BUS BODY DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.
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The First of a New Series of Articles which will Go Closely into the Subject of the Provision of the Right Type of Bus for a Given Set of Circumstances. The Popularity of the Bus.
THOSE who are concerned with the supply of buses, whether it be the chassis, body or complete vehicle, are experiencing a keen demand. This is not only the result of the natural development of town and interurban services, but because there is a growing tendency on the part of the riding public to prefer the bus to the tram, or even the train, if a comparatively short journey he contemplated. Also where there is no alternative means of transport the local population need little urging in order to make full use of this cheap and convenient form of travel.
This popularity is partly due to the natural flexibility of a bus service. The passenger enters or leaves the vehicle by the side of the road or pavement in safety, the route is not confined to a certain class of thoroughfare, and it can be extended, shortened or diverted as occasion requires. Another important factor at work is that improvements are continually being effected which add to the comfort and safety of the passenger, whereas other forms of public service transport have both figuratively and literally remained in a groove. The public are naturally quick to appreciate, these matters and to make comparisons. Perhaps the most important reason for the popularity of the bus is the one hardest to define—the enjoyment of travelling in a vehicle which has to be steered as well as driven, where personality is expressed even in its movement.
Studying Local Requirements.
As a bus is a self-contained unit, it can be adapted to the requirements of the locality served. The density of the population and its occupations largely decide the size or seating capacity of the body. Sometimes the carriage of goods or mails must be taken into consideration. Serviceability and a design which will stand hard wear and tear and possible overloading may be of importance in one neighbourhood, whereas a certain degree of luxury is desirable in another. Then there are such items as full or partial protection from the weather, whilst with the larger vehicles there is the question of one entrance or two and their exact disposition, the arrangement of smoking compartments, and whether a single or double-decker type shall be utilized.
Whatever style of bus is considered by the proprietor to be most suitable for his requirements, the selection of the right chassis being accomplished, although of fundamental importance, there are still left for discussion the details of the bodywork, and these are the parts of the vehicle which give scope for putting into practical shape the particular needs of the owner concerned. A. certain model of chassis may give every satisfaction in numerous localities of widely different character, but, at the same time, it is equally suitable for mounting a dozen different kinds of bus body.
The Importance of the Bodywork.
It will be seen, therefore, that the bodywork is of special interest, because therein individuality can be expressed. Moreover, the passenger is apt to take the chassis for granted, for he is naturally concerned as to his own comfort, and a well-designed seat and convenient entrance are of more consequence to him than any detail of the chassis. Still, at the present time, even those who are not of a mechanical turn of mind have been forced to note the somewhat drastic changes which have recently taken place in the external features of the chassis.
The modern passenger chassis is not merely a lengthened lorry pattern, but is specially designed for its particular use. The chassis is suspended low on the wheels so that the floor is nearer to the ground ; more attention is paid to the springing so as to give greater resilience than hitherto, whilst the general appearance has been improved by the inclusion of a more attractivelooking radiator and bonnet.
As a striking difference is evident, even to the layman, between the new and older patterns of chassis, the bus proprietor, if he is to maintain the earning capacity of his fleet, is more or less compelled to keep it up to date, so that here, again, is another factor which helps to stimulate demand.
The Scope of These Articles.
In view of the rapidly growing importance of the bus body, it is proposed to give, in these pages, a short series of articles dealing with the various aspects of bus-body design and construction. The salient features of each style of body, from the small country bus to the largest double-decker, will be discussed, but giving preference to the requirements of the provincial rather than to the London -proprietor. The advantages and disadvantages of the different kinds of entrances and seating arrangements will be dealt with, as well as methods of construction, the latest types of door and window fittings, also the lighting, ventilation, heating, cleaning and repair of the body. It is intended to give space to such topics as to what constitutes good design, ideals to be sought for, and such matters as weight reduction, the elimination of noise, the ordering of the body and its price. We have also in view articles on modern painting processes and a review of the various items of interior and exterior embellishment which are utilized to enhance the attractiveness of the vehicle.
The Bus Body Defined.
The bus body, such as will be dealt with, may be defined as a multi-seated closed body having a fixed main roof structure with crosswise or longitudinal seating, either solely or in combination, with glass windows, a central gangway, and from one to three entrances. This definition covers all types of single-decker. The double-decker has, in addition, roof seats and staircase and all forms of top-deck protection, from a waist-high shield to a fully enclosed saloon top.
Single and Double-deckers.
The two main classes of bus body are, therefore, single and double-deckers. There is little difference in the general features of the latter type, most of the variety being found amongst the single-deckers. These form the largest class and are well distributed throughout various parts of the United Kingdom, whereas, apart from those used in the larger towns and cities and industrial areas, no fewer than 5,000 double-deckers are concentrated in the Metropolitan Police area.
The Varieties of Single-decker.
The various kinds of single-decker may be classified as follow:-
(1) With. near-side front entrance and emergency exit usually in the middle of the back of the body. Access to the passenger seats is through an opening in the front bulkhead or partition, with or without a door. Instead of a bulkhead, a screen behind the driver only may be provided, or in some models it is omitted. On the other hand, a longitudinal screen may be inserted so that the driver is enclosed and has to enter from the off side. The near-side front-entrance variety may be subdivided info :— (la) With open entrance at the steps, with or without protection on the off side for the driver.
(1b) With enclosed entrance having single or double doors reaching to the floor or extended so as to enclose the steps. This variety may be regarded as the typical provincial pattern of to-day.
(1c) With half-door at the steps and similar protection on the off side. Soraetimes.adopted for small country buses.
(2) -With near-slide .Cack entrance and partition behind the driving seat. Access to the passenger seats through the middle of the back of the body. The subdivisions of this class of body are:—
(2a) Open hind platform with protection to waist and extended roof canopy. The protection of the driving seat consists of a half-door or doors, with or, without fixed windows, at the ends of the seat.
(2b) With enclosed passenger entrance as (1b).
(2c) With both driving-seat compartment and passenger entrance enclosed.
(2d) With any type of near-side back entrance as 2a, 2b, 2c, but with driving seat enclosed and entrance for the driver on the off side only, as mentioned under (1).
(3) With two near-side entrances, one at or near the rear, the other in any convenient position forward of the hind wheel. This variety of body usually has both entrances provided with. doors.
(4) With a single wide entrance more or less in the middle of the near side, occasionally adopted for the larger type of body and especially for the electric trolley-bus. Modifications According to Steering and Seating.
Any of these varieties 1 to 4 are modified to a certain extent by the type of steering provided, as the body may extend to the radiator, or the driver's cabin be :praeticay ,an isolated structure on the off side or carried the full width of the body. The crosswise seat will predominate, longitudinal seats being used over the wheel arch or in rear compartments, when they are often continued round the back of the 'body. .
Bus bodies may also be classified according to the particular form of service for which they are designed:— (1) Service work.—The body is designed to give a maximum seating capacity; the general finish and fittings are suited to hard wear and tear, yet due attention is paid to attractive appearance. The seating capacity varies from 20 to 36, with special bodies mounted on six-wheeled chassis up to a capacity' of 50 seats.
(2) Inter-urban and country work—The bodywork is often similar to (1), but the bus holding not more than 14 passengers is Often used in sparsely populated districts. The general finish is less elaborate and the roof will often be provided with a luggage• rail and wearing slats.
(3) The bus which-performs a similar function to the coach and is used for long-distance work, touring and sight-seeing will be provided with seats of extra Comfort such as of semi-armchair pattern. Ventilation will receive particular attention and there may be a lavatory compartment. The external features will be modelled on those of a closed private car and the interior finish -and display will tend towards the luxurions.i There may .be-provision for carrying luggage and the bodies will be -of the larger size. (4) The bus for private hire will be similar to (3) although it may entail further elaboration and there will be a call for medium and small seating capacities. The hotel and railway bus also comes under this heading, but it is built for service requirements with longitudinal seats' and provision for carrying luggage.
(5) A vehicle as (4) may be privately owned instead of hired. It will be fitted up to suit the special require)nents of the football, golf or other club or committee concerned. Folding tables and lockers are characteristic features of the interior equipment.
(6) The bus used by an institution for conveying a party of inmates Or patients is a type not much developed. It is not to be confused with an ambulance. So far, longitudinal seats and a back entrance, without a rear platform, are often favoured. The appointments are plain. A closely related type, but so far used chiefly in America, is the school bus. There are hundreds of these special vehicles in use in that country which take the children to and .from school in those districts where the pupils come from a wide area to the centre of instruction. A similar vehicle, usually of small seating capacit5, and war priirided with a stretcher, is used by the educational authorities in this country for the conveyance of crippled children.
• (7) A class of bus body which is perhaps more varied than any other is that which may be utilized for carrying either goods or passengers. The seats are designed to fold up, or are made detachable. There is often a pair of doors at the rear to facilitate the loading of goods, and the roof, in most instances, is adapted for carrying a reasonable weight of packages.
The next article of this series, which will appear in the next issue of The Commercial Motor, will deal with the ideal body, showing that it must be a compromise that shall accord as closely is possible with the points of view of the passenger and of tne proprietor. The need for equal comfort for all passengers will be referred to and the influence of gangways and entrances upon seating plans will be discussed. Effective ventilatiou, easy cleaning, ready access to chassis details and many other matters of interest will be gone into.