SIX-WHEELED COACHES FOR EXCURSIONS.
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Special Vehicles Used for a Branch of the Activities of the Berlin General Omnibus Co.
T N addition to running an ever-increasing number of motorbuses in the German capital, the Berlin General Omni bus kri---own as the Aboag concern—also maintains a special fleet of saloon coaches for party work and excursions, and in this respect is like its counterpart in this country, the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd. The accompanying illustrations depict one of three similar vehicles 'which have recently been added to this section of the Aboag business, while from Herr G. Quarg, the chief engineer of the company, we learn that two further machines of the nine type are in course of construction and will he put into service during next month.
The chassis used for these vehicles is the Bussing standard rigid six-wheeler, which has a 60 h.p. engine with a bore and stroke of 125 mm. and 160 mm. respectively. The bodywork is the production of the Wagenbauwerke Gesellschaft, of Berlin, 8.0.33, one of the Aboag Co.'s affiliated concerns. The coach provides seating accommodation for 28 passengers. At the off side are eight rows of single armchair seats, while on the other side of the gangway are an equal number of double seats. At the rear of the vehicle is a single seat for four passengers extending across the full width of the interior. The upholstery is carried out in a light grey cloth, and the seats are of a type which ensures maximum riding comfort, this factor being increased by equipping the vehicle with 36-in. by 8-in, pneumatic tyres.
The main door of the body, which is at the front end of the off side—near side in German traffic—is arranged so that it can be opened and closed by the driver from his seat. An emergency door is provided at the rear end on the near side.
The vehicle is fitted with a Bosch electric lighting and engine-starting installation, the interior lighting being provided by six special Carl Zeiss lamps combined with ventilators. An ordinary starting handle is provided for emergency purposes. In regard to this it may be noted that the handle portion is pivotally mounted on the crank-arm, so that when not in use it can be turned and secured in a position at right angles to the normal, thus preventing it from projecting unduly when the coach is travelling.
Among other details to which attention may be drawn is the fitting of direction indicators—actuated in conjunction with the steering wheel—on both Rides of the front of the vehicle, and the bumper bar at the front of the chassis, which serves the double purpose of acting as at protection for the radiator and wings in case of collision and of indicating to the driver the maximum width of his vehicle, thus facilitating driving.
All the Aboag, buses are fitted with a horizontal bumper bar at a height of about 39 ins. from the ground. In the case of the coach, however, it was found necessary to provide the upper extensions seen at each end of the bar, as the horizontal bar could not be seen by the driver. It will be noted that hooks for towing purposes are provided at the front of the chassis.
The wheelbase of the coach, taken between the front wheels and the centre of the forward back axle, is 17 ft., whilst the distance between the centres of the two rear axles is 4 ft. 1 in., giving a total wheelbase of 21 ft. 1 in. The front and rear-wheel tracks are 6 ft. 2 ins. and 5 ft. 11 ins., respectively, whilst the overall length of the vehicle is no less than 34 ft. 5 ins, and its maximum width 7 ft. 7 ins.