Rear-engined Double-decker Demonstrated in London
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AN unusual double-deck two-ailed bus, with a full-fronted body and engine at the rear, was shown to B.E.T. officials in London this week. The development of this vehicle was disclosed in The Commercial Motor on May 1, 1953, but it is not likely to appear publicly before the Earls Court Show in September.
It has an extra-large rear platform, of which about I ft. is occupied by the width of the transversely mounted engine, and a straight staircase. as in London Transport's old ST-type bus, is provided.
The front styling is like that of a double-deck trolleybus, but the divided windscreen and one-piece windows back to the bulkhead are much deeper. There are no external doors to the cab, access to the driving compartment being through a door in the lower saloon.
The bus has the normal low floorfine of a conventional double-decker. but the wheel-box over the rear axle encroaches on the seating space. In addition to the serni-ellipic springs, there are vertical coil springs at the rear which presumably impart anti-roll characteristics.
Outward appearance suggests that a small blown four-stroke oil engine is fitted and the controls denote that a preselective epicyclie gearbox is employed. The radiator is located on the off .side of the chassis adjacent to the transmission, which has an offset underslungworm drive. From the construction it appears likely that the Saunders-Roe body is semi-integrated with the chassis and the independent front suspension uses torsion bars and telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers.
NEW LEYLAND FOR CANADA ANEW vehicle designed specifically
to meet Canadian conditions is to be introduced by Leyland Motors (Canada), Ltd. It will be known as the Super Beaver Mark IV. Some $750,000 has been spent on madhinew for the new Model, which will incorporate many components of local manufacture.
Last week Mr. H. Spurrier, managing director, of .Leyland Motors, Ltd.. flew toMontreal to visit the associated cotnpany's factory at Longueuil.
Mr_ D. G. Stokes, general sales and service manager. has returned to this cotintry after an extensive tour of the Indian sub-continent, where more than 1,200 Leyland vehicles have been placed in service during the past few years.
ROAD TRAFFIC BILL POSTPONED THE Road Traffic Bill has been put
/ off until next Session, which opens in October, writes our Parliamentary correspondent.. The Bill has been crowded out by •other legislation.
Proposals will be made in the measure to settle contentious points arising in connection with contractcarriage operation. An attempt may be made to define the field of private hire and the kind of work which can be undertaken without a licence.
The Bill will also deal with roadsafety matters, Pedestrians and pedal cyclists may become liable to prosecution for inconsiderate road behaviour. TEMPLE PRESS BUSINESS MANAGER DIES
WJE much regret to announce the YV sudden death on April 11 of Mr. S. Gordon Marshall, business manager of Temple Press Ltd. since 1946.
Mr. Marshall joined this company as provincial business manager in 1938, after many years on the car side of the industry. Born on May 4, 1893, educated at the City of London School, in 1910 he became a salesman for S.C.A.12, Cars. Soon after he was in charge of foreign sales at the Paris depot of the Benz Company.
In the 1914-18 war, he rose to command M.T. mobile workshops. He became general manager of the Long Acre Autocar Co., Ltd. (afterwards the Leverett Kearton Co., Ltd.) in 1918. In 1922 he joined the board. In 1924 he was appointed London manager of Riley (Coventry) Ltd., and soon became general sales manager.
From 1937-38, he was a member of many important committees of the Motor Trade Association and of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, and was a council member of the M.T.A.
FREE TRAVEL TO CONTINUE
ATHREE-MONTH extension from May 2 for old-age pensioners to travel free on Birmingham Corporation's buses has been granted by the West Midland Licensing Authority. This decision, taken pending a High Court action in which a Birmingham citizen is challenging the legality of the allocation of money from the rates to the transport department as compensation, was announced on Monday.
The Authority, Mr. W. P. James, indicated that he would be willing to extend the dispensation at the end of three months if the High Court's decision was not then known. If. howeVer, an application was made for increases in fares, the cost of the concession to the undertaking would be directly relevant, and he would have to review any dispensation then current.
Mr. James urged the council to take all possible steps to secure a decision on the legal questions involved.
He said that in view of the issue of the writ by a Birmingham man, Mr. G. V. Prescott, the council had decided not to pay the transport department about £82,000, which was the cost of the free travel, provided so far [the annual estimate is £90,000], but to nlace that amount in a suspense account.