PASSENGER TRAVEL NEWS.
Page 23
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The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach. World.
ANOTHER TYPE OF BUS FOR LONDON SERVICE.
Details of the latest Thornycrott Production, Examples of Which Have Commenced Service,
THE ACCOMPANYING illustration of the new Thornycreft bus built for service on the Landon streets will, no doubt,, be of considerable interest to those who are contemplating additions to their fleets of buses, or the placing of new services on the streets of Londcen.
The vehicle illustrated is now running, and is, we understand, giving great satisfaction. Accommodation is provided for 50 passengers, of whom 24 are seated in side and 26 outside. It will 13ei noted that the vehicle is of the forward-control type similar to the newer buses on the London streets, The chassis utiliz,ed is a J type with special springs, Which give the requisite amount of flexibility for passenger service. A short description of this chassis will not be out of place.
The power tint has a bore of 41 ins. and a stroke of G ins,, and is, rated at 40 h.p. Power is "conveyed through a .Ferodo-faced cone clutch, specially lightened to facilitate changing gear, to a four-speed-and-reverse gearbox. At a normal engine speed of 1,000 r.p.m. the .road speeds are approximately as follow ; First, 2,4 m.p.h.; second, 5 m.p.h.; third, 13.i m.p.h. ; fourth, 141 m.p.h.; thus it will be seen, that quite a good top speed is obtained without racing the engine. The final drive is, as usual, by worm gearing contained in a pot-type axle.
The following dimensions may be of interest: Wheelbase, 15 ft. 10 ins.; Overall width, 7 ft. 2 ins. (if required for London service); turning circle, under 69 ft.; overall length, 24 ft. 10 ins. ; ,weight of vehicle unladen, approximately 4 tons 13 cwt. .
Reverting to the body, as regards the framing, the pillars, rails ancl ho•opsticks are of ash, except the floor framing, • which is of oak, The roof heapsticks are reinforced with steel plates, and the double roof boards of yellow deal or spruce are tongued and grooved and provided 'with waterproof material between the layers. Elm tread.s and black Italian poplar risers are used, for the staircase, which has stringers of 16 gauge sheet steel and a decency screen et' threeply birch.
The interior has a white enamelled ceiling, the remainder being finished in natural wood, whilst the outside can be finished in, any standard, eolour with a
reasonable amount of lining. The in terior seats are fitted with spring covets trimmed with leather or moquette, the exterior seats have ash frames and slotted slats, and are provided with aprons for use in wet weather.
The equipment includes one pair of detachable and reversible indicator boards, carried in special taper grooved fittings, which can accommodate three pairs of hoards.
Lighting 5s by electricity with two dynamos, head, side, tail, destination and eight interior lamps, a roef-step fight and the battery of accumulator.
Prices of the chassis or complete vehicles can be obtained from the makers, John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., Thornycroft House, Smith Square, Westminster, London, S.W.1.