LONDON'S BUSES

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 115, 17 May 1930, Page 27

LONDON'S BUSES

WHOLLY NEW DESIGN

LATEST DOUBLE DECKERS

The London General Omnibus Company -recently placed in sorvice a number of experimental, all enclosed, double deck buses. Known as the "ST" type, they- are designed to deal more expeditiously than previous vehicles'with peak hour traffic. The principal feature of these . new buses is a spacious enclosed vestibule taking the place of the usual platform. This greatly facilitates entering and leaving, and during rush periods enables a greater number of passengers to board the buses at the same time ana thus curtails stopping periods. Once on board passengers are able to find their way to the seats after the bus has1 started, a practice impossible with the previbus type of platform. In the "ST" models the usual circular stairway has been replaced by a straight stairway ascending from the vestibule over the offside wheel arch to the middle- of the upper saloon. This new position is designed, to assist free circulation in the saloon and reduce the tendency for passengers to form a queue. . The; stairway isprovided with adeep leather covered handrail and aluminium kicking plates.. . ' , As the licensing authorities demand an emergency exit on. all vehicles with enclosed stairways, advantage-has been taken in this instance of the large upper saloon window at the rear. This is hinged .at: the bottom and easily opened by means of an interior^ handle. Its movement would remain unimpeded should the ibus.fall on.either the right or left side.' -: :. '".'■ •- : ■ .. The new ■stairway .led. to-some modification in the upper caloon seating arrangements. In the new models sixteen pasesnge'rs are accommodated in cross type seats ,on each side of a central gangway at the forward end, three more on soats facing the stairhead, and a further five on seats at the' rear immediately below the emergency exit window. In the lower saloon the seats are ail arranged crosswise with the exception of four opposite the stairway. They are all super sprung, sloped, of generous width, and upholstered in fawn coloured moquette. Both the front and rear -windows are of unsplinterable- glass, and three- windows on each side of the upper and lower saloons are .divided, with the top part free to be raised or lowered by passengers, .. l Glazed destination indicators are lot into both the front and rear panels and illuminated internally by electric lamps. Pneumatic power is used for signalling purposes by the conductor, the old bell cords having been replaced by press devices of untarnishable metal. Two of these are located in the lower saloon and one at the staircase head' in the upper saloon. Full advantage has been taken of the relaxed licensing regulations to provide the driver, with better comfort and protection. In the new "ST" buses he has a cabin' totally enclosed by glass with the exception of a narrow opening on the offside used as an en-, trance. An innovation worth recording is the provision of a largo bevelled mirror fitted to the side of the staircase, and small', mirror situated in the centre panel of the front bulkhead.