Midland Red o-m-o
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double
decker
• The Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co Ltd. has had in service. a Daimler Fleetline with Alexander doubledeck body which the company has modified for one-man operation. Main modifications have been to reverse and alter the shape of the staircase so that it is forward ascending and an exit door has been fitted opposite the foot of the staircase.
Considerable attention has been paid to the design of the staircase to facilitate easy ascending and descending. The design of the structure leant itself to positioning the exit door well forward so that the driver has adequate vision for controlling the exit.
Both the entrance and exit doors are electrically controlled on separate circuits, the entrance door being controlled by the normal door-operating buttons in the BMMO standard position on the nearside of the driver. The exit door is controlled by a sixth position on the gear selector control, so that the exit doors cannot be opened while the vehicle is in gear.
A warning Light is incorporated on the instrument panel and remains illuminated until the doors are properly closed. This light is adjacent to the gear selector control so that should an obstruction occur it is obvious to the driver.
In the interior, above the exit door, there is an illuminated exit sign which operates when the doors are open. A large mirror over the exit has been so arranged to give the driver a view of the staircase and the exit platform—this can be viewed through the normal interior rear view mirror. A periscope has been fitted to give the driver a general view of the upper saloon.
On the exterior of the vehicle for the benefit of intending passengers, illuminated signs have been positioned on the front and nearside of the vehicle indicating that it is one-man operated.
While on the experimental vehicle the modifications have caused the reduction of the seating capacity from the original 77 to 71, a further modification to the staircase will allow Midland Red to increase the seating capacity to 75 on future production o-m-o double-deckers.