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n town with a Titan
Page 26
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LEYLAND has had its prototype Titan in service with London Transport for over 18 months to gain operating experience and to assist in the vehicle's _proving and development.
I have just had the opportunity to borrow the unlad,en bus for a morning in the hurly-burly of London traffic. The bus, which is a B15 prototype 04, has now more than 50,000 miles on the clock, most of which was gained on London Transport route 24. The bus has also appeared at a Commercial Motor Show and been widely demonstrated throughout Britain. Last year it spent a short time in service with Brighton Corporation to coincide with the Confederation of British Road Passenger Transport Conference.
From the driver's point of view I found the vehicle extremely comfortable and easy to drive. Unfortunately, the bus was not loaded during myr test drive although I had previously driven the bus partially laden at the Titan launch day at MIRA in May, and I have ridden on the bus on occasions as a passenger. I have no reason to suppose that the bus performs very differently when fully laden.
1 collected the bus at LT's Victoria Garage and followed the route of Service 24 down Victoria Street, around Parliament Square, up Whitehall and around Trafalgar Square to Tottenham Court Road to Hampstead. Traffic was particularly heavy and I had the opportunity to evaluate driving the bus in what are probably among the worst conditions in Britain.
Acceleration was smooth and brisk although not too brisk to allow an overenthusiastic driver to throw his passengers around in the bus. Braking too was light and positive.
The steering lock seemed good and allowed me to take opportunities as they presented themselves in the traffic. Some drivers have reported that they find the steering a little light, but I found it had just enough feel to allow me to feel confidently in command of the vehicle.
Driving the Titan through London also brought home to me the problems facing bus drivers, as pedestrians, motorists, unloading vehicles and in particular taxi drivers treated the bus with almost a total lack of respect and consideration. With fewer bus lanes available these days, problems of running to time are vastly increased.
On arriving at the 24 terminus at Hampstead, I left the route to allow myself a more overall impression of the bus's performance. I took the bus up West Hill, Hampstead, to endeavour to gain an impression of her hill-climbing ability. Unfortunately, as the road is narrow and not a bus route I was unable to fully appreciate the vehicle here. A combination of parked vehicles and overhanging trees made progress necessarily slow.
From Hampstead I ventured out to the suburbs of London, where possible following LT bus routes. I took the bus through Golders Green, Kingsbury and Kenton to Harrow where I again checked the vehicle's hill-climbing ability.
The five-speed hydraulic fully automatic gearbox can be locked into third and fourth gears. First gear, which is not normally used, can be engaged for steep hill starts by pressing a floor-mounted switch. It is, however, impossible for this gear to be engaged once the bus is in motion. The Titan normally starts in second gear.
Gear changing on the Titan is jerk-free but noticeable, and I found it strange as there was a pause between gearchanging. It felt as if somebody was manually changing gear, although on occasions not at the time I would have chosen to change gear.
Using the third gear lock, the bus would travel at 30.57km/h (19mph) and using the fourth gear lock 43.4km/h (27mph). Using kickdown, 6.4km/h (4mph) could be added to these speeds.
From Harrow I again experienced heavy traffic in Wembley High Road which was the direct result of vehicles illegally unloading on a double yellow line and on this particular occasion resulted in delay being caused to a number of buses and more seriously the fire brigade.
On leaving the Wembley shopping centre the traffic miraculously disappeared and headed back towards central London on the North Circular Road, the Western Avenue and the West Way. Here I was able to take the bus to its maximum speed of ah 78.8km/h (49mph). On elevated section of the IA Way I again found that power steering allowed just enough feel to cour fairly strong cross-winds.
I then returned to Viet( Garage via Marylebone, Ba Street, Oxford Street, and P Lane where I was again abl appreciate the comfort, gl visibility and the nippinesi 04.
On occasions through my drive I wondered whet the engine was running. It impossible to hear the en or tick-over from the driv cab and I was reminded riding in a trolleybus. S heights and the floor level low and the ride from the self-levelling air suspens superb. Returning to Viet( Garage I reluctantly finis my drive. If anything, I more relaxed after driving bus in London's traffic thi did before I started. Titan which still bears the posters has performed well over 50,000 miles and showing no more wear t would be expected from service. It is fitted with I land's 500 turbocharged gine, which is not going tx fitted to the first produci Titans which are to have Gardner 6LXB.
I think both staff passengers can appreciate the obvious ql ities of the Titan in traffic, I look forward to sampling latest version, 05 which is s to enter service in London.
On this short flirtation 04 it was possible only to an impression, albeit a g one, and I hope in futim have the opportunity to I at the bus in more detail, I ticularly from the engineei and operating point of vi Unfortunately it was not j sible to check accelerat times and fuel consumptior this day and I hope that will soon be possible.
Maintenance problems worry many operators Sc future I hope to look at tF aspects of the bus, which h planned life of 15 years.
• Noel Mi