PASSENGER TRAVEL NEWS.
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The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.
• A CANOPY-TOP BUS WITHOUT SIDE WINDOWS.
An Unusual Type of Body on a Vehicle for Regular Service in the Isle of Man.
WE recently inspected at the works of the Northern Counties Motor and Engineering Co., Ltd., Wigan, a new canopy-top bus body which has been fitted on a Tilling-Stevens .chassis to the order of the tramway authorities of the Douglas Corporation. The body of this particular saloon bus possesses a feature which is not usually to be found on vehicles of this type, the. sides of which are generally provided with fixed or drop-down lights. This bus, however, has no windows at the sides, which, with the exception of the pillars supporting the roof, are entirely open. . It will, of course, be thought that. in it body of this design there is a great risk of rain penetrating to the interior and damaging the seat framing and rotting the cushions and back squabs, but this possibility has been 'overcome by slotting the framing at the seat rail so that Water will not collect but will at once drain away to the floorboards. Moreover, no • protecting valances are fitted on the inside edges of the seats, sti that the cushions can be moved away from the side-panel lining boards to the centre of the body.
It will be-seen from the picture of the interior of the vehicle that the floor lagging is so arranged that the channel strips are continuous, except facing the entrance door at the rear, where they are set at right angles, thus facilitating cleansing of the floorboards.
The canopy is panelled in baywood, which is enamelled in white; six electric lights are conveniently disposed in the roof, whilst several bell pushes are also fitted.
The interior provides seating accommodation for 28 passengers, most of the seats being arranged to seat two people
on each side of a central gangway. That. the passengers' comfort has received adequate consideratien. can be seen from ' the nature of the upholstering of the seat cushions and the seat backs, the
former having comfortable roll fronts.'
The bus is provided With' two doors on the near' side' that at the front giving access to the driver's compartment, whilst the rear entrance, which is particularly wide, is for the use of passengers.
The general design of the body and the manner in which its construction has been carried out reflect much credit on the Northern Counties Motor and Engineering Co., Ltd.