PASSENGER TRAVEL NEWS.
Page 62
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The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.
AFEw. weeks ago we had an opportunity for giving brief details of the single-deck six-wheeled buses which the Portsmouth Corporation is putting into service, and we are now in a position to give particulars of further developments in connection with the municipal bus system which arc taking place in this Hampshire oentre.
The Portsmouth Corporation . has built up a bus fleet of useful dimenshins from the time that it first commenced the operation of bus services in 1919, although the greatest developments have taken place during the past two or three years. At the time that our analysis of municipal bus garvices was ppblished, in our issue dated May 24th last, the corporation had in service a fleet of 36 vehicles all of them being of the four-wheeled type. The authorities, however, have foreseen the possibilities of the six-wheeled bus and therein is to be found the reason for their recent purchase of machines of this type.
The single-deckers on rigid-frame Kessler six-wheeled chassis are built to accommodate 32 passengers, and the double-deckers, of which we now propose to give brief details, are built to seat 60 people. The corporation is buying eight vehicles of the latter type, and an illustraticai of one of them is Published on this page. As will be seen, the basis of the vehicle is the Kayrier six-wheeled chassis, the type chosen being the makers' WL6/2 type. The body, which has a covered top, is the
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product of the Brush Electrical Engineering Co., Ltd., of Falcon Works, Loughborough.
The WL612 type Karrier chassis is specially designed for double-deck buses and is of particularly strong construe• tion. It has a six-cylindered power unit rated at 61-80 h.p., the twin rear axles being driven by weeps of inverted ATn. gearing, from which power is transmitted to the driving wheels by splined driving shafts. The wheels are shod with single pneumatic tyres of 36-in. by 8-in. dimensions.
On this model the driving and braking torque are taken direct-to the frame,
which is particularly strong, by means of universally jointed torque rods, which connect each axle casing to a tubular cross-member. of the chassis. The power-operated brakes take effect on all four driving wheels, whilst a brake is also applied to the transmission.
In the design of the body for the Portsmouth double-deckers, an effort has been made to secure the maximum strength and, at the same time, to reduce the total weight so far as is advisable. The main framins' for body and top cover is of English ash, and the bottom framing of English oak strengthened by flitch plates, gussets and other metal parts of special design. The exterior panels are of sheet metal and the roof of the upper saloon is of birch plywood, being covered with a suitable cotton fabric to make it perfectly watertight. The woodwork in both the lower and upper saloons has a mahogany finish, the panelling being made to match, and fluted aluminium kicking strips are fitted at the floor
The seats on both decks are upholstered in dark red antique leather, the back-rests being' Coveredwith the same material. The longitudinal seats at the rear of the lower saloon are fitted with backs of the semi-bucket type. The lower deck is arranged to scat 28 people, whilst on the upper deck accommodation is provided for 32 passengers.
l'he subject of adequate ventilation fo'r both decks has received special attention. In the lower saleen, hinged ventilators are provided ,above each• of the main lightd, and hit-andstaiss type regulators are fitted in the front of the body. In the upper deck, the.majority of the side windows can be lowered, special lazy-tongs lifting gear.beinsb employed for this purpose. Hit-and-miss type vestilators are also fitted in the front bulkhead of this deck. The.electriciamps which are employed in both decks are of a special shallow pattern which, in conjunction with the whiteenamelled roof, ensures even distribution of the light.
The driver is accommodated in a separate cab alongside the engine, an,l. access to his compartment is provided by means of a door on the off side, this being fitted with a sliding light in the upper portion in order to provide ample ventilation and to permit of hand signals being, made to approaching traffic.
The staircase rails and grab handles are covered with polished black Doverite, thus avoiding the necessity of cleaning, which arises when uncovered metal parts are used. The tubular stanchions fitted in both saloons are also covered with the same material. Other fittings include side life-guards of the hinged type, a fire extinguisher, a .conductor's ticket box and a Nunta