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THE CHARMS OF THE OBSERVATION COACH.
Page 113
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Page 115
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The Respective Advantages of the Semidouble Decker and of the Rear-saloon Coach.
ALTHOUGH only two examples of the new style of observation coach, with its raised rear portion, were exhibited at the last Olympia Show, they aroused more general interest than any other variety of bodywork shown. The novelty of their appearance, no doubt, was responsible for this, but at the, same time it was seen that this departure from convention had important advantages. The rear passengers have a good forward view, unobstructed by those seated in front, whilst the higher floor provides a large luggage space easy to get at and in a position where the weight of the tags .and trunks is utilized to increase the stability of the
vehicle. This variety of coach is,_ therefore, ideal for long-distance work and is already in use both in America and on the Continent.
The Importance of Restricted Overall Height.
The low-hung chassis is designed for mounting bodywork, baying safe and easy steps, but that is no reason why the whole design should be made subordinate to the idea of keeping everything of minimum height. The practice of making the seats low and keeping them all on the same level places the rear passengers at a disadvantage, besides increasing the difficulty of finding a suitable place for storing luggage, unless, it be carried at the sides below the floor level, or the seating capacity be sacrificed in order to provide space at the re a r. The semidouble decker h a a often very little more overall height than a single-deck bus, so that it is able to traverse the same routes as an allweather coach or single decker ; i n fact, the reasonable restriction of I t overall height will largely determine its fnture popularity. A Suggested Height Limit.
The height from the ground to the roof or top of the hood of an up-to-date all-weather coach is about 8 ft., a singledeck bus is seldom more than 9 fL, whilst the covered top double-decker varies from 13 ft. to 14 ft. 6 ins. A limit has then to be decided for the semi-doilble-decker which, whilst considerably less than the lowest doubledecker, allows the body to be a little higher than the modern single-decker. The semi-double-decker can be made with a front portion having about the same headroom as an all-weather coach, so that it is possible for the roof of the raised rear portion to he no more than 9 ft. 6 ins. off the ground ; in fact, this dimension has been made as low as 9 ft.
It is thought, however, that, when the roof is fixed throughout, the headroom should not be unduly restricted, especially when the passengers are travelling long distances, because of the difficulty of ensuring adequate ventilation, although, as explained later, the reduction of the headroom for a portion of the vehicle may be justified owing to other advantages obtained. If the height from the ground to the top of the floor of the loaded vehicle is 2 ft. 4 ins., and 5 ft. 4 ins. is the amount of headroom provided, and 2 ins, represents the thickness of the roof and its framing, then the front portion of .the semi-double-decker will be 7 ft. 10 ins, high overall.
In order to give the rear passengers a fair amount of elevation which will also provide plenty of locker space below, the limit for the overall height of the rear portion is reckoned as 10 ft.
With the same amount of headroom provided at the rear as in the front, and 3 ins, allowed for the thickness of the rear floor and its supporting framework, the underside of this floor will he 5 ft. 9 ins, below the top of the roof. The floor of the luggage locker being
2 ft. 4 ins.off the ground (the same as the floor in front), the height from this level to under the floor above is 1 ft. 11 ins., which represents the depth of the locker.
The upper floor is 2-ft. 2 ins, above the lower one, a difference in height which can easily be surmounted by two Intermediate treads. If these treads be placed centrally at the middle partition, the projecting step on either side will not interfere seriously with free access to those seats which arc close to the partition.
Side Windows.
A wide window gives character to a large vehicle; therefore, instead of dividing a length of, say, 9 ft. into three window openings of ordinary size, two openings only are used, which are divided by a narrow panel. If this panel is regarded as an obstruction, then it is obviated by using narrow pillars and glazing the space between.
Another feature which bolts well is a cant rail about the e,atne depth as the waiSt rail. Although it may be left plain in a comparatively lofty railway Pullman car, the cant rail should be used in a road vehicle for introducing some scheme of permanent ventilation. This cant rail may continue to the rear and so form the waist rail of the upper saloon. This method simplifies the construction, but it should not be done at the expense of the observational value of the rear side windows. There is not the slightest objection to a stepped effect to these cant and waist rails, because the combined roof is designed on similar lines, but in the opposite direction.
Although the provision of good side and angular forward views is not a 'difficult matter to arrange in either the upper or lower saloon, the directly forward view from what should be the best row of seats in the whole vehicle, that is, the front one in the upper saloon, may somewhat restricted owing to the size and shape of the fixed roof of the forward portion. The observational value of the upper saloon may be improved by adopting any of the following methods : (1) Decreasing the height of the lower saloon roof by two or three inches.
(2) Using a special roof section, that is, one having an outline consisting of a balanced return curve or of wavelike formation, giving maximum headroom above the central gangway and decreasing it at the sides above the seated passengers, as adopted for the upper-deck floor of the latest type of covered-top double-decker. This idea increases the forward range of view, especially for those passengers sitting at the sides of the upper saloon. The clerestory or monitor roof has similar advantages.
(3) Shortening the lower saloon so as to reduce the length of obstructing roof and bringing the first row of raised seats closer to the dash. To -push the idea to its utmost only the driver's seat need,be placed at the normal level. Also the greater the number of rows of raised seats the larger will be the resulting locker space. A short lower saloon
may have restricted headrom with little loss of general comfort or ease of access.
(4) Recessing the sides of the lower saloon throughout, so that only three instead of four passengers are accommodated per row, or, as a compromise, reducing the width of the body sharply at the hind door pillar towards the dash.
(5) Providing the lower saloon with a roof which opens.
Lower-saloon Desit From a consideration of e above
points it will be seen that, if the lower saloon has a fixed roof, it should be short with restricted headroom, with a wave or Clerestory-shaped roof, and, if not made narrower than the rear part, then the sides should be curved inwards sharply from the back line of the maid entrance to the dash. If the lower saloon be fitted with a roof which opens, the roll-top type could no doubt be adapted to a wave section as easily as the conven-, tional pattern. Another method would he to slide the front half of the roof
over the rear half, or utilize any existing pattern of sliding hoopstieks. Regarding the upper saloon, this could be designed much on the same lines as a modern all-weather coach, with fixed or folding side frames, sliding hood to fold down, or to collapse against a saloon back.
The Emergency Exit.
A semi-double-decker is a type of vehicle which requires an emergency exit. This may be placed at the rear with a pair of steps opening automatically with the door, or as a rear side exit opening directly from the upper floor levelor from the lower one, in which case there is an internal step or steps at the rear end of the upper gangway and the back of the body is built as a vestibule having the same overall height as the front saloon. This rear vestibule has the advantage that space is afforded for a lavatory in the off hind corner in a position where it is unobtrusive. This rear vestibule could also be used to accommodate the buffet with the emergency door in the middle of the back, instead of at the side of the ehiclo.
The Single-deck Observation Coach.
Instead of raising the floor at the back for the benefit of the passengers
sitting at the rear, their enjoyment is specially catered for by building a rear observation compartment with the seats facing the back, the body being glazed all round, a feature which is also found in the semi-double-decker. The singledeck vehicle with a rear observation compartment is, again, usually built with a fixed roof throughout, but lends itself to most of the variations as mentioned above for the two-level ceach. If the rear saloon be designed for seats facing the rear, then it is suggested that it could be improved by raising the floor level a few inches, but not so mien as with the semi-double-decker, where, the extra height is required for giving a good view over the heads of the pes-• seng,ers in the lower saloon, or over the roof structure of this part of the body. The drawback of a hind compartment with seats facing the rear is that the lavatory and buffet tntist be somewhere near the middle of the vehicle, with the danger that any odours arising are liable to travel. through to the rear compartment.
The Long-distance Service Bus.
With the development of the types of observation coaches described, there does not 'appear to be much scope for the independent evolution of a pattern for long-distance service -work, because these newer varieties of public-service
vehicles are, it is thought, more suitable for this class of work than those patterns already in use. All that the proprietor has to decide is what degree of luxury of appointment the units of his fleet shall have. If the long-distance bus is to carry luggage, nothing could be better than the setni-deuble-decker type of vehicle. •
If the luggage capacity of the vehicle is not of particular importance, but, at the same time, facilities fre to be afforded far sight-seeing en route, then the single-decker with rear observation compartments may be preferred. The long-distance bus as already designed is similar to a town or inter-urban service bus with the same variations of entrance and exit, but having more luxurious seating and general equipment. Luggage is carried in a front or rear compartment or on the roof, but it is better to raise the floor and stow it away where it is not only easy to get at when required at the various stopping points on the route, but does not reelnee the seating capacity.
The placing of seats so that they face the rear is a practice which is not by any means widespread. It has yet to be proved whether a sufficient proportion of the riding public like it sufficiently, or at least as well as the facing-forward position, to 'justify the employment of more coaches fitted up in this way. The same idea has recently been embodied in one or two private cars, and it will, be interesting to note whether this type of car tecomes popular. We have heard of people being upset by looking for a more or less lengthy period at a receding view and, moreover, it is generally known that some Persons are affected in a similar manner simply owing to their travelling in a vehicle with their backs foremost.
The Use of Reversible Seats.
The semi-donble-deeker with windows fitted all round the sides and back can be providedwith movable chairs or reversible seats, so that the passengers may please themselves in which direction they view the surrounding scene, but it is impossible to provide the same choice when the special observation compartment is on the same level as the seats in front, with probably a -buffet and lavatory in between.
The partition dividing the upper from the lower saloon is usually panelled to the lower roof line, but a greater air of sociability is obtained if the top part of the partition on each side is .fitted with a fixed or sliding window. This also gives a suggestion of spaciousness quite as much as mirrors, which C211 he fastened to the narrow panels formed between the main windows of the body structure,