Routemasters Take Over Next Week
Page 47
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
T'HE first full-scale appearance of I London Transport's new Routemaster buses will be made on Wednesday when the fourth stage of the ElOm. trolleybus conversion scheme takes effect. Three trolleybus routes, totalling 26.2 miles, will be affected by the scheme, but because the routes use stretches of road in common with other trolleybus services, the actual length of road from which trolleybuses will disappear at this stage is 6.2 miles.
The conversion will mean the end of trolleybus operation at Bloomsbury and Barking and along most of the Barking Road. One section of the road, between Canning Town and East Ham, will still be served by other trolleybus routes.
The changeover will involve the use of 73 Routemasters. They will--have 64 seats, independent susnension, heating on both decks and automatic transmission.
The trolleybuses being displaced operate from the Poplar and West Ham
depots. Both premises are being converted to make them suitable for oilengined bus operation, but only Poplar will go over completely to motorbuses
at this stage. A total of 58 Routemasters will operate from Poplar, and there will be 15 at West Ham.
The Poplar depot, when completely converted, will have accommodation for 196 Routemasters. Six 5,000-gal. fuel tanks have been installed. Pumps will transfer fuel to four fuelling islands, They will have the standard London Transport automatic fuelling nozzles and points for dispensing lubricating-oil and radiator water, as well as vacuum cleaning hoses for use while the vehicles are being refuelled.
From the fuelling islands, buses will converge on a Februat vertical-brush washing machine and then be driven to their parking places.
Pits in the maintenance area are being modernized and shortened to 33 ft. When completed, there will be five tiled pits, fitted with tungsten lighting, linked by a communicating pit. Four other pits, normally covered, are provided for emergency use.
West Ham depot will be converted in stages, and four fuelling islands, fed from six 5,000-gal. external tanks, have already been installed.