Leyland Motors Olympian
| Leyland Olympian | |
|---|---|
| |
| Two-axle LHD Olympian with ECW body | |
| |
| Three-axle Olympian with Alexander Royale body | |
| Years of manufacture | 1979 to 1994 |
| Length | 9.56 to 12 metres |
| Width | 2500 millimetres |
| Power/Fuel | Diesel |
The Leyland Motors Olympian is a double deck bus chassis that was very popular in the United Kingdom and was also exported to Hong Kong and Singapore with some examples built for North America. The Olympian was officially launched in October 1980 and eventually replaced the Leyland Atlantean and the Bristol VRT3 chassis. Developed alongside the integral Leyland Titan, the two buses share many components.[1] In 1988, Leyland was acquired by Volvo Buses who launched the updated Volvo Olympian in 1992. The final Leyland Olympians were produced in 1994.
The steel fabricated perimeter frame chassis has the engine mounted transversely at the rear. The radiator is mounted at the front of the bus. The Olympian was available in a 9.5 or 10.3 metre two-axle configuration as well as a 10.4, 11, or 12 metre three-axle configuration.
In 1984, Leyland was interested in entering the American market. They planned to collaborate with Gillig to market the Olympian in North America. Leyland sent a left-hand drive Olympian over for evaluation, however the plans never came to fruition. Perimeter Transportation operated the demonstrator as a shuttle for Expo '86 in Vancouver. Gray Line of Victoria purchased the bus after the Expo and later sold it to Brampton Transit in 1988 who numbered it 8500.[2]
Ten 3-axle Leyland Olympian coaches with Eastern Coach Works bodies were delivered to Grosvenor Bus Lines for San Francisco Gray Line sightseeing tours in 1986. [3] The buses have since moved to other Gray Line sightseeing operations in the United States. Some have been converted to open top coaches.
Specifications
| Dimensions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Length: 9.56m or 10.25m (2-axle), 10.4m, 11m or 12m (3-axle) | ||
| Engine | ||
| Cummins L10 10 litre, 180, 220, or 250 hp | ||
| Gardner 6LXB 10.45 litre, 180 hp | ||
| Gardner 6LXCT 10.45 litre, 230 hp | ||
| Leyland TL11 | ||
| Transmission | ||
| Leyland Hydracyclic | ||
| Voith D851 | ||
| Voith D863 | ||
| ZF 4/5HP500 | ||
| Brakes | ||
| Dual air brakes with optional ABS | ||
| Steering | ||
| ZF power steering | ||
| Bodies | ||
| Alexander R-type | ||
| Eastern Coach Works (ECW) | ||
| East Lancashire Coachbuilders (East Lancs) | ||
| Leyland (kits from ECW) | ||
| Marshall | ||
| Northern Counties | ||
| Optare | ||
| Roe | ||
Operators
Canada 
- Brampton Transit - Brampton, ON
- City Sightseeing Toronto - Toronto, ON (acquired from Double Deck Tours)
- Double Deck Tours - Niagara Falls, ON (acquired from Brampton Transit)
Hong Kong 
Singapore 
United Kingdom 
- First Mancheste - Manchester
- London Central (Go-Ahead Group) - London
- Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive - Liverpool
- Northern General Transport Company - Gateshead
- Red Kite Commercial Services
- West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive - West Yorkshire
- Yellow Buses - Bournemouth
United States 
- Big Bus Tours Washington - Washington, DC (acquired from Big Bus Tours London)
- Big Bus Tours San Francisco - San Francisco, CA (acquired from Big Bus Tours London)
- British Bus Company - San Diego, CA (acquired from United Kingdom)
- Buffalo Double Decker Bus Tours - Buffalo, NY (acquired from United Kingdom)
- Gray Line San Francisco (operated by Grosvenor Bus Lines) - San Francisco, CA
- Gray Line New York (operated by Coach USA) - New York, NY (acquired from Gray Line San Francisco)
- Gray Line of Seattle - Seattle, WA (acquired from Gray Line San Francisco)
References
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ "Double Deck Tours 8500: A few brief notes by Paul Bateson." 18 August 2012. Print.
- ↑ World Bus Explorer - British Double Deckers