it will not
require more than detail modification as the standard is developed in
the coming year or two. The floor is almost flat, with a height of 2ft
4in from ground level over most of its length but rising to just over
2ft 6in over the rear axle.
The
Manchester vehicle will, of course, be to that operator's own recently
introduced style, with generally rectangular lines, long window bays and
an ultra-deep curved glass driver's windscreen. Much of the design is
broadly in accordance with the Ministry specification, but the staircase
faces the wrong way and the overall length lies between the 9.5 and 10
metre standards. It is anticipated that later 10-metre vehicles for
Manchester will have forward-ascending stairs.
The Leeds
vehicles are to be developments of the ultra-long-window double-deckers
already in service in that city, but adapted to the centre-exit layout.
The staircase is of the forward-ascending type but differs from the
others in being of the straight form favoured on Leeds buses for some 32
years.
The
Birmingham design is derived from that of earlier Fleetlines in that
city, with short windows of differing depth on the two decks. The
staircase is a forward-ascending unit but the vehicle does not quite
meet the dimensional standards, being slightly too short and having a
floor about 3in too low to comply fully, for example.
All the
vehicles will have provision for ticket-issuing machines to be fitted.
The Sheffield bus is to have a Setright machine with a Peters coin
dispenser, a Smiths public address system, a S.B.K. passenger counting
device operating from two stair treads, a periscope and "Bus
Stopping" signs in both saloons which light up when the bell has
been rung and remaining on until the exit door opens.
The
Manchester bus will have Bell Punch Autoslot coin-operated self-service
ticket machines each side of the entrance gangway together with a
driver-operated Setright machine, Smiths public address, a
passenger-counting system and periscope.
The Leeds
vehicle has a driver-operated ticket machine and coin dis-
The Leeds
33ft Daimler Fleetline.
The
Birmingham 30ft Daimler Fleetline. |