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Cape Town's Preference for British Trolleybuses

23rd September 1938
Page 87
Page 87, 23rd September 1938 — Cape Town's Preference for British Trolleybuses
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How the 66-seater Bodies Were Built in Two Sections For Convenience of Shipment

THE trolleybus featured in the accompanying illustrations is one of a fleet of 60 66-seaters built to the order of Cape Town Tramways, Ltd. The basis of the Machine is a SunbeamB.T.H. three-axle MS2-type chassis, and the body, which is of M.C.W. patented metal construction, was built at the Addlestone works of the Metropolitan-Cammell-Weymann organization.

Dealing first with the chassis, the motor installed is a B.T.H. 90 h.p. compound-wound machine; it is mounted on a sub-frame, which, in turn, is attached to the chassis frame at four points. A tubular propeller ghaft, provided with Hardy-Spicer needle-roller joints at each end, conveys the drive to the middle axle, a similar, but shorter shaft taking the drive from this component to the rear axle. Both these axles are of the underslung-worm type, the gearing installed providing for a reduction of 10.33 to 1. The four-piece pressedsteel disc wheels, which are interchangeable, are fitted with 10.5-2.: Dunlop low-pressure tyres.

Braking is by the G. D. Peters pneumatic-pressure system, the chassis incorporating the Ransome system of regenerative rheostatic brake control. The compressor employed is driven by

a h.p. electric motor; the complete unit is provided with an insulated base, being mounted direct on to a chassis side member Hand-brake operation is mechanical, the lever being linked up to the air-operated shoes on only the rear axle.

Woodhead semi-elliptic springs are fitted to the front axle, whilst the rear bogie is equipped with twin inverted semi-elliptic springs of the divided back-plate type, and all braking and driving torque reaction is taken through them. Including electrical equipment, collector gear, etc., the weight of the complete chassis is 5 tons 5 cwt. 2 qrs.

For convenience of shipment, the double-deck body is constructed in the form of two self-contained components, the means for joining the lower and upper decks being through the agency of tapped plates incorporated in the lower-deck structure. The body framework is built up of steel sections, with interior sheetings in the same metal and external panelling in aluminium. In view of the different natures of the two metals, special precautions were taken at all joints where contact is made, whilst measures were taken to guard against corrosion.

The roof, which is sheeted in 18-gauge aluminium, is so constructed as to reduce to a minimum the transmission of noise, and is suitably reinforced to support the base of the trolley poles. Sundeala hardboard is employed for the interior lining, with the exception of the front and rear domes, where aluminium is utilized. Alfol is used for insulation purposes between the inner and outer skins of the roof and, similarly, in the body construction.

There are six windows on each side of both the lower and upper decks, these being of the Quicktho IT half tirop pattern, with chromium-plated frames.

In view of the climatic conditions under which these machines will operate, special attention has been devoted to ventilation. In the front dome of the top there is an AshanCo intake vent, and there are three extractor vents on each side of the lower deck and six Super Ashanco ST-type extractor vents in the roof of the top deck.

As previously mentioned, the vehicle is a 66-seater, with accommodation for 36 passengers on top and 30 people on the lower deck. The seat frames are of tubular construction, with Dunlopillo cushions and squabs. The interior finish which is particularly neat and effective, is in white cellulose for the entire roof of each deck, with sides finished in " shaded" green, a pleasing contrast being found in the roof mouldings, garnish rails and fillets, which are in varnished burnished walnut. Such parts of the interior equipment as hand rails, stanchions, hand poles, grab rails, etc., are in white Doverite. Metal fittings which are not so covered or painted are made in stainless steel.

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Locations: Cape Town

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