East Lancs 1984-style double-deck body

The East Lancs 1984-style double-deck body is a type of bus body built on different chassis by East Lancashire Coachbuilders.

Chassis

Several different chassis types were bodied with this style of bodywork. These include:
* Dennis Dominator
* Volvo B10M
* Leyland Olympian
* Scania N112 and N113
* Volvo B58 (rebody)

Description

This distinctive style of bodywork has a downward-sloping front window bay on the upper deck, with both top and bottom edges angled downwards. The side windows are square-cornered. A large double-curvature upper deck windscreen (either single-piece or two-piece) is one of the most distinctive features.

Originally a tall, wrap-around lower deck windscreen was fitted, but some batches were fitted with a double-curvature windscreen, with either a straight or an arched top.

A batch of Dennis Dominators built for Southampton City Transport have bodywork which is mostly to this style, including the downswept front upper deck window bay, but with a divided flat upper deck windscreen in place of the distinctive double-curvature screen.

History

This design was introduced in 1984. Early examples included Dennis Dominators for Leicester CityBus. At first it was often specified for coach use, sometimes by operators who at the same time specified one of the plainer designs for bus use. This has sometimes earned it the misnomer "coach body", but in fact a majority were buses.

Later orders came from Drawlane subsidiaries London & Country, North Western and Midland Red North.

Naming

This design had no official name that was used publicly, however it has been referred to as the "Droop Nose Design". [cite book |last=Postlethwaite |first=Harry |title=East Lancashire Coachbuilders |year=2000 |publisher=Venture Publications |location=Glossop |isbn=978-1-898432-15-9 |oclc=44484652 |pages=p.72]

References

ee also