WMPTE 'Fleetline' driver's cab, 1969
Another official WMPTE photograph, this one dating from 1969, showing the driver’s cab of Daimler Fleetline 3913 (SOE913H). This is how the cabs appeared on these early WMPTE Fleetlines when they were new in 1969-1970.
Out of interest, the odd looking device mounted onto the window ledge, is the electo-mechanical passenger counter, which displayed to the driver, the number of passengers in the upper saloon. There was also a light display on the wall of the staircase, displaying information to passengers, as to whether or not there were seats available upstairs
The trigger mechanism for this device was mounted under two of the steps on the vehicle’s staircase. When foot pressure was applied to the steps, the counter's display would alter. The device was able to detect people going upstairs, or downstairs, by counting step-1, step-2 for a passenger going upstairs, and step-2, step-1 for a passenger descending the stairs. The problem was that once school children discovered this, they would deliberately stamp on the steps several times, causing the displays to give false readings. These primitive electrical devices were soon abandoned, however, most of the buses carried the disconnected staircase mounted light displays units until they were withdrawn from service more than a decade later.
These buses were also full-height vehicles, being 14' 6" high, this is painted on to the hub of the steering wheel. Later 'standard Fleetlines' were only 14' 2" high.
More useless information for you to digest. ;-)
WMPTE 'Fleetline' driver's cab, 1969
Another official WMPTE photograph, this one dating from 1969, showing the driver’s cab of Daimler Fleetline 3913 (SOE913H). This is how the cabs appeared on these early WMPTE Fleetlines when they were new in 1969-1970.
Out of interest, the odd looking device mounted onto the window ledge, is the electo-mechanical passenger counter, which displayed to the driver, the number of passengers in the upper saloon. There was also a light display on the wall of the staircase, displaying information to passengers, as to whether or not there were seats available upstairs
The trigger mechanism for this device was mounted under two of the steps on the vehicle’s staircase. When foot pressure was applied to the steps, the counter's display would alter. The device was able to detect people going upstairs, or downstairs, by counting step-1, step-2 for a passenger going upstairs, and step-2, step-1 for a passenger descending the stairs. The problem was that once school children discovered this, they would deliberately stamp on the steps several times, causing the displays to give false readings. These primitive electrical devices were soon abandoned, however, most of the buses carried the disconnected staircase mounted light displays units until they were withdrawn from service more than a decade later.
These buses were also full-height vehicles, being 14' 6" high, this is painted on to the hub of the steering wheel. Later 'standard Fleetlines' were only 14' 2" high.
More useless information for you to digest. ;-)