Fleet of Twin-steerers on London-Southend Service
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Reliability of Type and Public Support of Service Lead to Expansion
IN our issue dated August 19, 1938, lwe gave a full description of a Leyland Gnu twin-steering 40-seater machine, with Duple body, which formed the first delivery of this type of vehicle to the City Coach Co., Ltd. This particular machine has covered 70.000 miles since it was put into service and is, of course, still building up its mileage.
The operator has' acquired five further vehicles of this type, and these were put into serviee on Tuesday last. Whilst they are substantially the same as the first delivery, there are several
differences in point of detail. The Duple bodies are 39-seaters, as one seat has been sacrificed with the use of a full-width bulkhead. A fixed roof has been adopted in place of the sliding-panel type, and the emergency exit, which was arranged amidships, has been brought to the front.
As attractive as was the interior appointment of the first of the fleet, those just put into service incorporate a number of detail refinements, all of which tend to add to the general effect of comfort and luxury.
As centrepieces to the sycamore and walnut veneers in the roof, clusters of tubular lamps are arranged, and the general lighting effect, combined with a generous number of pillar lamps, is distinctly pleasing.
The use of diamond-shaped edge rails to the parcels. racks, which are
trimmed in Frith's green Velmoda with Rexine green and cream centres, ably sets off the other polished alloy fittings of the interior.
Frith's green and fawn moquette is used for the seats, and being of the rubber-backed type, not only are dust and dirt prevented from penetrating, but the seats can be thoroughly cleaned by means of vacuum, or the moquette can be washed when necessary.
An outstanding feature, from the driver's point of view, is the excellent visibility provided from the cab.
This fleet is employed on stage-carriage work between London and Southend, and as such is truly representative of the modem conception of luxury load travel. a41