[Buses in Beijing]黄海 Huanghai DD6181S02 北京公交集团 BPT #44389 Front-left at Nanhetan

A DD6181S02 semi-low-floor rear-engine non-air-conditioning articulated city bus made by Huanghai Buses, Liaoning

 

One of the prior mass-produced 18m rear-engine articulated buses in China, DD6181 series, like BK6182(B), has a significant influence on China's articulated bus's design and manufacture. After their release, a surging number of domestic bus makers shifted their focus from costly, complicated low-floor articulated buses to more affordable semi-low-floor ones. Meanwhile, Beijing also led the trend of using rear-engine articulated buses on lines other than BRT.

 

DD6181 series are abbreviated as “Huanghou” (Huanghai rear), homophonic to “Queen” which becomes the nickname. Propulsion of DD6181S02 comes from a 260hp Iveco F4AE0682H*C diesel engine, and an Allison T310R 6AT gearbox with integrated retarder cooperates with the engine. The engine and the gearbox are lined in a T-drive configuration. Three axles are national-made air-sprung conventional axles, and the middle axle, neither steering nor driving, creates a ramp on the aisle above it. Front wheels are equipped with disk brakes while the ones behind are with drum brakes. Linking the two sections is a Chinese-made Ikarus hydraulic, electrically-controlled articulation bogie. At all three entrances, the floor is two steps above the ground. A MAN Lion's City's design is applied to the exterior, under MAN's permission.

 

S02 has big windows, wide middle and rear doors but a narrow front door. Interior workmanship presents Huanghai’s average level. Although not air-conditioned, the bus reserves the air-ducts. The upright engine raises the last row of seat so head space is very limited due to the air-ducts on each side of the ceiling---this is a long-complaint design flaw on S01 and S02. Although not decent enough, DD6181S05 is fairly above average judging from quality and reliability. Overall, the “Queens” are among the most satisfactory Huanghai buses in Beijing, playing significant roles on several first-class routes.

 

In the picture, Fleet No. 44389 (BPT Division 4, diesel articulated bus, code 389) on Line 360 Express is captured on South Xiangshan Road near Nanhetan, travelling north towards its final stop, the Fragrance Hills Bus Station. Line 360 Express ends at Beijing Zoo Public Transport Hub rather than Xizhimen where Line 360 (Local) ends. The express line has fewer stops and runs more straight midway.

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