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British Trolley-buses for Australia

12th May 1933, Page 46
12th May 1933
Page 46
Page 46, 12th May 1933 — British Trolley-buses for Australia
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Brief Details of Leyland Six-wheelers for Use by the Western Australian Government

IN Australia, where, for some time past, legislation has tended towards State control of all passenger transport, the trolley-bus is being given serious consideration as a rival to the petrol bus. • In order that the Western Australian Government might gain firsthand knowledge, both of the manufacture and the operation of this type of vehicle, the general manager of the Western Australian Government Tramways recently visited this country and as the result Leyland Motors, Ltd., was entrusted with an order for the supply of a number of single-deck 38-seater trolley-buses.

The vehicles were to he of special design to suit local conditions, and, in order that English ideas could be incorporated in the bodywork, which was to be built locally, the first of these vehicles was to be supplied complete and shipped ready for the road. Additionally, as many of the fittings were not procurable locally, various parts, such as seats, panels, etc., were to be consigned along with the chassis.

The type of chassis chosen is a sixwheeler, 8 ft. wide and with an overall length of 32 ft. It is equipped with a PS single, series-wound traction motor of 80 h.p. This unit is mounted centrally in the chassis and is suitable for operation on direct-current supply systems with the normal pressure of 500 volts. Resistances are of the unbreakable, nonrusting grid type, mounted in suitable boxes inside the chassis frame over the front axle. The control equipment is of the foot-operated, master-controller type, actuating a bank of contactors. A hand-operated reversing switch is in-, corporated in the controller.

Two trolley collectors, of the superimposed type, are fitted. These are supported on a special saddle of Leyland design, which, in practice, has proved try reduce a considerable amount of the trolley " hum " sometimes associated with vehicles of this class.

The axles are of the fully floating type, and are provided with undersl.ang worm drive, the third differential being arranged between the two driving axles, each of which has 71-in. worm centres. The ratio is 9.33 to 1. The brakes are of the compressed-air type, the brake cylinders being mounted direct on all three axles, whilst the ten pairs of interchangeable brake shoes are fitted

with 3-in, wide die-pressed liners. An inter-coupling arrangement enables all shoes to be applied by the foot brake.

The electric power equipment is by the General Electric Co., Ltd., and, in accordance With present-day practice, a separate lighting set is fitted, the dynamo having 160 watts maximum output.

The body accommodates 38 passengers, but there is ample room for a large complement of standing passengers. Two entrances are provided, one at the rear and the other at the front, so that by the closing of the rear entrance the bus comes under the full control of the driver, and can be operated as a one-man-type vehicle. The body has eight drop windows, over which are guard rails. The wood-framed seats are supported on die-cast aluminium pedestals, the seat cushions and backs being provided with Dunlop Airceltite rubber, whilst the faces of the cushions and the panels of the seat hack are covered with a combination of red hide

and red moquette. The main colour scheme adopted for the exterior is green and cream, the whole _decoration of 'the vehicle being tastefully carried out.

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