A HIGH - POWERED LONG - DISTANCE COACH.
Page 79
Page 80
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Details of the Latest Addition to the Majestic Fleet which Operates Between London and the North.
MHE well-known Majestic service which is operated between Glasgow and London by Majestic Coaches, of Ebchester, Co. Durham, is increasing in popularity and further fleet additions are being made. The latest 'acquisition is a very fine Daimler CF6 type, forward-control coach, the 26-seater body of which has been built by Duple Bodies and Motors, Ltd., of Hendon, London, N.W.P.
The coach embodies several features likely to be of interest to other longdistance operators. Orthodox transverse seating and a central gangway are employed, the main entrance door being located on the near side behind the front row of seats, whilst another door is placed in the rear panel, two folding steps being provided at this point.
No luggage is carried on the roof, but extra-large valance lockers have been obtained by a special form of sidepillar construction. The main pillars are not continued beyond the floor level, vertical supports from the main bearers being provided which hang from the floor level and carry large rectangular lockers stretching the full length of the vehicle. The locker doors are hinged. at the bottom to provide easy loading and unloading, stress on the hinges being prevented by stout metal supports. Further luggage accommodation is arranged in the interior by sacrificing two seats at the rear on the off side of the doorway. Here shelves are fitted, guard rails preventing the luggage front coming into contact with either the rear or the side windows. Then, of course, there are full-length parcels racks.
The roof is of special design, being
arched to give ample bedroom above the gangway. Although of modified clerestory pattern, however, it has 110 clerestory lights ; the raised centre portion is merged in an effective manner into the rounded rear dome.
Three Airvac ventilators are fitted above the gangway, each housing an electric lamp, and there are 11 other lamps along the cant-rails. Six adjustable windows of the latest N'S. type made by Quicktho (1928), Ltd., are provided at each side.
An interesting feature is that, in addition, to the large petrol tank housed between the main frame members and accessible by means of a floor trap-door, there is an auxiliary tank in the body valance on the near side, just behind the rear axle ; the total capacity of the two tanks is about 75 gallons. The interior appointments are quite luxurious, the open-armed seats being finished in blue and grey moquette and having down-padded head rolls which are adjustable. The front bulkhead is equipped with a dock, mirrors and a route map, and all the interior joinery is in polished walnut. Each seat-back carries a recessed glass-top folding table in addition to an oval mirror, rug rail and ash-tray.
The outward appearance is improved by destination indicators built into the canopy and a pivoting aluminium penmint mounted just behind it. Incidentally, the roof is a double one, the outer covering being metal sheet and the lining cloth-covered plywood. Another point is that the driver's cab is built separately from the body, the object being to allow for the inevitable play.