Gosport buses with new Seddon body
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by Derek Moses • Six buses currently being delivered to Gosport and Fareham Omnibus Co. Ltd. (Provincial) by the bus and coach division of Seddon Motors Ltd. are particularly interesting in that they are fitted with bodies built to the new Seddon Pennine design described in CM, February 28. Features of the construction include all-alloy framing and complete construction on jigs of body sides and roofs before assembly on the chassis. The bodies, therefore, give a good preview of the coachwork to be built by the company on its new Pennine RU chassis (CM February 28).
The Provincial buses are based on Seddon Pennine IV chassis fitted with Perkins 6.354 engines mounted vertically at the front of the 16ft wheelbase chassis. Overall dimensions of the buses are 33ft long by 8ft Oiin. wide and the front entrance, central exit bodies seat 40 passengers and are licensed to carry 15 standing passengers. Deans pneumatically operated folding doors are fitted, with single panel entrance and double panel exit doors.
A four-step entrance is angled to avoid the engine protrusion, although the engine cover does not rise very much above the floor. A cash tray and a guard rail round the gear lever are provided, together with a full-length roof rail on the offside and a similar rail behind the exit on the nearside. A pram compartment is also provided behind the exit on the nearside, while a tip-up seat for extra luggage space is arranged on the opposite side.
Most of the seats are of the tubularframed forward-facing type, with single stainless steel rails on the back squabs. The ceiling is lined with white plastics and the side panels are covered with light green plastics panels beneath a rubber-filled moulding at cant rail level. The window flanges are of polished alloy and dual sliding windows are fitted as specified. An all-steel rear seat assembly is provided.
The complete front and rear parts of the body are one-piece glass-reinforced plastics mouldings including BET-style windscreens and rear windows. Externally the buses are finished in the green and cream Provincial livery.