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Unusual Features in Riga's British Bus Fleet

21st July 1939, Page 49
21st July 1939
Page 49
Page 49, 21st July 1939 — Unusual Features in Riga's British Bus Fleet
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MHE first complete buses, forming part of the new British fleet built to the order of the municipality of Riga, were driven through the city this week, following their unshipment at the Riga Docks.

Costing well over £100,000 and comprising 90 oil-engined chassis by Leyland Motors, Ltd., 20 complete single-deck bodies and 70 sets of body parts of Park Royal manufacture, the fleet, when finally delivered, will be the largest ever to be supplied, on one order, to a Baltic country by British manufacturers.

To facilitate operation for long periods under temperature conditions of between 10 degrees C, and 20 degrees C. below zero, particular attention has been paid, not only to passenger comfort, but to those features of the bodies and chassis likely to be affected by such low temperatures.

Interior comfort is catered for by three Clayton heaters which, together, are capable of maintaining an interior temperature of 20 degrees C. when the exterior temperature is as low as 15 degrees C. below zero.

To combat the settling of frost storm windows are provided on each side of the conductor's platform. These consist of two panes of glass

having a narrow air space between them to prevent the condensate, on the interior windows, from coming into direct contact with the outside temperature. A similar scheme of double windows is used for the windscreen, hut in this case the elements of an electric heater run between the panes. Additional heat is provided by directing hot air from the engine on to the screen, two small hinged doors being arranged in the bonnet for this pu rpose.

By using coloured slides, which can he illnmdiared from behind, the destination of a bus is clearly defined, even should the destination indicator be made illegible with frost.

Equally necessary precautions have been taken to ensure the mechanical efficiency of the chassis, which are bonneted-type Tigress models equipped with 9.6-litre direct-injection oil engines, and left-hand steering. To prevent the oil fuel from congealing in the tank and feed pipes, fuel tank heaters are introduced. The principle adopted is to by-pass the exhaust, through a secondary exhaust pipe complete with silencer, which runs through the tank. Further, the feed pipe is lagged and maintained, adjacent to the exhaust pipe, by clips.

The radiator shutter, which completely covers the radiator tubes, is built in two sections, either of which can be detached without disturbing the other. The bottom plate, which is a sheet of aluminium, covers the tower half of the radiator, whilst the top plate has 14 slots which can be closed by means of a sliding plate.

Unorthodox seating arrangements are adopted on the 28-seaters, whereby maximum room is provided for standing passengers. Many of the scats are set out longitudinally, whilst others are positioned back to back.

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Locations: Riga

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