[Buses in Beijing]京华 Jinghua BK6141D2 北京公交集团 BPT #44213 Front-left at Lishi Road South Crossing

A BK6141D2 14m front-engine non-air-conditioning articulated bus built by Jinghua, Beijing

 

Look at this cute articulated bus. BK6141D2 is the last mass-produced front-engine articulated bus ordered by BPT. After BK6141D2 and its sibling Huanghai DD6140S01 in 2005, BPT was no longer interested in any, however luxury, front-engine buses.

 

While its big brother, the 18m BK6180D2 and D3, have an official but informal name "Dacaishen" (Big Lord of Wealth) from the builder, Jinghua, 6141D2, which has very similar, iconic headlamps, was certainly named "Xiaocaishen" (Little Lord of Wealth). Xiaocaishen features a smaller grille and thicker front bumper (Dacaishen has actually no front bumper), but the same tail and the same distinct black glass under the windows. Seen far away, Xiaocaishen is entirely a shrunk version of its brother.

 

6141D2 shares the same chassis, actually and the entire power train, with its sibling DD6140S01. Built on a FAW (First Automobile Works of China) chassis with simple multi-leaf suspension, 6141D2 is powered by a 210hp IVECO F4AE0682D*C Euro III diesel engine that works with an Allison T270R. There are not many essential improvements between Xiaocaishen and its predecessor, Little Cruisers (BK6141D and D1), but the newer one looks modern with frameless windows and 275/70R22.5 tubeless tyres. Three doors are all with three steps; the thoroughly-flat floor with ordinary rubber surface is 850mm above ground.

 

With robust chassis and reliable power train, the quality of D2s is about average. 14m length makes them extremely nimble on narrow streets and at tight corners. Regretfully, front-engine buses provide unsufficient comfort due to excessive heat and noise; additionally the high floor is also annoying. Although later Jinghua built a upgraded air-sprung, semi low floor BK6141D3, BPT, the mother company of Jinghua, decided to stop ordering new front-engine articulated buses, a few years after the last front-engine rigid joined service. Xiaocaishens are originally allocated to Division 2 (150), 4 (135), 6 (30), 7 (70) and Trolley-buses (5).

 

In the picture, Fleet No. 44213 (BPT Division 4, diesel articulated bus, code 213) on Line 15 is turning right to north onto South Lishi Road at Lishi Road South Crossing on Chang'an Avenue, near Fuxingmen Bridge on West 2nd Ring Road. At this crossing, unlike Baiyun Road Crossing, even buses are not allowed to turn left from South Lishi Road to Chang'an Avenue. Southbound Line 15 buses proceed straight south, make a circle at Zhenwumiao area, and turn right onto Chang'an Avenue at the crossing west from Lishi Road South.

 

Line 15 is an important line of Division 4 and it reaches the southern city, far away from the division's main service region. North end of Line 15 is Beijing Zoo where Division 4 is dominant, while the south end is Tianqiao Department Store, surrounded by lines of Divsion 2. Line 7, 15 and 19 all start at Beijing Zoo, go to southern Beijing and use the same BK6141D2 while Line 7 and 19 are under Division 2. Fleet No. 44213 is a Beijing Youth Model honor bus unit.

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