EASTERN COACH WORKS Stand 45
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Eastern Coach Works Ltd., Eastern Way, Lowestoft
UNDOUBTEDLY one of the most outstanding passenger exhibits is an ECW 36ft double-deck coach—the longest doubledecker at Earls Court. It is a prototype motorway coach for Ribble Motor Services Ltd. who will soon have to replace the present fleet of "Gay Hostess" doubledeckers, and is mounted on an 18ft 6in. wheelbase Bristol VRL chassis. The seating capacity is 60, with 18 seats in the lower saloon plus a tip-up seat for the courier and 42 seats in the upper saloon.
The construction of the body is of aluminium-alloy framing and truss panels and is semi-integral with the chassis. The offside rear vertical engine—a Leyland 0.680—is mounted longitudinally and enclosed in a sound insulated structure. A bulkhead over the rear axle separates the lower saloon from toilet facilities and a large luggage compartment which extends the full height of the lower deck. Access to the luggage compartment is via a hinged door at the rear of the coach.
A central entrance is employed, with airoperated outward-opening glider doors and the staircase is a right-hand spiral, situated on the offside over the rear axle. A manually operated outward-opening door is fitted at the front, nearside, and a similar emergency door on the offside opposite the entrance. Heaters and fans for both decks are housed in a locker to the rear of the entrance. Main saloon lighting is by fluorescent fittings, augmented by individual reading lights fitted under the parcel racks and a Jet-vent ventilating system is employed.
Alongside the Ribble coach ECW is exhibiting a 30f1 o-m-o front entrance/exit single-decker bus in the livery of Eastern Counties Omnibus Co. Ltd. The alloyframed body seats 45 passengers and is mounted on a Bristol LH 16ft 2in. wheelbase chassis. Electrically-operated glider type doors are fitted at the entrance and fluorescent interior lighting is supplied.