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World's Biggest Bus Serves Military Camp

26th March 1943, Page 23
26th March 1943
Page 23
Page 23, 26th March 1943 — World's Biggest Bus Serves Military Camp
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Unique Features of a Big capacity Vehicle Built to Suit American Military Needs

WHAT is said to be the largest bus VT in the world has been placed in service at Camp Carson, Colorado Springs, Colorado; U.S.A., to transport American troops within that huge military reservation where distance presents a problem to the authorities who are concerned with the well-being and efficiency of the army personnel.

The newvehicle is an all-enclosed, double-deck, semi-trailer unit having a, body 10 ft. wide; 15 ft. high, and 35 ft. long, the overall length of the vehicle

being 45 ft. The -body provides 700 sq, ft. of floor space and will carry from 250 to 260 men (fonr platoons), with approximately 100 53ated and the rest standing.

When empty, the semi-trailer, complete with body, weighs 18,000 lb., and with its full complement of men, it scales approximately 50,000 lb. Additional to these figures is the tractor weight of about 9,000 lb. Actually, this giant • vehicle offers unusual loadcarrying efficiency when it is realized that the weight is only, about 104 lb. per soldier, compared with about 414 lb. per passenger in a conventional 35-passenger bus of 14,500 lb. weight.

The prime-mover consists of a WA,122 White C.O.E. tractor equipped with the maker's Super Power engine-. The special design of the semi-trailer

enables the outfit to turn in less space than is needed for a conventional bus.

The Camp Carson vehicle, which was specially built for the service upon which it is engaged and not for general highway use,. represents considerable resourcefulness and ingenuity on the part of the designer—Dean Gillespie, the White company's distributor in Denver', and the bodybuilder—Messrs. Timpe Bros:', of Denver. It was completed in 90 days. A second bus of the same kind, also for use at Camp Carson, is, at the time of writing, about to be placed in service. Both will be run by the Colorado Springs Bus Co. When corepleted and exhibited on the streets of Denver, the first vehicle attracted widespread attention and comment. In appearance, it looks very much like mime fantastic land battleship, because of its size and the porthole-type windows for both lower • and upper decks. Although comparatively tall, its height is not especially noticeable, due to the fact that the body width is 2 ft. greater than normal, and the rear axle width is 9 ft. overall, which is some 18 ins, more than usual. in service we learn that the vehicle has good riding characteristics.

Not the least of the ingenuity displayed by the designer and builder is demonstrated in the conservation of critical materials. The body is built entirely of wood, with, of course, the exeePtion of bolls, nuts, and braces, and it was erected on a-rebuilt chassis. Instead of new tyre-s, 14 used tyres are employed.

The arrangement of the interior is unique, Bench-like seats on the lower deck are located at the sides, with a 4-ft. aisle intervening. On the upper_ deck, however, the seats are accommodated on a centre platform with 3-ft. aisles on each side. This farm of seating plan permits more headroom for standing passengers than would otherwise be the case. The fact .that a deep drop-frame chassis is used permit-‘ a

reduced level for the lower saloon, and results in the body height being kept within reasonable limits.

The .big Camp Carson type of bus offers an adequate answer to passenger transport problems at. big military camps, and it may well be the forerunner of similar units for employment at other extensive camp sites where roads will permit their use and where there are no overhead obstacles.

Tags

Organisations: army
Locations: Denver, Colorado Springs

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