Leeds Results with Oil-engined Double-decker on Producer Gas
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LEEDS City Transport Department has for some weeks operated an oilengined producer-gas unit experimentally, on one of its heaviest routes. Actually, it has run about 1,000 miles under exacting service conditions and is being driven by bus drivers who have not had any special tuition.
Prior to the vehicle being put into service, a certain amount of experimental running was carried out following engine bench-tests early in the year.
The Osmondthorpe to Stanningley route was selected as being a particularly severe one, with " stops " in the neighbourhood of one per minute, and almost continuous standing loads, thus producing the conditions necessary in developing this design to give equal power to that of an oil engine running on its customary fuel.
Records previously compiled show an average consumption equal to 8 m.p.g. on a latest-type oil-engined 56-seater double-deck bus. With this conversion, using producer gas, the liquidfuel m.p.g. figure has been brought down to 18, or a saving in oil fuel of roughly 55 per cent.
Whilst the engine's performance under such gruelling conditions is con sidered satisfactory, the department's engineers are pursuing certain modifications, following which it is anticipated that the liquid-fuel saving will be still further increased. A close approach to maximum oil-engine performance is also being aimed at.
Simplicity is the keynote of the L.C.T. design, coupled with the use of a minimum of special equipment. The machine can be converted, by the driver, back to an oil-engine unit in less than a minute and a half, so that if any trouble develops with the producer-gas plant the service can still be maintained to normal schedule.
In the initial stages, the department is committed to approximately four machines. Conversion work is proceeding on the second machine and it is expected that this will he in service early in May.
Assuming that the necessary licences are granted, the transport committee lat week authorized the construction of buildings for gas-producer servicing at two of the department's garages. The actual number of machines which may be converted will be decided after consultation with the appropriate authorities.