THE LATEST DOUBLE-DECK TROLLEY-BUS.
Page 25
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
WE HAVE in the past kept. our readers well informed so far as trolley-bus developments in this country are concerned and they may remember that some months ago we published a fully illustrated description of the latest type of vehicle to be put into service by the Leeds Corporation. The success which has attended . the front-drive, double-deck trolley-buses, built under the patent of Mr. G. A. Bishop, of the Trackless Cars, Ltd., Hepworth Chambers, Briggate, Leeds, stimulates interest in the latest. type of bus built on this principle, which has recently been put into service by this municipal body, inasmitch as it has really. evolved from experience with previous designs.
The seating capacity of the original double-decker was for 59 passengers, but the latest type of bus accommodates 64 people. The design of the body on the new vehicle incorporates a number of new characteristics, although its broad outlines do not differ very largely from
the vehicle which we have already described. The general construction of the bus can be seen from the lines illustrations which we „reproduce.
The bus has accommodation for 30 passengers in the lower saloon, whilst the upper deck accommodates 34 people. The head room in the lower saloon is 6 ft., whilst in the upper deck it is 211 ins. less. The overall height. of.. the bus unloaded, exclusive of trolley-pole details, is approximately 13 ft 10 ins. The entrance to the lower saloon is by means of a two-piece door ahead of the rear wheel on this near side, the lower step being 1 ft.. 2 ins. from the ground level. A new feature of the bus is the staircase to the upper deck, 'which is installed in the middle of the body. It passes from the inside of the lower saloon to the top deck and is thus entirely enclosed
The seating arrangement in the upper deck is quite conventional, but that of the lower deck is different in one or two
details. A good point in the lay-out is the fact that longitudinal seatsfor two oil the near side and three on the off side are embodied over the rear wheel arches. The seats throughout have spring cushions and the backrests are padded.
The .great leaiure of this design of trolley-bus is the feet that the driving motors are carried right at the front, immediately fore and aft of the front axle, and are supported at their outer ends by coil springs bearing on the frame of the foreearriagc, which is in accordance with the generai practice embodied in tramcar construction. This method of design enables the cha,ssis frame members to be dropped about 2 and thus reduces the overall height to the minimum. By lowering the chassis frame the centre of gravity is likewise lowered, this being
insfrom the ground when fully loaded and 47 ins, when unloaded.
A eature of the vehicle is the braking of a! four wheels.