Passenger Transport
Page 48
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New Strachans Double-deckers for Scottish Independents AFLEET of double-decker buses built in the new Hamble factory of Strachans (Coachbuilders) Ltd. has now been delivered to the Ayrshire Bus Owners group, as foreshadowed in The Commercial Motor of July 12.
Based on three A.E.C. Regent V chassis and a Leyland PD2 chassis, the new vehicles have been built to what might be described as " traditional " design. The bodies, which have rear entrances, are 27 ft long by 8 ft. 2 in. wide and 14 ft. 4 in. high overall, and seat 63 passengers.
Main framing is of steel, with pillars of top-hat sections spot welded together to give a double-flanged pillar. Exterior panels, including the roof, are all of 18-gauge light alloy and are lapped, front over rear, secured by two lines of rivets.
The stressed inner skin in each saloon is formed from Zintec steel sheet. The ceiling panels are secured by tubular rivets and the upper saloon ceiling is completely double-skinned, including front and rear domes, with glass-fibre insulation between the panels. Marine-quality fin, plywood flooring is employed in both the upper and lower saloons. A half-turn staircase is fitted, with stringers
and risers of Zintec steel and resinbonded multi-ply treads, overlaid with linoleum and Ferodo non-slip nosing and treads.
Seats are provided for 28 passengers in the lower saloon and 35 in the upper, and all forward-facing seats are tubularframed with chromium-plated double grab-rails to the seat backs. Seat cushions are of foam rubber trimmed with red moquette w:th PVC edges, and the back squabs are filled with rubberized hair, again trimmed with Holdsworth moquette, with rearward faces in PVC. Three lower and four upper saloon seats incorporate handpoles with flexible ceiling fittings, all chromium plated. The remaining handrails are of white plastic-covered steel.
All windows have anodized aluminium frames giving a bright finish on both sides, and the interior window inserts are of grey Formica. A red plastic trimming is fitted at cantrail level and the ceilings are finished in white. Casing panels are trimmed with red PVC and the floors are covered with brown battleship linoleum. All interior light fittings are of the open self-locking type, and Boreas inwardopening windows are fitted.
Electrically operated jack-knife doors enclose the rear platform and the interior equipment includes Key Leather heaters with demisters in the driver's cab. An altogether high standard of finish is employed and it is a refreshing change to see a new vehicle so fully trimmed in the upper saloon. F.K.M.