BUSES PREFERRED TO TRAMS IN SWITZERLAND.
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Brief Details of the Type of Vehicle Favoured by the Zurich Municipal Authorities.
FOLLOWING the example of Berne, the municipal authorities of Zurich, which city possesses an extensive eketrio tramway system, have, after a long and exhaustive inquiry into the subject, decided to adopt motorbuses in place of electric tramways on several new routes. As a matter of fact, the first bus service has recently been started with a fleet of six vehicles, consisting of five four
wheel Saurer s and one Franz Brozincevic six-wheeler: We are able to publish an illustration of one Of the Saurer vehicles, which have single-deck bodies, these being of steel construction and built by the Swiss Wagon Works Co., of Schlieren. They have accommodation for 30 seated and 15 standing passengers.
During the quiet hours of the day it is intended that the buses shall be oneman controlled, for which reason the forward door on the off side can be automatically opened and closed by the driver. At the busy hours a conductor is employed, when the rear door on the off side is also used. An emergency door is also provided at the rear of the near side of the vehicles.
The type of Saurer chassis used is fitted with a four-cylindered engine having a bore of 120 mm. and a stroke of 120 mm., and it develops 60-65 h.p. at a speed of 1,200-1,300 r.p.m.
The 'chassis has a wheelbase of 19 ft. 7 ins., and a track of 5 ft. 7 ins., the overall length of the vehicle being 30 ft. 2 ins. The top of the chassis frame is 211. ins, from the ground, so that the pasSen,,berS are able to Step directly on to the bus floor. The running weight of the buses without passengers is 7 tons 3 cwt., of which the chassis is responsible for 3 tons 19 cwt., the body for 3 tons and tools, fuel and water for 4 cwt.