12-year Life in Bus Bodies
Page 47
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COR some years the
Northern Ireland Road Transport Board has built its own bodies for goods and passenger vehicles. The general principles of the bus body design were originated by Mr. James Courtney. chief executive (engineering) of the Board, in 1936.
Approximately 1 00 bodies were constructed at that time and they are still giving reliable service. Mr. Courtney is satisfied that a life of 12 years can be expected from his methods.
One of the latest chassis to pass through the Board's bodybuilding shops is the Leyland PS.1, powered by a 7.4-litre oil engine developing 100 b.h.p. Over 330 chassis of this model have been ordered, the majority being for single-deck bodies.
The body structure is'based on crossmembers reinforced with Ll-section channel, which incorporates gusset plates that register with a sole-plate angle and pillar mounting. For interior finish, Alhambrinal panelling has been adopted as standard, and the seatingrubber-filled and trimmed in moquette, with leather facings—harmonizes with the general colour scheme of light shades of green and broken white. The bodies have a smart, functional appearance and carry six built-in indicators, three at the front, one on the near side at the rear, and two at the back. As well as orthodox ventilators in the usual positions, a Vent-Axia fan is fitted in the rear of the saloon.
A ladder at the rear gives access to the curved luggage carrier on the roof, and there are luggage racks running the full length of the hotly.
When the Board began bodybuilding on a large scale, early in 1946, a complete timber mill was provided, equipped with modern wood-working plant, for the new works at Dunmurry.