two-speed pantograph wipers, a heated windscreen and four rectangular quartzhalogen headlamps plus two spotlamps to match.